I’d done nothing, but I understood her confusion. I’d known she wasn’t dead when Alasdair thought she was because I could still feel her magic. Hamish had done something to break our bond.
I looked at him and he nodded in confirmation before speaking. “Ye will no longer break the rules of magic, Grier. If ye steal from another, I will kill ye myself.”
“Was that why we were connected? Because she stole from me?”
“Aye.”
A sinking feeling settled in my gut as I realized what Jerry’s absence must mean.
“Where is he?”
She smiled, and I had to hold tight to my horse’s reins to keep from flying off the horse and grabbing her around the throat.
“He thinks ye are dead. I wouldna have broken the spell, otherwise. Even with ye gone, he dinna want me. He’s returned to Conall Castle to seek work from yer brother.”
I turned my horse around to leave. She wasn’t worth another breath, but she screamed a curse at me as we left. “May ye never bear children, and may Jerry’s heart be weak. May chaos follow the two of ye always.”
I nudged my horse into a run. I never wanted to see her again.
I rode for a long while before I realized I was alone, and I only realized it then because of a galloping horse approaching.
I looked over my shoulder to see Hamish.
“I thought ye were behind me. Where did ye go?”
“To speak to her. I havena ever seen anyone carry such pain.”
I could feel no sympathy for her.
“She deserves every bit of pain she feels. What did ye tell her?”
“Only that there was hope for her still, if only she learns to forgive herself first.”
I shook my head and gave Hamish a small smile. “’Tis good that Grier’s spell is broken. I would have been entirely undeserving of ye. Ye are one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.”
* * *
Conall Territory
* * *
We were much more careful as we approached Conall Castle. I’d been so sure I would never return to my home that I could scarcely believe I was back only a few days later.
We tied our horses near a stream in a secluded part of the woods. I was to remain hidden while Hamish went to find Alasdair and Jerry.
The wait seemed like days, though I know it must’ve been only a few hours at most. When I heard footsteps approaching, I kept myself hidden until I heard their voices. I’d expected only Hamish and Jerry, but at the sound of my brother’s voice, I pulled away from the brush and ran to him.
He caught me as I jumped toward him, my feet lifting off the ground. He pulled me into a hug as his choked voice spoke into my ear.
“I couldna not see ye again, if ye were here. Besides, Jerry and I have a plan.”
I looked over Alasdair’s back. Jerry’s eyes were filled with tears. “Let go of yer brother, lass. I need ye in my arms this instant.”
Alasdair released me, but my steps toward Jerry were much more hesitant.
“Ye told me once ye would never forgive me for keeping ye captive. Is it true?”
He shook his head. “No. There is nothing ye could do that I wouldna forgive. Can ye forgive me for all the things I said to ye? All the pain that I caused?”
