About a half mile up the trail from Torr, she dropped the bridle behind a bush. She could easily locate it later.
After flying to Blacktower, she shifted into a midge and crawled between the panes of one of the upper-floor windows.
Although she was tempted to search for the keek-stane again, that could wait. She was close to gaining control over Torr and wished to achieve that first. She could easily return later for the keek-stane.
When she found Catriona's chamber, she shifted into her human form and whispered the incantation for invisibility. She inched the door open enough to see the sleeping wench on the bed in the firelight.
Wilona entered and silently closed the door. She glared at the lass's flawless, youthful beauty, smooth skin, and plump lips. Wilona could not wait to steal her man away and shatter her perfect world.
Wilona gave a bitter grin.
The lass had left her clothing spread upon the chair near the bed, and her cloak hung on a hook by the door. Each article of clothing disappeared as Wilona picked it up and slid it on her invisible body. She was relishing this new power immensely.
After dressing, she eyed the lass's hair—flame-red much like Wilona's but a shade brighter. More importantly, it would have a different scent, one Torr would be familiar with and drawn to. Discovering a Highland dirk hidden under the clothing, she picked it up and carefully cut one of Catriona's thick ginger braids in half. Wilona almost laughed, imagining what the lass would say when she noticed her missing hair.
Testing the weight of the foot-long dagger in her hand, Wilona eyed the lass's pale neck, so pristine and vulnerable. Wilona could finish her off now. Torr couldn't fall in love with a dead lass, and he would be cursed for the rest of his life.
Wilona weighed her options. If she mortally wounded the lass, she would scream, alerting everyone in the castle. Though Wilona was invisible, she needed to walk out the front door in human form while wearing the lass's clothes. 'Twas the canniest way to capture Torr and use him to slay Gavin. Aye, killing Gavin was more important than killing the lass.
She cut off one of the cloak strings and tied the braid of the lass's ginger hair around her own braid so that it hung down one side of her throat.
Catriona turned over. "Aggie?"
Wilona rushed to the door and exited into the corridor.
"Aggie?" Catriona yelled. "Is that you?"
Remaining invisible, Wilona hurried down the staircase and across the great hall. She paused, listening. All was silent. She unlocked the exit door, went out, and closed it behind her.
In the moonlight, she strode briskly along the trail and located the magical bridle behind the bush where she'd dropped it earlier. After loosening it from the bundle, she quietly hastened toward the loch to find her new servant.
