Donna Grant: Untamed Highlander

The lightning grew closer and closer, its booms louder and louder. Isla had seen Deirdre use her magic this way only once, and the outcome had been disturbing and brutal. Isla knew she would fare no better.

The first strike of the lightning made Isla drop the oars as her body froze amid the torment and blistering heat that scalded her skin. She screamed and crumpled over while Deirdre commanded her to return to the castle and kill.

Deirdre’s magic wasn’t as strong as before, but even in Deirdre’s weakened state Isla had a difficult time keeping her from taking her mind. It was only the thought of Hayden that made Isla reach for the oars once more.

Hayden knew something was wrong as soon as he opened his eyes. He reached a hand over to Isla’s side of the bed and found it cool to the touch. She had been gone for some time.

He threw back the covers and jumped from the bed. As he reached for his clothes, something strong and magical passed through him.

Isla’s magic.

Her shield was gone. Which meant … she was gone.

Something inside Hayden snapped. Broke. The strange and new and glorious emotions he had let into himself just the day before crushed and left him … shattered.

He threw back his head and let out a roar that seemed to go on forever. Time stood still as his mind and heart raged. His god broke free, but Hayden didn’t stop him. Hayden would never stop him now, not with Isla gone.

Fallon’s eyes flew open with the first crash. He sat up and looked over at Larena who was leaning on her elbow staring at him.

“What was that?” she asked.

Fallon shook his head the same time the second crash came. And then the howl. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

“Get the Druids to safety,” Fallon told her as he leapt out of bed and tugged on his breeches.

Larena was right behind him as he raced from his chamber. Fallon followed the roars to Isla’s tower.

“Ah, shite,” Lucan said as he came to stand beside Fallon.

Quinn joined soon after. “We need to get up there.”

“Let me,” Broc said.

Fallon looked over his shoulder to find Camdyn, Ian, Duncan, Arran, Ramsey, and Malcolm behind him. “I think it’s going to take all of us.”

“I’ll go through the window,” Broc said.

Fallon started up the stars, each crash, each bellow getting louder and more violent. When he reached the door, something smashed into it, splintering the wood.

Quinn kicked in the door, and all Fallon could do was stare in stunned silence. Hayden was nude, his god free as he raked his red claws down the stone walls.

The bed had been sliced in half, the linens ripped to shreds. Hayden had thrown the table at the door, and it now lay splintered on the floor.

“Holy hell,” Quinn murmured. “She’s gone.”

Fallon had never seen a man so anguished, so devastated. “We’ve got to get him calmed down.”

Hayden suddenly turned to the doorway. The red eyes of his god flashed with anger and sorrow. “Isla’s gone, Fallon. She left. She left me.”

Lucan took a step into the room, and Hayden picked up the chair and threw it at him. Fallon didn’t waste another moment.

“We need to get him under control. It’s going to take all of us!” he bellowed over Hayden’s roar.

At that moment Broc busted through the window. Hayden swung toward him, his fangs bared. Fallon used that distraction to rush into the tower and wrap his arms around Hayden’s shoulders.

Hayden fought like a wild man, hitting and clawing and snapping with his fangs. It took all ten of them, even Malcolm, to subdue Hayden. Even then he fought them. Fallon knew Hayden would continue until he was dead, and he wasn’t about to lose a Warrior and a good friend.

Fallon wrapped a leg around Hayden’s and tripped him. They all fell to the floor. Hayden had fallen face down with the weight of them, his breathing ragged and hoarse.

“Listen to me, Hayden,” Fallon said through his own harsh breaths. “You doona know that she’s gone.”

Hayden groaned in misery and turned his head to the side. “The shield is gone. I felt her magic leave.”

Fallon’s gaze met Quinn’s. This was bad. Very bad. There was only one reason Isla would have left.

“Deirdre,” Quinn murmured.

“We can find Isla,” Lucan told Hayden. “We can find her and protect her.”

“She wants me to take her head,” Hayden said, not hearing Lucan. “How can I do that? I gave her my word. I promised her I wouldna let Deirdre hurt her anymore.”

Fallon jerked him. “Then help us. We’re going to need you, Hayden. Isla needs you. Protect her as I know you can.”

A moment later Hayden nodded and his red skin faded away as he once more took control of his body. Fallon motioned for the others to back away. He was the last to rise from Hayden.

“Where would she go?” Camdyn asked.

Hayden moved to his hands and knees before climbing to his feet. “As far from the castle as she could.”

“I’ll find her,” Broc said. “She couldna have gone far.”

“Far enough,” Hayden murmured as he lifted the bits of linens and blankets to look for his clothes.

Fallon walked to the door. “We’ll wait for you downstairs.”

Hayden’s chest ached. It felt as if his heart had been clawed out. He’d known there was a chance Isla would one day leave, but he hadn’t expected it so soon. He should have known with her aching head the day before.

He looked about the tower, disgusted with himself at the destruction he’d caused. He’d destroyed Isla’s things. Once he found her, he’d make it up to her.

If you find her. And if you find her in time.

Hayden didn’t want to think like that, but he knew he had no choice. He left off his shirt and hurried to put on his kilt. He wrapped the ends of the kilt around his waist and hurried to the hall.

No sooner had Hayden stepped from the stairs than Broc burst into the castle.

“Hayden!” Broc called. “Come with me. Now.”

He didn’t hesitate to follow Broc. He heard the others moving behind him, knew they would follow. Hayden raced from the castle and in one leap, vaulted over the gatehouse. He kept Broc’s flying form in his vision at all times.

It was the lightning that drew Hayden’s attention. It seemed to be centered over the sea, in almost the exact same place every time. Lightning didn’t react that way.

“Unless magic is involved,” he whispered to himself.

Hayden found Broc hovering at the edge of the cliffs to a beach he’d seen only once.

“Down,” Broc said.

Hayden jumped to the bottom. He landed smoothly and straightened. There was a sound behind him. He turned to find Quinn, Arran, Ian, and Duncan.

“We’re here to help,” Ian said. “Anything you need.”

“I need Isla.”

Broc dropped from the sky in a smooth movement and pointed out to see. “She’s there, Hayden. In the boat.”

Arran swore beneath his breath. “And I suppose the lightning is Deirdre?”

“Aye,” Hayden mumbled. “Have you seen this before, Broc?”

The winged Warrior turned his face away. “Once. It wasna a pretty sight.”

“But Isla is immortal like us. She heals.”

“Which will only cause her more pain.”

Hayden clenched his hands in aggravation. “What can we do? We need to get her away from Deirdre.”

“If that’s even possible,” Duncan said.

Hayden hated that he was right. If only Logan was there. Logan had control over water. He could have Isla back on the beach in a matter of moments.

“I’m going to swim to her,” Hayden said and pulled off his boots. “I willa let her suffer this alone.”

“You’ll likely die,” Arran said.