Untamed Highlander

TEN

Hayden watched Isla from the village long past midnight. Not once did she move or utter a single sound. Duncan and the others had since returned to the castle, but Hayden didn’t want to leave Isla alone.

Not that she was alone. Malcolm continued his stroll along the cliffs, though he gave Isla a wide berth. She seemed not to notice him, but Hayden imagined she detected every detail down to the smallest one.

Hours ticked by and still Hayden stayed just to see how long it would take before Isla crumpled to the ground. But the longer he watched her, the more he began to realize there was more to Isla than he initially thought.

When the first rays of sun peeked over the horizon he started toward her. He didn’t know why, and though he told himself to turn away, his feet still took him to the petite drough.

He stopped several paces behind, and to the side of, her and surveyed the scene before him. MacLeod Castle was beautiful, but it was the sea and the cliffs that truly made the place spectacular. It was no wonder Isla had stood there all night.

So much had happened since Hayden had come to the castle that he hadn’t bothered to look at it as Isla had done.

“You’ve watched me all night,” Isla said. “Were you afraid I might jump?”

“It didn’t cross my mind until now. Are you?”

She chuckled, the sound soft and sensual. “It wouldn’t kill me, so why put myself through the pain?”

“How do you know you willna die? Have you tried jumping to your death before?”

She turned her head and stared at him with those intense ice-blue eyes. “I’ve died many times, Hayden. I lost count of the times I perished on that mountain freezing to death before I was brought here.”

Hayden wasn’t sure he believed her. The only ones he knew that could happen to were Warriors, and she most certainly wasn’t a Warrior.

She cocked her head at him. “You don’t believe me.”

Hayden moved until he was even with her. “I’m not sure what I believe.”

“Shall I prove it to you?”

“There’s no need.”

“Really?” Her eyes narrowed at him. “I think you’ll continue to doubt me until I prove it to you.”

Hayden looked away. “I believe you. All right? Now enough.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he felt something touch his side where the dagger was. He looked down to find his blade gone and in Isla’s small hand.

“You cannot kill me.”

Isla rolled her eyes. “I know that. I’m not dim-witted, Hayden. I’m going to prove to you that I’m as immortal as you.”

He took a step to her when he saw her raise the weapon and point the blade at her stomach. He stretched his fingers, readying to snatch the blade from her hand. “Enough, Isla.”

She smiled, her eyes grave and serious. The next instant she plunged the dagger into her abdomen. Hayden barely caught her before she hit the ground. Her hands fell to her sides as her eyes fluttered close.

“God’s teeth,” Hayden murmured as blood poured from the wound.

Memories of finding his family thus surged through his mind. He watched helplessly as Isla’s blood, her life force, continued to gush through the wound.

The sound of feet running toward him didn’t cause Hayden to raise his eyes from Isla. He could only stare at her dead body. Hayden, despite the god inside him, couldn’t stop someone from dying. And it was being proven to him once again.

Hayden found himself trembling. The last time he held someone like this it was his younger brother. It brought back too many memories long buried, memories of helplessness and anger better left alone.

“Isla,” Hayden said and shook her though he knew it was useless.

Her beautiful eyes were closed and her lips parted as if she slept, but Hayden knew she did more than sleep. She was dead.

“What happened?” Quinn demanded as he skidded to a halt beside him.

Hayden swallowed and reached for the dagger. He didn’t like the way his hand shook as he wrapped his fingers around the pommel. He sucked in a breath and pulled the blade out of her with one jerk of his hand before he tossed it aside.

“She said she wanted to prove to me that she was immortal. She took my dagger and…”

“I know,” Quinn said softly. “I saw that part. Tell me you don’t have any open wounds, Hayden. Her drough blood can kill you.”

Hayden shook his head in answer. He couldn’t take his eyes from her face or the blood that coated her lavender gown. “I’ve no wounds.”

“Check,” Quinn demanded.

Hayden tore his gaze from Isla’s face and glared at the youngest MacLeod. “I’m not the one lying here with a wound in my belly. Worry about Isla!”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Hayden turned his attention back to Isla. He shook her again, the panic clawing at his insides — just as it had all those years earlier when he’d found his family.

“Holy hell,” Quinn murmured. “What has she done?”

“Isla,” Hayden murmured. “Isla!”

*

Isla gasped as the first breath filled her lungs. Her eyes flew open to find Hayden leaning over her, his gaze filled with agonized worry.

That concern, however, quickly turned to irritation.

“I told you I was immortal,” she said. She swallowed, hating the lump of anxiety in her stomach. There had been an instant when she’d first opened her eyes that she’d glimpsed such distress on Hayden’s face that it left her breathless.

His lips compressed into a tight line, his face once more set in its rigid lines. “I should kill you again for scaring me so.”

“So you didn’t believe I couldn’t be killed.”

“Isla,” he warned, his voice low and deep.

She had pushed him too far. Before she could utter an apology, Hayden stood and lifted her on her feet. She hadn’t realized until that time she had been in his arms. Again.

How was it that she always seemed to end up there? And why did she enjoy it so?

“I think you’ve proved your point, Isla,” Quinn said.

She hadn’t noticed they weren’t alone. Isla glanced at Quinn. “I do not like being doubted.”

“We can see that,” Hayden ground out.

Quinn rubbed his jaw. “So the only way for you to be killed is by beheading? Just like us?”

“Or Deirdre can kill me,” she said. “She threatened it often enough.”

“Because of her link to you?” Hayden asked.

Isla nodded. “At least that’s what she told me.”

“You doona believe her?”

Isla smoothed her hands over the front of her gown, the gown borrowed from Cara that was now ruined. She should have had a thought for it before she acted so rashly. It was so unlike her, yet it had felt good.

“Deirdre isn’t all knowing. She likes to pretend that she is, but she isn’t. It will take her some time to realize I’m not dead. Right now, she’s trying to build up her magic to create another body.”

“Will she look the same?” Quinn asked.

“Without a doubt.”

Hayden fisted hands covered in her blood. He glanced down at them, and she saw what looked like pain and anger. Memories maybe? It troubled him, whatever it was.

Quinn’s gaze narrowed on her before he looked at Hayden. “The morning meal is being prepared.”

“Thank you.” Isla couldn’t move, not with Hayden’s black gaze on her.

He waited until Quinn had departed before he asked, “What were you doing out here all night?”

“Deirdre rarely allowed me out of the mountain, and when she did it was for short periods. This time, I was able to do what I wanted. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve seen the sun rise or set? Yet I was able to watch both.”

She tried not to fidget when Hayden’s eyes turned to the now healed wound in her stomach. Isla put her hand over the small hole in her gown. “I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t,” he said. “I doubted you, and you proved that I was mistaken. There is nothing to apologize for.”

He surprised her, and few people did that.

“Come,” Hayden said and turned to motion to the castle. “Quinn came because Marcail is worried about you.”

But Isla hesitated. She had been shown kindness at MacLeod Castle, and in return she had ruined the gown given to her. She glanced down at the gown, wondering what she would tell Cara.

“Doona fash yourself over it,” Hayden said as if reading her mind. “The women will be glad I was proven wrong. I’m sure there is another gown waiting for you even now.”

She hoped Hayden was right, but if he wasn’t, she deserved their anger.

By the time she and Hayden entered the great hall everyone was seated and eating. The only one missing was Broc. Though she had never considered Broc a friend, he was someone she knew and she missed him.

No one said anything about her ruined gown. Hayden had managed to wash the blood from his hands before sitting down.

There were so many men that she didn’t know, and Isla hoped she was able to put names to the faces staring at her. Maybe she would ask one of the women later.

Fallon caught her gaze. “I had Ramsey draw a map of the Loch Awe area since he has been there. Do you know which side of the loch the Druids are hiding on?”

Isla finished chewing and swallowing before she reached for the parchment Ramsey held out for her. She was amazed at the intricate drawing. “You are very good.”

Ramsey bowed his head. “Thank you. It has been several decades since I have been to the area, so I drew it all from what memory I have.”

“I’ve never been,” Isla said. “However, based on what Deirdre told me of the area, this matches it.”

“Good,” Lucan said.

Isla pulled the map closer as she struggled to remember if Deirdre said where the artifact was. A forest, yes, but there were many forests along the loch. If Galen and Logan had to search both sides, they could be gone a very long time.

“It’s all right if you don’t know,” Cara whispered from beside her.

Isla glanced at the Druid. Cara was pretty with her dark eyes and hair, a perfect match for Lucan. “Give me a moment.”

Isla then put her hand over the map and closed her eyes. She focused all of her magic to the map of Loch Awe and searched for the presence of Druids.

With her eyes still shut, she moved her hand over the parchment, stopping occasionally when she thought she felt something. And then … something stirred. Magic.

Her eyes flew open. “Here,” she said and pointed with her finger. “The Druids will be in this area.”

Galen leaned over and looked at the map before raising his blue eyes to her. “How did you do that?”

“My magic.”

“Amazing,” Ramsey said.

Isla knew the truth, though. It was the black magic that made her magic strong and allowed her to use it as mies could not. Similar to Deirdre, but different because Isla didn’t rely on evil to strengthen her magic. She relied on her mie magic.

Fallon stood then. “Galen, Logan, you have your course.”

When Logan stood, so did Hayden, who sat beside him. They clasped forearms. No words were needed. They were friends, brothers, parting ways for a mission that could end in failure and death.

When Galen was about to stand, Isla put her hand on his arm to stop him. “The Druids are fearful and hiding. They will use magic to keep others from finding them. You could easily overlook them.”

“How do I find them then?”

“Trust your instincts. And once you do find them, they will not easily open up to you.”

Sonya leaned forward and nodded. “Isla is correct. The Druids won’t trust strangers, especially Warriors. Do your best not to show them exactly what you are.”

Galen let out a sigh. “Logan, we have our work cut out for us.”

“Then we best go,” Logan replied with a smile.

Isla rose with Galen and walked to the door with everyone.

“Godspeed,” Fallon said as Logan and Galen faced the small crowd.

Galen glanced at Logan. “We’ll be back as quickly as we can.”

“Bring the Druids if you can talk them into it,” Cara said. “They’ll be safer here.”

“We’ll do what we can,” Logan promised.

After a round of farewells, the two Warriors departed. Isla ducked away from the others, intending to return to her chamber and change gowns.

Only when she turned the corner someone was in the chamber. She paused at the door, surprised to find Hayden digging through a chest at the foot of the bed.

He paused and lifted his head, blond hair falling over his face. He regarded her a moment, then went back to looking in the chest. “I’ll be finished in a moment.”

Finished? And when the realization came, she grew uncomfortable. “This is your chamber?”

“Aye,” he said without looking up. “There were no empty ones, and I doona use mine.”

“I cannot stay here,” she said.

He straightened then. “And where will you stay? Will you sleep in the great hall?”

Isla hadn’t thought that far ahead, but she couldn’t keep Hayden out of his own chambers.

“I’ll be fine,” he said. “I’ll use Logan’s chamber while he’s gone.”

Isla clasped her hands behind her back. “You don’t like me, yet you allow me to use your chamber?”

Hayden closed the lid and straightened. He walked to her and didn’t stop until he stood in front of her. “I never said I didn’t like you.”

“You didn’t have to. It’s clear how you feel about droughs.”

Hayden took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “There is much your magic can do, Druid, but unless you possess Galen’s power to read minds, you have no idea what I do or doona like.”

And with that he was gone.

For long moments Isla didn’t move. She looked at the chamber, the bed with new eyes. It was Hayden’s. He had slept in the bed, dressed in the chamber.

She was going to have to find somewhere else to stay. Being in Hayden’s bed would be too much. Already she found herself searching him out among the Warriors.

Isla stepped into the chamber and closed and bolted the door. She stripped off the ruined gown, thankful to find another lying across the bed.

She hurried to change, trying her best not to think of Hayden. And failing miserably.