Page 32 of Taming the Highland Beauty

Titania scoffed. “Consequences? Please. I have been going to the human realm for centuries without incident. I know what I am doing.”

Oberon stepped closer, his voice rising. “The human world is a dangerous place. There are forces out there that would do us harm.”

“Enough!” Titania interrupted; her voice filled with frustration. “I shall go to the human realm as I please until the veil closes again. And if you try to stop me, I will leave you and your petty kingdom and stay in the human realm forever.”

Oberon’s face darkened. “You would not dare,” he said, his voice low and menacing.

Titania met his gaze with defiance. “Oh, but I would,” she replied. “I’ve had enough of your controlling ways.” Until that moment, she had not been certain she would help Gille further, but now Titania knew she would. Aiding the poor cursed girl was one thing. Defying her overbearing husband was quite another. Since Oberon did not look like he would soon leave her presence, she turned and left her room.

“Get back here, Titania. We are not done discussing this.”

“Oh, but we are,” she said, striding out into the silver sky speckled with a thousand stars that always bathed Moonstone Castle. She intended to head back to the human realm this moment. Just let him try and stop her.

*

“I will not sacrifice one of my children or any MacLeod to the selkies,” Gwendolyn exclaimed, pacing back and forth in the great hall. “I am sorry, Gille—”

“I would never ask that of you.” Gille’s stomach roiled as she turned to Lottie. “Has this family treated you unkindly in all the years you were with them?”

“Nay,” Lottie said as she clutched her pelt to her chest.

“They have already experienced the loss of a child to the fairies. How can you ask such a horrible boon of them for the selkies?”

“’Tis not me. ’Tis what the selkie queen has said she wanted,” Lottie explained with an apologetic tone in her voice.

“Is there anything else Minerva might want instead? Something else beside the Fairy Flag or one of their kin?” Gille begged.

Lottie considered the question for a moment, as though trying to recall the many conversations she must have had with her people over the years. Finally, her face brightened. “A moonstone. Minerva is convinced that moonstone, a variety of feldspar, can be found on Healabhal Mòr.”

“You know this, how?” Gille asked.

“It is Minerva who swears moonstone can be found at the flat-topped edge of the taller of the two peaks. She claims to have witnessed a shimmering, iridescent flare that can only be produced by moonstone.”

“Why moonstone?” Callum asked as his gaze narrowed.

“One moonstone can protect an entire pod of selkies from those who would steal their skins and hold them hostage. Our family group would be protected from travellers to the shores of the loch, villagers, even the MacLeods. That would make the selkie queen very happy, indeed.”

Callum turned to Gille. “The MacLeod’s Tables are less than a day’s ride from here. We could retrieve the moonstone and return here before the sun sets tomorrow.”

“That would leave one day to discover the missing words of the song,” she said, swallowing roughly.

Callum took her icy hands in his. “One day can be enough for us to retrieve the moonstone and return to break your curse.”

“Far better to sacrifice a stone than a child,” Gille agreed, nodding her approval.

“Agreed,” Alastair, Gwendolyn and Callum chimed in. Even Lottie looked pleased with the decision.

Gille was relieved they had come to an agreement, but she knew she would bear the brunt of the consequences if they failed.

The guardsmen returned to their meal while those on the dais abandoned their half-finished food and looked to Lottie. “Are you ready to return home?” Alastair asked.

Lottie nodded, her features a mix of fear and hope. “It has been so long. I hope my children remember me.”

“You would be difficult to forget, my dear friend.” Callum moved to the healer’s side and drew her into a loving embrace. “Thank you for everything you did for me over the years. I stand here today because of your sacrifices. I will never forget all you have done. And I promise that the MacLeods, now and in the future, will protect the selkies from both human encroachment of your underwater realm and anything mankind might do to threaten your habitat.”

“Thank you, Callum. That means everything to me,” Lottie said, tears in her eyes.

In silence, Alastair and Gwendolyn led Gille, Callum, Tormod, Lottie, and Lady Janet down to the edge of the water. The setting sun painted the loch in hues of gold and orange, its surface rippling like a mirror shattered into a thousand pieces. Gille thought it was a perfect reflection of her own emotions. Lottie’s torment had come to an end, while Gille’s continued, her hope of success fading with each passing moment.