place before, it stands to reason they would return again.”
Galen gave a nod to Hayden. “He’s right. I’m fairly certain that’s why the wyrran arrived. They didn’t seem to be looking for the artifact. Instead, their objective was to grab as many Druids as they could.”
“Had we no’ been there, they could have gotten the entire village,” Logan said.
Fallon clasped his fingers together and rested his chin atop them. “Thankfully you were there. Sonya was told by the trees that Dunmore was as well.”
“Dunmore?” Galen repeated. “Is he the man I saw?”
Hayden gave a jerk of his head. “If he had a red cloak, then aye. He does Deirdre’s bidding in every way. She rewards him with power and coin, and tempts him with immortality.”
“Too bad I didna kill him.” Galen rubbed his hands together, wishing Dunmore’s neck were between them. “He tried to go after Reaghan. She escaped to the village, and I was about to pursue him when more wyrran attacked. There were too many for Logan to take by himself and keep the Druids safe.”
“No’ when the Druids stayed in the middle of their village,” Logan said.
Quinn scratched his jaw and nodded slowly. “You made the right decision, Galen.”
There hadn’t been another choice. As long as Reaghan was in danger, Galen would choose protecting her over anything else — even killing Deirdre.
The women walked in from the kitchens then and took their seats at the table.
“We could hear some of what was being discussed,” Cara said.
Isla looked from Cara to Galen. “But not all. Did you ask the Druids about the artifact?”
Logan snorted and shook his head, agitation pouring from him. “Oh, aye, we asked. They knew we weren’t who we claimed to be, that we were somehow more. They didna trust us, and didna want us in the village. However, with just a word from Reaghan, they let us in.”
“How?” Lucan asked.
Galen rubbed his nail in the groove of the table. “Her magic allows her to see into other’s eyes and read the truth — or the lie — of their words.”
Lucan whistled in response.
Galen met Logan’s gaze. “It was no’ until after the wyrran attacked and we convinced the Druids to return with us that we discovered the artifact wasn’t an object. But a person.”
“Reaghan,” Isla said into the silence that followed.
Galen nodded. “One of the elders, Mairi, told me only because I forced her.”
“I don’t understand,” Marcail said. “Reaghan is the artifact? How is that possible?”
Galen scrubbed a hand down his face and rose to his feet. Pent-up frustration and unquenched desire had him pacing the length of the tables.
“Galen, you can tell us,” Sonya urged gently.
He stopped and looked around the table. All thirteen Warriors, including Larena, four Druids, and Malcolm stared at him, waiting. “It appears Reaghan put a spell on herself to lose her memories every ten years. The Loch Awe Druids were in charge of keeping her at the loch and away from Deirdre.”
“Holy hell,” Quinn murmured.
Isla stood and caught Galen’s gaze. “When are her ten years completed?”
“From what Mairi told us, very soon.”
TWENTY-FIVE
The hall had grown so deathly quiet that Galen’s ears began to hurt. Each Warrior, Druid, and even Malcolm looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and understanding.
“What is it that occurs exactly?” Isla asked.
Galen began to pace again. “Headaches. An excruciating pain that consumes her.” When Isla and Hayden exchanged a knowing look Galen halted beside Hayden. “What is it you know?” “Maybe nothing,” Hayden said. “While you were gone, we learned more about Deirdre’s previous control over Isla.” Isla put her hand in Hayden’s, their fingers linking together. “Each time before Deirdre took over, I would have such a pain in my mind.” “I doona think this is the same thing,” Logan said. “What is happening to Reaghan happens every ten years, and only then.” Galen blew out a long breath. “The pain comes to Reaghan once a day, but we were told the episodes are lasting longer and striking harder every time.” “And the Druids can do nothing to stop the pain?” Sonya asked.
“It is part of the spell,” Logan said.
The sound of quick running feet sounded moments before Braden rushed down the stairs and straight to Logan. He launched his little body at Logan who easily grabbed him. Braden’s face was white, and his arms shook as he wrapped them around Logan’s neck.
“What is it, lad?” Logan asked as he held Braden against him. “You can tell me.”
Braden swallowed nervously and looked at Galen. “Does your promise still hold?”
Galen’s gut clenched in fear. “What promise?”
“To protect Reaghan.”
“Aye,” Galen said with a nod. “Has something happened to her?”
Braden’s eyes filled with tears. “She’s hurting, Galen. I heard her cry out.”
It was all Galen needed to hear. He had never run so fast as he followed the feel of Reaghan’s magic up the stairs and down a hallway. He threw open the door to Reaghan’s chamber to find her curled on the bed while Mairi stood at the window.
“Why didna you tell me?” Galen demanded.
Mairi turned, her sad eyes locking on his. “There is nothing any of us can do but be here for her, Warrior.” “There you are wrong,” Fallon said as he walked into the chamber to stand beside Galen. “You are in my castle now, under my protection. I will no’ have someone suffer needlessly.” “We’ve tried everything to help her,” Mairi said as she took hold of Reaghan’s hand. “Nothing we have done has lessened the pain.” Galen’s heart clenched when he saw the agony Reaghan was in. He went to the bed and took her other hand in his. It was ice-cold.
He didn’t waste a moment in pulling the blanket around her and tucking it against her body. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms to help warm her as best he could.
“Galen, let me assist her,” Sonya said as she walked into the chamber.
Mairi moved to block Sonya. “The spell Reaghan cast is very strong. To interfere might very well break that spell.” It was Broc who answered as he loomed behind Sonya. “We will no’ stand by and do nothing if Sonya is able to help Reaghan.” “Galen, please!” Mairi yelled. “The spell must stay in place.”
Sonya asked, “Why?”
Mairi shook her head, her hands trembling as she clasped them in front of her. “Every elder in our village has made a vow to protect Reaghan. As I told Galen, it has long been forgotten what it is she holds in the recesses of her mind, but whatever it is, it cannot fall into Deirdre’s hands.” “And you think that by breaking the spell Deirdre will somehow know,” Galen said.
Mairi nodded. “We do. I know you think us callous, but we are doing as Reaghan bid our ancestors. I’ve already broken one promise by taking her away from Loch Awe.” Fallon blew out a breath and laid a gentle hand on Mairi’s shoulder. “Every Druid here is protected. Especially Reaghan. Whether the spell breaks or no’, we cannot stand aside and do nothing if Sonya is able to help.” Reluctantly Mairi nodded and stepped aside. Sonya moved around the elder and lifted her hands over Reaghan as she closed her eyes. Galen held his breath as Sonya’s magic filled the room to mix with Reaghan’s.
“By the saints, her magic is strong,” Sonya murmured.
A moment later and Isla stood next to Galen and joined her magic with Sonya’s. Galen noticed how Hayden stood protectively behind Isla. In all the years Galen had known Hayden, he had never seen the blond so happy or seen such love shining in his eyes before.
Galen walked to Mairi, whose frame seemed to bend and whither before his eyes.
“We’ve always guarded her,” Mairi said.
