Shadow Highlander

TWENTY-SEVEN

Reaghan followed Galen as he took her around the castle wall and down a vertical path to the sea. She had found herself awestruck by the castle. It was exactly as she had seen it in her dreams. Imposing. Majestic. Stunning.

The only difference between now and her dreams were the burn marks that scorched the stones and the evidence of repairs. The castle itself perched at the edge of the cliff, the towers stretching high in the sky, almost touching the clouds.

The gray stone looked as if it had been carved there by God Himself as it sat against the startling green of the grass and the many boulders and rocks that protruded from the ground. Even the backdrop of the dark blue waters of the sea only added to the mystical and magical elements of the castle.

The castle might have been built by, and for, mortals, but it had been destined for Warriors and Druids.

Now, as Reaghan navigated the path to the water with Galen, she no longer cared about the castle or how she knew so much about it. All she wanted was to feel the sea.

Rocks ranging in all sizes littered the ground, making it tricky to walk, but she refused to turn back. Galen never let go of her hand. Once he had her safely standing on one of the large boulders the sea crashed against, he remained by her side.

Laughter bubbled inside Reaghan the first time a wave splashed her. The water was cool, and the salt thick in the breeze and on her tongue. She watched as the waves rolled into shore, capped with white at the top, before moving back into the sea.

The cliffs stood like a sentry against the sea, much like the castle stood against Deirdre. The water might take bits and pieces of the cliffs each time it slammed into them, but in the end the cliffs survived, endured.

Just as the MacLeods and the Warriors who coexisted with them would.

“Is it everything you expected?” Galen asked.

Reaghan smiled and looked at the horizon where the bright blue sky met the indigo sea. She could see the reflection of the clouds on the water, and had to shield her eyes from the sparkle of the sun as it glinted off the sea. “Everything and more.”

“You know the way down now. Come whenever you like. Just doona swim by yourself.”

She swiveled her head to him and frowned. “Why?”

“There are currents that would suck you under and not let you go. Hayden swims daily. If you want to test the waters, talk to him so he can tell you where the safest places are.”

Reaghan nodded.

“Come. I’ll show you more,” Galen offered as he held out his hand.

She took it, allowing his strong fingers to close around her hand and lead her back to the path. He steadied her as they climbed when her skirts got in the way. She had seen Larena wearing breeches, and though she had been shocked at first, Reaghan found herself wondering how it would feel not to have her heavy skirts in the way.

“This would be much easier if I wore breeches as Larena does.”

Galen stumbled and jerked his head around to her. “I doona think that is a good idea.”

“You don’t think Larena should wear breeches?”

Galen continued onward, his face turned away from her. “I didn’t say that. I doona think you should.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d never get anything done seeing those long legs of yours encased in tight breeches.”

Reaghan smiled as warmth spread through her. It made her giddy, excited. Just knowing Galen wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off her made her want to turn him around and kiss him.

As they reached the top Reaghan spotted Cara in her garden and heard laughter coming from the kitchens. Galen paused as Cara rose to her feet.

“How did you like the sea?” Cara asked Reaghan.

Reaghan grinned. “It was stunning.”

“Reaghan,” Marcail called from the door of the kitchen. “Would you like to join us? I’ve been praying someone else who knows nothing about cooking arrives so I’m not sitting alone.”

Cara laughed and shook her head as she walked toward the kitchen. “We’ve offered to teach you, Marcail.”

“I’ve made a muck of it every time,” Marcail answered with a conspiratorial wink to Reaghan.

Reaghan felt a pull toward these women, as if she needed to form a relationship with them. Something inside her told her it was important, and she was powerless to ignore the feeling.

“Go ahead,” Galen urged. “I’ll find you later.”

She wanted to go with the women, but she wasn’t ready to leave Galen. Her decision was made when Marcail took her hand and pulled her toward the kitchen.

“Hayden is looking for you,” Marcail said to Galen. As they turned to enter the kitchen, Marcail leaned close and grinned. “Don’t worry. You’ll get your time with Galen.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Larena laughed while she stirred something. “Oh, aye, but there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Not at all,” Sonya said. “I quite like watching those Warriors fall for their women.”

But Reaghan wasn’t fool enough to think Galen would ever be hers. If she couldn’t break the spell, she would lose her memories. She wouldn’t remember anything, but Galen would. How would he manage to cope with such an event?

As if sensing her darkening mood, Isla said, “Sometimes the future is impossible to predict.”

“But not Galen’s stomach,” Larena said.

Marcail sat between Isla and Sonya and rolled portions of dough into small balls. “I wasn’t jesting when I said I couldn’t cook. I come in here to be with them.”

“She does help,” Cara said.

Sonya snorted. “When she isn’t becoming ill.”

“Ill?” Reaghan said. “Is something wrong?”

Marcail’s smile lit up her entire face. “I’m carrying Quinn’s child.”

“Congratulations,” Reaghan said. She could feel the joy that surrounded Marcail, felt the excitement of the other women. “That’s such wonderful news.”

Cara bumped shoulders with Marcail. “We’re all terribly thrilled, but what we’d really like to know is your version of when Galen and Logan found your village.”

Reaghan stepped up to the large worktable and bit her lip as she recalled the first time her eyes met Galen’s.

*

Galen spotted Hayden on the roof of a cottage in the village. Everywhere Galen looked the Warriors were hurrying to repair the cottages now that the Druids had taken over the castle.

“We wondered if we’d see you at all since Reaghan is here now,” Ian, one of the twins, teased as Galen walked past him.

Galen rolled his eyes and continued on to the cottage where Hayden was patching the roof. “She’s a sight better than you smelly brutes.”

“True enough,” Fallon replied with a smile.

Galen couldn’t wipe the grin from his face. Just being with Reaghan made his day better. He leaped to the roof beside Hayden. “You wanted to see me.”

Hayden finished tying off the straw and nodded. He sat back, his legs bent and his arms resting on his knees. “How was Logan while you were gone? He said he needed time away. Did it do him any good?”

“Some,” Galen answered. He lowered himself beside Hayden and looked out over the village and the land surrounding the castle. “Something has changed in him.”

“It’s been going on for some time. I should have spoken to him sooner about it, but I thought he might get past it on his own.”

“He’s still a young immortal. We all go through a dark period.”

Hayden nodded wearily. “Aye, I ken. This seems to be different. I sense a darkness in him that is growing, and I can sense it because that darkness was with me for many decades.”

Galen fisted his hands as he tried to imagine Logan giving in to his god. “Aye. I saw it when Fallon jumped us to the castle and Logan put his hand on me. Do you think his god is about to take over?”

“I’m no’ sure.” Hayden blew out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “I knew Logan always hid his pain with his jesting and teasing.”

“He hid it well then because I never knew.”

“The demons of our past never go away,” Hayden murmured. “You can try to outrun them, but they always find you in the end.”

Galen grimaced at the truth of Hayden’s words. There was a part of his past he hadn’t been able to outrun. And he had tried. Was still trying. “What is it in Logan’s past that is rearing its ugly head?”

“That I doona know.”

“I thought you two shared everything.”

Hayden lifted his broad shoulders in a shrug. “I always knew Logan held something back. I think it’s what he’s been running from.”

“Have you told any of the others?”

“Nay. I wanted to talk to you first. I’d hoped Logan would return more himself, but he seems to have sunk further into the darkness.”

Galen fisted his hand as he thought of the image he’d seen in Logan’s mind. “Has Logan ever mentioned a younger brother?”

“Logan doesna speak of his family. Why?”

“I saw a glimpse into his mind while traveling. There was a young boy who had similar features to Logan. He was calling for Logan, begging Logan to come back, but Logan walked away.”

“God’s blood,” Hayden murmured.

Galen stood as he caught sight of Logan. “We all need to keep an eye on him. He may no’ want us to interfere, but we are brothers in this.”

“I willna allow Logan to fall to his god,” Hayden vowed. “I doona care what he says, I will fight for him.”

“Then we need to tell the others.”

“Agreed. I’ll see to it.”

Logan halted in the middle of the village, his face to the sky. “Galen,” he called and pointed upward.

Galen looked up and spotted the peregrine as it soared above them. “Shite.”

“What is it?” Quinn asked from the ground below them.

Galen jumped off the roof to land next to Quinn as the other Warriors gathered near. “Logan and I spotted it as we left for Loch Awe.”

“Then we saw it at the loch,” Logan said. “And on our return journey here.”

Galen met Logan’s gaze. “We sensed magic in it.”

“Deirdre, you think?” Lucan asked.

“Possibly,” Logan answered. “And I aim to find out.”

Fallon grabbed his arm to stop him. “No’ yet. Deirdre will come regardless. We need to stay together now that we have more Druids to protect.”

“And the artifact,” Hayden added.

“And Reaghan,” Fallon amended.

Galen met Quinn’s gaze. “Want to try and communicate with the falcon? Maybe with your power you can learn something.”

“Let’s see then,” Quinn said.

The next instant Quinn’s skin had turned the black of his god. Black bled through the whites of his eyes and covered everything in onyx. Galen held his breath, hoping Quinn would discover who was controlling the bird.

“I cannot communicate with the falcon. The peregrine is being controlled with magic,” Quinn said, his gaze locked on the bird. “However, she is allowing herself to be used thus.”

“Meaning?” Fallon asked.

Quinn blinked, black fading from his skin and eyes. His gaze swept the Warriors around him. “Meaning, I doona believe it is Deirdre who is using the falcon.”

“Then who?” Galen asked.

“That is the question,” Quinn said thoughtfully.

Logan gave a quick nod before he turned on his heel and went back to the cottage he was repairing.

Beside Galen, Hayden sighed and said, “Logan willna be happy when he discovers we’re all watching him.”

“We watch each other,” Galen said. “In this world Deirdre has forced on us, we doona have another choice.”

Hayden grunted. “As Fallon says, we’re family.”

Galen glanced at the peregrine circling them. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the falcon and Logan’s need to uncover who was behind the magic controlling the bird just might be the tipping point that caused Logan to succumb to the darkness.