Midnight's Captive(56)

“Ohhh,” Lacy said, and threw up her hands in mock fear, her eyebrows raised and her eyes wide. “Did I strike a nerve?”

“Leave. Leave now. I don’t want to ever see or hear from you again.”

Lacy looked at the apple and gently ran her finger over it. “I’m not leaving until you give me back my magic.”

“It’s my magic!” Laura’s chest heaved from the violence she felt, which caused her heart to pound like a drum.

“Wrong response.”

Laura didn’t have time to duck as the apple came flying at her head.



“I found her!” Broc yelled. “Laura is in Ferness.”

Charon didn’t care how Broc had all of a sudden been able to use his magic. He raced toward Ferness, his sole thought to get to Laura and have her safe.

Even if she didn’t go with him, he just wanted her protected. Charon wasn’t looking forward to explaining why he hadn’t told her about himself. But there were answers he wanted as well. Like how the hell was she a Druid?

Worry began to niggle at him when he couldn’t feel any Druid magic. If Laura was in Ferness, shouldn’t he feel her?

Charon didn’t slow when they reached Ferness. Broc pointed to her flat, and Charon busted through the broken door to find Laura sprawled on the floor, unmoving.

“Laura,” he called, and rushed to her.

Phelan knelt on the other side of Laura. “Where is she injured?”

Charon did a quick look. “I can find nothing.”

“Then get her, and let’s get out of here,” Lucan said.

Ramsey stood at the door and looked over his shoulder at them. “I agree. I feel drough magic. Jason is most likely on his way.”

“Mobiles still doona work,” Lucan said with a growl.

Charon lifted Laura in his arms. “I’ll run all the way to MacLeod Castle if I have to.”

“You willna have to,” said a voice behind them.

Charon turned around to see Malcolm standing in Laura’s kitchen.

Malcolm gave them a brief nod. “I’ll find what’s causing the mobile phones no’ to work. It’ll take but a moment. Then get the hell out of here with the woman.”

“Thank you,” Charon said.

Malcolm paused on his way out the door, but didn’t say anything.

“He’s getting worse,” Ramsey said softly.

Broc sighed. “He carries too much guilt.”

“That’s no’ guilt,” Charon said. He carried enough of it that he knew what it looked like. What was wrong with Malcolm was much worse.

Phelan stood. “Nay, it isna guilt. There’s nothing left inside him.”

“That’s shite,” Lucan said, his face scrunched in a frown. “If he didna feel anything, he wouldna be here.”

“He came because Larena told him what was going on,” Charon said. “Malcolm always helps when Larena asks.”

Their conversation ended abruptly when lightning exploded through the village. Lucan immediately reached for his mobile. A second later, he was exchanging words with Fallon.

Charon looked out Laura’s window, searching for Malcolm when Fallon appeared. He wasn’t given a chance to say anything as they were all transported back to MacLeod Castle.

He held on to Laura tightly and looked around the great hall. As Charon scanned the faces in the crowd, he realized Quinn, Aiden, and Galen weren’t present.

“Malcolm said to leave him,” Larena stated into the silence. “He wants to watch Jason and the others.”

Fallon turned away, a string of curses falling from his lips.

“I’ve prepared a room,” Sonya said as she came up beside Charon. “Bring Laura so I can heal her.”

Charon walked behind Sonya up the stairs to the second floor. Then they turned right and proceeded down the corridor until they stopped at a door on the left.

Sonya waited as Charon slowly lowered Laura to the bed. He straightened but couldn’t leave. She had been alone in the forest for an entire day and night. Alone. Until Jason found her.

He looked up when Sonya touched his arm. “I didna find any wounds. The bruise on her cheek is from when they tried to kidnap her.”

“I’ll see to her. Rest, if you can,” Sonya said.

Charon rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. He was weary to his bones, but it was Laura he worried over. What had Wallace said to her? More important, how had she gotten away from him?

What was most disturbing was that he couldn’t feel any magic from Laura. It was like it had never been there.

A strong hand clamped on his shoulder, and he turned his head to find Phelan. His friend nodded and stood beside him. “She’s strong. Laura will be fine.”