Forbidden Highlander (12 page)

“I’m sorry.”

She turned her head to the winged Warrior. “What did he do?”

“He dipped his one set of claws in
drough
blood. Your wounds willna heal, Larena. You need to find help, find Fallon. You must stop the bleeding before it’s too late.”

The longer she stood, the weaker she got. She let herself sink onto the bench before her bed. “Why are you helping me?”

“Deirdre wants you alive. I’d rather not have my hide ripped from my body because of an incompetent fool.”

Before she could ask more, he was gone. She focused on keeping herself breathing. A couple of times she hollered for Malcolm, but the sound wasn’t loud enough to carry into the next chamber.

She wasn’t sure how much time had elapsed when the banging started on her door. She was slumped over the bench with blood everywhere. The ache from her wound had spread to her entire body, and each pump of her heart was like someone pouring fire in her veins.

The door swung open, and suddenly Malcolm was kneeling before her.

“My God, Larena. What happened? Why aren’t you healing?”

She licked her lips. “N … no time. Fallon.”

“I’ll get him.” Malcolm kissed her forehead and then raced from the chamber.

Larena tried to stay conscious so she could tell Fallon about her wound, but fate conspired against her. She blacked out on her next breath.

Fallon turned from killing a wyrran to finding three more waiting for him. As he began to chase after those, he spotted more climbing the outside of the castle.

“What is going on?” he grumbled to himself.

He easily caught two of the three wyrran he was chasing and bashed their heads together. With his strength, it killed them instantly. As much as he wanted to chase after the third, he had to get rid of the three he had already killed.

Fallon lifted the two wyrran at his feet and hurried back to the first he had killed. It was while he was returning from the forest that he saw Malcolm running toward him.

Malcolm gripped his arms, his blue eyes wide and darting around him. “Thank God I finally found you. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

That’s when Fallon noticed the stain on Malcolm’s blue vest. “What happened?”

“It’s Larena. You need to come with me right now. She’s hurt, Fallon.”

Fallon said no more as he followed Malcolm. They kept their pace more sedate than Fallon would have liked, but because Malcolm kept looking around him, Fallon understood something awful had happened.

As they climbed the stairs toward Larena’s chambers a servant went rushing by them, tears on her face. A moment later two ladies walked down the stairs, their hands covering their mouths as they whispered.

Fallon’s chest tightened. Larena was a Warrior, which meant her body healed on its own and very quickly. There was nothing that could kill her except cutting off her head.

“Malcolm?”

“Not yet,” the younger man said.

They reached the landing and turned the corner to walk down the corridor to Larena’s chamber when Fallon saw the crowd. People, lords and ladies and servants alike, milled about the doorway to Larena’s chamber.

“Let us through.” Malcolm’s voice boomed through the conversation.

The crowd parted. Fallon glanced at a few people as he followed Malcolm through the doorway. And then he stopped cold.

Larena was on the bench before her bed slumped over, with blood everywhere. A man knelt beside her and put his finger beneath her nose. Fallon couldn’t breathe. His vision swam and the voices around him faded as if he were in a tunnel. It was a hand on his arm that brought him back to the present.

Malcolm’s trembling fingers dug into his arm. “There was a man who attacked her,” Malcolm told the physician who rose from beside Larena.

“Did you get a look at him, my lord?”

Malcolm swallowed and glanced at Larena. “He had black hair. He rushed past me when I entered. I didn’t get a good look at his face.”

“I’ll report the death. My condolences, my lord. Lady Larena was well liked. Shall I take the body?”

“Nay,” Malcolm said, a little too hastily.

Fallon hid his wince, but couldn’t take his eyes off Larena. He stood to the side as people filed out of the chamber. Malcolm closed and bolted the door before he turned to Fallon.

“You must help her,” Malcolm said.

Fallon put a hand on Malcolm as he started past him toward Larena. “What happened?”

“She was attacked. I don’t know by what or who, but that is her blood all over her.”

Fallon felt as if someone punched him in the gut. He rushed to Larena and lifted her head. He put his cheek by her nose and waited to see if she breathed. It was faint, so weak it was barely detectable.

“She’s not dead, not yet at least,” he told Malcolm. “Tell me everything.”

Malcolm gripped the bedpost and cleared his throat. “I came in to find her just as she is. Blood gushed between her fingers as she held her hand over the wound. I asked her what happened and she told me there wasn’t time. Then she said your name. I left immediately to find you.”

“Did you tell anyone?” Fallon let one of his claws lengthen before he sliced open her gown. He tugged all her clothes off but her chemise. Everything was soaked in blood. He found her wound and ripped the chemise so he could see the injury better.

“Nay, no one,” Malcolm answered. “A servant must have come in and found her.”

Fallon saw the five slices in her side and cursed.

Malcolm moved closer to look. “What is it?”

“It wasn’t a man, Malcolm. A Warrior was here. He’s the one that attacked her.”

“Oh, God.” Malcolm staggered to the bed and sat. “How? Why?”

“I’m hoping Larena can tell us.” Icy sweat covered Fallon’s skin. He couldn’t remember ever being so frightened in his life. He had foolishly thought he wouldn’t have to worry about Larena dying, that he would be spared what Lucan went through every day. What an idiot he had been. She was in his arms dying even now.

He wanted to howl at the injustice, but more than that he wanted to find the Warrior who had dared to hurt her and tear him limb from limb. He reached for her skirts and tore off a long thick strip that he wrapped around her to help stop the flow of blood.

With Malcolm’s help they removed the bell hoop from beneath her skirts so it would be easier for Fallon to carry her.

Fallon put his arm under Larena’s shoulders and hugged her against him. “Larena? Can you hear me?”

Had he failed someone again so soon? He was trying to make himself into the man his father had wanted him to be, but everything he did backfired on him.

When Larena didn’t respond, Fallon gave her a little shake. He couldn’t stand not knowing what happened, or why the Warrior had attacked her and not him as well. Had the wyrran been a diversion so they could get to Larena? It made sense and angered him like nothing else could have.

“Has she ever been injured like this before?” he asked, and looked up to find Malcolm watching him with red-rimmed eyes.

“Aye,” Malcolm answered after a moment. “She’s always healed.”

“They had to have done something. That’s the only reason she would not have healed right away. I can’t help her, not here, but the Druids at my castle can.”

Malcolm stood. “Then take her. Now. I’ll deal with things here.”

“I need something to cover her with.”

Malcolm rose and returned a moment later with a cloak in his hands. It took both of them to get it on her, and then Fallon lifted her in his arms. Her head fell to his shoulders and her eyelids fluttered.

“Larena,” he said. “Can you hear me?”

“Fallon,” she whispered.

“Aye, I’m here. What happened?”

“W … Warrior.”

Fallon clenched his jaw. “Did he mean to kill you?”

She shook her head. “D … d…”

“Deirdre?” he supplied.

She opened her eyes and gave a single nod.

“God’s teeth,” Malcolm cursed. “How? How did she know?”

Fallon shook his head. “Deirdre is very powerful. There are many ways she could have learned of Larena.”

“Get her out of here now,” Malcolm said. “I’ll check the corridor.”

“No need.” Fallon walked to the balcony. “I’ve another way.”

Fallon had transported himself several times since he first learned he could, but he had never tried it with another person. He looked down at the garden and found a secluded spot hidden by bushes. A heartbeat later he had released his god and they were standing in the garden. Larena was asleep once more, and he feared that this time she wouldn’t wake.

Fallon couldn’t take the time he needed to make little jumps. He had to arrive at the castle immediately. He hugged Larena to him and concentrated on his castle and the bailey. It was going to take everything he had, but he would get them there. There was no other choice.

All of his powers swirled around him, making the ground move beneath his feet. Larena’s arm tumbled to her side and her head fell back, exposing her neck.

“Nay!” he bellowed.

Lucan heard the bellow from the great hall. He knew his brother’s voice as well as his own. Lucan jerked to his feet from his seat at the table and rushed into the bailey to see Fallon kneeling with a woman in his arms.

“By the stars,” Cara said as she joined Lucan at the door. “She’s covered in blood!”

Lucan bounded down the stairs and ran to his brother. Fallon kept whispering something over and over into the woman’s hair.

“Fallon,” Lucan said slowly. He’d never seen his brother look so … lost. Lucan glanced up to find Galen and Ramsey beside him. Whatever was wrong with the woman, they had to get her out of Fallon’s arms to aid her. “Fallon, look at me. Fallon!”

Finally, his brother glanced up, his dark green eyes clouded with grief. “I didn’t save her, Lucan.”

“Get out of the way,” Sonya said as she shouldered her way through the men. She reached to touch the woman, but Fallon jerked her away. “Let me see if I can help her, Fallon. I will not harm her.”

Fallon’s face was grim as he let Sonya place her hands on the woman. “Her name is Larena Monroe. She’s a Warrior. Another attacked her, but I don’t know why she isn’t able to heal.”

Lucan took a step back at Fallon’s words. A female Warrior? His glaze slid to Galen in question. Galen shrugged in response. Lucan had thought only males were Warriors. But whoever this Larena was, his brother cared for her greatly. Because of that Lucan would make sure they did whatever it took to save her.

Sonya slid a small dagger from her boot and cut away more of the material covering Larena’s wound. She leaned down and sniffed before she reeled back. “
Drough
blood.”

“What?” Fallon asked before anyone else could.

Sonya sighed and touched Larena’s forehead. “The Warrior must have dipped his claws in
drough
blood.
Drough
blood is poisonous to Warriors.”

“Oh, God.” Fallon’s face had lost all color. “Is she…?”

“Not yet,” Sonya said. “But we must hurry. She’s lost a lot of blood, and if we don’t do something quick, she will be gone from us forever.”

Fallon didn’t loosen his hold on the woman as he climbed to his feet. Lucan started to help him, but Fallon shook his head. “Nay, brother. I’m taking her to my chamber. Send Sonya there.”

And then Fallon was gone, using his power to jump to his chamber.

For a moment no one said anything. Lucan swallowed and turned toward the castle. The haunted look in his eldest brother’s eyes was one he had never seen before, and it unsettled him.

“A female Warrior,” Cara whispered.

Lucan looked at his wife. “I had no idea that was possible.”

“Deirdre will want her,” Galen said.

Ramsey snorted. “Deirdre will stop at nothing to have her. What I don’t understand is why a Warrior would try to kill Larena. We all know Deirdre must have sent the Warrior for Larena, but not to harm her.”

“True enough,” Lucan said. “We may never have the answers unless Sonya can work a miracle and save the woman.”

Cara leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’m going to help. I have a feeling Sonya will need me. And Fallon will need you.”

Lucan waited until Cara was inside the castle before he turned to the two Warriors, Galen and Ramsey. “Find the others. Let them know about Larena. They need to be aware that an attack could be coming soon.”

“I’ll see to it,” Galen said, and walked off.

Ramsey folded his arms over his chest, his gray gaze sliding from the castle to the gatehouse.

“What is it?” Lucan asked.

“An uneasy feeling,” was all Ramsey said. “Go to your brother, Lucan. I will patrol the area.”

“Don’t go alone.” He waited until Ramsey lifted a hand in response before Lucan took the stairs three at a time and hurried into the castle.

His home had felt empty without his brothers, even with all the Warriors and another Druid around. It was good to have Fallon return. Then he recalled the look on Fallon’s face when he’d come upon him in the bailey.

Fallon had looked the way Lucan imagined he would look if he were holding Cara’s dead body in his arms. It sent chills down his spine. Fallon had just recovered from his thirst for wine. What would happen to him now if this female died?

Ramsey walked from the castle to the burned village, his eyes trained on the sky. He had hoped a message, or more importantly, a messenger, would have arrived bynow.

He wanted to know Deirdre’s next plan, and he couldn’t do that without his spy inside her mountain.

With every day that passed, Ramsey worried about his friend being discovered. They had made a pact while chained together in Deirdre’s mountain that one of them would leave while the other stayed to spy.

It had worked for over a hundred years now, but how much longer could they continue to deceive Deirdre before she discovered she had been duped?

Worse, Ramsey knew his friend would never survive once Deirdre learned of his deeds. And his friend was a good man.

Ramsey sighed. He should have been the one to stay behind. He had known it then, and he knew it now. It seemed that the instances he saw his friend grew more and more scarce, and there was always the doubt in his mind that his friend had switched sides and was now spying on them.