“What do you want?”
“You. In my bed immediately.”
Quinn ran a hand down his face. He had no other choice. He couldn’t live with himself if he was the cause of Marcail’s death just because he found Deirdre repulsive.
“On one condition. You allow Marcail to leave the mountain. And I want to see for myself that you release her.”
Deirdre lifted a shoulder. “You agree to bed me after she’s gone?”
He nodded, unable to say the words. How had things gone so wrong so soon?
Twenty-eight
“Finally,” Fallon said as they stood before Deirdre’s mountain.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Ramsey stated as he eyed the mound of rock before them.
Logan chuckled. “Getting in will be easy, it’s the getting out part I’m concerned with.”
“Maybe you should stay behind,” Hayden said.
“And let you get yourself killed?” Logan snorted. “You need me to watch your back.”
Fallon shook his head at the banter between Logan and Hayden. The need to rush in and find Quinn was too much to bear, but for the sake of Larena, Lucan, and the others, Fallon had to be careful.
“You know what has to be done,” Larena said.
He frowned, hating that she was right. “I’d rather not.”
“It’s the reason I came, Fallon.”
Lucan nodded. “You need to let her go inside.”
Fallon knew Larena’s power to become invisible would allow them to find Quinn, but the thought of his wife, the woman who held his heart in her hands, in Deirdre’s mountain left him cold.
“I can handle myself,” Larena said. “I am a Warrior. I’ve proven to you countless times that I can take care of myself.”
“Aye, love, I know you can. I just like to be beside you just in case.”
She leaned in and kissed him. “And I love you for that, but you need to let me go now. We have to find Quinn.”
Fallon reluctantly stepped back. “Doona stay longer than you have to. Find him and get out.”
“It’s the finding him that’s going to take the longest,” Galen said. “Quinn could be anywhere in that mountain.”
Fallon cupped his hands on either side of Larena’s face. “Find Deirdre first. If Quinn isna with her, you’re likely to discover where he’s being held. Then it’ll be a matter of finding where he’s located after that.”
“I’ll find him, Fallon,” she promised.
“I have no doubt.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “Just promise me you willna be caught.”
She leaned back to look into his eyes. “I’ll return to you. There’s nowhere else I belong.”
It took all of Fallon’s will to release her. In a blink she transformed, her spectacular iridescent skin shining in the sunlight a moment before she became invisible. Larena shed her clothes quickly after that.
There was a soft press on his check before she whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you,” he said. “Come back to me, Larena.”
There wasn’t a response, not that he needed one. She would return if she could. She was his life, and if for some reason Deirdre imprisoned Larena, Fallon would move heaven and earth to free his wife.
“She’ll be all right,” Lucan said.
Ramsey nodded in agreement. “Thank God we have Larena on our side.”
“Aye,” Fallon said, though he wished he’d been the one that could turn invisible. He’d rather put himself in that kind of danger than his wife.
Marcail knew the moment the Pit door opened they had come for her. At the entrance to the cave stood the tall winged Warrior. Arran and Duncan refused to let him pass, so Marcail went to him.
“You’ve come for me?” she asked the Warrior.
“I have.”
“Broc,” Arran said. “Doona take her.”
So this was Broc, the one Quinn spoke of often. Marcail glanced at his large wings and couldn’t help but wonder how they looked spread. “He has no choice,” Marcail said.
“Everyone has a choice,” Duncan said.
Marcail put her hands on Duncan and Arran as she walked past them to stand beside Broc. She faced the two Warriors who had guarded her. “Remember what I told you.”
“Marcail,” Arran warned.
“Leave it,” Broc said. “She must come with me now.”
Marcail’s legs shook so badly they threatened to give out on her. Somehow she managed to follow Broc from the Pit without making a fool of herself. As she passed Charon’s cave, she saw the copper Warrior staring at her, his eyes haunted.
He didn’t wear the expression of a man who had gotten what he wanted. In fact, he looked almost beaten down.
When she and Broc left the Pit and the door closed behind her, Marcail took a deep breath and tried to remain as steadfast as she had in the cave.
It wasn’t easy.
She had no idea where Broc was taking her and if it would lead to imminent death.
“Keep up,” Broc said over his shoulder.
Marcail had to lift her skirts and practically run to keep up with his long strides. The dark blue Warrior seemed to be in a great hurry.
“Have you seen Quinn? Is he all right?” She knew she shouldn’t ask, but she had to know.
“Keep your thoughts on yourself.”
She halted. “Nay.”
Broc slowed, then stopped and turned to face her. “What did you say?”
“I said nay. I want to know of Quinn or I’m not moving.”
He took a step toward her. “I could toss you over my shoulder.”
“You could.”
After a moment Broc sighed. “Quinn is fine. Deirdre willna hurt him. Now, come with me, Druid.”
Now that Marcail knew Quinn wasn’t being harmed she continued after Broc. She knew in her heart Deirdre would plan a painful death for her.
Marcail had never feared dying, but she wished she’d had more time with Quinn. Those few precious hours had been the best of her life, even though they were spent in Deirdre’s mountain.
But her one regret was not recalling the spell. She’d almost had it. She had been so close. If she’d only have recognized what the chanting was earlier she could have already had the spell and freed so many men from their gods, as well as thwarting Deirdre.
Marcail stopped just short of running into Broc’s featherless wings as he came to a sudden halt. The Warrior looked at her and pointed to a door that stood open and led to a dark chamber.
“You need to go in there.”
Marcail looked into the chamber and took in a calming breath. “Tell me what awaits me.”
“Freedom. If you hurry.”
She frowned, her lips parting in confusion. “Are you jesting?”
“Nay. Get in,” he said and took her by the arm to shove her into the room.
Marcail spun around to find Broc had followed her and pulled the door closed behind him. “What is going on?” she demanded.
