Shadow Highlander

TWENTY

Galen stared up at the night sky, so different from the night before. Not a cloud marred the beautiful darkness, the moon just a sliver among the sparkling stars.

Even while Galen admired the beauty above him he knew where Reaghan was at all times. His senses were honed in on her, as if an invisible thread connected them.

He had kissed her in front of everyone, uncaring that others saw or what they might think. He hadn’t asked Reaghan, hadn’t thought of anything other than holding her against him. Of sealing her lips with his. He was powerless to do anything about the attraction, the passion that had him in its grip. What was worse, he didn’t want to do anything.

Yet, he worried about Reaghan. She wanted answers to her past, a past the elders had kept from her because she had asked them to. The secret Mairi and Odara carried, one that Logan and Galen were now a part of, weighed heavily upon them, and Galen didn’t know how much longer it could be kept from Reaghan.

A secret that the entire MacLeod Castle would be privy to soon.

Galen blew out a breath and circled the sleeping camp on silent feet. He had no doubt Reaghan would find a home at MacLeod Castle. The Druids there were friendly, loving. They would eagerly invite her into their group.

Even once the headaches and fever took her memories, Galen was sure nothing would change. But what about ten years later? Or ten years after that?

When would Reaghan begin to feel the need for answers again? He wanted to tell her everything.

“I know that look,” Logan said.

Galen grunted, unsure if he wanted to talk. Or even if he could, his mind was so mired in thought.

“I doona need magic to know your thoughts are on Reaghan.”

“They seem forever on her,” Galen admitted.

They stood twenty paces from the Druids, but they kept their voices low, whispers not even the wind could hear. “If you’re worried she doesn’t care for you, ease your mind. She only has eyes for you, my friend.” “I wish that was all that troubled me.” Galen scrubbed a hand down his face and shifted his feet. “After what Reaghan told me, I believe she will stop at nothing to find her answers. It’s very important to her.” Logan nodded thoughtfully. “Mairi said with the increase in her headaches her memories would be gone soon.” “I doona know if I can keep this from her. It seems she deserves to know. What if she ends up alone?”

“You will be with her, Galen.”

“And if Deirdre takes me captive again? Or I’m killed?”

“She will be looked after,” Logan replied. “You should know that without having to ask.”

Galen turned away, feeling more of a fool than he had since he was a young lad. “There is this worry in my gut, Logan, worry that I cannot rid myself of.” Logan stepped around to face Galen, his brow furrowed and his gaze intense. “Is it Deirdre?”

“I doona know what it is. Ever since I saw the man with the wyrran looking at Reaghan, I’ve felt doom was ever on the horizon.” Logan let the tension out of his body with a deep sigh. “I think what you are feeling is common. Any man who has a woman who could be in danger would feel the same anxiety. However, we should pick up our pace on the morrow.” “We covered more ground today than I had hoped,” Galen said. “We may be able to reach MacLeod Castle day after next.” Logan wrinkled his face in a grimace. “A day too long. Now if we were surrounded by water, I could help with that.” Galen chuckled at the humor sparkling in Logan’s hazel eyes. “You mean you would want to show off.”

“Only a wee bit.” Logan grinned brightly. “Besides, I like to keep these Druids on their toes.”

Galen saw how Logan’s gaze shifted to Braden, who slept curled on his side, the deep sleep of an innocent. “The lad does make things bearable, doesn’t he?” “Aye,” Logan murmured. “Do you know, he asked me to teach him how to use a sword when we reach the castle?” Galen’s brows rose in surprise. “What did you tell him?”

“How could I say nay? Apparently his mother gave her permission, and he was so excited. I’ll need help.” “You?” Galen shook his head and wrinkled his nose. “You’ll do fine.”

“I doona want to ruin his training.”

The honesty and panic in his eyes hit Galen square in the chest. Gone was the teasing tone and laughter, and in their place was a Logan he had never seen before.

“You willna ruin anything, Logan. He has come to you because he trusts you, and he adores you. All of us will help with his training if that is your wish.” “I’d rather someone else train him,” Logan said, and propped his hands on his hips as his chin fell to his chest. “I doona want him depending on me. I’ll disappoint him, and I couldn’t stand to see the sorrow in his eyes when it happens.” Galen wanted to reach out, to clasp his friend’s shoulder, but Galen knew he would see exactly what was causing the remorse coursing through Logan. And Galen wouldn’t do that to his friend.

“I know you and Hayden have a tight bond, Logan. I know you have shared secrets with each other. I’m no’ Hayden, but I will help if I can.” Logan lifted his face and grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes, which burned with misery. “There is much Hayden doesn’t know. He is my brother in every way except by blood. You all are, yet I cannot share what I have buried inside me.” Galen knew only too well how Logan felt. “We all have pasts we’d like to forget. We’ve all done things we regret. Doona let whatever is in the past destroy you.” “I thought leaving the castle for a bit might help, but it hasn’t,” Logan said as he looked into the distance.

For a moment Galen thought Logan might run off into the night, but he knew the Warrior would never leave him to protect the Druids alone. “If you doona return to the castle, Hayden will skin me alive.” That brought a snort from Logan. “Hayden would, too.”

“I know. I’m fond of my hide where it is. Besides, it would upset Reaghan, and I cannot have that.”

Logan’s gaze swung back to Galen. His eyes crinkled in the corners and a genuine smile appeared. “Did you just make a jest? Galen Shaw, you surprise me.” “I have to do something to save myself from Hayden.”

This time Logan chuckled deep and low. He reached up and slapped Galen on the shoulder before he walked away.

Galen stood rooted to the spot, his face frozen as a brief image of a young boy calling after Logan, begging him to return home, sliced through Galen’s mind. He sucked in a mouthful of air and looked at Logan’s retreating back.

The terror and distress Galen had heard in the young boy’s voice as he called after Logan was agonizing. Galen wondered who the boy was, but he couldn’t — and wouldn’t — ask Logan about the memory.

“Just what secrets do you hold, my friend? And will they tear you apart as I fear they might?” Galen whispered into the night.

*

Reaghan awoke with a start, the dream so vivid in her mind she could still feel the wind from the sea, still feel the spray of the waves on her face.

She swallowed and sat up, afraid to think about the images she had seen in her dream. She had worn a different style of gown, one that must have been from centuries earlier, with a girdle and a veil held in place on her head by a gold circlet. She had been staring at the opposing castle situated high on the edge of a cliff.

Though she had never seen the castle, she knew it. She also knew its name — MacLeod Castle.

Reaghan lifted a shaky hand to her face and swiped at a strand of hair caught in her eyelashes. How could she know that’s what the castle looked like? Did she have magic, as Galen and Logan had said? If so, then was her gift seeing the future?

“Nay,” she murmured to herself.

If she had seen into the future, and seen herself at MacLeod Castle, she wouldn’t have been wearing a gown from long ago.

Reaghan got to her feet and tried to find Galen. When she couldn’t spot him, she went to Logan. “What does Deirdre look like?” Logan’s hazel eyes narrowed, his attention focused on her. “What?”

“Deirdre? What does she look like?” Reaghan asked a second time.

“She’s not aligned with us if that’s what you want to know.”

Reaghan blew out a frustrated breath. “Does Deirdre have long white hair that touches the ground? Are her eyes as white as her hair?” The stillness that came over Logan was answer enough. Reaghan fisted her hands and struggled to bring a breath into her lungs. “It’s her, isn’t it?” “How did you know?” Logan demanded, his voice low, harsh.

Reaghan shrugged. “I’ve seen her before in my dreams. I’ve seen so many things I can’t explain.”

“Give me another example.”

She licked her lips, knowing it was a bad idea to tell him more. “MacLeod Castle, it is on a cliff, the sea below it, wild and untamed?” Logan smiled, but Reaghan could see it was forced. “You must have heard Galen describe it to one of the Druids.” “I wish that were the case, but I don’t think it is. For the past year I’ve seen more and more things in my dreams.” “We told you there was magic inside you. I suppose that is your gift.”

She forced her own smile, her stomach filling with dread. Logan didn’t believe it was her magic any more than she did, but she saw the concern in his eyes and it terrified her. “I suppose it is.” “We’ll be leaving soon. Go break your fast,” he urged her.

She didn’t hesitate, but turned on her heel and walked away. If it wasn’t her magic, then what caused such strange images to come to her? How did she know what Deirdre looked like?

And not just her hair and eyes either. Reaghan could have told him Deirdre favored black, and her voice could command the wyrran with just a whisper.

Reaghan couldn’t recall ever seeing wyrran before they attacked the village, but she knew instantly what they were when she caught sight of them, even when she had first heard their shrieks. Not because of the descriptions of her fellow Druids, but because she had seen them countless times in her dreams.

A warm, strong hand gently grasped her arm. “Reaghan?”

She melted at the sound of Galen’s voice and turned toward him.

“Logan found me.”

“It’s not my magic,” she said.

He glanced around the camp as the others ate, their gazes lifted to him. “Follow me.”

Reaghan fell into step beside him. Galen gave a small nod to Logan as they walked past him. “Where are we going?” “I would like some privacy, and I think you would as well. The others will catch up to us soon enough. Now, tell me what happened.” “I thought Logan already had.”

Galen shrugged nonchalantly, but she saw the apprehension in his dark blue gaze. “He told me you described Deirdre and MacLeod Castle.” “I did. It’s not my magic, Galen. So do not try to tell me it is.”

“All right,” he said, and lifted his hands in a conciliatory gesture. His gaze shifted to the ground before him as they walked. “Tell me what happened.” She wrapped her arms around her middle. “It began some moons ago. I see things, Galen. People and places I’ve never been, but yet I know these things and people.” “Like Deirdre?”

She nodded, unable to speak.

“Have any of the Druids ever described her?”

“Nay. They’ve only ever said her name. I kept seeing this woman with incredibly long, white hair. Her eyes would pierce me to my very soul, and I knew she was drough.” They walked in silence for a while before Galen said, “Tell me what else you have seen in these dreams.” She glanced at him. His expression was closed to her, and she had no way of knowing if he was thinking her as daft as Logan did, or if Galen believed her. “As I told Logan, I’ve seen MacLeod Castle.” “How? Where were you?”

“I was standing on one of the cliffs at a distance from the castle. What struck me as odd was that I was wearing a gown from centuries earlier. Why?” He grunted in response. “What else have you seen?”

“I know that in the mountain range, Foinaven, which I seek, there is an entrance to the valley between the mountains. It is hidden from those who don’t know of it. I know every section of those mountains as if I had lived there. As if it had been my home.” Galen heard the fear in her voice and it tore at his soul. He stopped and pulled her into his arms. “These dreams or visions cannot harm you.” “I know,” she mumbled against his chest, her arms holding on to him tightly. “I know I’ve been out in the world before, but I don’t know when or how.” “Does it matter?”

She leaned back to look at him. Her brow was furrowed and her gaze searched his. “I have a past that is blocked to me. Do you have any idea how it feels to know there are memories there, memories that could tell me about my family and what I did wrong?” “What makes you think you did anything wrong?” he asked. “Maybe someone did this to you.”

“If that were the case, why would Mairi and the others keep it from me? Why not tell me?”

Galen pulled her against him again and rested the palm of his hand on the back of her head. “I know they want to keep you safe, and if that means they have to keep your past from you, they will.” “It’s my life, Galen, my past. I have the right to know.”

He knew she did, and that’s what was killing him. To hear her speak of Deirdre and MacLeod Castle had left him speechless, but it was when she described the mountains and the secret entrance that he realized she must have been referring to the place she had lived as a young girl.

What worried Galen most of all was if Reaghan somehow remembered who she was. Would she leave? Set out on her own?

A strange, hollow ache began in his chest just thinking of a world without Reaghan in it. Though he didn’t want to think about why, he knew he needed Reaghan. He needed her, hungered for her, as he did the sun on his face and air in his lungs. He couldn’t allow anything to happen to her no matter what.

“You know, don’t you?” she said. “You know what happened to my memories.”

Galen knew in the moment she looked at him with her somber gray eyes that he wouldn’t be able to lie to her. “I do.” “Is it as terrible as I fear?”

He took her hand and began to walk. “I know the elders kept it from you because they care about you.”

“Please. Tell me,” she said, her voice breaking.

Galen laced his fingers with hers and took a deep breath. It was tearing her to pieces not knowing, and if she was going to lose her memories, he didn’t see why the truth should be kept from her.

“Reaghan, you put a spell upon yourself in an effort to hide something from Deirdre. The headaches are caused because you are about to lose your memories, as you do every ten years.” She missed a step, but kept walking, her head held high. He was amazed at the strength he saw. Despite what she had learned, she didn’t crumble to the ground, not that he would have thought less of her if she had. But it proved how strong she was that she could keep walking. Galen saw the tears swimming in her eyes, and it tore at him.

“That is why I see events from the past in my dreams?” she asked.

“I believe so.”

“This has been happening for a very long time based on what I see in my dreams. How long do I have before my memories are gone?” Galen squeezed her hand. “I’m no’ sure.”

She stopped and turned to him. “I don’t want to forget you.”

“You willna,” he promised. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Galen wiped away a tear before he covered her lips with his own.