"You! I'm not going back," he gritted out, his fists by his side. But he wasn't staring at her. He was looking at The Morrigan who stood to Rose's right.

Rose didn't give The Morrigan a chance to speak. "Murdering bastard," she yelled as she launched across the distance between them. The impact took Ronan off balance, slamming him against the tree behind him.

She heard Duncan's voice behind her, calling her name, but Rose ignored him as she wrapped her fingers around the Guardian's thick neck. God, the man was massive.

His mercurial eyes narrowed on her as he clasped her wrists and yanked her hands away from his throat.

"I have no quarrel with ye, Roisin," he bit out.

"Rose is here to set you free, Ronan," The Morrigan said in a calm voice.

Rose, Duncan and Ronan all turned to The Morrigan in surprise.

"The hell I will!" Rose yelled, yanking her hands from Ronan's grasp. She swung her fist, hitting his jaw. Ronan's head jerked sideways from the impact.

He grabbed her fist and squeezed, holding her in place. "Cease yer attack."

"He murdered Rose's father," Duncan explained to The Morrigan.

"Yer Saoi told me that James was the Guardian who betrayed Anna," the Goddess addressed Ronan.

Ronan released Rose's hand and crossed his arms over his chest. A belligerent look settled on his face. "Translated-ye fecked up the wrong man's life, Morrie."

The wind around them stirred and the white glow surrounding The Morrigan grew with her temper. "Watch yer insolent tongue, Ronan Keegan, or I won't set things straight."

She turned to Rose. "As the priestess's descendant ye must be the one to ask for Ronan to be released from his curse."

Fury swept through Rose that The Morrigan would ask this of her. Ronan deserved his curse. Maybe not for his past sins, but for his current ones.

"I won't." Rose clenched her fists by her side. Glancing at Ronan's stiff expression, she said in a determined voice, "It's a fitting punishment for killing my father."

The Morrigan walked up to Rose and put her hand on her shoulder. A sudden calmness swept through Rose. She felt The Morrigan's strong sense of self-a confidence that could only come with being a Goddess. The Morrigan looked at Ronan.

"I now know ye were an honorable man. All these years couldn't have changed ye. Basic good resides deep in the soul. Ye did what ye did for a reason. Rose's gifts allow her to see what ye refuse to speak of. She deserves to know."

Confused by The Morrigan's words, Rose turned her gaze to Ronan. "What is she talking about?"

Ronan stared after The Morrigan as she walked away to stand beside Duncan. Then he returned his steady gaze to Rose's.

Rose tensed when Ronan he reached for her hand, but Duncan's softly spoken Tog go bog e in her head calmed her.

Ronan uncurled her hand from its tight fist and placed it on his naked chest. Sheesh, did the man ever wear real clothes? Rose felt his heart's heavy thump beneath the thick pectoral as his steel gaze narrowed on her.

"If I allow ye into my mind, ye must promise to see only what happened between yer father and me."

I don't want to see my father's murder all over again, Rose whispered in Duncan's mind.

I've seen the honorable side to Ronan The Morrigan speaks of. You must know for sure before you condemn him, Roisin. Seek the truth, a ghra.

Rose bit her lip and nodded her agreement.

Ronan laid his much larger hand over hers and spoke in her mind. Remember yer promise.

He closed his eyes and Rose closed hers. She let the physical connection between them help her move past his strong mental barrier. Then Rose saw her father through Ronan's eyes.

So this is George Sinclair, Anna's mate, Ronan thought as he approached her father sitting in his wheelchair next to the window.

"There's only a faint remnant smell of Anna on ye. Where is yer mate?" he asked George.

Her father's wrinkled face lit up at the mention of his wife. "Have you seen Anna? I miss her so now that she's gone."

Ronan frowned and repeated, "Where is yer mate?"

The old man looked away, staring out the window into the dark. "She passed away the day I came out of my coma. It's been too many years to count."

How has the man survived their separation? He must suffer constantly without her psychic connection. In the end, everyone lost, Ronan thought with a bitter twist of his lips.

George beckoned him close. When Ronan drew near, the old man whispered, "I sometimes blame myself. That if I hadn't woken up, Anna wouldn't have died. My daughter is the only reason I live at all."

"Ye no longer have to worry. It's me duty to watch over Rose."

George gave him a small smile. "You know my Rosie, then?"

Ronan nodded. "I'll teach her what she needs to know to survive."

When Ronan started to pull away, the old man grasped his shoulders. "I can't wait to see Anna again."

Ronan heard the slow, tired thump of the old man's heart. He sensed the man wouldn't last much longer...maybe a week at the most.

"Would you like to see her today?"

The man's grip on his shoulders tightened. "Please..."

The human had suffered far too long. At least he could help Anna once last time, by sending her mate home to her. He compelled the old man to fall into a peaceful sleep...a sleep his human body would never awake from.

Rose's heart constricted as she opened her eyes. She tried to remove her hand from Ronan's chest, but he held her still, his gaze locking with hers.

"I never got to say goodbye to him," she whispered, her tone more regretful than vengeful.

"Would you have wanted him to suffer even one more day, Roisin?"

She closed her eyes and shook her head, holding back a sob.

Ronan released her hand and she turned her watery gaze to The Morrigan. "I ask you to release Ronan from his curse."

"That leaves you without a Guardian," The Morrigan reminded her.

"Rose is mine to protect," Duncan cut in.

Ronan glared at Duncan, then returned his gaze to The Morrigan. "Until Rose takes a mate, I'm still her Guardian, curse or no."

The Morrigan nodded. "My work here is almost done. How does it feel to give up your immortality, Ronan?" she smirked.

"I feel centuries old already," came his sarcastic response.

The Morrigan turned to Duncan. "I've spoken with yer mother. She told me Eamon's wishes. Ye will take his place as leader of the Sythens with Ronan by yer side as second-in-command."

"No!" Ronan said, his face livid. Without another word he shifted to a black hawk and flew away.

"I never agreed to become the Sythen leader," Duncan countered.

Rose could feel the anger flaring through him. She walked up and clasped his hand, giving him her support, no matter what he decided.

"Yer clan needs a leader, Duncan. Now more than ever," The Morrigan said.

"They aren't my clan."

The Morrigan looked at Rose. "Talk to him. As for Ronan, he may be free of his curse, but he now has a special connection to the Guardians." An amused smile crossed her face. "Even if he doesn't know it yet."

The Goddess started to walk away then she turned back to them. She met Rose and Duncan's gazes with a steady one. "I'm well aware that yer mothers broke their vows never to speak of their past as well as the reasons behind their decisions. Nature has a way of balancing itself regardless of the forces working around it. I got involved once. I won't make the same mistake again."

When Rose turned her gaze to Duncan, they were both standing back in their bedroom at Ian's house.

The Morrigan was gone.

Rose put her hands on Duncan's waist and looked up at him. "The Morrigan is right. We're both part Atruan, Duncan. You can't deny our ancestry."

Duncan gave her a grim look, then pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead. "I know you're right, a ghra, but I'm not leader material. I've been a loner too long."

Rose laughed while she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "I've never met a more authoritative, commanding man. You'll make a wonderful leader. And don't forget I've seen you work a crowd. The word 'commanding' does come to mind."

"Do you really think so?" He rubbed his chin against her temple, sounding in deep thought.

She nodded. "I know so. You don't want the Sythen clan to fall apart yet again, do you?"

"No, I don't." Duncan gave a heavy sigh. "I hope they accept me and that I can smooth the way for the Sythens with the other clan leaders."

Rose smiled against his chest and squeezed his waist. "I'm sure helping smooth ruffled feathers between the clans will go a long way in establishing you as a great leader, Duncan."

He pulled back to meet her gaze once more. "What happened between Ronan and your father?"

Once she'd relayed what she'd seen through Ronan's eyes, Duncan shook his head. "Ronan's a puzzle I've yet to figure out. I know he's honorable, but I've seen his Machiavellian ruthlessness, too."

Rose nodded. "While I was in his mind, I kept my word and didn't probe deeper, but I felt the darkness within him, Duncan. Are you sure having him as second-in-command is such a good idea?"

Duncan slid his hands down to her hips, locking her body to his. "If he decides to join us, it's the easiest way to keep tabs on him."

"Good point." She kissed his jaw and smiled up at him.

Duncan lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. "You need to rest."

Rose pulled back the covers and after Duncan set her on the bed, he crawled in beside her.

Gathering her close, he kissed her neck and whispered in her ear, "No one means as much to me as you do."

Rose snuggled closer, reveling in Duncan's declaration. It was the closest he'd come to telling her he loved her.

Kissing her jaw, he continued, "I know you had to feed to regain your strength. I regret that my stubborn pride put you in jeopardy. It'll never happen again. If you're hungry, go feed."

Now why did it bother her that Duncan wasn't insisting she mate with him any longer? That he wasn't demanding his blood be her only sustenance? He'd said he cared for her above all others, so why was he backing away now?

Duncan's even breathing told her he'd fallen asleep, but her stomach tightened as she tried to understand the reasoning for his apparent change of heart about their mating. After several frustrating minutes of trying to come up with a reason, exhaustion overtook her and Rose's eyelids fluttered closed.

Chapter Sixteen

The next morning Rose awoke to the sound of the shower being turned on. She rolled over and the covers caught around her jeans legs. Ugh, she remembered she'd fallen asleep in her clothes. She thought she was only going to take a nap but she probably needed the sleep. Already she felt better, even if she was a little hungry.

She rolled over and punched her pillow, thinking about Duncan. Though she was glad she didn't have to look over her shoulder waiting for James to attack, the thought that Duncan wouldn't feel the need to stick around twenty-four/seven depressed her.

Thinking about Duncan made her stomach growl. The idea of feeding from his sexy body made her heart hammer, but could she bind herself to a man who held so much of himself back yet expected so much from her?

She pulled the covers back and walked toward the bathroom. One thing she knew for certain, Duncan fulfilled her in ways no other man had. She didn't know if that was enough to mate with him, but that wasn't going to stop her from enjoying their time together. At the moment, time together in the shower sounded pretty good to her.

Right when she opened the door, the shower shut off. Disappointment washed over her when Duncan stepped out and wrapped the towel around his wet body.

"Hi," he said as he ran his fingers through his wet hair. "I'm done if you need to hop in."

Rose gave a half smile at his tousled hair. It made him look even sexier. Something was different though...his smooth jaw drew her attention.

"You shaved," she said, working hard not to let her disappointment show.

Duncan rubbed his jaw and gave her a sheepish look. "I figured the day I meet with the Vite to tell him I'll accept my role as the Sythens' new leader, I should look somewhat presentable."

"Ah." She nodded. Unsure what to say next, she said, "Well, I guess I'll head back to my house and take a shower there."

Duncan stared at her for a long second and Rose waited with bated breath for him to ask her to hang with him. Instead, he pulled the towel off his waist and faced the mirror to dry his hair with the towel. Despite the letdown that he didn't ask her to stay, Rose couldn't help but glance at his cut body and impressive package. The man just made her mouth water.

"That's probably a good idea since there's a crew of men at your house as we speak repairing the damage Ronan and James caused."

Rose's heart jerked. "My house! They tore apart my house?" Turning on her heel, she rushed to grab her car keys from the nightstand drawer.