Darkest Highlander Read Free Page B

death.
    Broc had returned with the Warriors to MacLeod Castle. It hadn’t been easy at first to be among those he now called brothers. To give his trust and know they would watch his back when he hadn’t trusted anyone in centuries was … difficult.
    Yet, now he would like nothing better than to have his friend Ramsey with him. Ramsey was a quiet man and like a brother. They had bonded in Deirdre’s mountain. During those awful years Ramsey was the only one Broc had trusted, the only one Broc had listened to. And the only one he had dared let close.
    When the time had come to escape, Broc knew someone had to stay behind and spy on Deirdre, to gain as much information as they could. He had volunteered.
    Ramsey hadn’t wanted to leave him, but Broc hadn’t given his friend a choice. It had been one of the hardest things Broc had ever done. He knew he had taken a huge risk in thinking he could maintain his charade with Deirdre.
    His ruse had been rewarding, however. He had nearly lost his soul in the evil pit of Cairn Toul, but he had discovered crucial information about the MacLeods as well as how to help them.
    Each Druid, if he or she had enough magic, was able to use that magic in a special form. For Deirdre, she could move stones. Inside Cairn Toul, she had made herself a fortress complete with layers of dungeons deep inside the earth.
    Evil bred and grew stronger each day in that mountain. It now spread over Scotland like a plague.
    Broc turned his thoughts away from Deirdre. It would only lead to anger, and he needed to concentrate on Sonya. He swallowed and tried to look away from her bare shoulders, but he wasn’t strong enough.
    When it came to Sonya, the control he was known for vanished.

 
     
    THREE
     
    Cairn Toul Mountain
     
    Deirdre stared at the parchments open before her. The writings were faded, the paper crumbling before her eyes. If she didn’t do something quickly, whatever information the parchments held would be lost to her.
    She leaned over the scrolls as her magic built inside her. Deirdre pushed her magic out of her mouth as she blew on the scrolls.
    The writing glittered as her magic came in contact with it, darkening the words so she could read them. Almost instantly, the scrolls burst into flames.
    It was a counter to drough magic, but she had been given enough time to see what the scrolls hid. There was an ancient burial mound that held an artifact.
    Deirdre hadn’t been able to determine what the artifact was, but she knew where to look: Glencoe. However, she had also seen where no drough or any evil could enter the mound.
    She left the scrolls to burn as thoughts tumbled through her mind. There had to be someone who could enter the tomb. A mie , perhaps? Or even a mortal. Deirdre would have to use them in order to gain the artifact.
    Deirdre knelt in the middle of her chamber and called forth the evil, the darkness that made her magic so powerful. Once she could feel it rushing over her skin, she began the singsong chant she hoped would be able to help her find who could enter the tomb.
    The spell had never worked in helping her locate Druids before, but perhaps this time was different.
    A wall of flame erupted before her, reaching the vast stones above her and scorching them before the blaze subsided. Inside their red-orange depths she saw a face and heard a name.
    Broc.
    Deirdre threw back her head and laughed. Who would have guessed it would be a Warrior who could enter the tomb? And Broc at that. She wanted revenge on him for betraying her. Nevertheless, she would have him open the tomb. And he would do her bidding in the end.
    With a smile and excitement coursing through her, she rose and called to her wyrran. First, they had to find Broc.
    *   *   *
     
    Sonya missed the cocoon of warmth that had surrounded her. Strong, muscular arms had held her, carried her. Protected her. Of that she knew.
    Before the blackness had taken her, she could have sworn she saw indigo wings