Midnight's Seduction (11 page)

But some remained.

The visions she’d had of Deirdre, Declan, and anyone else involved in this war now were in the forefront of her mind. She saw them differently, examining every particle of the visions in the hope of finding some clue or missed message.

She felt the visions more than before. Declan’s shouting was louder, and Deirdre’s rages made her quake inside. Everything was amplified so she felt it twenty times more than before.

Her head began to pound, and she tried to pull away. However, the chanting only grew louder, taking away her pain and her fear.

“Who are you?” she asked the invisible force she could feel around her.

“The ancients,”
the thousands of voices answered between the chants.

For the first time in so very long Saffron found a place where she could let herself go, where her magic was stronger, and where she could be completely safe.

Somehow, instinctively, she knew neither Declan nor Deirdre would ever be able to reach her where she was. No one would be able to hurt her again.

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

Declan reclined on his leather couch in his office staring through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the snow that continued to fall. With one arm resting along the back of the couch he sipped on his single-malt whisky, relishing the heady taste while his thoughts centered on Tara and how to find her.

He had already located Tara’s pitiful excuse for a mother. The same mother that had tried to kill her. But Declan had taken Tara away from all of that. He’d known there was something special about her. Too bad he hadn’t realized just how special Tara was before she had run away.

It was bad enough that she had had the audacity to leave him, but to make matters worse, it was like Tara had never been. She had vanished, all but become a ghost. Even with all his considerable magic he couldn’t find her. With all his money and connections, Declan couldn’t find a trace of her.

Oh, there were instances where the person that had been there months before could have been Tara, but he didn’t know for sure. Couldn’t know for sure.

He should have known Marie would give him nothing no matter how much he’d made her suffer. She and Tara hadn’t spoken in years, but Declan had held out a small thread of hope that Tara had given in to the need for her mother’s love and contacted Marie.

But he’d had no such luck.

With Saffron gone, Declan needed another Druid. What made Tara so special was that she came from a long line of very powerful
droughs
. All he had to do was apply the right pressure and convince her she belonged with him, and he’d have another
drough
on his side.

Tara’s magic was volatile, but he could help her control it. The thought of both Tara and Deirdre standing with him against the world brought a smile to his face.

If only he could convince Deirdre she needed him. She had survived for too long on her own to think she needed anyone, but Declan wasn’t about to give up.

He was so lost in his thoughts he didn’t see the black smoke until it was upon him.
“So you think you need Deirdre?”
the voice asked in his mind.

Declan wasn’t afraid of the deep, booming voice. He smiled. “Welcome, Master. I wondered when you would visit. As to answer you, aye, I do require Deirdre. She’s been around for over a thousand years. Her experience in controlling the world would be vital. No’ to mention her ability to create wyrran.”

“
I could give you that ability.”

“Aye, and I wouldna turn your gift away. You seem angry with Deirdre. What has happened?”

“She refuses to do as I command. I told her to forget the artifacts, but she will not.
”

“It was one of the reasons you allowed me to pull her to my time.”

The black smoke swirled around Declan thick and heavy, Satan’s fury evident in the way the smoke clung to Declan.
“That I did. I added much power to your magic, and I thought that with Deirdre, the two of you would have already conquered the world and allowed the darkness to take over.”

“And we will, Master,” Declan hastily assured him. There was only one thing Declan feared, and that was the Devil. He’d do whatever needed to be done, say whatever needed to be said. Because the last thing he wanted was to find himself at the mercy of Satan. “I urge you no’ to do anything rash when it comes to Deirdre.”

“You would speak on her behalf?”

Declan swallowed. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground. Satan had been irritated with Deirdre for quite some time. “I do.”

“I was about to take away all the magic I had given her, but even if I do, she would still be a powerful Druid.”

Declan leaned up, causing the thick smoke to shift. “If I can persuade Deirdre that she is better off with me at her side, then your plan to have evil take over the world will happen. Give me a chance, Master, to prove my worth.”

There was a long silence before the deep voice said,
“I will grant you this, Declan. But I warn you. Do not fail me.”

With that the smoke was gone. Declan ran a hand through his blond hair and sighed. He hoped he’d made the right decision, because his life now rested on gaining Deirdre’s trust.

The double doors to his office flew open and Robbie filled the doorway clothed in all black fatigues, his favorite. He smiled when he spotted Declan and hurried over. “Your spy has done it again.”

“Kirstin?” Declan asked. “What information did she ascertain?”

“I know where everyone at MacLeod Castle went yesterday morning.”

Declan looked at the clock on his wall and realized it was nearing five in the morning. “Where?”

“Satellite imaging picks up twenty-four bodies on the Orkney Islands near the Ring of Brodgar.”

A slow smile spread over Declan’s face. “And you’re sure it was the MacLeods?”

“I had the image enhanced. I saw three men wearing torcs. It’s the MacLeods, Declan.”

“Good work, cousin,” Declan said as he gained his feet. “I wonder how much Deirdre would appreciate this information.”

*   *   *

“Where is Saffron?” Gwynn asked when everyone gathered around the table to eat that next morning.

Camdyn didn’t bother to look up as he attacked the pile of pancakes layered on his plate. He took a bite of crunchy bacon as the others all admitted to not seeing Saffron.

Finally he had to speak up. “I saw her on the battlements last night. Then she went to her chamber.”

A chair scraped as Isla rose from the table. “I’m going to check on her.”

Camdyn knew she was fine. He’d felt the strength of her magic all night as he tossed and turned in bed thinking about her full lips and creamy skin, of her curves molded along his body.

Even now he could feel the sheer power of her magic. It was stronger than before, but it was still Saffron’s magic.

Hayden suddenly jumped up from the table and started running for the stairs. “Something is wrong with Isla.”

A heartbeat later Isla’s voice rang out from above, “I need help!”

Camdyn forgot about his food as he leaped to the top of the stairs, landing just in front of Hayden, and sprinted down the hallway to Saffron’s door.

The door was open, and he skidded to a halt when he spotted Isla squatting beside Saffron, who sat rocking back and forth in front of the fire.

“The fire is magical,” Hayden said from behind him.

Camdyn strode to Saffron, intent on discovering what was wrong, but when he went to touch her, magic shot from her body and hit him.

It didn’t hurt. It didn’t do anything but stun him. Yet he was unnerved. Unsettled.

Uneasy.

The others began piling into the chamber, each taken aback as they caught sight of Saffron. Camdyn walked slowly around Saffron until he stood directly in front of her. He lowered himself so that he looked her in the eye, but her tawny gaze that had haunted him all night wasn’t the same one that stared back at him now.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked Isla.

“She’s gone to the chanting,” Isla answered.

“Get her back.”

Isla’s ice-blue eyes held a wealth of uncertainty that caused Camdyn’s blood to turn to ice. “I don’t know if we can.”

“We also have no idea how long she’s been with them,” Marcail said.

“With who?” Camdyn demanded, his anxiety growing by the moment.

Reaghan laid a hand on his shoulder. “The ancients, Camdyn. Each of us Druids has heard the drums and the chants at one time or another. It is a haven for Druids, a place where we can discover answers or just find tranquility.”

Camdyn recalled Dani nearly succumbing just a few days ago. How could he have forgotten such a thing?

“Every Druid has something that strengthens her magic,” Sonya said. “For me it’s the trees. I believe it’s fire for Saffron.”

“Douse the fire then,” he ordered as he peered closer at Saffron, praying for some kind of response from her.

It was Hayden who stepped to the fireplace and put his hands in the fire. He grunted and shook his head. “Without magic, that will be impossible. Saffron is keeping this fire going, and no’ even my power will douse it.”

“Shite,” Camdyn murmured and ran a hand down his face. “There has to be something we can do to bring her back.”

Quinn caught Camdyn’s eye. “You’d best hurry, my friend. I nearly lost Marcail when she was drawn to the chants.”

Camdyn didn’t want to be the one to try and pull Saffron back, nor did he think he was the right person. Already her magic was a beacon for him. And no amount of warning himself to stay away seemed to help.

“Do it,” Ramsey said from beside him.

Camdyn gritted his teeth and reached out to touch Saffron’s shoulder. This time her magic let him through and he took hold of her.

“Saffron, wake up.” When she didn’t respond, he called out to her louder, shaking her harder.

But nothing worked. For fifteen minutes he tried every suggestion thrown at him to wake her, until he had an idea of his own.

“Saffron, your mother is here. She demands to speak with you. She said she’s come for the money.”

Saffron heard Camdyn’s voice from far, far away. It caught her attention, but the drums and chanting sounded so good she was loath to leave.

But Camdyn persisted.

Sometimes his voice sounded as if it were right next to her, while other times as if it were coming through a long tunnel. But always he was there, calling to her.

Saffron was determined to ignore him, even though his voice sparked the memory of their kiss and the way his wide lips had moved over hers with such passion and heat that it made her heart quicken and her body come alive.

She became curious as to what he wanted. Didn’t he realize she was safe? Didn’t he realize she didn’t need anyone anymore?

The more she tried to listen to his words the more the chanting and drums faded. It wasn’t long before she heard his words as clearly as if he were sitting in front of her.

Her mother. At the castle.

“No!” she screamed and tried to turn away.

Strong hands held her, hands and a touch she recognized all too well.

“Open your eyes,” Camdyn demanded softly.

Saffron shook her head, reaching for him. He was steady, a rock she knew she could hold on to in the storm that was her mother. “Make her go away. Make my mother go away.”

“She’s gone,” he murmured in her ear as he held her close. “She’s gone.”

Saffron took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She missed the chanting, but there was something altogether comforting and wonderful about being in Camdyn’s arms. She liked being there, wanted to stay there. Always in his embrace.

“Thank God,” Gwynn said.

Saffron shifted her gaze to the right and saw Gwynn as well as most everyone else in the castle. She pulled away from Camdyn, her eyes locking with his.

Deep in his chocolate gaze she saw worry there. For her? Had he been concerned for her?

“You gave us all a scare,” Isla said with a small forced laugh. “Please don’t do that again.”

Saffron nodded, but couldn’t look away from Camdyn’s dark, compelling gaze.

Dani threw her arms around Saffron from behind and hugged her. “Camdyn yelled for you for almost twenty minutes before he finally got through. We all knew he could do it.”

Saffron patted Dani’s arm, unsure of what to say.

One by one everyone left her room except Camdyn and Ramsey. Ramsey laid a hand on Camdyn’s shoulder before placing his other hand on her shoulder.

“It’s nice to have you returned to us, Saffron,” Ramsey said before he walked out.

Camdyn cleared his throat and was the first to look away. “What happened?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I was looking into the fire, then the next thing I knew I heard drums and the most beautiful chanting. I followed it, and…”

“And?” he prompted when her voice had faded away.

“Something strange happened with my magic. All the old visions I’ve had through the years evaporated, and the ones dealing with this war we’re in grew stronger, clearer.”

Camdyn stood and held out his hand to her. As he pulled her to her feet he asked, “Did you see anything different?”

“No. But … but I think my magic has grown stronger.”

“It has.”

She licked her lips and tugged at the hem of her shirt. “I didn’t mean to frighten everyone. Thank you for pulling me out.”

He turned to the side and glanced at the now dead fire. “Be careful, Saffron. You’re needed here.”

“Because I’m a Seer?”

“Because you’re a Druid and your fate is intertwined with ours, and because you’re a part of this family. It has nothing to do with you being a Seer.”

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Camdyn’s words echoed in Saffron’s head after he’d departed. Yet, when she walked, wincing at the stiffness in her legs and back, the morning sun that shone through the window caught her eye.

“Damn,” she muttered as she hurried to pull on the snow boots she had bought.

It had seemed liked forever since she saw a sunrise, and she had planned to get up early that morning and watch her first one in years. The chanting, however, had changed all of that.