Page 26 of Taming the Highland Beauty

“Then we must do everything in our power to see that he does not.”

“Agreed.” Her voice held a hopeful tone once more. “When we find the beech tree and Lottie’s sealskin, then we will need to confront the selkies. We must apologise for past offenses against them and convince them to help us remember the song we need to break my curse.”

Callum hesitated a moment. “Would it not be better if we kept the pelt as leverage until they give us the song we need? Why surrender our only advantage against the selkies?”

“Nay.” Gille shook her head. “That will only make matters worse. The MacLeods and the selkies have a long history of animosity. Or do you not remember the last time we encountered the seals and their great desire to drag you beneath the waves?”

“I noted no acrimony.”

Her eyes went wide. “Now you are just being foolish. They wanted to hurt you, Callum.”

“Lottie will help them understand we mean no harm,” he assured her.

Once again, she shook her head. “The darker seals are ready to forgive, but not the lighter ones,” Gille whispered. “I have been the one in danger before, but now the threat is to you.”

He straightened. “I am willing to take that risk, Gille,” he said, his voice firm.

“I am not.”

His lips tightened. “We are getting ahead of ourselves. First, we must find the pelt. Then we will deal with the rest.” He lay on the floor in front of the entrance to the chamber and arranged his tartan around him like a blanket. “Right now, we need to sleep.”

Gille took a deep breath and released it harshly, making her frustration with him obvious. He did not care. The selkies were not the only threat they would have to face soon. Oberon had made it clear he was watching them, determined to keep Gille trapped in his curse. For Gille to have any kind of future, they would not only need help from the selkies, but they also had to find a way to defeat Oberon once and for all.

Instead of relaxation, a wave of dread washed over Callum. The task seemed insurmountable. Could he and Gille possibly succeed where others had failed?

Chapter Eleven

Alastair watched Gwendolyn pace the great hall, her anxiety growing with each passing hour. “Two days,” she muttered, worry etched into her face. “Gille and Callum have been gone for two days.”

“I sent a search party into the woodlands yesterday,” Alastair said, taking her hand. “They should be back soon.” He forced her to stop. “Gille knows the forest, and Callum is familiar with Dunvegan. They will be well.”

“I want to believe you, but I cannot shake this feeling that something’s wrong.”

Alastair guided her to the table, where her breakfast remained untouched. “Please eat. Starving yourself will not help.”

With a sigh, she took a bite of apple. “Can we not send another search party? I would feel better knowing we are covering more ground.” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “There is something else?”

Alastair hesitated. “Yes, there is.”

“What?”

“Aria sensed Oberon’s presence two days ago.”

“Oberon,” Gwendolyn whispered, her face paling. “Will our lives ever be free of that fairy?”

“Aria, Pearl, and Graeme have gone into the woodlands to search for signs of the fairy king or his minions.”

Gwendolyn straightened. “We need to ensure everyone in the castle is protected from his schemes, especially the children.”

Alastair touched the iron bracelet on her wrist. “Everyone, including the children, is wearing the talismans we made to protect us from the fae. Oberon cannot touch our people without hurting himself.”

Gwendolyn nodded. “There must be something else I can do to help.”

“The best thing you can do is continue to plan for the Beltane celebration in three days.”

Gwendolyn frowned. “How can we celebrate when Gille might not be with us much longer?”

“We must focus on the idea that we will successfully release her from the curse and defeat Oberon once and for all.”