Free Highland Son (Highland Sorcery: A New Dawn) by Clover Autrey Page A

halted any motion. He lifted his head off the floor. “So what now? Going to feed Ethan and I to your pet monsters? Going to make a show of it for your sick little community?”
    A muscle in Sheppard’s jaw jumped. His eyes narrowed into hard slits. “It’s not like that. We don’t serve humans up to monsters.”
    “So what then? A respectful bullet to the skull? He knew he was pushing it, but he was angry. Who did this self-important SOB think he was?
    Sheppard sighed, placing his large palms over his knees. “I would have recruited you to our cause, men such as yourselves. I can tell you are good men, have good hearts, protectors of innocents… That’s all I’m trying to achieve here. Protect innocent humans.
    Hank’s grin turned primal behind Sheppard.
    Sheppard shook his head sadly. “But I can see by your devotion to…” he dipped his head. “…Alexander.” He must have pulled something to say his name. “You’ll never come to terms with the vision I have for humanity. Such a downright waste.”
    Fire boiled in Dez’s belly, hot enough to burn them all. If only he did have magic, Sheppard would be soot where he crouched. “So why bring us back here at all?”
    “To give you an opportunity.”
    “To live?”
    Hank snorted.
    Dez’s gaze jerked to him. “Find this amusing?” he snarled.
    Hank’s eyes flared. “What I find amusing is you acting all tough from flat on your backside. You don’t get to live.”
    “That’s enough, Hank.” Sheppard warned, frowning. “I’m sorry. Truly I am. You don’t deserve this.”
    “To die, you mean? That’s your plan, right? So what are you talking about an opportunity?”
    “A chance to go out easy. Honorably. Or hard.” Sheppard didn’t flinch.
    Dez looked from him to Hank and then to the other guy—Richards. There was no give in any of them. No mercy, hesitation, or sorrow. Only his and Ethan’s death reflected back to him in their expressions. So what did they want? And Dez suddenly knew the answer before he had to play their game and ask. “No.”
    Sheppard’s brows shot up. “I don’t need your cooperation, although any information you can provide will be of a great help.”
    “No.” Dez flexed his arms. His hands curled around the little blade, most likely drawing blood he was too furious to feel.
    Sheppard shrugged, unconcerned. “We’ll find it anyway. We already know they’re somewhere on the Californian coast.”
    “California’s a big place.” Gods, the lighthouse home base would welcome a band of women and children such as Sheppard’s with open arms, unsuspecting they’d be bringing a shark within their ranks. A shark who would very craftily get rid of any of the few magic wielders on the ships.
    Hopefully Doc Thomas and the others would see through Sheppard’s dark veneer. Yet Dez hadn’t. Damn it. They were going to let them walk right in.
    Sheppard rose to his feet. “I suspected you’d need some encouragement. Get him up.”
    Fully expecting Hank and Richards to grab him, fear of a different kind stroked through his gut when Hank pulled out a wicked looking knife and went to Ethan.
    Dez rolled to his side to push up to his knees.
    They cut Ethan’s ropes and dragged him up. He sagged unresponsive between Hank and Richards, the ropes around each wrist cut and dangling. Richards scowled. “Told you you gave him too much.”
    “Well this ought to wake him.” Hank slammed an uppercut into Ethan’s stomach, curling him over with a groan.
    Dez lunged forward only to be hauled back by Sheppard.
    “See.” Hank pulled Ethan’s head back to look into his red-rimmed eyes. “He’s coming around. Wakey, wakey.”
    Ethan, indeed, was coming to, way too groggily.
    “What the hell did you give him?”
    Sheppard released him, shoving Dez back to the floor. “Relax. Just a sedative. He was a little overwrought when we brought you back here. Couldn’t have his commotion waking up the others.”
    It dawned on Dez that