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  “Now. Let me introduce you to my brother and his wife. The wife that had been chosen for me, I might add.”

  In the next heartbeat, MacNeil found himself looking at the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Her long, blonde hair hung down her back in waves. Her body was perfectly formed, and her face was as if it had been sculpted by an artist it was so flawless.

  A gown of white with what looked like pure silver stitching adorned her body. It was long and fit snug against her, showing her elegant curves for any who dared to look upon her.

  “She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?” Lugus asked as he came to stand beside her. “All Fae women are, but there was something commanding about Rufina that made her stand out against the others.”

  MacNeil could only nod.

  “Now my brother was blessed with the looks of the family while I got the brains.”

  MacNeil tore his eyes away from the woman to where Lugus turned him. Standing next to the queen was a man so extraordinary that even MacNeil had to admit he was handsome.

  “Handsome, aye,” Lugus hissed.

  The king’s tunic and trews matched those of the queen’s. His hair was such a light blonde that it looked white. MacNeil couldn’t tell how long it was because it was pulled back at the nape of his neck.

  “Why don’t they move?” MacNeil finally asked. “They haven’t even spoken.”

  “Their bonds are held by my power, and they haven’t spoken because I haven’t commanded it.”

  “You plan on ruling here as well.”

  It wasn’t a question and Lugus knew it. “And all this time I figured you for a witless idiot. You will never cease to surprise me,” he said with a slight smile to his face.

  MacNeil looked from Lugus to Theron. They looked very similar. The only difference was that Lugus’ hair was a darker blonde.

  “I suppose you have a plan?” MacNeil asked as his gaze returned to the queen.

  “Oh, I do.”

  It was the gentleness of his voice that made MacNeil jerk his head around. “And that would be,” MacNeil prompted. He became increasingly uncomfortable around Lugus.

  “You see, the prophecy will come to pass. Moira, Fiona and Glenna will unite their powers to end your line. But instead of the commander of the Fae there to keep the power with the Fae, I will be in his place. All the power of my world and yours will be mine to control.”

  MacNeil took a step back. “In order for the prophecy to be fulfilled I have to--”

  “Die,” Lugus finished. “That’s right.”

  A moment before the numbness took over, MacNeil saw the evil smile on Lugus’ angelic face.

  Lugus dusted his hands off and looked at MacNeil. He had warped MacNeil’s mind. Now there wouldn’t be any chance of MacNeil making a mistake.

  Yet there had to be a battle and MacNeil had to lead it. He might be a fool, but he wasn’t stupid and Lugus had to be sure his plans were carried out perfectly.

  He walked to stand in front of Rufina. Her blue eyes blazed with fury.

  “You could have had it all,” he told her. “Yet you chose Theron instead of me, instead of finding out if I was innocent or not. Tell me,” he said as he tapped his finger on his chin. “How does it fill to be trapped?”

  She moved her eyes away from him.

  “Look at me,” he roared. When her eyes snapped to his, he peeled back his lips in

  a grin. “I think I’ll leave you like this for the same amount of time I stayed locked in my prison. Since I already have a queen picked out there really won’t be a need for you.” He walked to his brother and smiled. “I think I’ll just kill you. Wouldn’t want you to get free and try to take away my power, now would we?” Lugus looked at his shabby clothes and then at his bother’s attire. “I think ‘tis time that I adorned myself as I should be.” * * * * Dartayous watched the morning sun begin its ascent into the sky. From the looks of the sky it would be a clear day, something rare in Scotland. A noise behind him alerted him to Moira’s awakening. Nothing more had been

  said the previous night, and he didn’t trust himself to say anything.

  “Are you waiting on me?”

  He sighed and turned to face her, which was a huge mistake. Her hair was mused and her eyes half closed, as if she had just been properly bedded. His body leapt to life at the sight before him.

  With a shake of his head he went to scatter the coals to leave no trace of their presence.

  “I see someone woke up on the wrong side of the blanket,” she said as she raked her fingers through her flaxen hair.

  He ignored her and continued to gather his things. If he was lucky she would go back to the way things were before they boarded the boat. In truth he didn’t wish for them not to talk, but if all they were going to do was bicker, he would rather have the quiet.

  “Have I grown another head?”

  The fact that she now stood in front of him meant he would have to not only look at her but answer her as well. He slowly rose to his feet until he towered above her. “Not that I can see. Since you woke in a foul mood I thought it best to leave you to your thoughts.”

  “Really?” she said casually, but her Druid green eyes had sparks of anger in them. “Then I’ll be sure to keep silent from now on. I wouldn’t wish to disturb your peace.”

  He reached out a hand to stop her when she whirled away, but at the last moment stopped himself. Maybe it was better if she hated him. It would keep a distance between them that he sorely needed at the point.

  With every moment he was with her, he found his desire for her growing out of control. The kiss had begun it all. For years he had kept a tight rein on that desire, but that wall was crumbling at an alarming rate.

  He’d tasted her, tasted the purity and warmth within her. And now his soul craved it. When this was over he was going to throttle Frang for putting him through this

  hell.

  “Are you going to stare at the ground all day?” Moira flung over her shoulder.

  He looked up to find her walking away from him. He grabbed his bag and quickly caught up with her. “There is a reason I was sent with you. You might want to keep that in mind before you head off on your own.”

  “Since we’re in a hurry and you seemed to have all the time in the world to study the ground I thought to get a head start,” she retorted.

  It was then he realized for whatever crime he had committed in his five hundred years of life God had sent him his punishment.

  Moira.

  His living Hell.

  * * * *

  Moira had never been so angry in her life. Once again she had tried to talk to Dartayous about the key, yet he was determined not to speak of it.

  “What are you afraid of? Do you have it and plan to use it for yourself?” she asked as she paced in front of him as he lounged against a tree, his dark hair stirring in the gentle wind.

  He threw away the apple he had finished eating. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”

  “Don’t I? Then give me one good reason why you refuse to speak of your tattoos.”

  Silence greeted her words. “’Tis as I figured. You are hiding something. I don’t know what Frang was thinking sending you with me. I’m the one to release the Fae. I’ve no need of you.”

  “You think you could have gotten this far without me?” His ice blue eyes flashed cold fury.

  For a moment she was taken aback. Dartayous rarely showed any type of emotion, and to see the depth of such now was startling. Yet, she refused to allow him the upper hand.

  “Aye, I could have.”

  He straightened from the tree and took a step toward her. “And you think you can find the key and enter the land of the Fae by yourself.”

  “Aye.”

  His gazed raked over her. “Then you’re right. You have no need of me. You’re a powerful Druid. I’m just a simple warrior.”

  There was nothing simple about Dartayous. She swallowed and wished she could take back her words.
She had wounded Dartayous when all she wanted him to do was open up to her.

  “What are you waiting for?” he baited her. “Shouldn’t you be going? You have to free the Fae.”

  She picked up her bag and stood straight. As she had said, she could do this on her own, and be much better company than he was.

  But in truth it was her pride that kept her from telling him she was sorry, that her

  temper had gotten the better of her. She didn’t know what had come over her lately, but her emotions were out of control. Since he had turned away from her, she took that as a signal to leave. Without a backward glance, she took the trail that was supposed to lead her to the stones. * * * * Dartayous clenched his hands in fury. What had allowed him to bait her like that? And she had left.

  What did you expect? You practically gave her no option but to leave.

  The silence that greeted her departure was as if he had suddenly gone deaf. He yearned to hear her voice again.

  Of course you do now that she’s gone. If she were still here you would be begging her to be quiet.

  He had to catch up with her and explain.

  Explain what? That you won’t tell her about the tattoos no matter what.

  His pride was on the line and he knew it. Every Druid in Scotland would hunt him down and kill him if anything happened to Moira. That’s why Frang had sent him.

  He was the best at what he did. One of the few who could keep Moira in line, yet what did he do? He goaded her into leaving.

  “Pride be damned,” he said as he raced after her. He had to rectify their situation without telling her that she wasn’t supposed to release the Fae by herself.

  Chapter Seven

  Moira continued to go over what had transpired between her and Dartayous as she walked. She wasn’t too far that she couldn’t turn around and find him. They might lose a half day’s journey, but at least her conscious would be free.

  The hairs on the back of her neck rose as a man stepped onto the path in front of her. She might have thought him just a traveler, except for the sword in his hand.

  “Well, look what we’ve got here, lads,” he said and flashed her a smile.

  She recoiled from the blackened teeth and took a step back. She didn’t panic. After all she did have powers. She could take care of him and his small group.

  Her courage took a major dip when seven horsemen lined up on either side of the leader. She could summon a wind tunnel, but then the horses would be harmed. She couldn’t live with that knowledge.

  ‘Tis either the horses or me.

  How many times had Frang told her that her tender heart would get her into trouble?

  Looks like he was right.

  Despite all of that, she still couldn’t imagine hurting the innocent horses. After all, it wasn’t them that was about to attack her, but the riders.

  She licked her lips and began to focus her powers. She kept her eyes riveted on the leader of the men, waiting for his signal that would send the others to her.

  “What’s a beautiful lady such as yerself doin’ alone?” the leader asked as he rubbed his jaw.

  Her eyes followed his hand as he scratched the jaw hidden by the growth of a beard matted with food and God only knew what else.

  “I’m not alone,” she answered.

  He bent sideways and looked around her. “Seems to me like ye are. Are ye lying to me? I don’t take to liars.”

  “I do not lie. My companion is behind me a ways.”

  He turned around to his men. “She’s so right and proper.”

  They all laughed. The leader turned back to her. “Proper or not, we’ve got to take what’s ours.”

  “If you are stealing from me, then it isn’t yours.”

  “I’m sure you’ll forgive me if I don’t agree with yer thinking,” he said and walked until he was even with her. “A lady such as yerself should know better than to walk these trails alone.”

  She stayed as still as stone and kept her eyes forward, waiting for the group of men to attack.

  When the leader’s hand touched her arm she had to stop herself from jerking away. She would do nothing to induce his ire.

  “Yer skin is so soft. I’ve never had a lady before. I wonder what ye’ll feel like as I’m pounding my rod into ye?”

  Moira swallowed. “You won’t have me.”

  “Oh, I think differently. But first, I’ll take any trinkets ye have,” he said and walked until he stood in front of her again.

  She liked him better this way because she could see him and what he was doing. “I don’t have anything.”

  “And I’ve already told ye I don’t like liars. Now hand over the trinkets or yer life ends. Ken?”

  “Oh, I ken,” she said. She let loose her powers. The winds surged around her making her hair fly into her face, but she didn’t notice. Her eyes were focused on the leader and his men.

  She continued to let the wind increase in intensity. The men began to scatter, but she didn’t take her eyes off the leader. He was the one she was concerned with.

  Then, she was jerked backward as a hand clapped around her throat.

  “You bitch,” a gruff voice roared over the wind.

  She tried to claw at his hands, but with every try, the wind died a little.

  “I’ll take this,” he said and ripped the necklace from around her throat. Once he had the necklace he threw her to the ground.

  She reached her hand up. “Nay,” she screamed as the wind disappeared.

  But anger soon replaced her fear. She wasn’t about to let them get away with her necklace. It was all she had left of her parents. She stood and summoned her powers. The magic filled her body until she thought she would break apart from it.

  It was then she heard the roar of rage behind her. She spun around to find Dartayous running toward her with his sword drawn and fury making his blue eyes glow.

  He grabbed his sword with both hands and brought it down at an angle, slicing one of the men almost in half. She couldn’t take her eyes from him. She had seen him fight before, but this time was different. This time his emotions showed.

  She took a step toward him before she realized what she was doing. One of the men tried to attack Dartayous from behind. She let loose the power within her and sent the man flying through the air to land some twenty paces away.

  The man jumped up and ran away, but before she could use more of her powers Dartayous stood before her.

  “Get out of here.”

  She shook her head. “They have something of mine. I intend to get it back.”

  His eyes glanced down at her neck. “The necklace.”

  “Aye.”

  “I’ll get it. I need to know that you are safe.”

  “But I can help you,” she said as he plunged his sword into another of the men.

  “I don’t have time to argue,” he said.

  No more was said as the sound of swords clanging filled the air. Moira decided that he was right, she would be better off leaving him to deal with the men.

  A quick glance showed her that the remaining four men were taking turns attacking Dartayous. But she wasn’t concerned. She had seen him battle more experienced men before.

  She ran down the trail intending to hide behind one of the boulders. Instead, she was thrown to the ground from behind.

  The breath whooshed out of her lungs as her hands were jerked over her head. She turned her head to the side and tried to breathe.

  “I told ye I’d have ye.”

  She froze when she heard the leader’s voice in her ear. Before she could react, he jerked her onto her back, his hands on the collar of her gown.

  “Now, ‘tis time I see the breasts of a lady,” he said and ripped open her gown.

  She tried to focus her power to throw him off, but before she could, he

  backhanded her so hard it left her dazed. While she struggled to focus her eyes and stop the world from spinning, she felt her skirts yanked up to her knees. “Almost th
ere,” the leader said thickly.

  * * * *

  Dartayous wiped the blood from his sword and surveyed the carnage around him. He had never let his emotions run amuck like that, but seeing those men gang up on Moira had snapped his composure.

  He slid his sword into the scabbard and followed the trail he had seen Moira take. When he noticed another set of fresh tracks with hers he increased his stride until he was once again running.

  He turned the corner on the trail and saw the leader straddling Moira as he undid his trews. His blood froze in his veins when he realized Moira wasn’t moving.

  With a roar that would have made the fiercest of warriors pause, Dartayous launched himself at the leader. The leader screamed like a stuck pig when Dartayous’ hands grabbed his head.

  Dartayous looked down at Moira and saw the bruise that was beginning to form on the left side of her face. He growled low in his throat and dug his fingers into the man’s face.

  “You dared to touch her.”

  The leader just whimpered and tried to pry Dartayous’ fingers away. With a vicious jerk Dartayous snapped the leader’s neck. He threw the man off Moira and knelt beside her.

  “Moira?”

  Her eyes fluttered open. “Dartayous?”

  “Aye. ‘Tis me.”

  She tried to smile, but grimaced instead.

  Anger welled up in him again, and he wished he could kill the leader again. “Can you walk?”

  He helped her to sit up, but she fainted a moment afterwards. With gentle fingers he pulled her gown together over her chest, ignoring the brief view of creamy expanse of breasts.

  Her safety was top priority, and he couldn’t wait for her to wake. He quickly retrieved their bags, and then picked her up in his arms. If he was lucky he would find shelter soon so he could see to her.

  Luck was with him it seemed, for he only traveled an hour or so when the small cottage came into view. Worry had settled into his gut like an unwanted stone. Moira hadn’t stirred once since he had found her.

  He approached the cottage slowly. No sign of smoke from the chimney, and lack of upkeep had him thinking it was abandoned. But he couldn’t take that chance with Moira in his arms.

  As gently as he could, he laid her down and kicked open the cottage door. Dust clouded around him so that he could see nothing at first. Once the dust cleared, it was obvious the cottage was deserted.