Page 29 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

He ground his teeth, his throat tightening. "'Slud!" Even after all the torment she'd unleashed on him, grief would still annihilate him if she died.

He muttered a Gaelic curse. He didn't still love her. Couldn't. No way in hell.

Any reason to care had blown out the window. She had cast him aside like rubbish.

Had she ever loved him, as she'd claimed? Nay, she couldn't have. She'd used him until someone wealthier came along.

"Brodie," Margaret sing-songed from the pallet. "Do you wish to lie down and rest, darling?"

"Nay!" He was removing her as soon as possible.

***

"FASTER! ROW!" RICHARD MacGilmont, the Earl of Talnaroch shouted at his men on the galley. The wind was already shoving them toward the shore with great haste. Damn the selkies and Brodie MacCain! He would destroy them! They had capsized one of his galleys and damaged it, probably killed several of his garrison, and lost his valuable cargo. He had to get the remaining selkie wenches to Dunrhyne as soon as possible.

When they reached the shore just below the castle, the men leapt off and dragged the galley onto the sand.

"Carry them to the dungeon!" he ordered the men. He could barely see the bound females in the shifting moonlight, most of them naked, squirming and screaming. No other castles existed for miles, so no one would hear them. He grinned, his lusts stirring.

He might have to sample the merchandise before the auction.

"Do not harm them in any way." Talnaroch ordered. He didn't want any gashes or bruises on his property.

Each man carried one selkie across his shoulder, and they climbed the pathway up the cliff. They had only ended up with eight this time. He would have to gather a larger force of men, put his new galleys into action, and snatch even more females next time. He had to figure out a way to stop the damned males from overturning his galleys. A brilliant idea occurred to him. He would arm his soldiers with long pikes, and they could stab the selkies in the water.

Once all the females were unloaded, he sent several men back out to the capsized galley to retrieve any survivors. He needed all the soldiers he could get.

After he locked the wenches in a dungeon cell, Talnaroch gave the key to the head of his guards. He trusted Alred more than the rest. Since he was older, lust did not rule him as it did the younger men.

Going inside the keep, Talnaroch retrieved the bedchamber key from Vesey, where he slept on a pallet in the great hall. After lighting a candle, Talnaroch rushed upstairs to visit Elsea. She was likely asleep, but he was feeling randy after that raid. If she was eager to marry him, as she'd said, then she would crave him. Mayhap bedding her this time would be much improved.

He shoved the key into the lock and tried to turn it. Since it wouldn't budge, he turned the key in the other direction. The lock clicked, and then he turned the knob. Locked.

"What?" He twisted the key the other way, unlocking it and shoved the door open.

The door had been unlocked. Vesey was supposed to have locked this. Holding the candle aloft, he stepped into the room.

"Lady Elsea?"

The fire in the hearth had gone out, and the room was cold. The tray of food sat on the table, untouched. A woolen blanket lay on the floor.

He hurried into the corridor and down the stairs. "Vesey!" he yelled.

In the great hall, the cook groggily sat up from his bedroll. "M'laird?"

"Where the hell is the lady?" he demanded.

Vesey scrambled to his feet. "Uh... in the chamber?"

"Nay! She's gone. The door was unlocked."

Vesey's eyes rounded. "I locked the door. I swear it, m'laird."

"Did you give her a key?"

"Of course not," he said, his voice panicked and high-pitched.

"Search the castle for her! If she is harmed, I'm holding you responsible."