Page 134 of Enchantment of a Highlander

Despite her own dire circumstance, her heart flickered with a beat of hope.

Was Alec still alive?

Another gust of wind drew back the curtain of smoke and there, by the castle wall, Alec fought two men, his blade moving, flashing, his body still in action.

Realization deflated her hope.

Dark patches of blood stood out on his white leine and he appeared to be limping.

Fighting two men did not leave an injured man much chance to survive.

She strained to pull in a painful breath of air against the squeezing in her chest.

She could not die knowing he would not live.

Then an idea bloomed in the back of her mind, through the cloud of smoke and pain and fear.

If they thought she was a witch, it could be used to her advantage.

She might be able to help Alec still.

“I curse you,” she said, but her words came out meek and hoarse from her injured throat.

The flicker of fire glowed closer, the warmth of its newborn flame almost uncomfortable.

She did not have much time.

She would have to be strong and forceful. She would have to push past her pain.

This was for Alec.

She gathered all the strength from deep within her and shouted for all she had left within her to give.

“I curse you, Laird MacDougall.” Her voice rang out, loud, clear.

She swallowed against the flare of pain in her throat.

MacDougall went still and the side of his cheek twitched.

Flecks of rain spit down from the sky and spattered Celia’s face, but she paid it no mind.

“I curse you and your land and your people.” Her voice came out scratched, but it only lent an element of menace to her threat.

“No,” Saraid said sharply. Her hands raked the air at something unseen.

“Your crops will not grow,” Celia continued. “Your child will have no children.” The rain came down with more force now and the flames around her recoiled with a hiss. “And you will be haunted by every woman you’ve ever slain as a witch.”

Saraid staggered backward and tripped over the hem of her dress. She cowered where she fell.

“I see them,” she cried. “I see them!”

The men fighting Alec appeared to slow at her words, but he did not.

Lightning flashed overhead and a peal of thunder clapped so loudly it made Celia’s ears wince.

Saraid screamed and even MacDougall cried out in alarm.

The rain came down with great force then, as if the spirits of those they’d killed were truly seeking vengeance. It pelted Celia’s scalp hard enough to feel like stones and pummeled her eyes so she had to blink rapidly to clear her vision.