Free Wicked Highlander by Donna Grant

intended. Deirdre must have attacked right after we left.”
    Marcail’s stomach rolled. She’d had no idea Quinn had been married and a father. She placed her hand atop his on his leg. “There is nothing I can say that will lessen the pain of losing a wife and child.”
    â€œWhat else did you hear?”
    She removed her hand and cleared her throat. It was obvious he didn’t like talking about his wife and son, not that she could blame him. She had always heard time heals all wounds. It might diminish the pain, but one never forgot the dead.
    â€œThe stories say you went looking for Deirdre.”
    â€œNay,” Quinn said with a shake of his head. “She sent us a note saying she knew who had attacked us. My brothers and I never realized the trap for what it was. As soon as we stepped foot in this mountain she chained us and unleashed the god.”
    â€œWhat was it like having the god unbound?”
    â€œMore painful than you can imagine.” He blew out a breath and leaned back against the stones. “It felt as if every bone in my body snapped in two and then melded back together. My blood was like fire in my veins as the power of the god flowed through me. My body shook from the pain, but the power the god gave us overcame even that. We shattered the chains she had put us in and escaped before she realized what had happened.”
    â€œYou three were lucky.”
    â€œExtremely so. Though at the time we didna think it. What do the stories say happened to us?”
    Marcail tucked her legs underneath her. “Once you escaped Deirdre you disappeared, always fighting her.”
    â€œDisappeared.” Quinn chuckled. “We lived for fifty years like animals in the mountains, fighting each other. We were too afraid to go into villages. It was Lucan who took us back to our castle.”
    â€œMacLeod Castle?”
    â€œAye.”
    Marcail couldn’t believe it. “No one ever thought tolook there. The MacLeod lands were divided between clans and everyone assumed the castle was empty.”
    â€œThere was a village near the castle that made it interesting for us. We led them to believe the castle was haunted.”
    â€œAnd you never left the castle?”
    Quinn shrugged. “Occasionally I would, but my brothers didn’t. We wanted to stay hidden from Deirdre, and any time we spotted a wyrran we would kill it.”
    â€œIs that how you got captured?”
    Quinn hung his head. Marcail was full of questions. He might not have wanted her to know the real him, but it would come out eventually. He never cared to lie, and he didn’t want to lie to her, even if the trust disappeared from her turquoise eyes.
    â€œNay, Marcail. I got captured because Lucan fell in love with Cara, and I couldn’t bear to see them together.”
    â€œBecause you missed your wife?”
    If only it were that simple. “In a way. Deirdre attacked the castle in an effort to capture Cara, who is a Druid. We beat back the Warriors and wyrran to save her, and despite Cara being mortal and Lucan immortal, their love knew no bounds. So, I ran away to have some time to myself. I spotted a wyrran and gave chase only to fall into a trap. Again.”
    â€œSo Deirdre discovered where you and your brothers were?”
    â€œShe did. I’m sure she’s attacked again since that time, and if I know my brothers and the other Warriors with them, Deirdre wouldna have stood a chance.”
    â€œThere are other Warriors with your brothers?” she asked, shock in her voice.
    Quinn paused in his story. Marcail hadn’t turned from him when he confessed to running away from his brothers. He was curious as to why. “Aye, there are others. When I left, four had joined us to fight Deirdre.”
    â€œDoes she know this?”
    â€œShe does.”
    Marcail’s eyes were wide with disbelief and hope. “Do you expect more Warriors to join you?”
    â€œMy