easy.”
“And if he’s encountered Wallace?”
Laura’s eyes flew open. Just the thought of Jason Wallace made her skin crawl. She hoped she’d seen the last of him when she managed to escape his clutches. All thanks to one black-haired
Aisley. Laura had wondered what happened to her during the battle at Dreagan. Her body wasn’t with the rest of the dead. There was a possibility that Aisley could have gone wherever Jason went.
“We couldn’t get lucky enough for Jason to be blasted into a gazillion pieces, could we?” Laura asked.
“It doesna appear that way.”
“Why does evil always seem to win? Why do they always get the lucky breaks while we work our asses off just to stay alive?”
Charon rubbed his large hand up and down her back. “It’s the way it’s always been.”
“Well, it sucks.”
His chuckle reverberated through his chest. “That it does, sweetheart.”
Laura lifted her head and looked at her husband. “Do you want to go to MacLeod Castle?”
“Only if you do. I willna force you.”
“Will it make you feel better if I go?”
He shrugged his thick shoulders, his dark eyes holding hers. “I doona think it matters where we are. Wallace will attack. The other Druids will be here shortly to add their spells around the village.”
“You know as well as I no spell will keep Jason out.”
Charon smiled, showing her the fierce Highland Warrior she’d fallen in love with. “Nay, but it’ll give us enough time to call the others or to get you to safety. I’m eager for another go at the bastard.”
“You’re not the only one. He did use his magic on me and try to turn me against you.”
“But it didna work. You wanted my body too badly,” he said smugly.
Laura stepped out of his arms. “Is that so?”
“Aye.”
“And you didn’t want this?” she asked as she pulled her thin cotton dress over her head, leaving her standing completely nude.
Charon’s gaze darkened as desire took him. “You temptress. I didna know you were no’ wearing any panties.”
“I’ve got to keep you on your toes.”
He reached for her, but Laura sidestepped him and started running for their bedroom. She barely made it through the door before his arms wrapped around her, and he had her pinned against the wall. Charon’s mouth took hers in a fiery kiss as she clawed at his shirt until they were skin to skin.
* * *
Phelan put the kickstand down on his Ducati after he shut off the engine and delighted in the feel of Aisley’s magic. He’d worried that she would take his absence as a chance to run. Halfway back to the house is when her magic wrapped around him, and he’d breathed a sigh of relief.
He got off the bike, reaching for his mobile in his back pocket at the same time to see who kept calling him. His lips compressed when he saw it was Charon. For several minutes Phelan contemplated returning the call. In the end, he knew he didn’t have a choice.
Phelan pressed dial. Three rings later it went to voice mail. He waited for the beep, then said, “It’s me. Everything is fine. I’m still with the Druid. There’s also been no sign of Wallace. Let me know any news on your end.”
He hung up the phone and went to pocket it when it rang. Phelan glanced down to see Logan’s name pop up on the screen. He answered with a tight, “Hello?”
“How is everything on your end?”
“That depends on how things are going there.”
Logan’s chuckle came through the phone. “We’ve some news you might want to know. Britt is still a few days away from finishing her serum.”
“This will combat whatever Wallace has done to the
“Aye.”
“That is good news. I detect something in your voice though. What else is going on?”
Logan let out a long sigh. By the silence through the phone Phelan knew he was alone.
“Logan?”
“Things are strained here. Half want to believe Wallace is dead and concentrate on finding the spell to bind our gods. The other half are ready for battle.”
Phelan rubbed his chin. “Which category do you fall into?”
“I wish I could say I believed Wallace is dead, but I know you wouldna lie about what you felt.”
“I didna. It’s Wallace’s magic. I’d know it anywhere, just as Declan’s and Deirdre’s was distinctive. So is Wallace’s.”
“I believe you, Phelan. It’s why I’m ready for battle. The Druids have been adding more spells to the castle. A few will be heading to Ferness to do the same there.”
Phelan looked out over the loch, hating what Wallace was doing to them. “You know as well as I how easy it is to get through spells. Ramsey did it effortlessly enough at Wallace’s mansion. He’ll do it wherever he is.”
“Aye, but it’ll give us time. Isla is setting something up so that she’ll be notified if anyone attempts to come through the spells or tries to break them.”
It was everything Phelan could do not to growl at the mention of Isla’s name. Instead he said, “What do you want of me?”
“We want to make sure everything is all right.”
“It is.”
“And the Druid?”
Phelan looked over his shoulder at his cabin. For whatever reason, he wasn’t ready to share her with anyone else. “She’s on the run from someone. I’m no’ sure who, but until I am, I’m keeping her safe.”
“Where are you?”
He hesitated a bit too long because Logan laughed and said, “You know all I have to do is ask Broc to find you.”
“I know it all too well. If you must know, I’m about an hour south of Loch Ness.”
Logan made a sound at the back of his throat. “I’ve often wondered if you had a place you went. That’s where you’re at now, is it no’?”
“Aye.”
“We’ll no’ be bothering you unless it’s necessary. Let me know if you need help with your Druid.”
Phelan hung up the phone with that phrase running through his mind. He quite liked it. He wasn’t sure how Aisley would feel about it, which made him smile.
He pocketed his phone before he grabbed the bag of groceries he’d strapped to the back of the bike. Phelan hurried into the house and kicked the door closed behind him.
Aisley had been right. The house was his haven, his sanctuary. The only other people who knew of it were the caretakers he had when he knew he wouldn’t return for a while.
There hadn’t been a single instance in the four centuries after he built the house that he’d thought to ever bring a woman here.
Now, it seemed right, fitting even, that Aisley was there.
Phelan followed her magic to the bathroom. The door was open, allowing him to see her reclining in the tub staring out the window.
He leaned a shoulder against the door frame and smiled at the bubbles that were up to her chin. She grinned wickedly as if she knew he was watching her.
“I’m all pruny,” she said as she lifted her feet from the water and wiggled her toes.
“Maybe it’s time to get out then.”
“I’ve been telling myself that for thirty minutes but this feels so good. And the view.” She turned her face to
