Alistaire didn’t need to ask how Euan found his way to the magical town. He’d long suspected the town’s magic would lead Euan to his doorstep for their final confrontation. Alistaire started walking towards Euan, who was backing away the closer he got, and soon broke out into a run.
Alistaire chased after the immortal, not caring he could be leading him to a trap. He knew Euan had others working for him, willing to do his bidding. Euan Gillies, to those who knew the name, was a figurehead in the criminal underground. Euan went from wanting revenge for his kin’s deaths and homeland from his enemies’ hands to burning the highlands and the people to the ground.
For years Euan traveled with a pack, wreaking havoc on the world, not caring who he hurt in the process. As time changed, so did his evilness. After Fox’s death, Alistaire had tracked down and eliminated every one of Euan’s people in his fury and despair. He chased after Euan and, in the process, was being pulled away from town and into the forest.
“Are you going to keep running, you gealtaire! Or face me like a fucking man?” Alistaire shouted when he was an arm’s length away from Euan.
Euan stopped running and whirled, sending a flying kick to Alistaire’s face.But Alistaire blocked it with his shoulder.
“Not only are you a gealtaire, but you’re fucking weak as hell,” Alistaire jeered.
“Such talk from a boy who’s only living this long because of his mother’s sacrifice.”
“Was that supposed to make me angry? You’ve been using that line for ages. Try something new.”
Euan barked out a laugh holding his stomach. “You’ve finally grown a backbone. Tell me, little McBain heir, when did it happen? Was it when I killed your c—”
Before Euan could finish his words, Alistaire kicked the other man in his stomach. Because he used so much force in his kick, it sent Euan flying back into a tree, breaking it in half. Euan growled, glaring at Alistaire with a promise of death in his eyes.
“You little piece of shit! Do you think you can best me?” Euan growled. Retaliation blazed in his eyes as he rushed forward. Alistaire couldn't block the hard punch to his face, throwing him off balance and allowing Euan to land a kick to his stomach before grabbing his right leg, wrenching his kneecap from the joint.
Alistaire howled in pain, and both his knees almost buckled, but he refused to let them touch the ground. He limped back, putting space between him and Euan. Alistaire reached down, gritting his teeth, putting his knee back into place—groaning from the pain.
“You’re just like your father, McBain. Letting your emotions rule you. It’s why his people were easy to manipulate. They believed my lies that your father was a traitor and stood by my side while I killed him.”
“Shut up!” Alistaire pulled his gun, releasing the safety, and pointed it at Euan. “I’m done chasing after you, tired of having to look over my shoulder wondering when the next time will be you’ll show up and we’ll play this game all over again. For close to a century, I’ve carried so much hate in my heart for you.”
Thoughts of his parents and Fox Morgan came to him. The anger and hate burning deep inside of him bubbled to the surface.
“You’ve taken everything I love, for what purpose?”
“All this time and you have no idea why she sacrificed herself for you!”
“Olivia was her name, and she was my mother, and you have no idea what her sacrifice means to me!”
“She was your mother, yes. But she was my càraid before your father stole her from me. She was and still is the only woman I will love for a lifetime. I vowed never to let Lochlan MacBain’s bloodline live in contentment while I live in agony.”
“You ruined my life because of a broken heart?”
“You think it’s something simple, little McBain. But remember the pain you felt when I took your lover away from you. The hate and anger. It was how I felt the day Olivia walked away from me and stood by your father’s side. Do you know the power we gain from having our càraid at our side? Your father stole that power from me, and I had to seek other means of getting what I wanted.”
“Power! Is that all you wanted her for? You talk as if Olivia was merely a thing rather than a person. No wonder my mother chose Lochlan over you. You caused me so much pain and made me miss my chance with my càraid because of your jealousy. And I won’t let you, won’t let you take another loved one away from me.”
Before Euan could utter another word, Alistaire pulled the trigger aiming for right between his eyes, just as the fireworks from the tree lighting went off. A bullet to the head wouldn’t kill Euan, but it would keep him knocked out for a couple of hours so Alistaire could get him somewhere else. There was only one way to kill an immortal—slicing their head off their body.
Alistaire watched Euan’s body fall back just as a gasp reached his ear. Turning, his eyes connected with surprised blue and green eyes belonging to Crevan Hannigan.
Fuck! How did he find me?
Chapter Nine
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Vale shouted.
“Wh...why did you just kill that man?”
Fox couldn’t put into words what he’d just seen. He’d gone to the Christmas tree lighting with Moressa since everyone else in the family was either working at the wine store or the stall set up in the park for the occasion. Fox had spotted Vale patrolling the area and hadn’t been able to take his eyes off the captain dressed in his navy blue uniform.
Vale might be a captain in rank, but Fox knew deep down the other man was more than qualified to be sheriff of his department or even county. Fox had liked working with Vale in his past life. The man was playful and had a way of making him forget they were at work a time or two, but when the need arose Vale could be serious and focused on the task at hand.
