Page 128 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

"Talnaroch told me. Why did you or MacCain nay send a missive informing me where you were? That could've saved us several days of searching."

Ignoring his question, she asked. "How did the blackguard earl know I was here?"

"Blackguard?" Will challenged. "Why are you calling your future husband a blackguard?"

"'Tis what he is," Elsea said firmly. "He's a knave, a bastard, and a whoreson." Besides that, he was not Elsea's future husband, but she would keep that to herself for now.

Will's face reddened. "Where did you learn such language? From MacCain?"

"Nay, from you and our brothers."

Will blew out an annoyed breath, for he could not deny it.

"I wager the witch told Talnaroch where you are," Cat said. "We know they're working together."

"Of course," Elsea said. "She's known I was here since the beginning."

"How long have you been here?" Will asked.

"Since the morning after I left Kincreag. Why did you sign the betrothal contract behind my back?" Elsea demanded.

"How did you ken?"

"Talnaroch told me," she said, echoing his earlier words.

"Well." His brows shot up. "'Twas clear you wished to wed him."

"Nay, 'twas not. I told you I required a fortnight to decide. If Da were here, he would not attempt to force me to marry the earl."

"Well, Da is nay here, and I'm the chief now. I must do what I think best for the clan."

"What about what is best for me?" she asked.

"You're being selfish again. You string along too many men. We've all grown tired of your changeable moods and indecision. Not to mention the scandals. The earl demands that I bring you home. If you do nay come with me, he'll lay siege to this castle. Plus, he will charge me a massive fine in recompense—your dowry plus three thousand merks."

Elsea gasped. "The bastard!"

Will glared but did not mention the insult. "He said you went to Dunrhyne and told him you wish to marry him soonest."

"I was lying and only pretending."

"Why?" Will demanded. "Why the hell did you follow him?"

"He is kidnapping female selkies out on the islands to sell to wealthy aristocrats. You can imagine what for."

Will scowled, his face coloring. "Selkie females?" he asked doubtfully.

"Aye, selkie tribes exist, and the females are extremely beautiful. Somehow the knave saw them and devised a way to make a massive profit. He's greedy and desperate. Selkies are people, just as we are. At Kincreag, before I left, I heard the earl's men talking about making a raid and kidnapping them. That's why I followed him, to stop the bastards and help the women. And I did. I freed several of them before a man kicked me down, knocked me unconscious, and I fell in the water. Then Brodie found me and dragged me from the sea, saving my life."

William's eyes widened and his face turned pale as he looked to Cat.

She nodded. "'Tis true."

"Thank the saints you're alright, sister," Will said. "But we still have a problem. Refusing the earl now would turn him into an enemy and ruin us. The entire clan will suffer. He demands the whole fee at once. 'Twill impoverish us all. He has a larger force of men that I do, and larger than MacCain."

"Nay if everyone bands together," Cat said. "The MacTavish clan is here, along with several from the MacPherson clan."

"Where?" Will asked.