Page 57 of A Little Highland Magic

A flicker of sadness passed over the fairy king’s face. “No one has ever had the courage to talk to me the way you do, Aria, except perhaps your mother. And look where that got her?”

She ignored the barb and took two steps up the dais to stand directly before the fairy who used to control her life. But no more. “We have come to bargain.”

“Put your sword away and we will discuss the matter.”

She considered the request for a long moment before she sheathed her sword. She could draw it again quickly if the need arose.

The fairy king’s bearing relaxed. “What is it you want now?”

“You want me to be married. Why is that?” she asked.

“I had hoped it would calm your warrior ways and bind you to Fairyland for all eternity.”

“We are not eternal beings.”

The fairy king’s features paled. “Of that I am well aware.”

His words startled Aria. Was that what she had seen on Oberon’s face when they first approached his throne? “You are dying.”

Gasps of disbelief rippled through the court.

It was then Aria clearly saw Oberon’s pain, his fear, his exhaustion. “And to distract yourself from your own fears you have been toying with me . . . our mother.” Aria’s gaze shifted to Gille for a moment then back. “And with the MacLeods.”

“I am trying to set things right before I go. I never should have allowed your mother to marry a human. Little did I know that her offspring would drain me of my magic over the next many centuries.”

A thought occurred to Aria—a way to fix both the MacLeods’ and Oberon’s problems. “I have an idea of how to help you.” She would do anything to help those she loved.

Oberon’s features filled with suspicion. “What might that be?”