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Larena that Malcolm might leave. She thought for sure he would stay.”
    “Did Malcolm ever mention where he might go?”
    “He didn’t say much of anything to anyone. Deirdre’s attack scarred more than just his body. His soul is shattered.”
    “Aye,” Broc said softly. “I know.”
    She had forgotten that Broc was the one who found Malcolm as well as the one who fought off the Warriors to save him. “You risked much in helping him.”
    “Nothing more than anyone else fighting against Deirdre. I only wish I could have gotten to Malcolm sooner.”
    It was something in his voice, some dark emotion, that made Sonya turn to him. “What did you see?”
    Broc wouldn’t look into her face. “You doona realize what it was like living in Deirdre’s mountain. She wanted the Warriors to be animals, to act like animals. That’s what I found when I saw the Warriors attacking Malcolm. They were about to rip him apart. It sickened me.”
    “But you saved him. You brought him to the castle so he could be healed.”
    Broc’s eyes lifted to hers. “I brought him to you. The only one I knew could help him.”

 
     
    FIVE
     
    It had been a long time since Broc had felt so at ease. He didn’t want the moment to end. Sitting with Sonya in front of the fire while he combed her hair seemed so ordinary, yet it touched a part of him he feared was long since dead.
    Broc tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear and shifted so he could inhale her scent of lavender. It had always intoxicated him, always made him yearn to be near her.
    Her scent filled his body and made him burn. His fingers tightened their hold on the comb as he fought against dragging her against him, of laying claim to her tempting lips.
    He mentally shook himself as he thought of where they were. And why.
    “Sonya, why did you leave?”
    She glanced down, hiding her amber eyes from him. “Sometimes the course we take seems the right one.”
    “You still feel as though you are on the right path?”
    Her slim shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I don’t know much of anything anymore.”
    He knew she had left because of Anice. Because he had known Anice. It was time Sonya knew the truth, the whole, ugly mess of it.
    “Do you know Ramsey and I were caught by Deirdre about the same time? His god was released first, but I soon followed.”
    “I’d heard something like that,” Sonya answered before shifting to turn toward him.
    “In Cairn Toul, you trust no one. You never know who is working with Deirdre and who is no’. Yet, somehow Ramsey and I befriended each other. In the depths of that vile mountain was forged a friendship deeper than blood.”
    Sonya’s brow furrowed as she leaned toward him. “What happened?”
    “Freedom. Ramsey had a chance at escape, and I urged him to it. Someone had to stay behind and spy on Deirdre.”
    “Why you?”
    Broc smiled wryly. “Ramsey is … special. Deirdre couldna learn everything there was to know of him.”
    “Isn’t that true of everyone?”
    “Aye, I suppose.”
    “So you stayed behind,” she urged him to continue.
    Broc thought back to that day so long ago. How freedom had been so close he could almost touch it. He had nearly given in and left with Ramsey, almost forgot everything but his own wants and needs.
    “We had discussed escaping for so long. Ramsey wanted me to go and him to stay as a spy.”
    Sonya’s head cocked to the side as she studied him. “You didn’t let him. You willingly stayed? Why?”
    “For Ramsey. For the other Warriors. For Druids and every innocent life Deirdre would snuff out without a second’s thought.”
    Broc took a deep breath and readied himself for Sonya’s reaction—whatever it might be.
    “I soon became someone Deirdre wanted near her at all times. I overheard things, learned of her intentions. I never hesitated to do the deeds, however dirty, that she sent me on.”
    Sonya’s lips pressed into a frown. “You killed people.”
    “And captured Druids.”
    Her