Con’s lips twisted in anger. “It’s been done before, so it’s plausible if you’re doubting her.”
“Deirdre and Declan have both used others to get inside MacLeod Castle and hurt them. I have to be cautious.”
Guy nodded. “But you believe her, do you no’?”
“Aye. Is it because I want to, or because I can tell she speaks the truth?”
“Use the Druids at the castle to find out,” Con said.
“It may come to that.”
Guy poured them all more whisky. “Finish the story. We need to know what happened in Ferness.”
“She ran after the explosion of the cabin,” Charon said as he swirled the amber liquid in the glass. “Wallace found her before I did, and since I didna know she was a Druid, I hadna told her everything. Jason told her lies and used magic, and she believed everything he told her.”
Guy rubbed the side of his thumbnail against the upholstery of the arm of his chair. “You can no’ fault her for that.”
“Too many times MacLeod Castle has been besieged by spies. I didna want to be blamed for another.”
Con nodded. “So what happened?”
“Laura’s sister was at Ferness waiting for her,” Charon continued. “She took back Laura’s magic. We got Laura to MacLeod Castle, but we doona know if she’s working with Jason or no’. Before I could find out, Aiden called to say Jason had given an ultimatum. He’d stop the plague in Edinburgh if Aiden and Britt turned themselves in to him.”
“They can no’,” Guy said.
Charon shrugged one shoulder. “I know. Which is why I’m here. You offered to be allies. I’m asking for your help now.”
Con scooted back his chair and stood. “First, you need to know what we are. We can no’ just go barreling into a fight like you can. For the most part, you Warriors are able to stay hidden. Though we are powerful in human form, to tap the full potential of our magic, we need to be in our true form.”
“And that would be?” Charon asked.
Con jerked his chin to Guy, who flipped open his phone and pressed a few keys. Charon waited for something to happen, but nothing did.
“You’ll get a better view from here,” Con said, and motioned Charon to the window.
Charon walked around the desk and looked out over the rolling hills. Thousands of sheep and cattle were scattered as far as the eye could see.
He was taking in the beauty when something moved in the low-lying rain clouds. Charon lifted his gaze to see the massive form of a dragon with scales the color of emeralds.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Britt put her hands at her waist and arched her back as she stretched. Her dress was ruined, and her feet cold from kicking off her heels and walking barefoot on the floor. How she wished she had some jeans and a shirt. And socks.
All of it would be better to run in, she mused. She adjusted herself on the stool while thinking over what she had just discovered.
“Everything all right?” Aiden asked.
She turned her head to him, surprised to find him so close when she hadn’t heard him approach. “Yes.”
“I hear a bit of hesitation in your voice,” he said with a lopsided smile. “Why no’ take a break? I know you’re weary.”
Britt shook her head. “It’s only been a few hours. I’ll be all right.”
“Liar.”
She laughed, her eyes fastening on his lips. Lips that had kissed her with such hunger and passion that she was still reeling from it.
“Britt,” Aiden murmured in his deep, husky voice thick with a brogue that made her stomach feel as if butterflies had taken flight inside. “Doona look at me like that.”
She blinked and forced her gaze up to his beautiful green eyes. The desire she saw darkening their depths caused her breathing to ratchet up another notch. “Then don’t be so damned tempting.”
“Ah, lass.” His fingers threaded into her hair while his thumb caressed her bottom lip. “You’re the tempting one.”
Britt knew if she didn’t stop them, they were likely to start kissing again. With so much at stake—not to mention his father in the room—it wasn’t a prudent idea.
She licked her lips and turned her head away, missing his touch instantly. There was no denying she was more than a little freaked at all she had seen and experienced that night, but none of it diminished the incredible, crushing desire being near Aiden caused.
“I’ve found something,” she said.
Aiden’s stance shifted as he leaned against the table. “Tell me.”
She glanced to find the desire gone from his eyes, replaced with an intensity that made him who he was. Appealing, daring, and fierce. “I’ve found an enzyme.”