Page 101 of Edge of Yesterday

“I wonder who was cursed—more importantly, who did the cursing. I’m surprised to find it here.” He leaned over and studied the hollow blood channel, the clump of smooth wood at its halfway point, a ‘grip-piece’ that provided an easy yet firm hold of the bone during ceremonies.

He straightened. “I suppose I didnae realize how deep paganism ran amongst the priesthood.”

“It isnae theirs.”

“You mean not the priests’? But it’s here. Who else’s would it be?’

“Crowe’s,” she whispered.

A heartbeat of silence passed, and he said, “You’d better explain.”

Julianna tore her eyes from the cursing bone and met his gaze. The spell seemed to break, and the concern in Cailean’s eyes brought a sense of relief. She smiled, then followed him to the bench where they’d been sitting earlier. Wishing they were anywhere else, having any other conversation, she drew a long breath and then began.

“The night I met you, I went in search of Jiggles.”

“What?” he blurted.

She laughed. “Our cat. He was missing and the women in the kitchen fret terribly about him. He’d slipped into the tunnel leading to Haven Cottage. I saw a man and a woman and I thought they were lovers having a tryst.”

His brows rose. “Like to peep do we, my lady?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Ye are no’ funny, Cailean Ross. I wanted to warn them. I had heard rumors of lovers meeting in the woods. If my mother caught anyone fraternizing out there she would punish them.”

“Ah,” he said in mock seriousness, and she rolled her eyes. “What next?” he asked.

“They were no’ lovers, as I thought, and I followed them to a bonfire.” Her stomach pitched with the memory of the dancers, naked and aroused. She told Cailean the rest.

When she finished, he frowned, and said, “Are ye saying Crowe performed an actual sacrifice?”

“I have never seen such a thing before but, aye, that is what I am saying.”

“Why didn’t ye tell anyone?”

She shrugged. “I told Lennox and Gregory, but who else can we tell? Crowe is Clan Ceann-Cath. Our laird has a great deal of faith in him.”

“What about your mother or father?”

“Our mother would chase him down like a rabid dog and kill him—which would no’ please my father. And what good is it for one sorcerer to accuse another sorcerer?”

He frowned. “What do ye mean?”

Devilry twinkled in her eyes. “Do ye no’ know? It is rumored we dabble in black magic.”

“Ah.” He had forgotten that. “Worse than that, however, is the fact that your mother doesnae know ye were out alone that night,” Cailean said. “You followed those people a long way from Raghnall. I see now why your brother was miffed with you.”

“I didnae go that far, two miles perhaps.”

He lifted a brow “Mayhap three? We were close to Heatheredge, aye?”

“When they were chasing me I couldnae head toward Raghnall,” she said. “That would have made it too easy for Crowe to guess the identity of the watcher.”

His expression had grown grim. “Ye bloody well could have been killed.”

A strange emotion rippled through her. He was worried about her. “I know. Lennox has duly chastised me.”

It seemed he would say more on the subject; instead, he said, “What of your father? Why haven’t ye told him?”

“He would believe us, but even if he demanded that Alexander put Crowe on trial, with only me as a witness, Crowe would no’ be convicted.”

“And your hand would be played,” Cailean finished for her.

She nodded. “We have to get more evidence.”

“Like this cursing bone.” He glanced at it.

She hesitated, considering. “There is no proof it is his.”

“What is it doing here?” Cailean’s voice sounded dark. “I dinnae like this at all. Someone here has to be in league with him.”

Gooseflesh rose on her arms. “Aye. But I have no idea who.”

He stood and headed for the table where they’d left the cursing bone. Julianna jumped to her feet and hurried after him. She pulled up beside him just as he reached for the bone.

“Nae.” She grabbed his arm.

Cailean looked at her. “There’s no need to be afraid.”

She pulled the bag over the bone and picked it up. “It isnae fear.” She met his gaze. “It is respect.”