Midnight's Captive(108)

“No one is ever a good person,” he whispered.

A moment later there was a shout of pure fury.

A shudder of foreboding ran through Aisley. “That was Jason.”

“I doona think you’ll have to worry about Mindy anymore,” Dale said. “Come. We need to get to Jason.”



Laura stood by the door of the parlor as the Druids of MacLeod Castle gathered to recount their last few hours.

She learned a lot by just watching them. Not a one of them vied for power over the others. It was as if each Druid was comfortable with who she was.

A novel concept after the way Laura had been raised. Especially now that she knew her magic had been stolen from her. There was much laughter among the Druids, and lots of hugs.

Sadness weighed heavily in the room as talk of the innocents dying in Edinburgh reached Laura’s ears. She leaned back against the door and watched as Marcail wrapped an arm around Cara in comfort.

Laura might not have been introduced to anyone yet, but she had caught their names as they greeted each other. She was waiting to learn the others’ names when a woman with silvery blond hair and amazing emerald eyes turned to her.

“You must be Laura,” the woman said with a welcoming smile as she walked to her. “I apologize for leaving you out. It’s been a trying night. I’m Danielle Kerr, but everyone calls me Dani.”

“Dani,” Laura repeated. “It’s nice to meet you.”

A second woman with black hair and violet eyes held out her hand. “I’m Gwynn. We’d hoped to meet you while you were at the castle, but Charon wanted to keep you all to himself.”

It was a nice way of saying she had been kept separated because Charon doubted her. Laura shook Gwynn’s outstretched hand.

Suddenly she was surround by all nine Druids. Laura ran her gaze over the faces before her, unsure of how to proceed.

It was Cara with her wealth of chestnut curls who stepped forward next. “Charon has finally come to his senses, I see. Now, we’re a loud bunch, so please forgive us. And with so many of us, we don’t expect you to remember everyone’s name. I’m Cara MacLeod. My husband is Lucan.”

Laura was quickly introduced to Marcail, Isla, Reaghan, Sonya, Tara, and Ronnie.

“We’re just missing Saffron and Larena,” Tara told her. “Saffron has a baby she’s keeping as far from the selmyr and Jason as she can.”

Isla nodded her head of inky black hair pulled back in a French braid that hung to her waist. “And Camdyn is with them, of course.”

“And Larena?” Laura asked.

Ronnie grinned, the corners of her hazel eyes crinkling. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s the only female Warrior.”

“Really?” Laura asked in surprise. She’d just assumed all the Warriors were male. But to have a female Warrior. It was exciting, and Laura couldn’t wait to meet Larena.

“You realize she’s our first English Druid,” Marcail pointed out.

Laura looked into Marcail’s unusual turquoise eyes before she glanced at the rows of tiny braids atop the crown her head. “The first?”

Tara took her hand and led her to one of the couches. “That’s right. Gwynn was the first American. Dani is half American, and Saffron and Ronnie are both Americans as well.”

“Cassie and Elena are from the States,” Laura said as she thought of the Dragon Kings’ wives.

Reaghan sat across from Laura. “Who?”

“Oh,” Laura said, comprehending that they hadn’t met any of the women at Dreagan yet. “Cassie is married to Hal, and Elena is married to Guy. They live here.”

Isla leaned forward and lowered her voice. “You know Dreagan is the Gaelic term for dragon.”

Laura looked away and bit her lip to keep from smiling. She couldn’t believe the Druids didn’t know about the Dragon Kings yet, but then again, when had the Warriors had time to tell them?

“Laura,” Gwynn said with a knowing look. “What do you know?”

Laura parted her lips and glanced around. “I’m not sure it’s for me to say.”

“Spill,” Dani urged with a grin. “Who knows when our men will tell us?”

The rest nodded their heads in agreement. Laura looked out one of the tall windows to find the rain coming down harder than ever. It was difficult to know when it was thunder she heard and when it was a dragon.

She stood and walked to the window. The storm had darkened the sky, and with the rain, it was almost impossible to make out the shapes of the dragons flying in and out of the clouds.

“I had to be shown,” Laura said into the silence of the room.

A moment later and Reaghan stood beside her. “What did you have to be shown?”