Page 57 of Dark Victory

Her best friend in the world, Allie, was at Carrick in Morvern—but in the fifteenth century. Her soul mate was a Master named Royce. Shortly before Allie had vanished, Tabby had read the tarot cards for her. Royce had been a powerful golden warrior, a soldier of the gods—so much like this man.

Their conversation stopped. “Is he from Carrick?” she asked Macleod.

He gave her a piercing look. “Aye.”

It was Allie’s soul mate, it had to be. Surely she had recognized him because of that reading. But he hadn’t even met Allie yet—and he wouldn’t, not for more than a century.

Royce was now staring at her. Tabby realized he could undoubtedly read her every thought. She prayed he hadn’t done so. Then he gave her a look which stripped away her every garment, as if appraising her body for his future use, and he whirled the gray and galloped back to his army.

“I’ll kill him if he ever looks at ye again,” Macleod said harshly.

Tabby’s excitement vanished. She hadn’t liked that utterly objective look. It had been the look of a man who only wished to use a woman’s body—there had been nothing admiring about it. Allie was going to tame that?

“Who is Allie?” Macleod demanded.

“Allie is my friend. She’s a Healer. And she’s at Carrick Castle in 1436.”

He was disbelieving. “With Ruari? I dinna think so.”

Tabby decided not to argue. “What did he want?”

“I dinna wish ye to bother yerself with Highland politics.”

“Macleod!” Her newfound temper blazed. “I am here against my will and you tell me not to bother with the lay of the land? I don’t think so! Do you want to get along with me or not? I need to know what’s going on. I have no intention of walking into the arms of your enemies by mistake.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “Ye can hardly do so if ye dinna leave the safety of Blayde.”

“So I am a prisoner.”

“Ye debate like a man!”

Tabby started. “That’s a compliment.”

“To be called manly?” He shook his head and sighed. “I dinna wish fer ye to stay angry with me, Tabitha. Ye ken Melvaig belongs to my enemies. The laird of Melvaig has been caught stealin’ my cattle. But he is in my tower now.”

“That’s it?” She was incredulous. Then she said softly, “What did Royce want?”

“The lady of Melvaig seeks revenge upon me. She has vowed it. Ruari came to warn me.”

“Nice of him,” Tabby said. But she did not like the way he was regarding her now. It sent a shiver up and then down her spine. “Okay, what is it? Have I grown a third ear and warts?”

“Tabitha,” he said quietly. “She is a black witch.”

The shiver became chills.

HE MUST NOT LET Tabitha war with the witch of Melvaig.

He entered his great hall, with Tabitha at his side. She was also grim, but for more reasons than what he’d just told her.

She hadn’t liked the human bones she’d seen in the dry moat, bones left on purpose as a warning to his enemies not to dare try to breach Blayde’s walls. She had skipped quickly over the trapdoors beneath the floors of the entry hall, as if afraid they might open, and he knew that she was aware that lethal objects lay below in the cellars, objects that would impale her if she fell. She had not liked how heavily armed his men were, neither the watch on the ramparts nor those coming and going in the barbican. She was very familiar with his time—apparently she had read many books on the subject of Scotland. He understood her interest. Her ancestors had come from Narne.

At least her anger had vanished. Now, she was anxious, thinking mostly about the black witch and the war of witches that would come in two-and-a-half centuries at An Tùir-Tara, but also worrying about just how violent his time was. She would never find out. She was the gentlest woman he had ever met, in spite of her temper and inclination to hit him, and he would keep her from all harm.

His most trusted warrior had met him before he and Tabitha were halfway across the inner ward. He gave Rob a look which told him to pause. He turned to Tabitha. “Do ye think ye can take a moment or so to rest?”

Her attention was on the hall, not him. It flew back to his face. “I doubt it.”

“Ye’re safe within Blayde’s walls, Tabitha,” he said. “My enemies willna attempt treachery here.”