Highland Mist (26 page)

“What of your oaths? Aye, Angus told me. You swore to protect the Druids with your life, and you swore to your mother you’d find Iona. I’m your only hope of getting Iona back.”

“I don’t need you to remind me of my oaths. I’ve laid awake every night thinking about them.”

She gently touched his face with her fingertips. “I’m the one who can make MacNeil return Ailsa and Iona to you.”

“There’s nothing you could say or do that would convince me to let you go to MacNeil. I can get Ailsa and Iona back without you taking their place.”

She smiled ruefully. “I know.”

“Then you agree to be my wife?”

Silence. Then, “Let me think on it.”

He pulled her up and took off her gown. “You can think on it while in bed.”

* * * * *

The Shadow watched Frang and Moira talking together. His time had run out. The Fae were now among them and who knew where else. It had been hard to plaster a smile on his face when the Druids had been informed that Conall and Glenna had mated, that their souls were now bound together.

To everyone else it meant the prophecy was leaning in their favor, but he didn’t need to destroy MacNeil to have all the power. He just needed Moira beside him.

His hands yearned to roam over her milky-white skin and see if the curls betwixt her legs were the same golden hue as on her head. Never before had a woman called to him like Moira, and she didn’t even know what she did to him.

But she would soon.

Once her sister was out of the way. It would be easy. Soon Glenna would make her sacrifice and exchange herself for Ailsa and Iona. He chuckled and it earned him a disapproving look from the priestess beside him.

He ignored her and thought of Iona. Conall had much to learn of his sister, and it was doubtful he would like what he found out.

A prickling on his neck indicated a Fae was behind him. He turned and found not a Fae, but the Druid warrior Dartayous, staring at him with a suspicious glint in his feral blue eyes.

He nodded to the warrior and turned back as Frang began to speak to them.

Chapter Nineteen

“Ah Gregor,” MacNeil said, and rubbed his hands together. “I wondered when you’d return. Although, I must say I don’t appreciate you killing one of my soldiers.”

Gregor ground his teeth together at the mention of the soldier. What had MacNeil expected him to do when the soldier had attempted to take Ailsa from him? But he was determined to get through this without showing MacNeil his temper.

Instead of letting his mouth get away from him he shrugged.

MacNeil cackled. “You even succeeded in gaining Conall’s trust. But there seems to be a wee problem.”

Gregor crossed his arms over his chest and let his eyes roam the sparse hall. MacNeil Castle was a dismal comparison to Conall’s, and it irked him that Conall intruded on his thoughts at all. “What problem would that be?”

“Effie tells me you’ve turned.”

“Really?” Gregor sighed and leaned against the wall. He had known showing Ailsa compassion would make Effie suspicious. “Since when did you start believing women?”

“You’re a mercenary, Gregor. You have no feelings. That’s what I told her. Just make sure you don’t cross me. You wouldn’t want to be on my bad side.”

Gregor bit his tongue. It wouldn’t do to kill MacNeil because then he would never get paid and he needed that coin. He had waited long enough for it.

MacNeil stood, his hair grayer than Gregor remembered. He also noticed MacNeil’s nose hadn’t been set straight. At a wave from him, Gregor followed him into a private chamber. MacNeil reached into a chest. He turned and jingled the weighty purse.

Gregor clenched his hands in anticipation. His money. He reached for it, but MacNeil pulled it away.

“Ah, ah, ah,” MacNeil said, and shook a finger at him. “Your job isn’t quite finished.”

It was all Gregor could do not to growl his frustration. “What do you want now?”

MacNeil’s smile vanished, his eyes deadly. “You’ll return to Conall.”

“By now he knows I took Ailsa. There’s no way he’ll trust me again.”

MacNeil shrugged. “You’ll think of something. Once I arrive for Glenna, you’ll attack inside. I want Conall to see that I’ve done what others couldn’t.”

Gregor held out his hand, his other ready to clasp the hidden dirk in his belt. “I want my coin. Now.”

“I knew I liked you,” MacNeil said, and threw the purse at him.

Without delay, Gregor walked from the castle and mounted his horse. “I know you’re tired,” he said to his mare. “I am too, but it looks as if we won’t get any rest.”

He gathered the reins and turned the horse. As he did he spotted Effie, a gloating smile on her face. For she knew, like him, that Conall would never allow him back into his trust and would most likely kill him.

Gregor sighed. He pulled back on the reins and sat for a minute. A commotion behind him told him MacNeil had come into the bailey. There was a need in him to reassure Ailsa that she would be returned to her father, but Gregor couldn’t do it. He had made a similar promise to his sister.

He wasn’t meant to guard such precious things as lasses. Fate had proven that to him with his sister’s death. It was showing him again that he didn’t have what it took to keep them safe.

“Gregor,” Ailsa cried.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Effie holding her back as she struggled to break free. Tears coursed down her dirty face, reminding him of his sister. He squeezed his eyes shut and for the first time in years begged whatever god might listen to help him. He had a job to do, and he had no other choice but to do it.

With a slight nudge of his heel he set his horse into a gallop and shut his ears to Ailsa’s cries for his help.

MacNeil had waited patiently while Gregor sat atop his horse. He had half expected the mercenary to grab Ailsa, but, alas, he had ridden on.

“I thought he might hurt me,” Effie purred next to him.

“I was hoping he’d try. It’s been a while since I’ve seen some action.”

Effie’s eyes widened in alarm. “You’d have let him hurt me?”

MacNeil laughed and patted her cheek. “Of course not, my dear,” he lied. “Gregor would’ve taken down many of my men, but I’d have stopped him from getting to you.”

“I love your power.” Effie rubbed herself along his side.

“Did Gregor not satisfy your appetites?”

She jerked straight. “How… Nay, he didn’t.”

MacNeil lifted a brow. So she wasn’t going to deny it. She wanted power and he wanted sons. They would make a good pair, the two of them. “Come.”

“What of the brat?”

He looked down at Ailsa who still stared after Gregor’s retreating back. With a motion of his hand he called a guard to him. “Take her to the east tower and lock her in.”

“Aye, my laird.” The guard reached down and tossed Ailsa over his shoulder.

MacNeil raised his head and found Ailsa’s gaze directed at him. It caused a chill to run down his spine. Children shouldn’t know such hatred, he thought, but ignored the warning of her look.

* * * * *

The Fae hiding among the humans split into two groups. One group followed Ailsa to ensure her safety and the other followed Gregor.

Time was of the essence to the group who trailed Gregor as they sped across the country. They each knew their duty, and in order to keep the prophecy safe they would do whatever was necessary to ensure that the people involved stayed out of harm's way.

* * * * *

Conall couldn’t believe his eyes. He leaned over the battlements and blinked. Below, Gregor sat atop his horse and asked for entrance. It had been almost five days since Ailsa had been taken, and in that time Conall had been busy readying his men.

“Your audacity amazes me,” Conall yelled down. “Do you wish to die, then?” He itched to challenge Gregor.

Gregor raised his blond head. “It’s not like you to act rashly. Don’t you want to know who took Ailsa?”

“You took her.”

“Nay. I followed the ones who did.”

He reached out with his powers but couldn’t tell from this great distance if Gregor was deceiving him or not. Damn. He liked Gregor, but could he take the chance if he was wrong and Gregor had taken Ailsa?

“He did help you when MacNeil arrived,” Glenna said as she came to stand beside him. “If he did follow whoever took Ailsa, he wouldn’t have had time to tell you where he was going.”

Conall stared into her golden-brown eyes. “That’s what I’d like to believe.”

“If you’re not sure have Angus keep watch on him. As much as you hate to use your power, I think now would be a good time.”

He shook his head and let her think it was his dislike of his power that kept him from using it. With a wave of his hand he motioned for his men to allow Gregor entrance.

“Come,” he said, and took her hand. “Let’s find out if it was Effie who’s caused us so much grief.”

They reached the bailey as Gregor dismounted and handed his horse to a stableboy. Conall expected him to say something, but Gregor stood there, arms over his chest, and waited.

“I don’t think this should be done in front of the entire clan,” Angus said, and brushed past Gregor, knocking his shoulder.

Conall grinned at Glenna when he noticed Gregor’s jaw flex in agitation.

Once they were seated in the great hall and drinks brought, Angus leaned forward. “Well? Don’t just sit there, man, tell us what happened before I slit yer throat.”

Gregor sat with his legs stretched out in front of him, his hands clasped together. He shrugged. “You’d be sorry if you tried, Angus.” He turned his black eyes to Conall. “Where would you like me to begin? When I first arrived and started bedding Effie, or when I saw her take Ailsa and followed?”

Conall stood and paced. “I knew it. So you were the man she was bedding but no one could put a face to.”

“Aye. She offered, and I’m not a man to pass up such an offering. It wasn’t until later that she let it be known just how much she hated Glenna.”

Conall turned and looked at Glenna. She put her hands on the table and licked her lips. “Is she the one who tried to kill me?”

Gregor shook his head. “She laughed about it but admitted it wasn’t her. She does know who did it though. I tried to get the information but couldn’t.”

“You never found out all she knew?” Conall demanded.

“I was getting there. It would’ve looked strange had I shown such interest in Glenna. Effie is very jealous of her.”

Conall sat down and raked a hand through his hair. He had been probing Gregor to see if he was lying or not, but so far he hadn’t been able to tell. Gregor had always been hard to read, but now he was completely closed off. “Tell me about Ailsa,” he said, needing to know she was safe.

“She wasn’t harmed. I made sure of that. Effie took her to MacNeil. He intends to use her in exchange for Glenna. She’ll be safe.”

“How did you find this out?” Glenna asked.

“I knew Effie had been acting strangely, and when Conall asked me to question the guards, I went to find Effie first.”

“You should’ve sent someone for me,” Conall said, anger growing at Gregor for taking matters into his own hands. After all, this wasn’t Gregor’s family, but his.

“It was my plan until I saw her taking food from the kitchens. I followed her the rest of the day as she gathered her things. I assumed she planned to leave the clan.”

Angus slammed his hands on the table. “Ye’re lying.” He turned his bushy red head to Conall. “Isn’t he?”

Conall read the urgency in Angus’ expression. He shrugged and turned to Gregor, hoping Angus wouldn’t push. “Finish.”

Gregor stared at Angus for a moment before he continued. “That night I confronted Effie when I saw her sneak into the woods. She told me what she was about, and I knew in order for Ailsa to stay alive I had to act as though I were involved.”

Conall’s head began to ache as he listened. In all his years he had taken his power for granted. Now when he needed to know if Gregor was lying for the safety of his clan and he couldn’t tell anything.

Nothing. And the harder he tried the more his head pounded.

“You went back to the MacNeil?” Glenna asked. “After what you did, I’d have thought you’d be dead.”

Gregor’s lips rose a little on the sides. “MacNeil thinks he’s sent me back here to help him when he comes for you.”

“Conall, why in the name of St. Peter haven’t ye said anything?” Angus bellowed as he rose to his feet. “Ye’ve done nothing but sit there. Is Gregor lying or not?”

Conall couldn’t meet Angus’ gaze. Instead he kept his eyes on the floor. “I need to think.”

Without another word he rose and mounted the stairs. He knew Glenna would follow. Once he entered his chamber, he walked to the window and gazed at the night sky.

Glenna licked her lips and shut the door behind her. “Conall? What is it?”

“I can’t tell if Gregor is lying.”