Page 124 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

"What's wrong?" Cat asked. "Your joy disappeared so quickly."

"I've told him I love him several times recently, but he has not returned the sentiment nor said that he trusts me. The curse will remain until he feels both."

Chapter 24

Brodie awoke abruptly in his darkened chamber. The memory of Elsea in his bed and the passion they'd shared was like a Beltane bonfire. He reached out to see if she was still beside him. Nay. The sheets were cold. Yearning to draw her against him, he muttered a curse.

What the devil had possessed him? He'd been determined to resist her. Had he drunk too much?

Aye, most likely.

Energy spurring him, he sat up. He needed to move, to escape these walls.

He slid to the edge of the mattress, amazed his chest only felt a little sore, not painful. He pressed his fingers against it, then stretched and moved his arms in all directions. The shifting had helped him heal, but he needed the stitches removed. He put on his shirt, plaid, and sporran containing his sealskin, and proceeded quietly to Finnian's chamber. The old man normally rose early. Brodie tapped softly at the door.

A moment later, it opened. Finnian's eyes rounded on him. "Lad, are you well?"

Brodie entered and closed the door. "Aye, thanks to your exceptional skills, I'm healed."

Finnian scoffed softly. "'Twas nay my skills."

Brodie opened the front of his shirt. "I need the stitches removed, if you would be so kind."

Finnian drew him toward the candle and eyed the wound through his spectacles. "Indeed, it does look healed." He opened a drawer, took out a small pair of seamstress scissors, then clipped a few stitches at one end of the cut. When the wound stayed closed, he nodded his approval, clipped the rest of the stitches, and pulled them out.

"'Twill be tender for a while, no doubt."

"I'll be fine, and I thank you. I'll see you later." Brodie inclined his head, then quit the room. He must shift again. The sea always called to him early in the morning, but today it was shouting.

By the time he descended the front steps into the bailey, the barest hint of dawn light glowed on the eastern horizon. Icy wind gusted off the sea, whipping his hair back, but he found it refreshing. Liberating. He'd been cooped up in the castle too long and needed a swim. He'd likely be back before Torr and Gavin rose and broke their fast.

"M'laird?" MacLaren stepped from the gatehouse as he approached. "Are you well enough to be out here?"

"Aye. I'm fine. I'm going out for a swim."

The guard's eyes rounded. "'Twas only a few nights ago I helped carry you inside."

"Selkies are fast healers," Brodie said, as he had so many times before. He unbuttoned the front of his shirt and opened it to show MacLaren his healed cut.

The man's eyes widened even further. "Och, 'tis a miracle."

"Indeed. You have nay reason to fash over me."

"As you wish, then, m'laird." MacLaren still appeared uneasy and hesitant. "Where are you off to?"

"Ròncreag."

"Should you take a bodyguard with you?"

"Nay, unless he can shift too." Brodie smirked.

"Ha." MacLaren was not amused. "You could be putting yourself in danger."

"Nonsense. Is Kenneth still at Rònmòrach?"

"Aye. He took thirteen guards with him."

Brodie nodded. "I may go check on them, too, depending on how I feel."