Highlands at Dawn Read online

  “You know those stories you hear at childhood? The ones that make the Boogieman seem like a cuddly angel? The ones about the Devil and his minions?”

  “Sure. The whole Good versus Evil saga. Why?”

  “Let’s just say I’m discovering they weren’t just tales meant to scare. They’re true.”

  Shelly was silent for a while and Mal drank some more.

  “Are you getting enough sleep, Mal?”

  “Why?”

  “Did you hear what you just said?”

  “I wish it was a delusion, Shelly. It’s not and I’m caught up in the worst of it. I’ve learned things I wish I hadn’t. I’ve seen things which I can never forget.”

  Another stretch of silence. “Shit, you’re serious, aren’t you?”

  Mal closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I wish I wasn’t.”

  “And this man, the one who was looking for you? Is he part of all this?”

  “One of the key players.”

  “Do you want me to call the cops?” Genuine concern was in her voice.

  “Honestly I don’t think it will do any good. Shel, I kidnapped a guy, granted he was trying to kill me, but I drugged him and drove with him in the trunk of my car.”

  “Holy fuck! Where are you, Mal? I’m coming.”

  “I don’t want you involved.”

  “You’re my best friend and you need me. Tell me what to bring and where to bring it.”

  Tears blurred her eyes as she relayed what she could use and where they were at. What if I get her killed? “Shelly?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t tell anyone.”

  “If I did, I think they would lock me up. I’m on my way, Mal. I’ll be there soon.”

  She hung up and finished her drink, still warring with herself over her decision to include Shelly. Hell, if I can’t tell my best friend, who can I talk to about this that hasn’t already accepted their fate?

  Mal slipped from the seat, pocketing her phone. She stopped for a cup to take to Billy then continued on her way back to the car. She approached slowly. Billy sat in the seat, looking like he was sleeping but his eyes popped open before she’d even reached the door.

  Once she was in, she passed him the cup. “Thought you may want to have a coffee and I wasn’t sure if you’d leave me alone with him.”

  “Thank you,” he said gratefully. “Not a chance.”

  She started the engine as they docked and followed the line of cars off. She didn’t need to ask him where to go next. They needed a hotel and Tobermory was as good a place as any.

  Chapter Seven

  Billy stood in the shower, hands braced on the stall, and let the water sluice over his skin. He was tired. He’d not truly slept in the car, merely dozed. The man he’d captured was no longer with them. While Mal had been in here, showering, he’d taken care of him. Killed him. There was no way he was going to risk him warning the rest of those they were after.

  Right now Mal was sleeping and so he’d jumped in the shower. He’d seen the shadows beneath her eyes, giving her a haunted look. This had begun to wear on her but she’d never once flinched from what was coming. At least, not in front of him.

  Rinsing off the last of the soap and shampoo, he then cut off the water and stepped onto the mat. He reached for the towel to begin drying off. With it hooked about his waist, he padded out into the main room of their rented space.

  They had secured a nice place, not a dump. He paused by Mal where she slept on the queen bed. She wore an oversized shirt, this time with The Princess Bride on the front. On the back when she rolled over, he saw the phrase, ‘Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.’

  He sat at the edge of the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder. She stirred and looked up at him, eyes remarkably alert.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  Immediately she acquired a sleepy look. “Okay.”

  “I have some work to take care of but if it’s too loud, let me know.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” A soft smile and her eyes drifted closed again.

  Billy knew she was sleeping again in seconds. I wonder if she got any rest in the tent. She certainly looked more comfortable here than she had out there.

  He dressed in a pair of jeans and socks then sat in the chair between her and the door. Where he was positioned also gave him a clear view out of the window. He drew up a footstool and set some of his weapons down.

  “Cale?”

  “Yes, brother?”

  “How is Lian?”

  “He’s doing fine. Aminta and Roz have left again. They came back before but now both have left. I know he worries about them. Dracen and Tiarnán are here. How are things with you?”

  “We got a lead to a headquarters and will be going there tomorrow night. She needs a day of rest. We were attacked yesterday.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “She will be. She’s asleep now. I’m sharpening weapons.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Mull. A small island.”

  “Any other sign of Uma?”

  “No, but I’m not letting down vigilance.”

  “Do you need me there?”

  Billy hesitated. He would love to have Cale with him but he couldn’t ask him to leave his mate. “I got this. You need to be there and keep your mate safe.”

  “I need you safe as well, you know.”

  “Getting mushy on me, Cale?”

  “That’s what love does to you, Billy.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “You do that.” A chuckle vibrated across the link. “Although I’m thinking you know this firsthand.”

  “Meaning?”

  “You know she’s your mate, you’ve agreed to marry her to get her here. I think you already are half in love with her.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Just an observation.”

  “I see. Stay safe, brother.” Billy ended their conversation, not wanting to think about his words. Yet, he couldn’t get them out of his mind. Love. Was he in love with her?

  Of course I am. How can I not be in love with the one woman created for me and for me alone?

  He put down the sword and turned his head to stare at the slumbering woman on the bed. She’d kicked free of the blanket he’d covered her with—had bunched it beside her and was using it like a body pillow. He stared at her smooth, toned thigh as it rested against the lighter bed covering.

  Sure, Cale may have told him it but he’d known. Love. I have to keep her here and safe.

  The second the thought streaked through his mind, he shook his head. There wasn’t going to be any way she would stay behind. He knew this just as surely as he needed to breathe air in order to remain alive.

  He fingered the hilt of his sword. I remember how panicked Cale sounded when he couldn’t reach Taylor. And how his rage flowed when he found her strapped to the table. Billy had been over here but he’d felt it along their connection. Rage unlike anything he’d ever experienced before had come from his brother and friend. Now, with Mal part of his life, Billy understood the protectiveness Cale felt.

  Sure they were their mates, but it was more than that. Suddenly, this woman—a Scottish doctor with no family of her own—had come to mean so much to him. He wanted to marry her. Wanted her to be at his side forever. Whatever it was that came with a lifetime commitment, he wanted it. With no one other than Mal.

  I remember Lian when he spoke about his Lana. That’s what I want in my life. With Mal. The love, even after all these years, we still can hear it in his voice. She was everything to him. So much so that he’s never even looked at another that we know of.

  Shutting off the lights, he undid his pants then slipped under the blankets where he gathered Mal close to him. She turned from the lump she made in the bed and used him to lie upon.

  Her breaths left her in tiny puffs and he wrapped an arm around her waist and s
lipped his hand across the nape of her neck, holding her close. Giving her a light kiss, he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to overtake him.

  * * * *

  He woke when she slid from the bed. Morning’s light barely pierced the curtains but it offered enough that he could see her walk to the bathroom. Five minutes later, she emerged, fully dressed.

  Billy pushed up on his arms and clicked on the light. “Where are you going?”

  “Breakfast. I thought you might be hungry.”

  “I’m hungry all right.”

  “Sorry. I need real food right now. I can go without for a bit but after all that crap I went through, I need nourishment.” She walked to the door.

  “Mal, wait.”

  She paused, hand on the doorknob. “What?”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  It was on her face, the need to argue, but she didn’t say a word. He hastened from the bed and dressed swiftly. They exited the room as he tucked his shirt in. Together they went out into the populous and sought out a café.

  Once they had breakfast sandwiches before them, she dug in. Billy looked around, noticing how much attention they were getting. An Asian man and a black woman on one of the islands of Scotland. If it bothered her, she didn’t comment. He didn’t care one way or the other. It was what it was.

  Her food had her focus. When he took his first bite, he understood why. It was delicious and they ate their fill. Once contentedly stuffed, they left and began walking around. Back at the inn, they were headed for their room when he paused. Something was off.

  “Mal!”

  He turned quicker than she did, inserting himself before her. She brushed by him and he recognized the woman from the hospital. Shit. The woman was about Mal’s height with a head of brownish-blonde hair. What is she doing here?

  “Shelly!”

  He stood in silence as they hugged. When their attention turned to him he smiled. “What are you doing here?”

  “Such a nice welcome,” Shelly said with an eye roll. She hefted a bag. “I got what you asked for, Mal.”

  “Wonderful. You should come to the room.”

  “What is going on here?” Billy questioned.

  “I’m here to help. Isn’t that obvious?” Shelly shook her head. “Okay, I will still have to secure a room but I should take this to yours, so you’re not carrying a bag to and from the room. Let’s go.”

  “Help?” Billy frowned at both women.

  They ignored him and walked off. Talking amongst themselves, again so fast, he couldn’t even make out what they were saying.

  “Oh…help,” he muttered sarcastically. “What was I thinking?” He brought up the rear into the room and leaned against the door, arms crossed. “Someone care to explain this to me?”

  “Mal called and asked me for some things. I’m here with them.” Shelly stared at him again then shook her head. “Where’s your bag, Mal?”

  “Here.” Mal hefted her black bag on the bed and unzipped it.

  Billy didn’t like this. Not at all. The women gabbed with one another until Shelly stood upright and walked toward him. He held her blue gaze unflinchingly.

  “You’re leaving after this then?” He nodded as he spoke.

  “No.”

  “What do you mean no?”

  Shelly mimicked him and crossed her arms over her chest. “That woman over there, Malmuirie, is my best friend in the world. She called me, freaked out about things until she met you, she thought just stories. She needs me and I’m here to help.”

  “It’s too dangerous. I’ll keep her safe.”

  “Never said you wouldn’t.”

  “If I have to keep you safe as well, my attention won’t be as focused on her.”

  “See, I never asked you to keep me safe. I don’t need you to. I just need to know how to identify them and how to kill. Don’t assume you know everything about me because you saw me behind the counter at a hospital. I have seven brothers, a father, and two uncles who serve in the military. There’s not anything I can’t shoot, drive, or blow up. I brought along basic necessities. She’s scared. I don’t like that. I know you have your things to worry about. Let me help with the others.” She shrugged. “Besides, you can’t make me leave.” She patted his arm. “It’ll be fine.”

  Billy was speechless as he watched her walk back to the bed where Mal was transferring more medical supplies to her bag. Fine. I’m not sure about that. But he’d apparently just inherited another person to take with him on this journey. If she was as good as she said, he could use her abilities.

  He exhaled heavily and shook his head. This group was getting to be even more unusual.

  * * * *

  “Holy shit, Shelly.” Mal stared at what lay in the back of Shelly’s vehicle, covered by an olive-green tarp. “What is all this?”

  Billy’s low whistle echoed her statement.

  Shelly shrugged. “Like I told your boyfriend here—basics.”

  “This looks like you’ve robbed an armory.” Mal dropped the cover and placed her bag on top of it.

  “Robbed? No. I liquidated some of their assets. That’s all.” Her voice was calm and nonchalant. “This vehicle will get us farther than your little car.”

  Mal stared at her friend.

  “What?” Shelly asked, eyebrows up.

  “I guess I’m so used to seeing you at the hospital. I tend to forget this side of you.”

  “Most people do underestimate me, Mal. But my family wanted me to be able to take care of myself.”

  “Somehow,” Billy uttered, “I’m thinking that isn’t going to be a problem.”

  Mal looked at him. He didn’t seem too happy with all of this. Shelly didn’t seem to give a damn and Mal left her organizing stuff in the back. She approached Billy and settled a hand upon his arm.

  “This is dangerous for her, Mal. Why did you call her?”

  “She’s my best friend in the world. What’s so wrong with what I did?”

  “You brought someone else in.”

  “So I’m just supposed to not talk about it?”

  He faced her. “I’m here.”

  “That’s not exactly fair, Billy. You’ve been dealing with this since you were younger. I’ve had less than a week to process each bit of information, as well as the situations I’ve been in. I needed someone who didn’t look at it as something which has been in the works for millennia.” She tightened her grip. “Shelly won’t tell and she’ll help. I’m not much of a fighter but she is. She can help keep me safe when you need your attention elsewhere.”

  “Now I have to protect you both.”

  She didn’t appreciate his tone. “No. You’re protecting the world. She just happens to be part of that. She won’t be in the way and you’ll see, she’ll be an asset.”

  “I’m guessing she has no plans on leaving.”

  “Not a single one.” Mal smiled at him. “You won’t regret having her with us, Billy.”

  “She’s not staying in the room with us.”

  “We need to stick together. It’s not safe to be separated.” She kissed him when he groaned. “I promise…I’ll make it up to you.”

  “I’m not a fan of this, Mal.”

  She glanced from him to Shelly. “I know. But right now, we’re a package deal—her and I.”

  Impishness twinkled in his gaze. “Does that mean I get both of you in bed?”

  “Works for me, hotshot, but I don’t think you’ll convince Mal.” Shelly’s statement reached them easily. She strolled toward them, locking her vehicle on the way. “Don’t look so shocked, handsome. Mal is sexy as fuck and you? Well, you’re hot and from Mal’s description of what you make her want to do, I’m sure you can bring it in bed.” She patted his shoulder and headed for the inn. “Come on, I need intel on what’s coming.”

  Mal watched Billy who, in turn, stared at Shelly’s retreating form.

  “I think she just came onto me.”

  Mal nodded. “No reason to think
it. She did.”

  “She knows I’m yours, right?”

  “Yes, but that’s her way of telling you she has no problem sleeping with the both of us.”

  His eyes were wide as he looked at her. “The two of you…”

  “Nope. Shelly says she’s bi. Not sure if it’s true or not. I’ve only seen her with men, but it’s what she says. Oh, that, and she’s trying to put you off your game. If she can unsettle you, she’ll be happy.”

  “You have a very strange friend, Mal.”

  “She’s unique but I love her.”

  “Was she lying about her family and what they taught her?”

  “No. Every bit of it is true. She’s like a female Rambo.”

  He tucked her close to his side as they walked to the inn. “I don’t see it.”

  “Most don’t. She typically wears long sleeves which hide her muscles. She can fix a car or blow it up. She’s got scary skills.”

  He didn’t speak as they headed for the room. Shelly waited outside the door, looking more like the woman who met people at the hospital’s desk and not one who had an arsenal in the back of her rugged outdoorsy vehicle, with the capabilities of using each and every one of the items there.

  “So,” Billy said, unlocking the door. “What do you do at the hospital, Shelly?”

  “I’m a nurse.”

  “Shelly and I were in university at the same time. She was going for her nursing degree while I was becoming a doctor. We met at the library and hit it off.”

  Billy took Mal’s hand and led her to the bed where they sat side by side, fingers laced. Shelly took the chair by the wall. She curled her legs upon the cushion and watched them.

  “So, what’s this about Good versus Evil and things that go bump in the night?”

  “It’s a little more complicated than that,” Billy said. “There are humans who are working for a group called The New Order. Basically, they want to kill Mal and take an item from her.” His thumb calmed Mal as it made small circles on her skin. “Then there are the demons.”

  Shelly leaned forward. “Demons. Actual demons?” Her blue eyes flashed to Mal. “You’ve seen them?”