Embrace the Highland Warrior

“For once, I agree, Duncan,” Sorcha said, looking a bit wan herself. Cody didn’t know if it was because of the prospect of battling an ancient demon or that she hadn’t recovered from Duncan’s kiss. “A woman who just learned she’s a warrior, going up against an ancient demon?”

“Out of all of us experienced warriors, only two have been assigned an ancient demon,” Brodie said. “What’s Michael thinking?”

“Watch it,” Duncan warned.

The warriors didn’t always understand their orders, but they never questioned them. This was different. Shay would die. Was Michael going to sacrifice Shay to get rid of Malek? It made sense now why Malek had tried to kill Shay twenty-five years ago, but how had Malek known she was the one who was supposed to kill him?

“While I agree with you all,” Faelan said, “if Michael assigned Malek to Shay, then it’s for a reason.”

“What if it was Bree?” Cody asked. “Would you sit back and say ‘Michael knows best’ then? You told me when Bree was locked in a time vault, you considered having yourself locked in one so you could wake up when Bree did, and then you used your talisman to free her.”

Faelan blew out a hard sigh. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

Sean pursed his lips. “It’s a dilemma. Sometimes these things don’t make sense on the surface.”

“There’s only one thing to do,” Cody said. “I’ll kill him.”

“You can’t,” Duncan said. “You’ll die too.”

“What choice do I have? I won’t let Shay go up against him.” How could the archangel expect Shay to do it?

“Even if you somehow manage to kill Malek, you’ll die. Where does that leave Shay?” Sorcha asked.

“You can’t do it, Bro,” Lach added.

“I’ll do it,” Marcas said, quietly.

“No,” Cody said. “It has to be me.”

“No one’s killing him today,” Sean said. “Let’s think it through.”

“Excuse me,” Coira said from the doorway. Her face was flushed as if she’d been running. “Ronan just called. He’s tracked a bunch of vampires to Beauly Priory, and they have the Book of Battles.”

***

Someone knocked on Shay’s door, interrupting her turmoil. The whole castle was in an uproar over her dream. She opened the door. Cody stood there, hands in his pockets.

“How’d your meeting go?” she asked, her voice grating. She hadn’t been invited.

“I’m sorry, Shay, but I needed to discuss some things with the warriors in private.”

“Warriors? Michael seems to think I’m one. Stop protecting me, Cody. I’m a big girl, big enough to be assigned a demon of old.” The words swelled in her throat, choking her. Seeing the way he paled didn’t help, but she quickly got her emotions under control. “You’ve tried to protect me all my life. It’s time to let me go.”

“Let you go?”

“Let me live.”

He pulled her close. “If you go up against Malek alone, you might not live. I can’t lose you. I lost you once before, and I won’t do it again. Do you hear me? I won’t lose you again.” His face was inches from hers, the flecks of gold in his eyes nearly covering the hazel. His mouth was tight, with frustration, not anger; she had known him long enough to know the difference.

She touched his face, soothed the bunched muscle beside his full mouth, and stroked his jaw line, feeling the new growth of beard. “If you try to do what I think you’re planning, I’ll lose you.”

Some emotion worked behind his eyes. “We haven’t made any decisions yet. We’ll come up with something.”

“We? You’re still doing it. I’m the one assigned to destroy Malek, but you’re trying to solve the problem without me.”

He ran his hands through his hair. “You don’t know how to destroy him.” His chest rose and fell in a hard sigh. “Let’s not argue about it. I wanted to see you before I go.”

“You’re leaving?”

“Ronan tracked the vampires to Beauly Priory. He thinks they have our book with them. He’s waiting for us there.”

“Do you have to go? Who’s guarding the castle?”

“I have to help. Only a few of us are going. Most will stay here, and the warriors from Ireland have arrived to help. Still, I don’t want you to leave the castle. I’d prefer if you didn’t leave this room.” His eyes showed worry.

She smoothed down his hair and ran her hands over his neck and shoulders, feeling the solid strength of muscle and bone. He was a warrior, but he was also human; he could bleed. And he could die. Her hand moved down his arm, and his hand turned over, linking with hers. Cody lowered his head.

“Promise me you’ll be careful,” he said, his breath a whisper against her mouth.

She buried her face in his neck, the side that had the mate mark, her mark, feeling his pulse beating there. “You’re the one going after vampires.” He held her tight. Too tight. “What’s wrong?”

He leaned back, studying her face as if trying to memorize it. He kissed her, tender at first, then