War of Hearts(106)

The woman was staring at her, a sad smile softening her lips.

They couldn’t leave her.

She pulled back from James and moved to take a step toward Thea when the guards moved forward in warning. Callie drew to a stop, threw Ashforth a dirty look, and then faced Thea.

“Thank you,” she said solemnly. “Those words seem inadequate, but thank you.”

Thea nodded.

Callie looked to James, who still seemed confused by the whole situation. “We cannae leave her.”

The room went tense.

Callie couldn’t give a shit.

She’d take them all on.

“You have to,” Thea spoke, surprising her.

Callie looked back at her. “But—”

She shook her head. “He can’t lose you too. Please. You have to go.”

The thought of leaving Conall’s mate, who was willing to sacrifice herself for her brother’s family, made Callie want to howl the roof off the fucking castle. Indecision warred inside her.

Thea seemed to sense it. “Callie, you must go. You have to warn Conall. Tell him it was Richard Canid.”

“Shut up,” Ashforth demanded. “That’s not playing nice, Thea.”

Conall’s mate clamped her lips closed but her fierce eyes pleaded with Callie to go.

James took hold of Callie’s hand, his silent support telling her he’d follow her lead. Reluctantly, Callie realized if one of the Canids had betrayed her brother, he needed to know. She gave Thea a nod, but she hoped the woman could read the message in her eyes.

They would come back for her.

After the gift she’d given, there was no way Callie MacLennan would leave Thea here to rot in Jasper Ashforth’s hands.

And she understood her brother well enough to realize Conall would burn the world to the ground to get his mate back.

Leaving the building, Callie’s mind reeled as she got to grips with moving again. Her strides were easy and long-legged, and she knew if she wanted to, she could run and dive off a parapet of the castle straight into the loch with ease. Her whole life stretched before her again. A future. Options. Love.

She marveled, even as dread followed in her wake.

Taking the speedboat back to shore from its island in the middle of Loch Isla, Callie hated leaving Thea alone; and yet at the same time, she was selfishly glad to be free of the place.

Once she and James were on shore and alone, she turned to him.

“You’re walking, Callie,” James stared at her in awe. “I cannae believe you’re walking. You’re saved.”

“Aye.” She flashed him a quick grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “And after this is over, you will marry me, James Cairn.”

His lips trembled with laughter. “What a romantic proposal, Caledonia MacLennan.”

“I’d jump you,” she said, taking a step toward him to cup his handsome face in her hand. “But we need to move.”

His gaze turned questioning. “What did I miss back there?”

“She’s his mate, James. Thea is Conall’s true mate. His scent is her scent now. Like Mum and Dad. Why do you think she insisted on saving me before we were released?”

James staggered back a step, his expression slackening. Then understanding quickly slipped into place, hardening his features. “Her scent.” He nodded, realizing. “Of course.” His eyes flew to the castle in the distance where a large boat waited at the castle dock. A boat probably intended for Thea. Their time was running out.

James bared his teeth. “Well … this definitely means war.”





Wanting Thea to get as much rest as possible before they rescued Callie and James and faced Ashforth, Conall decided to go ahead with strategizing with his pack at the Coach House without her. He would fill Thea in on the way to Castle Cara.

That had been the plan.

More hours had passed than he’d intended, but Conall had assumed if Thea had awoken and was restless, she would find her way easily to Torridon Coach House. Since she hadn’t shown up, he believed she was sleeping, and he was glad for it. Neither of them had much rest lately, and she’d need every ounce of energy and strength within her to face Ashforth and all the demons he represented.

However, something knotted in Conall’s gut as he approached his house, a feeling of unease he didn’t quite understand until he walked inside and felt the emptiness.

That was when he realized he couldn’t feel Thea. He was unable to track her. Fear slammed through him as he tore through the house looking for her. Then out into the garden, to the rocky loch shore.

She was nowhere.

Absolutely nowhere.

And he couldn’t feel her to track her.

It could only mean one thing: someone had drugged her with Ashforth’s concoction.

Conall got into the Defender and sped back to the Coach House, kicking up dirt and stones in his wake, the vehicle bouncing over terrain that was meant to be traversed carefully.

It was impossible to be careful.

He had no time for fucking careful.

His heart was thumping so hard, he was nauseated. His legs and hands trembled as he dove out of the car, just stopping himself from howling right there to draw his pack to him. Yet Conall knew he needed to stay focused and clearheaded. He couldn’t let himself think about Thea in Ashforth’s hands.