The mies, Druids with pure magic, could only offer guidance. However, the droughs, with their black magic had an answer—call up primeval gods from Hell to inhabit the strongest warriors.
And it worked. The men became Warriors and soon drove Rome from Britain. Yet their need for blood and death didn’t end, and soon they were killing any who crossed their paths.
It took both the mies and the droughs combining their magic to end the Warriors. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t make the gods return to Hell. Instead, they bound them inside the men.
But the gods took their revenge by passing through the bloodline to the next strongest warrior of that family. They were unable to get free until a drough found an ancient scroll which told her how to unbind the gods.
Ever since, Deirdre has been relentless in finding the gods and unbinding them. Broc was one of several at MacLeod Castle intent on putting an end to Deirdre for good.
Broc jerked on a tunic before he slung the strap of the satchel over his head. He once more took Sonya into his arms and stood. There was a village several leagues away. There he could get Sonya out of the weather and help her tend her hand.
Then he would beg her forgiveness for driving her away, and hopefully convince her to return to MacLeod Castle. Everyone needed her there. No one more so than him.
He cradled her gently, but securely, against his chest, shielding her face from as much of the rain as he could. He rested his chin on her forehead and felt her skin blazing with fever.
Broc looked down into her oval face, a face that had haunted his dreams and every waking moment of his life since she had come into womanhood and he had been tempted beyond his control.
“Live, Sonya. I refuse to let you die.”
Why hadn’t she healed herself as he knew she could? She was a Druid with powerful healing magic. The Druids at MacLeod Castle had put an incredible amount of strain on Sonya for her healing, but as a mie nothing should have halted that magic.
Even Quinn MacLeod, another Warrior, once had need of Sonya’s healing because of Deirdre’s magic.
Broc growled just thinking about his enemy. All droughs gave their blood and their lives to the devil in exchange for black magic, but Deirdre had gone beyond that. She worked in league with the devil. Deirdre had lived nearly a thousand years, and during that time she had destroyed many lives.
Broc cursed Deirdre with every step he took, but he cursed himself even more. From the day he had delivered Sonya and Anice to the Druids, he had sworn to protect them.
He had failed Anice, and if he didn’t get Sonya to cover quickly, he would fail her as well.
The thunder had become almost a constant boom, each clap so close to the next. The storm was right over them as was evident by the lightning striking closer and the wind howling around them.
One lightning bolt landed on a tree just in front of them and caused the pine to burst into flames and split in half. Broc paused to avoid being crushed as part of the tree fell and landed in front of him.
He lifted his face to the sky and roared his anger. His rage fed his god, and it was all Broc could do to keep him tamped down. It had taken too many of his two hundred and seventy-five years learning to restrain Poraxus for Broc to lose control now.
But when it came to Sonya, his emotions always ran high.
Broc had to get out of the storm. He took a deep breath and leapt the burning tree. He held Sonya tight and ran, using the incredible speed his god gave him.
He didn’t slow until he spotted the village.
ST. MARTIN’S PAPERBACKS TITLES BY
DONNA GRANT
Dangerous Highlander
Forbidden Highlander
Wicked Highlander
Shadow Highlander
Praise for the Dark Sword novels by DONNA GRANT
5! Top Pick! “An absolutely must read! From beginning to end, it’s an incredible ride.”
—Night Owl Romance
5 Hearts! “I definitely recommend Dangerous Highlander, even to skeptics of paranormal romance—you just may fall in love with the MacLeods.”
—The Romance Reader
5 Angels! Recommended Read! “Forbidden Highlander blew me away.”
—Fallen Angel Reviews
5 Tombstones! “Another fantastic series that melds the paranormal with the historical life of the Scottish highlander in this arousing and exciting adventure. The men of MacLeod Castle are a delicious combination of devoted brother, loyal highlander, Lord and demonic God [who] ooze sex appeal and inspire some very erotic daydreams as they face their faults and accept their fate.”
—Bitten By Books
4 Stars! “Grant creates a vivid picture of Britain centuries after the Celts and Druids tried to expel the Romans, deftly merging magic and history. The result is a wonderfully dark, delightfully well-written tale. Readers will eagerly await the next Dark Sword book.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews
“Totally captivating and entertaining … Cursed by dark magic, the immortal MacLeod brothers are a force to be reckoned with.”
—Fresh Fiction
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SHADOW HIGHLANDER
Copyright © 2011 by Donna Grant.
Excerpt from Darkest Highlander copyright © 2011 by Donna Grant.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
ISBN: 978-0-312-53348-9
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / September 2011
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
eISBN 978-1-4299-9580-1
First St. Martin’s Paperbacks eBook Edition: August 2011
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Epilogue
Teaser
St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles by Donna Grant
Praise for the Dark Sword novels by Donna Grant
Copyright