himself it was in order to discover why she wanted to speak with him, but Fallon knew it for the lie that it was.
He simply wanted to know more.
And so he hid in the shadows and listened as a man blocked her path. The man was dressed not in a kilt, but some revolting extravagance of velvet and stockings with padded breeches that stopped at his knees. In short, he looked ridiculous.
The man had a lecherous smile aimed at Larena, his intentions clear. Larena dodged his hands and raised a brow when he tried to kiss her.
“I cannot tell you how many times I’ve watched men try to get the better of her.”
Fallon turned to find the man who had been in the garden with Larena. He cursed himself for being so engrossed in a woman that he hadn’t heard someone approach.
The man gave him a friendly smile. “I’m Malcolm Monroe.”
“The lady’s brother. Shouldn’t you help her?”
Malcolm folded his arms over his chest. “She can handle herself or I would ensure the man might never have children.”
Fallon watched the tall, blond Highlander. There was something very amiable about him. Maybe it was his blue eyes that seemed so honest and open, much like Quinn’s had been when he’d been a lad. Time and Deirdre had changed that.
“There is much you do not know, Fallon MacLeod.”
Fallon raised a brow at Malcolm. “You know me?”
“You’re new to Edinburgh Castle. Everyone knows you.”
“And why I’m here?”
Malcolm shrugged indifferently. “Gossip does travel swiftly.”
“So what is it I don’t know?” Fallon asked. He turned to face Malcolm fully. His first instinct about the man was that he liked him, but appearances could be deceiving.
Larena’s brother was just an inch or so shorter than Fallon, but his wide shoulders and thick chest told Fallon he wasn’t a dandy, but a Highlander who was used to hard work.
The smile dropped from Malcolm’s face. “Larena isn’t the woman people think she is. The castle gossips. Men hunger for things they cannot have. Women, in their vindictiveness, spread rumors that aren’t true.”
“That is true enough.”
“Larena needs to talk to you. She doesna seek men out, MacLeod, they come to her. If she tells you she has something to discuss with you, then I would listen to what she has to say.”
“Do you know what she wants to talk to me about?”
Malcolm shrugged again. “It isn’t for me to say. All I ask is that you doona judge her. We all wear guises in some fashion.” He bowed and started to turn when he paused. “I’ve heard that Iver sent a missive to the king. If you’ve pinned your hopes on Iver’s helping you, you chose the wrong noble. King James tends to ignore Iver, as most of us do. I do know someone, however, that the king will listen to.”
Fallon wasn’t fooled for a moment. “I told Iver not to send the missive, but apparently the idiot doesna listen well. Tell me why the king would listen to you?”
“A fair question,” Malcolm said with a smile. “My family, the Monroes, are in good standing with the king. I’ve traveled to London twice to see him. He will listen to me.”
Fallon still didn’t like the idea of being beholden to anyone, but he didn’t want to fail his brothers again. He had been charged with getting the castle back in the hands of the MacLeods. He could either accept Malcolm’s help or travel to London himself and take that much longer to rescue Quinn.
There wasn’t really a choice. Still, it was difficult for Fallon. “And what do you want in exchange?”
“I would tell you I’m doing it because I want to, but you wouldn’t believe me. So I ask that you listen to Larena. That’s all you have to do. Just listen to her.”
Fallon watched him walk away. People weren’t kind for no reason at the castle of the king. They were all out for themselves. They would do you a favor if you could do one in return. Was it worth it to listen to Larena?
When he turned back, Larena was also gone. Fallon ran a hand down his face. He was so tired. And damned thirsty for wine. He held his hand in front of his face and cursed when he saw it shake.
He spun on his heel and stalked to his chamber. He was fidgety, anxious. He wanted to sit atop his castle and let his god loose. He wanted to look out over his sea and watch the waves roll in the dark water. He wanted the comfort of his hall and the calm of home. He wanted his brothers.
Fallon eased his door shut behind him. No candles flickered in greeting. He preferred it this way. It reminded him of what he had left behind on the coast.
He barred the door and froze as he realized someone was in the chamber with him. He reached out, his hand wrapping around a thin wrist.
Fallon pulled the intruder out of the shadows and into the light of the moon from his window. He lengthened one of his claws and put it in his assailant’s side as he pinned a wrist to the door. His eyes widened when he saw he had none other than Larena Monroe in his grasp.
The scent of lilies washed over him. He realized too late he had her against the door, his body pressed against hers. His gaze was riveted to her breasts that rose and fell rapidly, matching the beat of the pulse at her throat.
His anger vanished, replaced with something more primal, more urgent. His blood roared in his ears as desire surged through him. He could feel every inch of her soft body, and God help him, he wanted more. He fought for control, fought to release her and step back.
Then he heard something through the door. A sound distant and fleeting, but with his enhanced hearing he was able to catch it. He leaned his face toward the wood of the door and found his head next to Larena’s.
The sound was forgotten as the feel of her silky cheek rubbed against his. He turned his head and breathed in the scent of her hair. A silken strand touched his face, and before he knew what he was doing, he bent and licked her neck. His lips slid over her jaw and he heard the whoosh of air that passed through her mouth.
His balls tightened as blood rushed to his cock. He had to get away from her, to forget about sampling her lips and tasting her creamy skin. To forget the feel of her curves against his body and the way she fit against him perfectly. To forget the taste of her on his tongue and the scent of her that filled his nose.
But Fallon made a fatal mistake. He looked into her eyes.
Chapter Four
Quinn tugged at the chains holding his wrists and ankles in the darkness of his prison. How long had he been in the mountain? A day? A month?
With every moment he was Deirdre’s captive he could feel himself slipping under the god’s control. His god, Apodatoo, the god of revenge, wanted complete power.
There had been a few weeks before Deirdre captured him when Quinn had been tempted to give the god that command. He had resisted. But then again, he’d had his brothers to help him, even though they hadn’t known what was going through his mind.
His brothers.
God, how he missed them. He missed Lucan’s easy smile that relaxed him, and Fallon’s intense gaze that gave him strength.
Lucan and Fallon had always been there for him, even when he hadn’t wanted them. Now, Quinn would chew off his own arm just to be with them again. To sit in their ruin of a castle and share a meal together.
Quinn had wanted to run away. It was what had gotten him caught, but looking back now, he realized that he hadn’t run from his brothers. He had been running from himself.
What a fool he’d been. What a fool he still was. Apodatoo had grown stronger every time Quinn couldn’t
