Forbidden Highlander

Chapter Twenty-Eight

When Larena cracked open her lids the sky was gray. She wiped at eyes that were itchy and swollen from her tears, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered anymore.

She climbed to her feet and walked to the window. She hadn’t cried so much since her father had been murdered and she had been truly alone for the first time in her life.

Hours had gone by while she was sunk in her misery. She was supposed to relieve Cara to look after Malcolm, but she had forgotten her promise while her heart mourned.

Just thinking of Fallon brought a renewed wash of pain in her chest. She wasn’t sure how she was going to continue day after day with such anguish. She didn’t know if she could. The pain she had felt at her father’s murder was nothing compared to the ache within her now. This pain could never be soothed and would never leave her. Time might dim it, but all she would have to do was look at Fallon to see what could have been.

I cannot stay here. But I cannot leave. What am I to do now?

Larena blinked as her vision blurred with more tears. She would face one thing at a time. Right now she would concentrate on Malcolm. He needed her.

She hurried from the tower. She was tempted to use her power so no one could see her, but she had been a coward for too long. Fallon had made her see that.

As she descended the stairs into the great hall she saw Ramsey and Hayden still bent over the parchment. Without a second thought, Larena extracted the Scroll from the ring and walked over to the men.

“Here,” she said, and handed the Scroll to Ramsey. “This will help.”

Ramsey’s gray eyes narrowed as he looked from her hand to her face. “What is that?”

“The Scroll. I’m its keeper. I trust you will guard it with your life.”

Hayden swore beneath his breath, and Larena felt the tears threaten again.

“I’m sorry. I should have told everyone, but I had taken an oath that I would never speak of it.”

Ramsey reached for the Scroll and held it reverently between his hands. “There’s no need for you to apologize, Larena. You can trust us.”

“Just make sure our scroll is authentic enough to fool Deirdre. We need to get Quinn back. Fallon needs him.”

“We won’t let it out of our sight,” Hayden promised. “You have our word.”

She blinked her eyes to stop the seemingly constant tears and hurried from the castle. Every instinct within her told her not to trust Ramsey and Hayden, but she had to learn to do just that.

By the time she reached the cottage where Malcolm was, she had dried her tears and gotten her emotions under control.

Larena opened the door to find Cara sitting next to Malcolm’s bed with her sewing in her lap. The Druid looked up and beamed. The smile faded as she looked into Larena’s face.

“Is everything all right?” Cara asked as she rose to her feet.

Larena forced a grin she didn’t feel. Cara had always been so kind. Larena didn’t wish to burden her with problems that weren’t hers. “Everything is as it should be. I will sit with my cousin now.”

Cara watched her for a few tense moments before she gathered her sewing. She paused as she opened the door. “If you ever need to talk to someone, Larena, I’m here for you.”

The hated tears pricked her eyes. Larena hadn’t intended to speak, but suddenly words poured out of her mouth. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend. Thank you, Cara.”

“It is I who should thank you. You’ve helped Fallon in ways Lucan and I could never dream. I don’t know what happened between you and Fallon while in Edinburgh, but he came back a changed man. Lucan says he’s the man he was before their god was unbound.”

Larena sank into the chair, her breath lodged in her throat. Had she helped Fallon? She didn’t think so. Fallon would have become that man again without her. “I wish I could take credit, but Fallon has always been that man. He just needed to see that he could do it. He’s a natural leader.”

“You care for him a great deal, don’t you?”

“I’m afraid it’s much more than that.”

Cara closed the door and hurried to her. She dropped down on her knees and took Larena’s hands in her own. “You love him?”

“Aye, and I fear I’ve lost him.”

Cara smiled gently, her dark brown eyes full of genuine warmth. “The MacLeod brothers are unusual, I’ll give you that, but they are good men. Fallon cares for you, that much is obvious. You didn’t see the look on his face when he arrived here with you in his arms. He had thought you were gone. He was like a madman, Larena. I’ve never seen such desolation before.”

“Really?”

“He stayed with you the entire time Sonya healed you. His hand never left yours.”

Larena glanced at the ceiling, praying Cara was telling her the truth. “He wasn’t there when I woke. I thought…”

“There is something I’m going to tell you, something that Fallon doesn’t want you to know. If Lucan knows I told you, he’ll be very angry with me.”

“What is it?” Larena had to know now. “I won’t tell them.”

Cara stood and blew out a breath. “Do you remember us telling you that you needed blood?”

“Aye.”

“Fallon is the one that gave it to you. He wouldn’t allow Lucan or any of the other Warriors to give you their blood. He wanted only his in your veins.”

Larena’s composure crumbled. Cara’s image swam with the tears that filled Larena’s eyes, and the agony of exactly what she had lost. “I’ve been such a fool. Why didn’t he tell me?”

Cara reached down and ran a finger over the milky-white stone on Larena’s hand. “Because of this. He was hurt deeply that you hadn’t told him.”

“I told him today. I had no idea he already knew, but I had made a vow, Cara.”

“He understood that.”

Larena blew out a breath. “I cannot lose him now that I’ve just found him.”

“If I know anything about the MacLeod brothers it’s that they will come around. Give Fallon a little time.”

Larena rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around Cara. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I didn’t know just how lonely I was until Fallon brought me to his castle and gave me a family.”

“You won’t ever be alone here, Larena.” Cara stepped back and wiped away the tears from Larena’s cheeks. “Regardless of what happens, I will always be your friend and sister.”

Larena smiled as Cara left, but her chest still felt as if her heart had been ripped from her. She reached over and took Malcolm’s hand, needing his strength. She wished she could heal him as Sonya had done, but all she could do was sit and pray.

She studied the arm that had been broken so severely and ripped from the socket. Malcolm had made her think he was as strong as she was, but she should have known better. Leaving him hadn’t been the answer. She should never have allowed him to associate with her in the first place.

“Don’t.”

Her gaze jerked to his face to find his blue eyes staring at her. “You can open both eyes now,” she said with a smile.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t think it was your fault this happened to me.”

She sighed and dropped all pretenses. Malcolm had always gotten to the heart of any matter. It was what made him the man he was. “You nearly died because you’ve been seen helping me.”

“Because I wanted to.”

She smoothed away the hair from his forehead, thankful there was no fever. “I cannot wait to tell you everything. There are Druids here, Malcolm. One of them healed you. She’s wonderful and amazing.”

A shadow of a grin lifted the corner of his lips. “Indeed.”

“And Warriors. Besides Fallon and his brother Lucan, there are five other Warriors here, including Camdyn.”

“So he made it.”

She nodded. “He did. Everyone has been here to see you. Are you still in pain?”

“A little. It’s manageable. Tell me. Are you really in love with Fallon?”

“You were awake, I take it?”

“I was.”

She sat back in the chair and clasped her hands in her lap. “I don’t want to be, but it appears that Fallon has captured my heart. And the trust I never thought I would be able to give again.”

“He’s a good match for you, Larena.”

She smiled despite the pain still in her chest. “Is he?”

“You couldn’t have a better man at your side.”

Larena wholeheartedly agreed. She was about to ask him about the attack he had endured when his eyes shut. With a wry grin, she let him drift back to sleep. There would be plenty of time to talk later. For now, he needed to get well.

She shouldn’t have been as surprised as she was to see how rapidly he recovered. Whatever Sonya and Cara had done was, indeed, magical. It was the only explanation.

As for Malcolm’s arm, Larena could only hope for the best.

She settled herself in the chair and leaned her head back. Her eyes closed as she let her mind wander to Fallon and the affection he had freely given her. She thought of the future, really thought about it, and pictured Fallon by her side.

There would be happiness with him, and love unlike anything she could dream of. But first, they would have to deal with Deirdre before they could have that future.

Yet, Lucan and Cara were doing it. There was no reason she and Fallon couldn’t either.

Fallon came awake with a start. Something had moved near him, something that wasn’t a part of nature. He kept perfectly still in the dark and listened. He had no idea where he was, and he’d been in such a rage, he hadn’t paid attention to his surroundings.

His father had taught him better than that. Yet, he’d had to do something to control the fury or it would have taken him down a path he might never have recovered from. Even now, as he thought of Larena and how he had lost her, the anger shifted in his chest and threatened to burst forth again.

He cracked open an eye and saw the branches of a tree swaying to his right. He tried to remember the direction he had run. He had run north, away from the castle. But how far north?

He tensed as he heard a twig break in the silence. The usual sounds of the night weren’t there, only the eerie, unnatural stillness.

And then he knew.

Wyrran.

Fallon opened his eyes further to get a better look. His advanced hearing could pick up the tiniest sound, letting him know the wyrran were close. Too close.

Fallon rolled to his side and jumped to his feet in one smooth movement. He leaped behind the nearest tree just as he spotted the first wyrran loping through the forest. He began to hear the clicks and soft shrieks that were synonymous with the creatures. There were dozens of them as well as Warriors. Fallon had to warn the others for he knew they were going to attack his castle.

His skin tingled as he unleashed his god. He ran his tongue over his fangs and sank his claws into the bark of the tree. There was no way he would allow the wyrran to capture Larena or harm anyone else at his castle.

A single Warrior walked while the others ran alongside the wyrrans. Fallon kept his gaze on the winged Warrior as he came to a stop beside him. Fallon tensed, waiting to be attacked.

Broc turned his head and his eyes locked with his. Fallon waited for the Warrior to alert the others. Yet, Broc did nothing. After a moment, he shot into the air and spread his wings.

Shite!

Fallon didn’t know what to think anymore. He didn’t understand why Broc hadn’t told the other Warriors about him. Deirdre would have had yet another MacLeod brother, and Lucan would have been on his own. But Fallon didn’t have time to wonder about it.

He focused his thoughts on the great hall, gathering all his power around him. In his next breath he was back at his castle standing beside one of the tables.

“Damn, Fallon,” Hayden said as he leaped from his seat at the table. “What is it?”

“Wyrran are coming. Gather the others and prepare. Where is Lucan?”

“Here,” his brother said as he jumped from the floor above to the great hall. “How many?”

“Too many. Get the women and head to the dungeons. Guard the Druids, brother.”

Lucan gave a curt nod. “And you?”

“I’m going to try to give you some time.”

Hayden moved to stand beside him. “I’ll come with you.”

Cara raced down the stairs, her face white with fear. “Sonya and Larena are in the village tending to Malcolm.”

Fallon cursed, torn between going to Larena and heading off the attack.

“Go,” Ramsey said as he strode to the castle door, his skin turning bronze as he transformed mid-stride. “I’ll make sure Sonya and Malcolm are safe.”

With one last look at his brother, Fallon put his hand on Hayden and flashed them both to a spot of land away from the castle and village, but close enough that they could get back if needed.

Fallon jumped onto a rock that rose out of the earth like the fist of an ancient god. He seethed with anger at Deirdre’s attack and his ire for not having Malcolm moved to the castle sooner. Malcolm and Sonya couldn’t battle against the onslaught of evil coming their way.

And Larena.

He closed his eyes and wished he were beside her. She was a Warrior, but he was used to protecting women. She was his woman. He was a Highlander, and Highland men always sheltered their women.

“Larena,” Fallon whispered.

“She’ll be fine,” Hayden said.

Fallon looked at the red-skinned Warrior that had taken up position on an outcropping of rocks to his left. Smoke rose from the tips of Hayden’s horns and his fingers.

Fallon didn’t pretend to not understand Hayden. “I pray you’re right.”

“Ramsey and the others will get Malcolm and Sonya to the castle. We’ll have the most fun though.” Hayden’s fangs gleamed in the moonlight as he flashed Fallon a smile.

Fallon nodded. He longed to sink his claws into a wyrran, to tear a Warrior’s heart out. His god lusted for blood, and Fallon was going to give it to him this night.

“Here they come,” he murmured.

Hayden crouched down, his arms spread to the side and his claws ready to slash. Fallon glanced at the sky and saw Broc soar above them. Was the winged Warrior heading to the castle to try and take Larena?

Fallon didn’t have time to worry about it as the wyrran and Warriors came into view. He threw back his head and let out a war cry any MacLeod would have been proud of. Hayden’s howl of rage rose to meet his.

The first wyrran jumped next to Fallon, and he lifted it over his head and then slammed the small yellow body on the stone. The wyrran’s head smashed against the rock and split open.

Fallon barely had time to kick it out of the way as two more wyrran and a Warrior descended on him. He glanced at Hayden to see he was shooting flames from his hands. Fallon had no idea the red Warrior could call fire to him as his power.

Fallon grunted as a punch landed in his gut. He rammed his elbow into a Warrior and then slashed his claws across the Warrior’s arm. Fallon grinned before he kicked a wyrran in the face.

An ear-piercing shriek filled the air as the wyrran went sailing off the boulder onto the ground to be trampled by its kin.

Fallon bit back a cry as the second wyrran raked his back with its claws. As he fought against the pain, the Warrior moved to stand in front of him and grabbed both of Fallon’s arms to hold them out to his side. Fallon recognized the blue-skinned Warrior from his previous attacks on the castle.

“You cannot beat us,” William said. “To fight against the inevitable is useless.”

Fallon grinned before he sank his fangs into the Warrior’s neck. Blood flowed through his mouth and over his chin. He gagged at the metallic taste of it, but wouldn’t let go, even when the Warrior jerked against him.

Once his arms were free, Fallon plunged his claws into William’s sides. Fallon ignored the pain caused by the wyrran that continued to claw his back and legs. All his focus was on the Warrior and killing him.

Suddenly, the blue-skinned Warrior wrenched backward, blood gushing from the bite wound on his neck and the five cuts on either side of him.

Fallon spat out the blood and turned to the wyrran behind him. He wrapped his hands around the wyrran’s head and, with a yank, snapped its neck. Fallon roared into the night, his god, Apodatoo, demanding more blood, more death.

When he looked around, Fallon saw that the other Warriors and wyrran were ignoring them and heading toward the castle.

“Fallon, they’ve reached the castle,” Hayden shouted.

Larena!

Fallon leaped to Hayden’s boulder and grabbed his arm as they jumped to the village.