Page 27 of A Little Highland Magic

I did not wish to scare you. Nevertheless, I was there. The hint of a smile came to Lady Janet’s lips. I was able, and more than willing, to torment your father every night until he locked my spectral form in the old keep. The ghost’s gaze shifted to Gwendolyn. From the tower, I was pleased to watch over Gwendolyn and her siblings. They needed me far more than any of you.

Callum’s brows drew together. “I cannot be a part of any of this planning. For if it was up to me, Aria should return to Fairyland and never come back.” Callum turned his back and stomped from the chamber.

“He has a right to his anger.” The lightest sheen of tears shone in Aria’s eyes. “I betrayed all of you.”

“Callum will come around,” Alastair assured the room at large.

Sadness lingered in Aria’s features even as she tried to force a smile. “If he does not, I would understand.”

“Shall we return to planning for your journey to the shadow realm now that we have some very important information?” Tormod prompted.

They spent the next several hours discussing strategies until they all agreed on a course of action they would put into effect in four days.

When the others stood to leave, Aria joined them, but instead of going abovestairs to prepare herself for supper, she headed for the rear courtyard.

Graeme followed as she wove her way through the pale moonlight to the sea gate and out onto the rocky beach along Loch Dunvegan. A thousand stars glittered in the cloudless expanse above the loch, stretching across Scotland like a banner of serenity. Graeme frowned at this wayward thought. If only that were true.

The cool night air caressed his cheeks as he watched Aria remove her boots and stockings, then set them one by one beside a boulder along the shore. Lifting the hem of her dress, she waded into the water past her ankles. Graeme remained silent, watching to see what she would do.

The soft lapping of the water and the light rustling of the leaves in the breeze were the only sounds in the night. Overhead, a full moon illuminated the sky. In three days, he and Aria would make their way into the shadow realm with Lady Janet’s assistance. He wished they had the moon cycle on their side, but they could not wait for the next new moon, and Alastair had refused to use a baptism as a means of thinning the veil between this world and the fairy world. As a result, the journey ahead of them would be that much more difficult. Graeme was not afraid of their journey ahead, no matter the obstacles in the way. Was Aria?

He tried to catch a glimpse of her features in the moonlight, but her face was wrapped in a veil of moonlight and shadows. What he could see, however, was the pointed heads of seals that poked through the surface of the water, only an arm’s length from Aria. The sea creatures did not bark, instead they trilled, as though sensing her distress and trying to respond to it.

“Callum has every right to hate me,” she whispered. “I am surprised the others don’t as well, or at least they are not admitting it like Callum.”

More trilling filled the night air, and one of the speckled seals came out of the water and undulated closer to Aria. It nudged her legs until she brought her hand down to stroke the bridge of the animal’s nose. “Thank you for understanding.”

Graeme frowned. Could she understand the seals? Were they talking to her? He must have made a sound because Aria jerked her head around, searching the darkness where he stood.

“Who is there?” At her words, the seal beside Aria vanished in an instant and the others ducked below the water’s surface.

Graeme stepped from the shadows. “I was worried when you ran from the great hall. I wanted to make certain you were well.”

She turned back to face the water, allowing silence to stretch between them. After a while, she turned and, with a sigh, returned to the beach. “I am not certain which is worse: having everyone in Fairyland hate you, or having one of your own family members hate you.”

In that moment, Graeme caught a glimpse of her face beneath the moonlight. Deep sadness reflected in her gaze. “Do not trouble yourself over Callum. When his brothers went off in search of adventure and a way to forget about their father, Callum was left behind. I believe it is easier to try to blame you than to be angry with his brothers. Give Callum time. I have no doubt he will come around to caring about you as much as everyone else at Dunvegan does. Of all the MacLeod brothers, Callum has the most gentle and kindest heart.”

“I hope that is true,” she said, wincing as she tried to navigate the rocks in her bare feet.

Graeme offered her a hand, allowing her to lean on him as they made their way back to her shoes. Instead of putting them on, she jumped up on the rock and returned her sad gaze to the starlit waters of the loch. Without waiting for an invitation, he joined her on the rock, his hip brushing hers.

When she did not shift away, he relaxed and tried to study her face, searching for clues as to her emotions. She tried to shield her face, with the tendrils of loose hair at her temples, but he could still see the ever-present sadness. “What is it, Aria? What troubles you? There are things you never quite say, but I can feel them when I am close to you.”

“’Tis nothing.”

“It is something to me.” He reached for her hand and folded his fingers around her cooler ones. “If we are going to be successful on our journey, I need to understand what you have been trying to hide from all of us for months.”

She turned her gaze to him. For a moment the sadness had vanished, and a spark of fight entered her beautiful blue eyes. “When all this is over, everything will return to the way it was.” She sighed and her shoulders slumped. “You and I will go back to being warriors who do not see the world the same way.”

“I am not so certain of that. I was wary of the MacDonalds coming to Dunvegan just as you were, but I had my orders from Alastair to welcome them. I had no choice but to follow through.” He shrugged into the darkness. “You have far more freedom than I do to voice your displeasure, for you are a true MacLeod. You matter to them, and if I am totally honest . . . you matter to me too.”

Silence descended over the night. It was not a companionable silence, though, as thoughts raced through Graeme’s head and a lump centred in his chest. “By your silence I take it you do not approve of my sentiment.”

“Nay,” she replied quickly. “Quite the opposite. I simply do not know what to say. I have had so little friendship in my life.” She turned her hand to cup his and gave it a light squeeze. “You matter to me as well.”

She shifted beside him, and for a moment he feared she would leave, having admitted something so personal. He tried to think of something to say to keep her by his side. When no words came to him, he simply leaned back and looked up at the stars. To his surprise, she did the same.

“Can I ask you a question about yourself?” He tried to keep his voice calm, soothing.