"Okay, so… what if by some mind-warping stretch of the imagination, I did time travel?" A cold chill latched onto her. How would she get back to the twenty-first century?
Gavin's sword had triggered the time-shift, and perhaps her brooch had played a role too. She ran her fingers over it, still attached to her sash. The worn amethyst stones that formed thistle flowers felt a bit warm… too warm for this cool dank cell. She frowned down at it. What had Ranald told her? That it was magical.
Legend says it will lead whoever wears it to their true love.
She scowled. Gavin couldn't be her true love because he treated her like the worst criminal.
As for the sword, he wouldn't trust her to touch it again anytime soon. He'd ordered Ewan to lock it up in the armory, but she had to find it if she wanted to escape this purgatory.
And Ranald—the charming Santa lookalike—had tricked her into holding the sword. He'd known what would happen. He'd said she would enjoy it. "Humph! There's nothing enjoyable about this place, Ranald. You sneaky little weasel."
When a key rattled in the rusty lock, she sprang to her feet. Were they bringing more food? Or had Gavin decided to free her?Please, God.
The metal-studded wooden door screeched open by slow degrees, revealing Gavin carrying a flaming torch.
It's about time!She almost shouted the words, but keeping her cool would be smarter. If she annoyed him, he might leave her here.
For such an ornery man, he looked far too yummy in the belted plaid. The excess material formed a sash that crossed his broad chest. He also wore an ivory shirt and dark blue, medieval-looking doublet. His outfit appeared far more authentic and historical than those worn at the Highland games, which only increased her anxiety.
He entered and placed the torch in the metal wall bracket. The size of him—his fearsome height and brawny shoulders—seemed to fill the entire cell. Her attention focused on the thin scar down the side of his face. But then his wicked, wonderful gaze seized her. Pale blue ringed in darker blue. A strange feeling shook her to the depths of her soul—she could look into his eyes forever.
But would he decide to trust her?
∞∞∞
"Good eve, Dani." Gavin studied the captivating dark-haired woman before him, brave as any Scottish lass he'd ever encountered, though she claimed to come from the American colonies.
"It will only be good if you let me out of here," she said with calm reason. Her insistent eyes met his without hesitation.Thishe liked, for he scared the wits out of most women. They accused him of being the devil's own son and had given him the nickname MacDeevil. Had she not heard of his reputation?
His fingertips tingled as he remembered the soft smoothness of her skin. He wanted to search her again, but he had no excuse for it. He had to focus on the issue at hand.
"Early this morn, I sent Ewan with a message to the MacRae chief. He admitted to sending you, and I've decided to accept his peace offering."
Dani scowled. "Peace offering?"
"Indeed. Ewan has gone to fetch the priest, and we'll be wed as soon as he returns."
Her mouth dropped open. "Wed? Are you freaking nuts?" Her stunning eyes widened, multifaceted like a gemstone. Green or blue? Would he ever see them in the sunlight in his human form?
"I have nay inkling what freaking nuts are, but the MacRae must have told you the reason he sent you. Else why would you have come?"
"Let me get this straight… so, this MacRae chief said he'd sent me here to marry you?"
"Aye."
"Humph. Either he's feeding you a massive line of bull or—oh my gosh—maybe he's—" She snapped her mouth closed and sent him a wary look.
Gavin's mind grappled with some of the strange words and phrases she used, taking a moment to decipher their meanings… or at least some of them. She spoke English, but a bizarre form of it. "He's what?"
"Nothing." Her lips thinned.
"'Twill do you nay good to try to wheedle out of it. You already said the MacRae is your distant cousin. I ken he sent you. He wants peace and to nullify the curse, as do I. He fears I will retaliate against his clan. As well, he fears and detests his sister-in-law, Wilona, for she threatens him at every turn."
Dani looked more confused than ever. "What curse? And who is Wilona? You mentioned her before."
"Lady Wilona MacRae, the witch with powers of darkness."
"Ha. Get real." Dani eyed him skeptically. "What kind of crazy, alternate universe is this?"
