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

step back and the pressure instantly ceased. “I can’t leave.”
    “I’m telling you, you were meant to find this place. It’s why your aunt left the land to you and no’ your mother.”
    Rennie shook her head. “No. She left it to me because she knew my mother wouldn’t return.”
    “Are you sure of that?” Dale asked as he cocked a brow.
    She wasn’t sure of anything anymore. “What am I supposed to do?”
    “I doona know. Perhaps your magic can tell you. What about the ancients?”
    She stared at him, aghast. “How do you know of the ancients?”
    “I was with droughs , remember?”
    “The ancients don’t talk to the droughs .”
    “Ah, but the droughs know of the ancients because before the Druids chose the evil path, they spoke with the ancients when they were still mies .”
    Rennie once more sat on one of the seats. “I didn’t think of that.” Silence filled the void as they both stared into the flames of the fire. She couldn’t deny the strange feeling of her magic. “You were right,” she finally said. “My magic is stronger here. Why?”
    “That I can no’ answer. The ancients can, however.”
    Rennie knew she had no choice but to contact the ancients. She shifted her gaze to Dale who hadn’t moved from his spot near the door. “Will you stay with me?”
    “If that is your wish, lass.”
    She waited until he took a seat across the fire from her. Rennie removed her coat and took a deep breath before she slowly released it.
    Then she called to her magic once more as she stared into the fire. It answered instantly, the power of it making her tremble. Deeper and deeper into her magic she went. This wouldn’t be the first time she had spoken to the ancients, but it had been a long time.
    They had never told her anything before. In the past, they had all but refused to tell her why others got visions from touching her. Would she get answers now?
    Did she want them?
    Now that Dale was with her, it didn’t seem to matter. Then she recalled Harriet and her bid to buy Rennie’s land. Answers were definitely something Rennie needed, even if she didn’t like what she heard.
    Her head cocked to the side when she heard the distant beat of drums. They grew louder and louder until they deafened her. Rising to meet them was the chanting of thousands of ancient Druids long dead.
    “Thereeeeeee you are,” they said in unison. “What took you so long, Rennie?”
    “I didn’t know I was supposed to find you.”
    “You brought a Warrior. He fought for the side of evil with the drough Jason Wallace.”
    “He’s chosen our side now.”
    “That remains to be seen.”
    “What is this place?”
    “A holy place,” they said together. “We’ve been waiting for you to find it.”
    “Why?”
    “Your destiny, Rennieeeeeee.”
    She began to grow frustrated with the lack of in-depth answers. “What destiny? I have to know more, please.”
    “Your ancestors practiced magic here, anticipating a Druid who would come who could grant freedom to someone.”
    “Freedom? Freedom from what?”
    “The confines of a spell.”
    Rennie immediately thought of Dale.
    “Aye,” the ancients said. “ You can free him from his god and make him mortal once more. That is your gift. ”
    “I could do it now?”
    “It comes with a price.”
    “What kind of price?”
    “One your Warrior must pay.”
    “Can you tell me more?”
    “You will know what to do when the time comes.”
    Rennie fisted her hands. “Why am I here, really? Why has my magic increased, and why can’t I leave?”
    “You’ll be able to leave once you accept who you are.”
    “I have!”
    There was a beat of silence before the drums pounded louder. Then the ancients said, “ You haven’t, child.”
    “Why has my magic increased while here?”
    “It’s your destiny. Embrace it!”

Chapter Eight
    Rennie looked away from the flames as the ancients’ words echoed in her head. Her destiny. What, exactly, was her destiny?
    She looked