Page 42 of A Little Highland Magic

Chapter Fifteen

Darkness. They were surrounded by the blackest black Aria had ever experienced. There was no moon, no stars to light the sky. Nothing was visible, but there was sound. The slight inhalation and release of breath close to her side told her she was not alone. “Graeme? Gille?”

“I am here, Aria.” Graeme’s voice was calm, and she tried to focus on the sound to locate him with her hands. Finally, she contacted his broad chest. His heartbeat pounded beneath her touch and his heat passed through to her chilled hands.

If she was not so frightened, she would have revelled in that heat and how charged with tension her nerves became when she touched him so intimately. “Are you unharmed?”

“Aye,” he replied. “Where is Gille?”

“I am here. We made it to the shadow realm,” Gille acknowledged. Her half-sister tried to keep her voice calm, but Aria could hear the stress behind her words.

“What happened to the others as we were leaving?” Graeme asked. “They seemed frozen in place after that odd wind came through.”

“That was Oberon’s doing. The sixth curse.”

“Will they remain like statues forever?” Graeme asked with fear creeping into his voice.

“Until we return and set them free, aye.” Aria swallowed hard as her throat constricted.

“Do not worry,” Gille said. “If they are lost to time and place, Oberon will not concern himself with them.”

Aria released a breath. “They will be safe as they are?”

Gille remained silent.

“Gille? What are you not saying?” Aria persisted.

“They will dream terrible dreams, but will remain unharmed unless Oberon sends a ban-sithe and an omen of death, to Dunvegan. Then everyone in the castle will die.”

Aria’s heart thudded in her chest. She could not breathe, could not think as panic swamped her. “Did Lady Janet know that could be the fate of her children as she helped the three of us continue to the shadow realm? Why did she not turn back to help her own family?”

Graeme made a shuffling sound and then a scraping sound before a flash of light appeared and she saw him trying to light a candle with his flint and steel. Two more scrapes and a weak flame flickered to life. He handed the candle to Gille then turned back to Aria, grasping her arms gently and forcing her gaze to his. “None of what you fear has come to pass. Our very presence here has already altered any course Oberon might have previously decided upon. We both know from experience that it is difficult to wage a war on two fronts. We will keep Oberon’s attention on Fairyland, and as we do, those we left behind will remain safe until we return.”

Aria felt her tension ease at the certainty in Graeme’s tone. “We will return.”

“As quickly as we possibly can.”

She blew out a breath. “I believe you.”

“Good. Then let us be on our way.” He released her arms. “Is it always this dark in the shadow realm?”

“Nay,” Gille responded. “A blue light illumines the sky day and night. The ghosts seem to have deposited us in a cave for our own safety, until we recover from travelling through the portal.”

Aria watched as the candle’s flame bent backwards, as though sensing a breeze. “Let us head the way the candle is pointing. Hopefully that will bring us somewhere Gille will recognise.”

The three of them walked in silence with only the sound of their footfalls echoing in the confined space. Aria kept a hand on her bow. She might not be able to see what dangers lay ahead, or even reliably aim at a target in the flickering light, but the familiar polished wood of her bow brought a sense of comfort.

There were shadows of things that had been writhing on the walls as they walked towards a pinpoint of blue light in the distance. Aria’s breath stilled while her heartbeat quickened as the light grew closer with each step they took.

As they neared, the light from the candle revealed an opening in the cave. They stepped into the blue light to find they stood on a ledge. Below, the shadow realm appeared like a valley of tall, twisting spires. Narrow pathways ran through the spires but dropped off to a dark, black abyss below. The shadow realm was warm and dry, and the earthy scent of peat hung in the air. She tasted bitterness on her tongue and shivered involuntarily. “How far is it to the desolate mountains from here?”

“I cannot be certain as I still have not determined where we are,” Gille replied as though deep in thought.

“Then that is what we should try to establish first. Gille, since you are aware of the pitfalls we may encounter, would you take the lead?” Graeme asked.

Gille nodded and set off.

Before following, Graeme caught Aria’s hand for a moment and their gazes met. He kissed the back of her hand before relinquishing his clasp. “Are you ready?”