Midnight's Temptation

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

MacLeod Castle

Camdyn MacKenna tapped his finger on the table absently. The evening meal was over, but no one left the great hall. He missed being in his own home, a home he and Saffron had built outside the shield protecting the castle.

He’d brought his wife and daughter to the castle to keep them safe, but he was beginning to wonder if there was such a place. Before, there had never been a question. Everyone gathered at the castle.

The combination of magic within the stones and the magic of the Druids, along with the Warriors’ powers made the castle a stronghold few could get through.

That no longer held true.

He could see the strain of that knowledge on the face of every Warrior. The Druids weren’t immune to it either, but the women were better at hiding their anxiety.

“I’d rather no’,” Broc’s voice rose to echo through the hall.

Camdyn’s gaze swiveled to where Broc, Fallon, Arran, and Ramsey stood at the other end of the long wooden table. The conversation in the hall quieted as everyone turned their attention to the four men.

“I’m no’ asking you to get him,” Fallon argued.

Broc crossed his arms over his chest, his dark brown eyes narrowing dangerously. “That’s exactly what you want. Phelan told Charon he’d call when he had news.”

“That’s no’ good enough!” Fallon bellowed.

Arran held up his hands between the two men. “Easy, lads. We’re all testy here. Remember that.”

Fallon inhaled deeply, never taking his eyes off Broc. “I need to know where Phelan is.”

“Give a good reason then,” Ramsey stated calmly, his voice laced with a hard edge. “You’ve no’ told Broc why.”

“Why do I need to?” Fallon demanded.

One black brow rose in Ramsey’s forehead as his silver gaze coolly watched Fallon. “Common courtesy for one, my friend. You’ve never had a problem trusting Phelan before. Why are you concerned?”

Camdyn rose from the bench and walked toward the group. “That’s easy to answer. Larena. I just doona understand why you need Phelan.”

“His blood,” Fallon said as he began to pace. “I want his blood to try and help my wife.”

Camdyn glanced at Saffron who stood with the other women near the hearth. He’d do anything for Saffron, so Camdyn understood why Fallon was so insistent on finding Phelan.

“You need to leave Phelan out there,” Arran said into the silence.

Fallon snorted. “Why? So he and Malcolm can continue to find nothing?”

“Have you, Lucan, or Quinn discovered Wallace?” Broc asked angrily.

Camdyn and Ramsey exchanged a glance. When Fallon looked at Camdyn he said, “It’s true. We’ve all known what you three have been about.”

“So much for secrets,” Quinn mumbled from his position leaning against the wall.

Ramsey looked around the hall. “There are no secrets here. Everyone should know that.”

“Leave Phelan alone,” Broc said. “We need him out there searching for Wallace.”

Arran lowered his hands. “Phelan has a Druid with him now, so it willna be long before he brings her to us. We’ll talk to him then about helping Larena.”

“It may be too late,” Fallon said as he stalked away.

Camdyn watched him leave. He took a step to follow when Saffron’s sweet magic washed over him. Camdyn reached her just as her eyes began to swirl white with a vision.

He caught her in his arms, holding her tightly against him. She was a Seer, which was a rarity in the Druid world, but he never got used to her having the visions.

When Saffron finally blinked, tawny eyes stared up at him once more. “I know,” she whispered.

“Know what, love?”

“I know why Britt can’t finish her research on the drough blood.” Saffron swallowed hard, her fingers digging into his arm. “It’s Jason.”

“What about him?” Lucan asked from beside them.

Camdyn waited as impatiently as the others while Saffron let her mind wander through the flashes of scenes her magic gave her. The visions weren’t always clear. Sometimes it took Saffron days to work out exactly what her visions had been trying to tell her.

Saffron stood with Camdyn’s help, though she didn’t let go of him. “Britt can search for all of eternity for a marker in the blood that will tell her what’s different about it and never find it.”

Gwynn handed Saffron a glass of water and asked, “What do you mean?”

Camdyn could feel the turmoil rolling off Saffron in waves through her magic. She was angry, frightened, and worried. He kept an arm around her to offer her as much support as he could.

“There’s nothing scientific for Britt to find,” Saffron said. “Jason added more evil.”

Hayden frowned and shook his head. “That doesna make sense. Droughs are already evil.”

“So are the gods within us,” Logan pointed out. “If you go by that theory then the drough blood shouldna harm us.”

Saffron moved out of Camdyn’s arms when Emma began to cry. It wasn’t until Saffron had their nine-month-old daughter in her arms that she was able to take a deep breath.

“Drough blood is evil. What Jason has done is add in more evil.” Saffron kissed Emma’s head and met Camdyn’s gaze. “I saw it. I saw Jason asking Satan for help bringing us down. The answer was to make it that none of the Warriors would recover fully from drough blood.”

Camdyn took Saffron’s hand and looked at his fellow Warriors. “Britt needs to stop looking for the marker and finish whatever she’s doing so that we can counter this new drough blood.”

“That’s going to be damned difficult without the marker,” Britt said from the top of the stairs. “I need that marker to make an antidote. Whether magic was used on the blood or not, there is a marker. And I’ll find it.”

Saffron stood and handed Emma to Camdyn. “Then I’ll help.”

Camdyn waited until Saffron was out of sight before he turned to Fallon. “You’re no’ the only one wanting to protect a wife. We need to know where Wallace is.”

“And I’ve been no help,” Broc said, his voice laced with anger. “Wallace is no’ on this world, no’ yet anyway.”

Quinn rubbed his chin. “Between worlds maybe? That’s where Deirdre was.”

“Does it matter?” Isla asked.

Galen watched the green claws extend from his fingers. “Nay. Wallace will die like the droughs before him.”

Broc clapped Galen on the shoulder. “We may no’ know where he’ll strike, but we know he’s coming. We’ve known less and won the battle.”

“We’ll win this one as well,” Ramsey stated.

* * *

Agony sliced through him, sharp and intense. He cried out, though he had no voice, as his bones began to knit together. The anguish of it was borne because he knew he would have it all in the end.

The torment of his muscles and tendons reforming was more torturous than his bones. Then came his flesh. It was horrific, the stinging of new skin tightening over his body made his lungs seize.

It took a moment for him to realize he had organs once more. Before he could enjoy it, he was ripped from the nothingness.

Rain pelted his skin as he opened his eyes to find himself squatting, his fingers braced on the ground. He dug his fingers into the wet grass and threw back his head.

He let loose a bellow that had been locked inside him for what felt like eons. Slowly he stood and looked down at his hands.

His bones cracked as he opened and closed his fingers. He drew in a deep breath and released it. His eyes were unfocused, and it took several blinks before he could see.

A smile formed when he found himself standing in the backyard of his home. What remained of his mansion were black pillars and rubble everywhere.

With a flick of his hand the mansion was restored to its former glory. He strode to the back door and walked in. A mirror in the long hallway caught his attention. He stopped and glanced down at his naked body before he met the blue eyes of his reflection.

A smile that didn’t have an ounce of kindness or mercy turned up his lips. “I’m back.”

His first order of business was Aisley. His cousin owed him her life.