Page 22 of A Little Highland Magic

“One vial of water can protect you from harm?” Gwendolyn asked sceptically.

“I believe so.” With her words, the light in the chamber shifted, darkening, and soft raindrops sounded outside the window.

Gwendolyn moved from the bed to the window and looked outside. “Seems the weather has changed.” She sighed. “’Tis not that unusual for springtime in Scotland. Even so, I had best check on my husband and his men. If they are in the lists, they will not come inside until it is truly pouring. Then they will traipse water all through the castle, upsetting Mrs Morgan greatly.”

An even darker cloud took over the sky. A heartbeat later a crack of thunder sounded, and the rain started to fall with greater intensity.

Gwendolyn hurried to the door. “I will check on you later, Aria,” she said before leaving the room.

Even though Gwendolyn made light of the weather, fear rose in Aria. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest.

Graeme’s gaze narrowed on her. “What is it?”

“Something doesn’t feel right.” She set the mug of broth aside despite Lottie’s scowl and threw her legs over the side of the bed, gaining her balance and moving to the window herself. Lightning flashed, close to the castle, followed by a boom of sound. She didn’t care that she was dressed in only a thin night rail. Deep inside she could sense something terrible was about to happen.

Graeme came to stand beside her at the window. “As Gwendolyn said, ’tis only a storm. We have them often in the springtime.”

Another flash of light streaked the sky and a thunderous crash sounded overhead. Aria’s gaze swept over the shoreline, then closer to the castle. A spark flared in the shrubbery at the base of the old keep, then came a flurry of sparks that ignited the branches.

“Fire!” she said on a disbelieving breath.

Graeme headed for the door. “Get everyone out of this wing of the castle. Let us not take any chances,” he barked at her and Lottie before disappearing into the hallway.

Below, Aria could hear footsteps and shouts of “fire” as Graeme spread the word among his men. They would form a fire line from the loch to the castle to douse the flames. And if they were lucky, they would succeed. But Aria might also be able to help as well. She raced to her armoire, stumbling a few times before she steeled herself against the dizziness that overcame her. Blindly, she grabbed the first gown she touched and hastily pulled it over her head.

“Come, mistress,” Lottie said, motioning her towards the door.

“Nay,” Aria replied. “You go warn the others. I am needed elsewhere.”

Concern filled Lottie’s eyes. “You are not strong enough to use any of your fairy magic so soon.”

“I must,” Aria pleaded, shoving her feet into a pair of half-boots.

Lottie sighed. “Please be careful.”

“I shall,” Aria promised, if such an ability were within her control. The two women parted in the hallway, with Lottie heading farther down the hallway of family bedchambers to make certain all had evacuated, while Aria slipped down the staircase and through the chaos of people on their way to safety outside. Aria stepped into the front courtyard then out the main gate, heading back to the stream she had sought refuge in the night before.

A louder whoosh sounded behind her as flames slithered from the bushes to the castle walls, burning anything in their path. With her heart in her throat, Aria raced for the stream. She turned back briefly only to watch in horror as the flames curled around the top of the tower. The wind picked up the smoke and carried it to Aria, stinging her eyes. Regardless, she kept running until she came to the water’s edge and stepped into the current.

The muscles of Aria’s stomach knotted as she closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on the water as she had last night. She drew a breath and let the water ripple past her, all around her. The spirits of those who had come before her had left their essence, their power, in the liquid that surrounded her feet and ankles. Aria almost expected to hear their voices as they joined their power with hers.

Closing her eyes and concentrating on the sensations filling her, Aria lifted her hands. Beads of cool water touched her face as the water rose around her. She concentrated, feeling herself sway, but she locked her knees to keep from toppling beneath the strain of her magic. Reaching deeper, she opened her eyes and aimed the wall of water at Dunvegan. The massive wave arced over the heads of the men in the fire line and directly at the flames.

The earth shook beneath her as she kept her gaze trained on Dunvegan. The water crashed against the stones with a mighty roar, instantly smothering the fire, yet leaving the castle intact. Rivulets of water ran down the stone, across the rear courtyard, to retreat into the loch. After a long pause, cheers arose, coming to her over the distance. The castle residents had to be unnerved by the magic they had just witnessed, but in the end her magic had kept them safe. She almost smiled, but the effort was too much energy. She shivered, her body suddenly growing cold from her magical efforts. She felt light-headed as well, and almost tumbled to the ground when she turned at the sound of sodden footsteps behind her. Half expecting Oberon, she tensed. A dark figure surged through the smoke and took on a familiar form.

“I told you to seek safety.” Graeme’s eyes were bright in his face.

Relief washed through Aria with such force that her knees buckled. Graeme caught her in his arms. “Hold on to me,” he said gently.

She clung desperately to Graeme as he half dragged, half carried her out of the water. Aria tried to explain that she’d defied him because it was her responsibility to aid the castle’s residents. After all, it was her fault they had suffered yet another attack from the fairy king. But instead of words only gasps pulled from her throat.

“It is all right,” Graeme said, stopping on the bank of the stream. “You saved us yet again.”

The smoke around them eased, and Aria took a moment to gather herself. “I have not saved you from anything,” she said, clearing her throat. “Oberon will keep coming until I return to Fairyland.” She glanced back at the path where she had raced to the stream. The fairy bridge and the cave from which she’d entered the human realm were not far from here. “Perhaps I should return right now and spare you all more misery.”

He frowned as he studied her face. “You are a warrior with no equal, Aria. Why are you willing to surrender before the battle has even begun?” At the intensity of Graeme’s gaze, she looked away.

She swallowed roughly. “Because for the first time in my life I have something to lose. I could never live with myself if something happened to anyone at Dunvegan.”

“Do you trust me?” he asked suddenly.

Startled, Aria brought her gaze back to his. “Of course.”

“Then trust me when I say that we—you, me, and all the MacLeods—are a match for the king of the fairies. Do you agree?” He extended his hand.

She stared at his hand. “It will take careful planning, luck, and a prayer if we are to stop whatever he has planned for the MacLeods.”

He shrugged. “We also have the Fairy Flag on our side, or have you forgotten?”

Aria pressed her lips together, thinking. She did not want to sacrifice herself just to make Oberon stop, but she would if the situation became even more desperate. Until that time, they could come up with a plan. “I do trust you, Graeme.” She put her hand in his and his fingers folded around hers. Warmth immediately flared through her hand to pool in her stomach.

This might be the foolhardiest thing she’d ever done, but she was willing to give Graeme at least one more day to prove they could stop the fairy king’s attacks before he did any lasting damage to Clan MacLeod.