Donna Grant: Untamed Highlander

“Kill them all!” Deirdre’s voice shouted in her head. “You cannot win, and the longer you fight me the more you will suffer, the more they will suffer.”

Fear tried to take hold of Isla, but she concentrated on her magic, on the feel of its purity and influence, and Hayden’s love. It grew and grew and grew until Isla felt the power of her magic.

That’s when she used her magic and shoved at Deirdre in her head. To Isla’s surprise, she felt Deirdre’s hold on her wane a sliver. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

Isla did it again and again, each time gaining more ground on Deirdre.

Hayden never lifted his lips from hers. He kept her locked against his chest, giving her all of him that she needed. And Isla refused to let him down.

She kept shoving at Deirdre until at last there was a loud snapping sound in Isla’s head. A scream tore from her lips and her body stiffened as her head fell back.

Isla could feel Deirdre trying to maintain her power, but whatever Isla had done worked. There just needed one more bout of magic to break Deirdre’s hold forever.

Isla turned her head to Hayden and looked into his black eyes. “I love you.”

She heard Deirdre scream’s of rage, her threat of death, and then she was gone.

The only sounds to break the silence were the waves and someone cursing. Isla couldn’t stop shaking. She’d thought for sure her life was over.

She’d wanted to rejoice at hearing Hayden’s voice, but with Deirdre commanding her to kill everyone at the castle, Isla hadn’t wanted him near her for fear she would break under Deirdre’s magic and kill him.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry for your family.”

His large hands rubbed her back as he brought her against him. “It wasn’t your fault. The blame lies with Deirdre. All of this is Deirdre’s fault.”

“Are either of you hurt?” Broc asked.

Isla shook her head, and Hayden answered, “Nay.”

“Good. Is she gone, Isla?”

Isla turned her head so she could see Broc and the others. “She’s gone from my mind. For good, I think.”

Broc smiled and opened his large wings. “I think Hayden can get you back to the castle. We’ll report this to Fallon and Lucan and the others.”

Quinn was the last to leave. He gave them a smile and a nod of his head before he turned on his heel and started up the path.

Isla swallowed, suddenly nervous now that they were alone. She slowly rose from Hayden’s arms and staggered to the sea. Once there, she let her magic rebuild her strength.

She felt Hayden behind her and shivered when his hands rested on her shoulders before skimming down her arms.

“You said you loved me.” His voice held an odd note, almost as if he was afraid to say it.

“Aye.”

“After everything I’ve done and said to you, how can you?”

She turned in his arms to face him. “Because of who you are. How could I not fall in love with you? And you? Do you still care for me despite what I’ve done?”

“I mourn the loss of my family. I want revenge for their murder, but I will get that vengeance when Deirdre is dead. You give me strength. You alone make me see the good in the world. I would be nothing without you.”

She felt tears sting her eyes again. He brushed away one that escaped to land on her cheek before he kissed her.

Isla rose up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Their laughter mingled with the dawn as he lifted her and spun them about before falling into the water.

Somehow, some way, Isla had beaten Deirdre. But that’s not what she celebrated. Isla celebrated Hayden and the love they had found.

Hayden couldn’t stop smiling. He had almost lost everything for the second time in his life, but he had managed to keep it all. Most especially Isla.

Now, as they sat in the great hall with the others laughing and talking, Hayden looked around at his new family. And the love of his life.

“Are you happy?” he asked Isla.

She turned her ice-blue eyes to him and smiled radiantly. “I’ve never been happier. I never thought it was possible. Not for me.”

Though there was still much to do and the war still raged around them, the castle had been rejoicing the entire day. After Deirdre’s attack on Isla, and Isla’s triumph, it was cause for merriment.

More importantly was the fact Hayden no longer thought about Isla being a drough . She was his, and that’s all that he needed.

“What happens now?” Isla asked.

He threaded his fingers in hers. “We’re together. That’s all I need.”

“I don’t know if I’m still immortal.”

“Then we’ll take special care of you,” he promised. “I will always take care of you.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. “We’ve such a difficult path ahead of us.”

“We’ll face it together.”

“Together,” she repeated and looked up at him.

Hayden cleared his throat and glanced around. He was a private man, so he didn’t want everyone to overhear what he was about to say.

“Hayden?” Isla asked.

He lifted her hand to lips and kissed her knuckles. “I doona deserve you, but I won’t let you go. I never thought I would find myself in this position, Isla, but I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“Will you marry me?”

She swallowed and blinked rapidly. “Aye, Hayden Campbell, I’d be most delighted to be your wife.”

There was a loud cheer in the great hall as Hayden pulled her into his arms. He should have known everyone could hear them, but he didn’t care.

The well wishes came, each Warrior stopping beside them. The MacLeods and their wives were last.

“You two are perfect for each other,” Marcail said after she gave Isla a hug.

Quinn laughed and clasped arms with Hayden. “Congratulations. I told you when you found the right woman your life would be complicated, but in a good way.”

Hayden smiled down at Isla. “A very good way.”

Cara reached for one of Isla’s hands. “Let’s rejoice. It’s not every day we get to have a wedding.”

“It sure seems that way,” Lucan said.

Larena shrugged and glanced at Fallon. “Maybe we should see if we can tempt a priest to come live here. After all, there might be more weddings.”

There was a loud snort from Duncan. “Doona be speaking for us, Larena MacLeod. I’m content just as I am.”

Hayden and Quinn shared a smile, for they knew better than the others what could come when a man least expected it.

Deirdre’s scream of rage filled the mountain and seeped through the cracks to fill the air. Animals scurried away in fear and dread, because the evil that grew in Cairn Toul just became stronger.

Somewhere not far away a Warrior lifted his head as he heard the scream. A slow smile spread over his face as he realized just where that scream had come from.

He changed his direction and headed back to Cairn Toul.