Page 38 of A Little Highland Magic

Had her half-sister found shelter in the canopy of trees or under a thick blanket of moss? Those were her usual hiding spots when she was a child. Aria searched overhead. Gille’s power came from the plants that grew from the earth’s nourishing crust and she would feel the most comfort in the grace of their boughs.

“Gille.” Aria listened for a response. When none came, she stopped. Had Gille decided to return to Fairyland? Aria waited silently, hoping her half-sister was still asleep and not gone from this world.

A soft rustle interrupted the quiet. Graeme drew his sword.

“You came for me,” Gille’s voice sounded in the silence. “I was not certain you would keep that promise.”

Aria turned to see Gille, covered in a cloak of moss. Mushrooms and small pink flowers grew from the protective blanket, making her half-sister disappear into the scenery more than stand out from it. The most visible part of her was her green eyes, with both fear and frustration written there.

Graeme sheathed his weapon as Aria stepped forward to greet her half-sister. “I am pleased you decided to stay in the human realm.” Aria caught the earthy aroma of the forest that clung to her half-sister. All the fairies carried the scents of their magical abilities as if the elements themselves were in their blood, allowing them to be one with nature.

“Have you come to a decision about helping me rescue our mother and Keiran MacLeod?” Aria asked, getting right to the point. There was little time for anything else.

Gille lifted her chin, met Graeme’s gaze with suspicion then Aria’s with irritation. “I do not want to go back to that place now that I am free.”

“Sister—”

“Let me continue,” Gille said with a hint of impatience. “I could not sleep at all last night for fear that Mother was in some kind of danger because I did not return with the MacLeod children.”

“So, you will go back there with us?” Aria asked hopefully.

Aria could see the indecision on her half-sister’s face until Gille finally nodded. “How could I abandon Mother to whatever evil deed Oberon has planned for her as you abandoned her in the past?”

A swift, sharp stab of hurt shot through Aria. Her half-sister’s alliances were with their shared parent. Their connection as sisters obviously meant less to Gille than it did to Aria. Then a thought occurred to her. Much as Callum felt betrayed by his brothers when they had left Dunvegan to pursue other interests, perhaps Gille felt abandoned by Aria when she stopped trying to live as the fairies did and became a warrior instead. All of Aria’s efforts had turned towards becoming the best warrior in all of Fairyland. And what was left of her time after that was spent searching for a way to leave that place behind.

She would have to prove on their journey ahead that Gille could trust Aria to keep her safe, and to atone for leaving Gille behind while going to the human realm a few months ago.

Aria offered her half-sister a smile. “We are happy you will be joining us. Our chances of success have improved greatly as a result. Thank you.”

“I am not doing this for you. I am doing it to spare our mother any further pain.” Gille drew her cloak tighter about herself.

Aria let the barb flow past her. It would not help the situation if she defended her past actions. Her half-sister had no idea of the torture she had endured or what her life in Fairyland had become.

“I need your help with something else before we leave.” At Gille’s startled look she added, “It is important.”

“What do you want?” Gille’s gaze shifted away as if she’d already given Aria more of herself than she had anticipated.

“Lady Janet MacLeod needs our help. I have not been able to locate her since she stopped you yesterday. I’m worried. We need her to help us move between worlds at sunset tonight. If we cannot find Lady Janet, then we cannot save our mother.”

Gille blew out a breath and dropped her cloak. It rippled against the ground, becoming an integral part of the landscape. “Where do we start looking?”

Graeme’s gaze widened at the sight, but he remained silent.

“Let us begin at Dunvegan and move our search outward from there.” Aria and Graeme started back down the pathway, leading to the castle, then turned to see Gille had not followed. “What is it?”

“Will the MacLeods accept my presence amongst them since I am the one who stole the babes from their cradles?” Gille asked.

Aria’s smile was heartfelt this time. “Most of them forgave me for contributing to Lady Janet’s death.”

Gille gasped. “Lady Janet is dead? How will she be able to help us?”

Aria moved back to her half-sister and looped her arm through Gille’s. “Lady Janet’s ghost has access to the spirit realm. She and others like her will help us breach the portal when the sun sets.” Aria urged Gille forward. “But none of that can happen if we cannot find her.”

“How are we supposed to find a ghost?” Gille asked.

Aria thought for a moment. “What do humans do when they are weak and need to recover?”

Gille’s lips twisted. “How should I know that? I am a fairy.”