Donna Grant: Forbidden Highlander

She waited until he left then she followed the wyrran out the window and down the rocky facing of the castle. The wyrran was fast, but not as fast as it should have been if it had known what tracked it.

Deirdre had made the creatures crafty, but not nearly fast enough to outrun a Warrior.

Larena jumped in front of the creature and made herself visible once they were on the ground. The wyrran bared its mouthful of teeth and hissed. Larena just smiled and readied for the kill.

The wyrran lifted its hands and showed her its long, sharp claws. She wasn’t impressed. Larena bent her legs and waited for the creature to attack. She used to fear using the power coursing through her, but now she relished it. Her goddess had never let her down before.

And it had been quite a few months since Larena had loosened the goddess inside her. Her goddess smiled within her, as eager as Larena for a fight.

The wyrran rocked back and forth on its feet as if trying to decide how to attack. Suddenly, it jumped on her and used its lethal claws to rake down her arms.

Larena grimaced in pain and plunged her claws into its chest. The wyrran’s eyes bulged when she wrapped her fingers around its heart.

“You don’t belong here,” she told it just before she ripped out the heart.

Larena tossed aside the small organ as the wyrran fell dead upon the ground, its lifeless eyes staring at the stars. As much as she wanted to leave the creature, she couldn’t chance anyone coming upon it.

So she grabbed the wyrran by one of its ankles and dragged it into the forest where she hid it. Larena would return later and set it on fire along with the heart. She was covered in blood and shivered in the cool evening air, alone.

She was so tired of being alone. Malcolm was a wonderful confidant, and a true friend, but he could not fully comprehend what it was like to have a goddess inside him. Malcolm couldn’t understand the raw power that surged in her when the goddess was turned free. And Larena feared if he did learn just how much power she had, he would never come near her again.

Larena had already lost her family and her clan when the goddess chose her over a male. She couldn’t stand to lose Malcolm as well.

Yet, she knew the time was coming when she would have to leave him for good. He would never face his own future as long as she was near. Malcolm felt responsible for what his family — her family — had done to her, and he was determined to make up for her banishment.

She took a deep breath and turned back to the castle. As usual, when she returned to her chamber Malcolm would be there with water for her to wash and a gown. He never asked questions, not even when he saw her wounds.

Even though he knew she was immortal, it had taken him actually seeing her body heal for him to realize that she couldn’t be killed unless someone took her head.

It made her throat ache to have to tell Malcolm farewell. Malcolm was one of the few people she trusted. He had been there for her when others hadn’t. But she knew that if Fallon was really the MacLeod she had been searching for, she would have to learn to trust him, because the MacLeods were the only ones who could keep her hidden from Deirdre.

Larena sighed and brushed the hair from her face that had fallen when she tracked the wyrran. She would have to tell Fallon she was a Warrior, but the one thing he and the others could never learn about was the Scroll she guarded.

She had taken a vow upon having the goddess released. That vow meant everything to her, especially when she had seen the pride in her father’s eyes. She had been so scared of what the future held for her, but her father had believed she was the perfect person to guard the Scroll. She prayed he was right.

If for some reason Fallon MacLeod wouldn’t aid her, she was still going to have to leave Malcolm behind. Even then Larena was taking a huge chance. He knew too much. If Deirdre ever discovered how much Malcolm knew of the Warriors, Deirdre would come after Malcolm with a vengeance.

Larena knew she had been selfish sharing her burden with Malcolm, but she had needed a friend. He had never failed her. That would change, however, if Deirdre ever captured him. Malcolm would try to hold out, but in the end he would tell Deirdre everything.

When that happened, there would be no place Larena could hide where Deirdre couldn’t find her.

What a mess Larena had dug for herself. She should have been stronger, she should never have told Malcolm more than he already knew or guessed. And most of all, she should never have involved him in her schemes to find the MacLeods.

She touched the spot on her neck that Fallon had licked. She shivered as she thought about how it had felt to have his hot, wet tongue touch her. Larena closed her eyes as she recalled every inch of his body against hers, how his warm breath fanned her cheek, and how his long dark hair had tickled her face.

Her nipples puckered, sending spirals of desire shooting between her legs as she recalled the feel of Fallon’s hard body pressing against hers, flattening her breasts. No longer did the cool night air bother her as her body heated and throbbed with a need she couldn’t ignore.

Larena opened her eyes and took in a steadying breath. She needed to get control of herself. Fallon couldn’t know how his nearness unnerved her. It would give him an advantage she couldn’t allow.

After seeing his claws tonight she knew he was the MacLeod of legend. It was time she spoke to him. If Fallon couldn’t help her, then she needed to hide. Whether the wyrran was here for her or Fallon, it had come to the castle.

And that wasn’t a good sign.

Larena turned herself invisible before she made her way back to the castle and her chamber. Just as she expected, Malcolm stood waiting for her. She grabbed a blanket from the bed to shield herself before she made herself known.

Malcolm blew out a breath when he caught sight of her. “I was worried.”

She forced a smile so he wouldn’t know the turmoil inside her. “I can take care of myself.”

“No wyrran have come to the castle before, Larena.”

She moved to the tub, not caring that the water wasn’t hot. She waited until Malcolm turned his back to her before she climbed in. “I don’t know why the wyrran was here. Was it for me? Or was it for Fallon?”

“It could have been for either of you.”

Her stomach pitched wildly at his words. “I know. I must speak to Fallon tonight. No longer can I wait. I must know if he can help me or not.”

Malcolm sighed but kept his back to her as he took a chair near the hearth and sat. “I saw Fallon searching the castle for the wyrran. He’s cautious, Larena, which could be a benefit if he helps conceal you.”

“He’s been hiding for three hundred years, of course he’s cautious. I’m curious to know why he’s here though. Did you learn anything?”

“Aye. He wants his castle given back to the MacLeods. He had come to seek an audience with the king.”

She nodded to herself as she continued to wash the blood from her body. “The wyrran is dead so we needn’t worry about that for the moment. I’m going to need to go back and set it afire. It was surprised to see me, so I think it was here for Fallon, though why it showed itself in the great hall I don’t understand.”

“I’ll take care of the wyrran. Where is it?”

“You shouldn’t take that chance.”

Malcolm mumbled something beneath his breath. “Larena, though you are a Warrior, a man can get away with things at this castle that a woman canna. Now, tell me where the damned beast is.”

Sometimes she hated that she was a woman. “It’s in the forest near an oak with a double trunk. I hid it well.”

“I’ll see to it tonight. I doona suppose you were able to talk to Fallon before the wyrran appeared?”