The longer her magic encircled him, the more his hunger for her devoured him. He fought it, fought the tide of desire that threatened everything he was trying to build.
Sonya was a woman who deserved the best, and Broc was anything but that. The things he had done … he wasn’t fit to even think of touching her. Yet the passion that grew in him, the desire for her that burned as bright as the sun, thought otherwise.
“Broc,” Sonya said.
It sounded as though a thousand voices were added to hers. Broc walked to her, afraid she was in pain, but the bright smile on her face let him know she was more than fine.
“I can hear them,” she whispered, the other voices still accompanying hers. “It’s been so long. How I’ve missed them.”
Broc had no idea she had missed communicating with the trees so much. The sheer joy on her face made it clear though. He decided then and there he would bring her to the forest as often as she needed it. As long as there was no danger.
“What are they saying?” he asked.
She chuckled, the sound shooting straight to his groin then to his heart. “Touch me, Broc. Touch me and listen.”
He was unsure if he could touch her in the aroused state he was in, but how could he not when she asked? It took just a heartbeat for him to make his decision.
He lifted his hand, ready to place it on her, but he paused. He didn’t want to harm her, and he wasn’t sure if her magic would conflict with his god.
“It’s all right,” she whispered with a smile. “Touch me.”
How could he deny her? Broc took a deep breath and placed his hands on her arms. His eyes closed under the spell of Sonya’s magic, and instantly the world altered around him.
His eyes flew open to find the forest as he had left it. He shut his eyes again, and with them closed he could feel the trees swaying, as if they bent and smoothed their limbs lovingly over him.
He could hear them murmuring, but couldn’t make out the words. He might not understand what they said, but he knew they were just as happy to see Sonya as she was to be with them. It seemed they smiled down at her, as if touching her soothed them.
The cheerfulness ended, though, when a tree bent low, its branches cocooning them. The words came in a jumble, harsh and low, as if it were revealing a terrible secret.
Even with his eyes closed Broc could tell the news distressed Sonya. Her body began to shake, with fear or anger, he didn’t know.
“Thank you,” she told the trees. “Watch over them, please.”
The pulsing magic was gone before Broc could prepare himself. He dropped his arms to his sides and staggered back a step. His head swam with what he had seen and experienced. But his body hummed with renewal, with the feel of Sonya’s seductive magic.
He raised his gaze to hers and found her watching him. There was something in her eyes, something he couldn’t quite name. “Why did you show me?”
“I wanted to share it with you.”
No one had ever wanted to share something like that with him. He didn’t know what to say, and was too afraid of saying something wrong to even try.
Sonya blew out a harsh breath. “We must get back to the castle immediately. Galen and Logan need our help.”
Though Broc wanted to know the particulars, he didn’t waste time trying to talk to Sonya about it. He took her up in his arms and jumped into the air as his wings spread wide.
There was a small crackle of magic as they once more passed through Isla’s shield and the castle came into view. Broc flew low and fast. His friends were in trouble, and if they could do something about it, they would.
He landed gently in the bailey where the MacLeod brothers waited. Sonya stayed near him, and Broc had the urge to put his arm around her shoulders and tug her against him.
Fallon, the eldest, spoke first. “Did you hear the trees speak, Sonya?”
“Aye. Galen and Logan are on their way back to the castle. They have almost a score of Druids with them. It seems the wyrran found the Druids while Galen and Logan were there. They fought off the wyrran and saved the Druids.”
“Do you know how far out Galen and the Druids are?” Quinn asked.
Sonya glanced at Broc. “Nearly two days’ journey from here. All the Druids are female except for a young boy.”
“I can find them,” Broc said. His power of tracking anyone anywhere came in handy.
Fallon nodded. “Aye, but you cannot return them fast enough. Do you think you can carry me that distance?”
“Oh, aye,” Broc said.
“We leave now then,” Fallon said. He paused, and a smile pulled at his face as he turned toward the castle. “After I tell my wife.”
Broc watched Fallon rush into the castle to find Larena. Love had found the MacLeods and given them good, strong women as their mates. Even Hayden, whom Broc had often doubted would be able to let go of his hatred, had found love.
Every time Broc thought of love, his gaze always sought out Sonya, and it did so now. She turned to him, her amber eyes bright with some unnamed emotion.
“Be careful,” she told him. “The trees say there are no wyrran around Galen and Logan.”
“But…” he urged when she paused.
Sonya lifted a slim shoulder. “The trees are frightened for us. Deirdre seems to have regained most of her magic.”
Broc lifted his hand to stroke her cheek, but dropped it before he touched her. His gaze lowered to her mouth, her ripe lips just begging for his kiss.
It was torture being so near Sonya and unable to have her. Broc had suffered for so long at Deirdre’s hands, and it seemed he would continue to suffer for years to come.
“Broc? Are you ready?”
He jerked at Fallon’s call. Broc gave Sonya a small nod and turned to their leader.
“Which way, Sonya?” Fallon asked.
She pointed to the southeast. “Be safe.”
Broc tore his eyes from her, then lifted him and Fallon high into the skies.
TWENTY-TWO
It didn’t take Logan and the other Druids long to catch up to Galen and Reaghan. He’d have liked to have had more time with Reaghan, but that would have to wait until they reached the castle.
Reaghan had been lost in thought, and Galen had left her alone. She had much to digest after what she had learned. He knew the elders would not like it, but Reaghan had a right to know.
The long, low whistle that came from Logan at the back of the group caused Galen to turn around. Logan pointed to the sky. Galen spotted the falcon almost instantly.
“What is it?” Reaghan asked.
“That same peregrine was with us as we left MacLeod Castle and when we reached your village. It’s also decided to make the return trip with us.” “You believe there is something to it?”
He smiled and resumed walking. “Oh, aye, Reaghan. For sure. I’ve learned when dealing with magic that there is no such thing as coincidence.” “What will you do about the falcon?”
“Nothing. For now. We’ll see what happens when we reach the castle.”
