"Nay that I've heard of."
"'Tis turning chilly. Shall I build a fire?" the lass asked.
"Nay. Her ladyship wishes her enemy's wife to be as miserable as possible."
Anger goring him, Gavin ground his teeth. Dani would not be their hostage for long. He listened as the two women's footsteps padded down the steps again. After proceeding into the chamber where they intended to imprison Dani, he peered out the window. The torch-lit bailey lay below, filled with dozens of people.
Wilona employed a sizable force of men. How would he defeat so many?
∞∞∞
Dani was ready to strangle several people by the time dusk arrived. Her captors dragged her from the horse and set her onto her feet in a cobbled bailey. She gritted her teeth as pains shot through her stomach and her joints. She swayed, dizzy from being upside down so long. When her surroundings stopped spinning, her eyes focused on two flaming torches flanking the castle's entrance and the tall, slim woman standing on the steps between—Wilona MacRae.
Alpin shoved Dani forward while Harv held a torch nearby.
"Welcome to Raeglen Castle." Wilona motioned to the tall structure behind her, covered in pale lime harling. Its neat and tidy appearance was a sharp contrast to Caithmore—further evidence of the curse.
"So, you intend to destroy my handiwork, do you?" Wilona's raspy voice, combined with the chill wind, made Dani shiver. Not because of the sound but the evil beneath it and the icy glint in her dark green eyes. Her braided and coiled red-gold hair gleamed in the torchlight.
"Your cruel hex lives on, so I'm no threat to you!" Dani clenched her bound, numb hands into fists, ready to pound them against the witch's face.
"That remains uncertain as long as you draw breath."
Dani's attention shrank to one unreal, heart-stopping thought. "You intend to kill me?"
"I would never kill you or anyone, but accidents happen all the time. Aye?" Wilona produced a tight-lipped, malicious grin.
"Why? I cannot stop the curse!" Why was everyone in this century so damned unreasonable?
Wilona gave a sharp-edged laugh. "You have little understanding, do you, naïve girl?"
At the hag's condescending tone, Dani narrowed her eyes. "About what?"
"What would ruin my brilliant and beautiful spell."
"No." Dani wished someone would enlighten her.
"An exchange of deep love and unwavering trust between you and Gavin MacTavish."
"Oh." Stunned, Dani considered her and Gavin's relationship. She'd believed she might be falling in love with him, but she harbored plenty of qualms and misgivings. Did she trust him? She doubted Gavin trusted her after she'd threatened to leave.
"I used that in the spell because I assumed no woman would again go near enough to that devil to fall in love with him," Wilona said.
Outrage spurred Dani. "Gavin is not a devil! He's a good man."
"He murdered my son," Wilona snarled, pure hatred emanating from her.
"Gavin defended himself in the fight," Dani blasted back. "Your son and Alpin attacked him first. That's how Gavin got the scar on his face. Your son put it there. Alpin lied to you about what happened."
Standing close behind her, Alpin clasped a firm hand onto her shoulder. Hard. "Careful, lass," he growled in her ear.
Twisting, she tried to free herself. "Take your hands off me, scumbag!"
"I'll deal with her," Wilona said. "Go have your supper in the barracks."
Alpin left, then Dani eyed Wilona again.
"This much I know—Gavin's blade killed Silas," Wilona said through clenched teeth. "I will never forgive him! I wish to see him suffer as Silas did, and as I now suffer. He could've spared his life."
