Forbidden Highlander by Donna Grant

had happened, and he was too tired to think about it. His head felt as if someone had tried to crack open his skull. All he wanted to do was sleep and dream of home, of his brothers.
    He wanted to tell his brothers he had pushed aside the anger that hadn’t left him in three hundred years. That fury had allowed his god to rule him, and when Quinn discovered that’s what Deirdre wanted, he had fought his god with everything he had. He would die now before he let his god out.
    Fallon paced his chamber as he watched the sun break the horizon, his mind occupied with thoughts of Larena. He hadn’t wanted to let her go, but if they were to leave for his castle, she had to get things in order.
    He still couldn’t believe she was a Warrior. Never would he have guessed there would be a female Warrior. Though why he should be surprised, he wasn’t sure. It was well known that some of the fiercest Celtic warriors had been women.
    A chill wrapped around his heart as he thought of Deirdre discovering Larena. Fallon had experienced for himself the treachery of Deirdre, and he didn’t want Larena coming anywhere near that evil bitch.
    The need to get to MacLeod Castle was great. If he’d had his way, they would already be there, but Larena was insistent on talking to Malcolm first. He understood, Malcolm had done much for her, but Fallon couldn’t help thinking the longer they stayed at the king’s castle the longer Larena put herself in danger.
    They were to meet in the garden in less than an hour. Larena had no idea they would be at MacLeod Castle in less time than it took to blink. He couldn’t wait to return, though regrettably he would have no news of the Scroll that could help free Quinn from Deirdre.
    Fallon blew out a breath. He hadn’t been able to talk to the king. He would, however, ask Larena if she knew anything of the Scroll. There had to be some Warrior or Druid who knew if it was real or not.
    Fallon found himself staring at a bush of dark red roses. His mother had loved roses. His father had brought a shrub back from a trip to Glasgow one year. Fallon smiled as he recalled how his mother had reverently planted the shrub, watching over it every day. Fallon had doubted it would survive in their rocky soil, but with her care, the plant had grown and bloomed with flowers of virginal white.
    He should have taken care of the roses, but like everything else, he had let them wither and die.
    The sound of a knock on his door brought Fallon out of his thoughts. He opened it to find Malcolm. Fallon looked at the young lord with new eyes. Malcolm had put his own life at risk helping Larena.
    “I owe you a debt of thanks,” Malcolm said. He pushed away a lock of blond hair that kept falling in his eyes.
    Fallon nodded and invited Malcolm inside his chamber. “She told me what you’ve done for her. I doona know if you realize how much danger you’re in.”
    Malcolm shrugged. “My family did wrong by her. I’m just trying to make it right.”
    “Is she ready?”
    “I’ve come to tell you she’s already in the garden. She’s eager to leave Edinburgh.”
    “Thank God,” Fallon said.
    Malcolm barked with laughter. He lost his smile and stepped closer to Fallon and lowered his voice. “Larena has been alone for much of her life. She’s used to fending for herself, and she doesn’t trust easily. Give her time.”
    “I willna constrict her,” Fallon promised. “I’m merely taking her somewhere she’ll be safe from Deirdre. My castle is being repaired as we speak. There are four other Warriors at the castle as well as two Druids.”
    “Two?” Malcolm repeated, his eyes wide. “How did you find two?”
    “One of them is my brother’s wife. The second found us.”
    “Found you? How?”
    “The trees told her,” Fallon said with a smile.
    Malcolm whistled low. “Amazing.”
    Fallon nodded. “It is. You know much about us, Monroe. If Deirdre ever gets her hands on you…”
    “I would never endanger Larena.