Page 11 of Duncan

“You did, Theol. Remember what came after that?” Merrick asked.

The courier thought for a moment, and then shook his head. “I recall leaving the stronghold, but naught more.”

“You’ve done well. Wish you give anyone aid, then?” the king asked.

Theol glanced at Fletcher and Connal before he said, “No one here needs help, my king. ’Tis someone else I need attend?”

“No, lad. Go home.” Merrick waited until the aquatic left before he folded his arms. “So the spell breaks itself, but no’ for hours. Bring this female before me. I wish ken if she’s some halfling spy sent by that facking enchantress.”

Connal understood why the king was so angry; anyone who could use magic to control his men could easily depose him from rule. He also suspected Nicole Fairley had not deliberately bespelled the courier, but had simply made an ordinary request.

“I shall attend Mistress Fairley,” he told Merrick. “’Tis likely a boon gifted by my late wife’s ring that caused your man’s enchantment, for she’s a mortal.”

“How can you tell?” the king demanded. “If she’s enchanted you and yours, you likely shall serve her as blindly as Theol.”

“We’re half-Fae,” Connal reminded him. “You’re no’.”

Merrick closed his eyes for a moment, and then glared at Fletcher. “You keep Mistress Fairley out of our waters and away from my kind.”

Once the king stalked out of the chamber, Connal rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. Merrick’s demands did not set well with him, but when he turned to Fletcher, his seneschal appeared almost as angry as the king had.

“I’ve enough on my shoulders without you adding more grief,” he warned the seneschal. “The king, he’s forgotten his manners, but he’s no’ wrong in asking for such.”

“Merrick’s in the right, my lord.” Fletcher’s jaw tightened. “This female, she’s a threat. We’ve enough we must manage with the enchantress. MacLeir should take her off the island and leave her on the mainland, as soon as he may set sail.”

“She’s only just arrived,” Connal reminded him, and then frowned. “I ken your horrendous temper’s roused, but what happened with Theol, ’tisnae her fault.”

“I dinnae agree,” the seneschal said flatly. “She frightened two maids near out of their wits. Now Merrick’s enraged, and we need him and his in the coming war. How much more must she do before you send her away?”

NICOLE MANAGED to keep up her pretense as Lady Valerie showed her to a guest room, but every time they passed a doorway it took all her willpower not to take off and run. As large as the castle seemed to be, she’d probably get lost before she could find her way out of it. If the people here knew who she was, then this was just a game to make her believe she’d traveled through time. The fact they’d gone to all this trouble to convince her made her insides shrivel, especially when she thought about their motives. She couldn’t even think about how she’d gotten here, because that was even more terrifying.

Hudson couldn’t have done this. Not knowing who was responsible was the worst part. The range of possibilities ran the gamut from scary to horrific, and she couldn’t ask.

“The medieval diet is definitely basic, but the food is healthy and our cook Brochan does wonderful things with the island’s resources.” Valerie went to the guest room’s hearth to add some kindling to the glowing coals, and when they flared she added split wood atop them. “There’s water for washing in that jug there, but most of our maids have gone to bed. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until morning for a real bath.”

As the older woman stood and turned around Nicole faked a yawn.

“That would be great, thank you. I also appreciate everything you’ve done to make me comfortable.” She glanced at the iron-hinged door. “I should probably get some rest now.”

Valerie smiled. “If you need anything, just ask the guards in the hall. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

So she was being guarded, too. Nicole waited until the other woman left before she finally allowed her wobbly legs to give out and dropped on the cold stone floor. Putting her head between her knees, she focused on breathing until the horrible urge to vomit went away. This nightmare was the worst thing that had ever happened to her, and she still wasn’t sure exactly what the situation was, much less what to do.

Why are you so upset? Her conscience, which sounded remarkably like Cameron Alston now, asked in a snooty tone. You wanted to be saved and have a chance to meet the guy, didn’t you? So much so that you agreed to that bargain the Fae prince and his dead daughter-in-law offered you without asking any questions. If that’s who they were. Anyway, surprise! This is how much your blind date costs. Collect on delivery.

Nicole had to grab the side of the bed to pull herself to her feet, and staggered over to the wash stand. The hallucination she’d had in the water couldn’t have been real; she’d obviously been kidnapped. Hudson must have drugged her and handed her over to these people. She had no one to rescue her, either. It made her realize that she had never been left on her own; she’d always been protected. Her hands trembled badly as she poured some of the water from the jug into the bowl, and then used it to splash her hot face.

I’m okay. I’ve done well so far, so I can figure out how to escape. Dad made me go through that hostage survival class for situations exactly like this.

What Duncan and Lady Valerie had told her echoed inside her head, but it was seeing the cold stone under her bare feet and the heavy, hand-hammered iron hinges on the wooden door that seriously confused her. If she was being held for ransom, why had the kidnappers gone to such lengths to make her believe their fairytale lies? Where was this place? The way these people spoke, and the intricately detailed story they’d told her didn’t make any sense, either. Why wouldn’t they just chain her up in some dark, remote place until they got their money?

Whatever this is, you’re still here. The internal voice grew softer but sounded slightly pouty, like Brittany. What matters is that you’re alive.

“Am I?” Nicole could only whisper, because her throat had grown so tight it was as if some invisible hand had her in a stranglehold. “What if Hudson killed me?”

Then enjoy your afterlife, Peach. It’s in the twelfth-century on a magical Scottish island inhabited by the half-human sons of a Fae Prince. P.S., they’re being hunted by shape-shifters and an evil enchantress.

Nicole made it to the privy just in time before everything she’d eaten and drunk at the reunion banquet came back up. Once she was sure there was nothing left she made her way back to the wash stand, and drank directly from the jug to rinse out her mouth. She paid one more visit to the privy to spit out the water, and then collapsed on the big bed. Although she hated throwing up, in a strange way it reassured her.