Page 34 of Only a Highlander Will Do

Ulster Castle had always been her heart, but she would willingly sacrifice the castle in order to save her father and the three servants who had only ever been kind to her. She prayed Alex would be honourable enough to keep his word and not take her and still burn the castle down. The castle meant nothing to the MacDonalds, strategically or economically. Alex simply wanted her and the castle in a show of power to the other isle clans. The MacDonalds wanted to prove they could have anything they wanted, even from a clan whose might was equal to their own.

Despite the possible ongoing threat to her home and her people even if she sacrificed herself, this was what she needed to do. Her footsteps fumbled, but she caught herself, forcing herself to continue until she could see the faint glow surrounding the Grey Lady who waited at the base of the Fairy Tower.

I was beginning to think you had changed your mind.

The Grey Lady floated closer until a chill crept across Fiona’s skin. “Nay. There is no going back for me now.” Her heart suddenly felt as though it was clutched in a vice. Cold spread through her body, to her limbs, at the thought of going outside the castle. Of being alone again. She had not felt that way since the moment she’d met Tormod.

Fiona swallowed. Sadness welled in her throat, and a great heavy weight made it hard to breathe. She had been used to feeling alone for so long that she never expected to feel anything else. And now that she had, it was too soon to give it up.

She closed her eyes, remembering how Tormod’s smile had warmed her over the past few days. She would hold on to the memory of him, of the smile that had brought out the dimple in his right cheek. Because once she left Dunvegan there would be no smiles, no warmth, no laughter for her. Only emptiness. Yet, if she wanted to save not only Tormod’s life, but also her home, her father, and her people she could do nothing else.

“Let’s go. The sooner we get this over with, the better.”

Chapter Twelve

The Grey Lady floated not to the doorway of the Fairy Tower, but towards the back wall. She hovered there, surrounded by a sea of mist, waiting for Fiona to join her. Are you quite certain you wish to do this?

Fiona trembled. She nodded, not trusting her voice. She closed her eyes and swallowed. Her hands fisted at her sides. Why had she allowed herself to be swayed by Tormod’s sweet kisses? They only left her longing for more.

Are you coming?

The Grey Lady’s voice cut through her thoughts. Fiona looked up to see a concerned expression on the ghostly face. Fiona unfurled her fists as she forced herself to be calm. This is what she had to do to save Tormod and her home. “What do I need to do?” The words felt pulled from her throat.

This is the only place in the castle that is magical enough, thanks to the fairies who visit here, for me to use my power to transfer objects from one place to the next. When I say so, you must throw your arms around me and hold tight. Only when you become engulfed in the mist, will you be able to move through objects like I can.

Fairies visit here? Magical portals? Had she the time, she would have liked to know more. “Where will we move to?” she asked instead.

I can only take you to the Fairy Bridge. From there you must run to the Fairy Cave Tormod showed you earlier today. But before you let go of me, you must pluck a hair from my head. Hold it tight. Once you are at the Fairy Cave, find a pebble and hold on to that as well. Lose neither of them, or you may not like what happens to you next.

Questions raced through Fiona’s mind. “Why the hair and the pebble? What will happen if I lose them?”

The Grey Lady looked at Fiona with eyes that seemed to pierce her. Using other-world and fairy magic comes with a price. A strand of my hair will keep you from shifting into the afterlife. The pebble will keep you from slipping into the fairy realm. Until you return to Dunvegan and set the magic you’ve used back to its equilibrium, you must keep both of these items on your person at all times.

Come back to Dunvegan? Would it even be possible once she left? Would her father still want her to end Tormod’s life? If she saved Ulster, would he still expect her to do so?

The Grey Lady held out her hand. Do you accept these terms?

“Aye,” Fiona agreed, denying the fear her words inspired, and the leaden lump in her throat.

Then it is time.

Fiona drew a deep breath as she stepped into the mist, clinging to the nothingness that made up the ghostly woman’s body. A chill colder than anything she’d ever experienced crept over her flesh, leaving her skin stinging and raw. But Fiona held on, closing her eyes and pressing her lips into a thin line to keep from crying out with pain.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, when suddenly it felt as though she were floating on a swift breeze. Fiona opened her eyes to see a blur of colours in the swirling mist. A plethora of smells assaulted her one after another: the salty tang of the sea, wet soil, sweet roses, pine, peat, rain.

The motion stopped. They were standing on the Fairy Bridge.

Fiona looked up at the woman she held so tightly. Instead of seeing the ghostly apparition she’d become accustomed to, she saw an older reflection of Rowena with dark hair streaked with grey, ivory skin, and soulful grey eyes. The woman was beautiful, not something to be feared, and yet with each beat of Fiona’s heart, the woman’s skin began to age, wrinkles appeared, growing more prominent with each passing moment.

Hurry. Take a hair from my head. My powers are growing weaker.

Fiona reached up and plucked a dark strand from Lady Janet’s head.

Now release me.

Fiona dropped her arms to her sides. The ghost reappeared in a swirling mist that receded immediately towards the castle.

Run!