The sheer power of it left her reeling and searching for more. It felt good to be in control, to be the one others might fear.
Because she was tired of people messing with her. It began with her mother locking her in her bedroom, her father refusing to see what was happening, and her sister ruling every second of her life. Then Jason had dared to fiddle with her mind, using his magic to get what he wanted.
No more would she be a stepping-stone. No longer would she be bullied and pushed around.
Her magic—yes, it was magic!—saturated every pore, permeated every particle of her being. The sound of distant drums reached her once more. The chants were softer, the words difficult to make out.
Then, in her mind, she heard a thousand voices scream, “Now, Laura!”
She let loose her magic. It was uncontrolled, violent. It was ten times the force that had destroyed Charon’s cabin. And it felt glorious!
Her eyes closed before the white light blinded her, but it was the potency of the magic itself that sent her flying backwards.
Laura landed hard on her side, her head slamming into the root of a tree. Through it all, she kept her mind on her magic, on punishing Jason and getting free. She heard a woman scream and men cursing.
Then … nothing.
Laura drew in a ragged, broken breath and opened her eyes. Her head pounded, her heart raced. All along her skin, magic sizzled, waiting for her to use it again.
She climbed to her feet and smiled when she surveyed everyone laid out on the ground. When she spotted Jason, she walked to him. She could kill him. It would take just one thought and her magic could do it, but she wasn’t a killer.
“Come after me again, and I will kill you,” she promised his unconscious form before she turned and ran.
Charon felt the wave of magic that blasted through the forest with the force of a cannon. It made no sound as it sailed through the woods, but he knew instantly who it belonged to. “Laura.”
“How the hell is she a Druid?” Phelan asked.
Charon had no idea, but he planned on finding out.
“This way!” Broc shouted as he ran through the trees.
They others easily caught him as six of them moved as silently as ghosts and as quick as the wind. All the while, Charon’s heart pounded in his chest as he raced toward Laura. He couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms again.
And God help Wallace if he’d laid a hand on her.
This time Charon would tell her everything from beginning to end. After he made love to her again. He should have told her what he was and how the Warriors came to be when she asked.
Maybe then she wouldn’t have willingly gone with Jason.
Their story was a secret only Druids and Warriors knew, but it had also been a reason to keep her from seeing him as the beast he was.
How had he not known she was a Druid? Was she so powerful a Druid that she could hide her magic from him? At the moment he didn’t care. He just wanted to know she was all right.
Charon jumped across a stream and couldn’t help but wonder what Jason had said to convince Laura to go with him. Two years, Charon had known her and never lied. Why hadn’t she waited for him as he asked?
As much as that question bothered him, it was her answer he was afraid to hear.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Laura ran as if the Devil himself were after her. She didn’t slow when she slipped and slid down a hill, or when the rain started.
She didn’t care that her legs ached and the stitch in her side demanded she stop. All she wanted was to get to Ferness so she could pack a few belongings and get the hell away from Charon and Jason and everyone.
Who was telling the truth? And who was lying?
There was something dark, something evil about Jason that made her run. He’d used magic on her. She didn’t know how she knew, only that she did.
Until she could get her mind straightened out, she was better on her own.
Laura ducked beneath a low-hanging limb as she spotted a building through the trees. She didn’t want to think of Charon, but she couldn’t help it. He was gone, and with him any chance that she might find out the truth.
She could look for Phelan, but why would he tell her anything if Charon hadn’t? Trusting anyone now was going to be impossible.
With her clothes soaked and clinging to her, Laura slowed to a walk as she reached the edge of the forest. She had somehow managed to come out of the trees behind the pub.
She strode by Charon’s Mercedes, running her fingers along the sleek car as she thought about the last time they were together, before hurrying through a nearby alley. It didn’t do her any good to think of Charon. He was gone and unable to help her.
Laura peeked around the corner of the building to see if anyone was about. When no one came in sight, she dashed across the street. She had leaned on Charon too much. She saw that now, now that it was too late and no longer mattered.