Midnight's Kiss (12 page)

Now he realized how each of the Warriors felt about their mortal wives. And why they had all chosen to stay beneath the magical shield at the castle.

Arran lay down on his cot and stared at the top of his tent. The accident replayed in his mind again and again. The crunch of the gravel, the squeal of the tires.

Despite knowing Ronnie’s accident would haunt him for some time, it was Saffron’s words that kept him awake.

The evil was gone. Arran had watched first Deirdre and then Declan be destroyed. They were gone, wiped off the face of the earth.

But they had killed Deirdre once before and she’d lived. Is that what had happened with Declan?

Arran rubbed the heels of his hands against his eyes. He then sat up and reached for his phone. For several minutes he considered calling one of the Warriors.

Before he could decide which one, his phone rang. He saw Ramsey’s name pop up. The Warrior was also half Druid. He’d been the one to end Declan.

“Ramsey,” Arran answered the phone.

“Saffron and Camdyn just left. She told us what happened.”

“Is that all she told you?”

Ramsey paused. “She said the evil may no’ be dead as we thought.”

“You were the only one inside Declan’s mansion. Is he gone?”

Ramsey chuckled, the sound filled with humor and satisfaction. “Oh, aye. Declan is gone.”

“We thought that of Deirdre as well.”

“True enough.” Ramsey sighed. “We’ve lived a year thinking everything was gone. That’s a year someone could’ve put things in motion.”

“We’d have known. Wouldn’t we?”

“I’d like to think so. Saffron has had no visions regarding Declan.”

Arran rubbed his chin as he thought. “Aye, but we were no’ looking for anything either, were we? We assumed the evil was well and truly vanished.”

“As my lovely wife keeps reminding me, there can no’ be good without evil. Tara should know, since her entire family is
droughs
. Has anything out of the ordinary happened there?”

“Besides the wreck? Nay. Nothing. There’s magic everywhere. I’ve no doubt the magical items we’re searching for are here.”

Ramsey grunted. “What kind of magic?
Drough
?
Mie
? Fallon said you didna say.”

“Because it’s difficult. I doona sense
drough
.”

“But,” Ramsey urged.

“But … I sense lots of ancient magic. And
mie
magic.”

“Does it involve any one person?”

“Aye.”

“Ronnie,” Ramsey answered. “You’ve spent more time with her since Fallon last spoke with you. Have you spoken with her about it?”

“No’ yet. Things … keep getting in the way.”

“Ah. You want her.”

Arran braced his elbows on his legs. “I can barely think with the need, Ramsey. Her magic is—”

“Special,” he finished.

“Aye. It’s
mie,
but it feels different from any of the
mies
I’ve felt before.”

“You shouldna be there alone.”

He smiled at Ramsey’s statement. “I’m a Warrior, my friend. I can take care of myself.”

“There’s no doubt about that. But as I learned while I was keeping Tara safe, it’s always better to have someone watching your back while you’re focused on someone else.”

“Maybe.”

Ramsey laughed softly. “I hear Dr. Reid is verra pretty.”

“She’s damned beautiful. And untouchable.”

“Why have you no’ seduced her?”

Arran closed his eyes. “It’s … complicated.”

“Interesting. Verra interesting.”

“Meaning?” Arran asked.

“Never mind. We’ll look into Declan, but I swear to you he’s dead.”

“That’s what we all said about Deirdre,” Arran said before he ended the call.

He tossed the phone aside and lay back on his pillow, one arm under his head.

Somehow he had to get Ronnie alone tomorrow morning and talk to her. It wasn’t going to be easy with Andy hovering or the site calling to her, but Arran had to know how much she knew of Druids.

He wasn’t worried that she might be working with evil. There wasn’t a hint of it in her magic, but what he was worried about was her absorption to her current dig. If what he searched for was in there, he had to know before Ronnie saw it.

Or he was really going to have a problem on his hands.

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

Ronnie looked up from her spot on the ground to find Arran to her left. He was never far. It should have bothered her. It would have bothered her before.

But after the car accident, she liked having him near. She liked it entirely too much.

Whereas before the accident, he’d kept her off-kilter and desire smoldering beneath her skin, now he added a new element—safety.

There were only two other men who had ever inspired that sense of comfort in her—Pete and Andy. Never would she have thought Arran would be put in the same category as Pete and Andy, but there was no denying it.

When she’d woken that morning after another night full of dreams involving the box and more that involved Arran making love to her, she found just how bad the damage was to her car. How it had been drivable, she didn’t know. She’d had Andy call someone to tow it away to get it fixed.

She’d woken at five, and had been going ever since. Several times, Arran asked to speak to her alone, but there was always something that came up that needed her urgent attention.

She didn’t want to keep putting him off, but she couldn’t help it. Whatever he wanted, she would make sure to have some time alone to hear what he had to say. As long as it wasn’t him telling her he was leaving.

The thought made her stomach sour. Ronnie looked back at the ground. She needed to concentrate on her work, not the all-too-hunky guy who happened to save her life and bring forth desire she thought to never have.

She smiled. Well, saying he saved her life was a bit dramatic, but that’s what it felt like. He’d been calm and collected while he saw to everything. Ronnie hadn’t been able to think past the part that she’d been in a wreck.

Arran had not only seen to her but the other driver as well. He’d then gotten her back to the site and to her tent.

Ronnie couldn’t remember the last time she’d had someone help her in such a way. She was used to doing everything on her own. It had become a habit, since she was raised in a foster home with five other kids.

Not that her foster parents had been bad people. They had been normal, and treated her kindly. But they both worked and had other kids to take care of.

Ronnie had learned that if she wanted anything done, she was going to have to be the one to do it. To have someone like Arran come to her aid and not expect anything in return was refreshing. It also didn’t help the attraction she felt.

Another glance showed that, as usual, Arran was surrounded. It must be his infectious smile or his easygoing nature. But she’d seen another part of him that he kept carefully guarded when he was around others.

She’d seen the predatory side, the part of him that was ready for whatever life threw him. A side that wouldn’t go down without a fight.

His golden eyes met hers, and for a moment she held his gaze before she looked away. Why did he hide that other part of him? She liked that part, which she didn’t understand.

She frowned as she continued to dig around the stone. She’d never been one who appreciated the muscular alpha guys. Until Arran. There was no doubt he was an alpha. Everyone else seemed to recognize it as well, which was why they flocked to him.

But why did she?

It was the attraction. At least that’s what she told herself.

“Need some help?”

The words were said in a low, seductive tone that sent chills racing over her skin and her heart to beat double time.
Arran
.

“I thought you already had a job to do,” Ronnie said as she continued to dig.

“I’ve done it. You look like you could use a hand.”

She did the wrong thing and looked at him. His golden eyes ensnared her, entranced her. Charmed her. Everything about Arran pulled at her, urged her to get closer to him.

Ronnie swallowed and rubbed some dirt from his cheek shadowed with whiskers.

“I didna shave,” he said with a frown. He rubbed at his jaw a moment. “I forgot.”

“It’s a good look for you. Not that you need any help.”

Was she flirting? Flirting! What the hell was wrong with her?

A lopsided grin stole across Arran’s lips. “Is that so?”

“You know it is. Look around you. Every woman here can’t keep her eyes off you.”

“Every woman but one.”

The smile was gone from his lips, and there was a serious thread to his words. He meant her, she knew, and for the life of her, she didn’t know how to respond.

“How is your hand?” he asked.

Ronnie was grateful for the change of subject. “It’s a little sore where the glass penetrated the skin. Other than my neck being tender from the impact, I’m fine.”

“Good.”

He didn’t move away, and his gaze didn’t shift. He was so close she could see the dark ring of gold around his eyes and a bead of sweat as it ran down the side of his cheek. Her gaze dropped to his mouth.

His lips were wide and firm. No smile turned up the sides now, no sweet words made her heart race. Yet it didn’t dampen the fire he’d ignited.

It was only the sounds of the site that kept her from making a fool of herself and leaning in to kiss him. But oh, how she wanted to. His lips looked too damn good not to kiss. She looked up in time to see his gaze drop to her mouth, and she barely suppressed a groan.

Her nipples pebbled painfully. Her entire body ached to be closer to him, to have him touch her. Ronnie didn’t know how, but she was certain he would be an exceptional lover.

To have a man take care of her, even if it was for a few hours, sounded too good to be true. It all hinged on her allowing him close.

Someone shouted her name. Twice. No longer could she ignore those around her.

Ronnie cleared her throat and looked away. “Thank you again for helping me last night.”

“Has anything odd happened recently? Any people hanging around you doona recognize?”

She jerked her head to him. “Why?”

“Just curious.” He shrugged while his gaze swept the scene around them.

“There’s been nothing.”

“Let me know if there is.”

“Just as soon as you tell me why.

His nostrils flared in agitation. “Saffron said there might be people thinking to harm you.”

Ronnie chuckled and shook her head. “There are always those out there who think that history should stay in the ground. It doesn’t matter what country I’m in, there are people who want to harm me for digging into their pasts. I tend to think it’s because they fear what I’m going to find.”

“Or want what you’re finding.” He leaned close. “It’s a threat Saffron felt I needed to know, which means you need to take it seriously, Ronnie. Keep your eyes open.”

“Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?”

He gave a quick shake of his head. “Nay. That really does need to be private. But I’d like to make that talk happen soon.”

By the way he spoke, she knew this “talk” wasn’t going to be about the attraction between them. Her heart pounded as she realized how often he watched her. Did he know her secret? Had he worked out that she used her abilities to find the relics?

“There’s no need to be frightened of me,” Arran hastily said. “I’m your friend, Ronnie. I want to help you, protect you. There are … things … about me that could help. If you’ll let me.”

He rose and walked away before she could respond. For long moments she stared after him, his words reverberating in her head. He knew. He knew her secret.

But what could he have that could help her? It was a question only he could answer, and one she would demand as soon as she knew exactly what he thought he knew of her.

The rest of the afternoon Ronnie would glance up every now and again while she worked. Arran was always near, but she also looked around her as he’d asked. She didn’t know what she was looking for. Despite her focus shifting constantly, they were able to make a good bit of headway around the arch.

It appeared Arran had been right, and it was a doorway of some kind. There was still so much dirt blocking their way, and every time they moved some, more would suddenly fall and fill in the spot.

Wooden barriers that resembled small fences were made and put into place. Still, the dirt fell through the cracks of the barriers and slowed their progress considerably.

Ronnie wasn’t ready to stop work when the dinner bell tolled, but she was the only one. She sat back as the others readily put away their tools and walked to the food tent.

Lines of exhaustion were clear on their faces. She’d pushed them all hard, but even that hadn’t gotten her what she wanted. Which was the entire arch visible to her so she could see what it was.

She planned to continue working when Andy was suddenly beside her, pulling her by her arm to stand up. He dragged her toward the food tent while he filled her in on the other sections around the camp.

It was only right before she walked into the tent that she spotted Arran striding around the perimeter of the site.

*   *   *

Arran made a third round of the site, looking at every parked car and camper. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but Saffron’s visions were never wrong.

Events could change and thereby render her visions mute, but if she’d been right and Ronnie was terrified, then Arran doubted the events could change enough to prevent that.

There was a slight stir in the air and he turned to find Fallon behind him. “Bloody hell,” he ground out. “Anyone could’ve seen you.”

Fallon grinned. “Ah, but they didna. How are things?”

“The usual. I’ve yet to find anything.”

“Us either. The same bad people that seem to populate the world with murders, rapes, and such, but nothing that would suggest
droughs
.”

Arran crossed his arms over his chest. “They’re out there. Just as the
mies
are.”

“Aye, but where? If someone was taking Declan’s place, I think we’d have heard something by now.”