Free Midnight's Surrender: A Dark Warriors Holiday Novella by Donna Grant Page A

him as she poured it into him.
    Dale was blinded by the pure beauty of her magic, as it filled him and chased away Harriet’s hold, giving him the ability to pull his claws from his body. He was filled with uncontrollable desire as his cock hardened painfully, the need and craving for Rennie overwhelming. He wanted nothing more than to pull Rennie into his arms, but there was evil about.
    His gaze moved to Harriet in time to see her send a ball of magic at Rennie. Rennie screamed in agony—the sound echoing in his head—as she fell to the ground as silent as death.
    Dale bent over her feeling for a pulse. He found one, but it was faint. She had used her magic for him, and in the process left herself defenseless. He had brought evil to her, just as he’d feared he would. With a roar, he stood and faced Harriet.
    “She’s not dead. Yet,” Harriet said. “I can ensure that she is.”
    “Even if she’s dead you willna get inside.”
    “No, I don’t expect I will.” She absently knocked her palm against her leg several times. “You must care for her very much.”
    Dale knew where this was headed. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? What do you want?”
    “I want what’s hidden inside that cavern.”
    Dale threw back his head and barked with laughter. “You doona know what you search for. How then do you know it’s here?”
    “It’s here. It’s always been here,” she ground out angrily. “My family has spoken of it for generations. Every Druid on Coll knew the MacBeths had something to make their magic stronger.”
    “And you think it’s an item?”
    “I know it is.”
    Dale spread his arms wide. “I doona see anything.”
    “You need to look, idiot.”
    He dropped his arms and gave a firm shake of his head. “No’ going to happen.”
    “If you want Rennie to walk out of that chamber alive, you will.”
    Anger, sharp and true, shot through him. His hands itched to wrap around her neck and squeeze. “You wouldna dare.”
    “Oh, I would. I’ve spent years buying up all the land the stupid MacBeths sold over generations. I tried to be reasonable with Rennie and offer her more than this place was worth, but nothing I did convinced her to sell. She left me little option.”
    Dale could see the truth in her eyes. Harriet would kill Rennie if he didn’t do as she wanted. “How did you know of the chamber?”
    “One of the MacBeths told my great-great-great grandfather after a night of drinking. I’ve known the location for some time, and no matter how many times I’ve come, I’ve never been able to get below. Until today. I gather that’s because Rennie is here.”
    Dale clenched his teeth as he went through his choices, which were very few indeed.
    “Now, Dale, be a sweetheart and find me what I’m looking for before I kill Rennie,” she said and held out her hand as a ball of magic appeared.
    When he hesitated, she cocked her head to the side and made as if to throw the magic at Rennie. That’s all it took to get him moving.

Chapter Ten
    Dale walked around the chamber finding nothing. He supposed it could be buried beneath all the stone. The chamber had been built by Druids. The only real prize in the cavern was Rennie.
    The realization slammed into him like a tidal wave. Rennie was the treasure Harriet searched for. How had he missed that? Rennie’s increased magic, the destiny the ancients spoke of, and even the writing on the wall by her ancestors—it was all for Rennie.
    Since Harriet didn’t know how much magic Rennie had, or that the chamber had been waiting for her, it could be used to his advantage.
    Dale glanced down at his wounds and realized they hadn’t healed yet. Blood seeped down his chest in thick rivulets. It was enough to cause him concern. Was it the MacBeth ancestors punishing him for being in their holy place? Was it the remnants of the selmyr bites?
    Or was it Harriet’s magic?
    “You aren’t moving very fast,” Harriet said irritably.
    Dale glanced at her.