“I owe you a debt of thanks,” Malcolm said. He pushed away a lock of blond hair that kept falling in his eyes.
Fallon nodded and invited Malcolm inside his chamber. “She told me what you’ve done for her. I doona know if you realize how much danger you’re in.”
Malcolm shrugged. “My family did wrong by her. I’m just trying to make it right.”
“Is she ready?”
“I’ve come to tell you she’s already in the garden. She’s eager to leave Edinburgh.”
“Thank God,” Fallon said.
Malcolm barked with laughter. He lost his smile and stepped closer to Fallon and lowered his voice. “Larena has been alone for much of her life. She’s used to fending for herself, and she doesn’t trust easily. Give her time.”
“I willna constrict her,” Fallon promised. “I’m merely taking her somewhere she’ll be safe from Deirdre. My castle is being repaired as we speak. There are four other Warriors at the castle as well as two Druids.”
“Two?” Malcolm repeated, his eyes wide. “How did you find two?”
“One of them is my brother’s wife. The second found us.”
“Found you? How?”
“The trees told her,” Fallon said with a smile.
Malcolm whistled low. “Amazing.”
Fallon nodded. “It is. You know much about us, Monroe. If Deirdre ever gets her hands on you…”
“I would never endanger Larena. Never,” he swore. His eyes were narrowed, his cheeks reddening in anger. “There is nothing Deirdre could do that would make me tell her anything.”
Fallon was skeptical, but he gave a nod of his head to Malcolm. “I hope you are right.”
“You have my word, MacLeod.”
“It seems I do.”
Malcolm bowed his head. “Take care of her.”
“I will. And Malcolm, if you ever need anything, you are welcome at my castle anytime.”
“Thank you.”
Fallon watched him leave. Malcolm was a fine Highlander. His clan should be proud of him for putting his life on the line for Larena. Fallon made a silent vow that if Malcolm or the Monroe clan ever needed assistance, he would lend it in any way necessary.
Without a backward glance at his chamber, Fallon strode from the room. He was ready to leave Edinburgh as well. He couldn’t wait to show Larena his power.
Fallon had found his power quite by accident. Lucan called it
Fallon still couldn’t believe he could do it. For hundreds of years he’d had a powerful tool to use, but he had drowned himself in wine instead of learning to control his power. He feared there would come a time when he needed to use it and he wouldn’t know how.
He followed a path through the garden until he came to a bench where Larena sat. It was secluded. Perfect for them to depart.
Fallon recalled the first time he had “jumped.” It had been by accident. He had let loose his god so he could learn not to fear it so. He’d been in the great hall and wished he was down at the beach. The next thing he knew, he stood ankle deep in the sea.
After that, he spent his time learning how to call up the power at any instance. He hated that he had to let his god loose in order to use the power, but he was determined to learn to use it without the god. He was sure it was possible, and he was going to make it so.
“Will you tell me now why we had to meet in the garden?” Larena asked, a welcoming smile on her face.
It struck Fallon that he had someone else now depending on him. Was it a trait of his to fail everyone? He hoped to God it wasn’t, because he couldn’t stand to have Larena look at him in disappointment.
“We’re leaving from here. By my power.”
Her brows rose. “Indeed? I cannot wait to see this power. What is it?”
“My brother calls it
“Jumping?” she asked with a frown.
He laughed and held out his hand. “Is there nothing you want to take with you?”
“Not a thing.”
“Then let me show you what
Just as Fallon began to transform to use his power he heard a wyrran. He jerked and looked around for the creature.
“Another one?” Larena asked.
Fallon clenched his jaw. “You canna fight in your gown. Stay here. I’ll find this one.”
Larena didn’t like being left behind, but she knew Fallon was right. She sank back onto the bench and listened for the wyrran.
Fallon had told her to stay here, but she would help if she could.
As she sat there she contemplated all she had learned of Fallon. Never had she felt so beautiful, so cherished as she did in his arms. Every touch of his hands made her feel as though she were the center of his world.
Not even his admission of having been a drunk had any effect on her wanting him. He was trying to change from what he had been, and who was she to judge him after everything he had been through. She had known by being around him that he no longer drank. The reasons he had started she could understand, and she was happy to hear he had stopped.
The love he had for his brothers was obvious. All anyone needed to do was listen to his voice as he spoke of them. His brothers were all that mattered to him.
Larena wondered if she would matter to someone like that one day. She knew that something linked her and Fallon, but would it last? That, she couldn’t answer.
The one thing that bothered her was Fallon’s talk of the Scroll. He had no idea how close he was to it, and she wondered if he would take her ring if he knew what was inside it. She didn’t think so, but she knew he would ask her for it.
And could she blame him for that?
It wasn’t that she didn’t comprehend why he wanted it, but it was more than foolish to turn over such an important document to Deirdre. She didn’t like the idea of anyone being in Deirdre’s captivity, but nothing was worth the risk of Deirdre’s getting the Scroll.
There had to be another way to free Quinn, and she would help them figure that out. The Scroll wasn’t an option they could use, and she needed to guard her heart lest Fallon betray her for it.
Fallon already had her respect, and it wouldn’t take much more for her to care deeply for him. Once that happened, she wouldn’t be able to keep the Scroll from him.
She would have to keep her distance from him now. How was she going to endure seeing him day after day at his castle and not kiss him, not want his arms around her? It was going to be the most difficult thing she had ever done, but she didn’t have a choice.
Larena was ready for a new adventure even though it meant leaving Malcolm and being near a man who had touched her more deeply than she thought was possible. The connection between her and Fallon frightened her because it had been instantaneous, its pull too alluring to resist.
And she couldn’t afford another mistake like the one that had gotten her father killed.
Chapter Eleven
Lucan stood beside his wife in the bailey as they surveyed the castle. Cara’s chestnut hair hung in a thick
