Midnight's Seduction (37 page)

Saffron wasn’t ready to die. She had thought she would be protected with the ancients. Even now the drums and chanting were calling her to them.

“You are needed to defeat Deirdre.”

That gave Saffron pause. She had thought it was only Laria that needed to be awakened to end Deirdre. What else didn’t she know?

“It doesn’t matter. You must wake. You cannot fight Deirdre if you are dead.”

Still Saffron hesitated. She knew she wasn’t strong enough to withstand whatever Declan and Deirdre had planned for her.

“You are. Your love for Camdyn will give you that strength.”

Saffron’s mind was suddenly filled with images of Camdyn. Her heart ached for what could have been. “He isn’t mine.”

“It is your love for him that will give you strength.”

Saffron had hoped the ancients would tell her that Camdyn was hers, that regardless of what she had seen in her vision, they would be together.

She should have known better.

With one more look at her bare back where Declan had ripped off her shirt, Saffron saw the crisscrossing of cuts and knew she was going to be in tremendous pain.

But she would do it. For Camdyn. Because she knew how desperately he and the other Warriors wanted Deirdre killed.

Saffron just hoped she survived so she could find a way to kill Declan. Even as the thought went through her mind she knew she wouldn’t.

Declan would never let her go. Never.

Saffron listened to the chanting once more and let the magic fill her. When the magic was nearly bursting from her body, she allowed herself to withdraw from the drums and the chanting.

She kept her eyes closed as she came back to herself. She fisted her hands, biting back a scream as pain flooded her body. Her back felt as if it were on fire, and every breath she took only made the agony flourish.

When it felt as if she were drowning in the pain, her magic welled up and soothed her. Saffron concentrated on her magic, putting all her focus on it. Until she could breathe normally once more.

She opened her eyes to find herself staring at Malcolm. The Warrior’s maroon eyes flared for a second. It was so quick she would have missed it had she not been looking at his stony face.

“I wondered how long it would take you to join us,” Declan said as he caressed a finger down her cheek. “I was hoping Deirdre wouldna have to cut you to pieces, but I was willing to let her try.”

Saffron cut her eyes to Declan and spat in his face. “Do whatever it is you have to do. Blind me, kill me. Whatever. But I’ll never help you.”

“You should know never to say never,” Deirdre said, her voice low and filled with laughter.

Saffron lifted her chin. She’d never been so afraid in her life, but she refused to allow them to see it. They would use it against her. And even though they would most likely win in the end, she intended to fight them every step of the way.

She just hoped it would be enough. Her magic wasn’t that strong, and she hadn’t been able to hold off Declan’s magic. There was no doubt in her mind she would lose against both Declan and Deirdre.

But maybe she could hold them off long enough for Camdyn and the others to get there. If only she knew how to break their blocking spell for just a short while. Maybe then Broc would be able to locate her.

“No one will find you unless we want them to,” Deirdre said as she stroked Saffron’s hair.

Declan leaned close and eyed her bare breasts. “I told you that you would always be mine. Did you think I was jesting?”

“You may win against the MacLeods this time, but in the end, they’ll defeat both of you. No amount of spells, no amount of black magic, will save you from death,” Saffron said.

Deirdre grabbed a handful of her hair and jerked Saffron’s head back. “They will kill you along with us, because you’ll be one of us.”

Dread filled Saffron’s stomach until she thought she was going to be sick. The pain she had held off surged again. She closed her eyes to fight it off.

And then she felt Declan’s and Deirdre’s magic surrounding her, swallowing her. Overpowering her.

CHAPTER

FORTY-THREE

“The ancients have Saffron,” Laria’s voice rang out in the great hall.

Camdyn blinked and looked around him to see if anyone understood what Laria was talking about. “Explain yourself.”

Laria smiled at him. “She withdrew to the chanting, Camdyn. It was her defense against Declan and Deirdre. While the ancients want to protect her, Declan isn’t going to give up. In his quest to dominate Saffron, he’ll end up killing her.”

Camdyn got to his feet with a roar.

It was Ramsey and Galen on either side of him that held him in check.

“Camdyn, we need to hear this in order to save Saffron,” Dani said.

Ian’s grip tightened on Camdyn’s shoulder. All Camdyn wanted to do was rip someone apart. He wanted to deal out death, to see blood and hear screams of terror, his fury was so great.

But for Saffron he reined in his god and took his seat once more.

“The ancients are convincing Saffron to leave their safety and fight against Deirdre and Declan,” Laria continued.

Gwynn fidgeted with her fingers and asked, “Can she? Does Saffron hold enough magic to fight them both off?”

Camdyn knew the answer before Laria slowly shook her head. There were few Druids who had enough magic to fend off two powerful
droughs
like Declan and Deirdre.

“Saffron is taking the magic of the ancients in now. I’m hoping that will be enough to break through Declan’s blocking spell so that Broc can find her,” Laria said.

Without being asked, Broc closed his eyes. Camdyn watched his friend across the table, silently begging that Laria was correct and Broc would be able to find her. Even if it was just a moment, it would be enough for them to locate her and possibly rescue her.

“I have her!” Broc shouted as his eyes flew open. “Wait … I lost her again.”

Laria blew out a breath. “As I assumed.”

Camdyn slammed his fist on the table, rattling the glasses. “Where is she?” he demanded of Broc.

A muscle in Broc’s jaw jumped. “She’s in Declan’s dungeon again.”

Camdyn squeezed his eyes closed. The one place Saffron was so terrified of that nightmares had plagued her. Camdyn released a deep breath and looked around him. “I’ll go after her.”

“Wait,” Laria cautioned.

Fallon narrowed his eyes on Laria. “Why? We know where Saffron is.”

“Along with Declan’s mercs and their X90 bullets,” Gwynn added with a glance to Logan.

Logan frowned. “Declan’s is no’ the place to attack. His magic is too strong there.”

“I willna wait!” Camdyn bellowed.

Ramsey said, “But you must. If we want to extract Saffron on the first try, we must be smart about it.”

“I agree with Ramsey,” Hayden said.

One by one they all agreed. Camdyn sank his claws into the table. Every fiber of his being wanted to dash off to rescue Saffron immediately, but his mind told him the others were right. He needed to go about it carefully.

Finally, he gave a quick nod of his head.

“Good,” Fallon said as he rose. “Since we know they’re at Declan’s, I’m going to head there now and see what they are about.”

“Not without me you aren’t,” Larena said as she stood and took his hand.

Camdyn watched them share that secret, loving smile and felt his heart split open at what he was missing with Saffron.

“Trust Laria. We’ll find Saffron,” Ramsey whispered.

Camdyn removed his claws one by one from the wood. “Last time he took her sight. What do you think Declan will do to her this time?”

*   *   *

Saffron looked at herself in the mirror and hated what she saw. She was dressed in tight jeans and what was nothing more than a corset.

Of course it was Declan who had chosen her clothes.

“Amazing,” Declan said as he walked into the room and whistled.

Saffron looked at him in the mirror and wanted to use her nails to slash his eyes out. But no matter what she wanted to do, or begged her body to do, it was Declan and Deirdre who controlled her.

But they couldn’t control her mind.

She let them think they did, but even that small charade had its price. Saffron wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold up the pretense.

Every minute she expected one of them to realize she was faking it. Saffron didn’t think she could survive another blast of their combined
drough
magic.

Just thinking about it made her want to retch.

“It’s almost time,” Declan said as he used his finger to move her hair from her shoulder so it fell with the rest down her back.

Saffron merely looked at him. Their control over her body was nearly absolute. They told her where to move and what to do. She couldn’t even speak. They had taken that away from her as well. She liked to think it was because they feared what spells she might use.

“Come,” Declan said, as he held out his hand and turned to the door.

Saffron tried to resist, but her body obeyed without hesitation. She turned and placed her hand in his. Saffron was screaming inside her mind, calling Declan the worst kinds of names, but none of it mattered.

She was theirs, and as frightening as that was, not knowing what they had planned for her kept her stomach tied in knots.

All she could hope for was that it didn’t involve those at MacLeod Castle. Even when she knew in her heart that it did.

There was no way she could stand there and do something to harm them. She’d never forgive herself. There had to be some way to break this spell Deirdre and Declan had cast on her.

Saffron walked beside Declan as they descended the stairs and reached the front door where Robbie and Malcolm stood on either side of double doors.

“I’ve news on your other inquiry,” Robbie said.

Declan released her hand. “And what would that be?”

“We’ve narrowed it down to the northwest. We’ll soon have a town to give you.”

“And another of my runaways will be back where they belong,” Declan said with a smile.

Deirdre appeared at the top of the stairs then, clad in black skintight leather, and made her way down. “Declan, you picked those horrid clothes for Saffron, didn’t you?”

“Of course. I do know what looks good on women.”

Deirdre rolled her eyes. “Nay. You like to think you know what looks good on women.”

“You liked the leather enough that you still wear it.”

Deirdre’s smile was cold and malicious. “I wear it because it suits me, not because you chose it.”

“You can no’ lie to me.”

“Watch me.”

In the next instant Declan had Deirdre up against the wall kissing her. Saffron swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. She recalled all too well the vision she’d had of Deirdre, her stomach large with child, standing over a dead Declan.

Had they already shared a bed? Did the child already grow within Deirdre?

Saffron lowered her gaze to find black combat boots in front of her. She could do nothing as Robbie’s finger traced the swell of her breasts, the desire evident in his gaze.

“You’re going to be mine,” he whispered. “I’ll make you scream by the time I’m done with you.”

Saffron was inwardly shaking her head back and forth, trying her damnedest to raise a hand and slap Robbie. But without permission she was nothing more than a mannequin who breathed.

Robbie’s finger slid between her breasts as he rubbed his arousal against her. Suddenly, he let out a bellow as Malcolm bent his hand backward until the bone was about to break.

“Is this how you take women?” Malcolm demanded. “They have to be under a spell where they can no’ refuse you in order for you to relieve yourself?”

“You’re about to break my hand,” Robbie cried as he fell to his knees.

Saffron watched as Malcolm held Robbie’s shoulder and bent the wrist back another fraction. Malcolm’s Warrior eyes were narrowed into slits as he glared at Robbie.

“I think these two really hate each other,” Deirdre said.

“Stop him now, Deirdre,” Declan demanded.

Deirdre raised a white brow. “Or what?”

“You need me,” Declan reminded her. “If you still want my aid, call off your Warrior.”

Deirdre rolled her eyes and sighed. “Malcolm, release Robbie.”

Saffron was surprised Malcolm didn’t instantly obey. There was a moment where she could see how he debated breaking Robbie’s wrist anyway, but then he inhaled a deep breath. Malcolm let go of Robbie’s hand and shifted his gaze to her.

She wanted to tell him thank you, to let him know she was glad he stopped Robbie, even if it wasn’t because of her but because of his hatred for the mercenary.

Malcolm turned on his heel and opened the door. Saffron watched him walk out into the sun toward the helicopter waiting for them.

“It’s time,” Deirdre said.

Declan motioned for Saffron to follow. She was in the helicopter and buckled by the time Declan had the blades moving.

Saffron found herself in the middle with Robbie on one side and Malcolm climbing in the other. Saffron noticed how Malcolm stiffened and touched his face with his fingers.

He didn’t say a word as he took his seat and shut the door right before they took off.

*   *   *

Camdyn watched the helicopter rise into the sky and then take off. It had taken some doing, but he’d managed to talk Fallon into bringing him along. But now he wished he hadn’t.

To see Saffron walk to that helicopter as if she wanted to be there, dressed in … something that certainly wasn’t her style left his mind reeling.

“Doona believe all you see,” Fallon cautioned him. “Deirdre has her tricks.”

“You saw her, Fallon. She wasna even fighting them.”

Fallon blew out a breath. “We doona know what they’ve done to her. You need to remember that. And—”

“I know,” Camdyn said. “That even if we do get Saffron back she may never be the person she was before.”

Fallon put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Deirdre forced Isla to become
drough.
I wouldna be surprised to learn she did it again.”