Page 51 of Fletcher

“Are you crazy?” Lark demanded. “Fletcher would go berserk if you killed yourself.”

The chieftain leaned close and murmured, “What think you he shall do when he sees your wee body shattered on the rocks below?”

“Nothing.” She turned away from him. “He doesn’t love me.”

“Are you crazy?” he chided, using her words.

A torrent of hot tears flooded her eyes as something inside made her numbness crumble, and then she thought the wretchedness might tear her apart. She reached out for the wall to stop from falling to her knees, and then Shaw was holding her close and making soft, soothing sounds against the top of her head.

“I can’t stand this anymore,” she sobbed against his shoulder.

“’Twasnae your fault, lass, any more than ’twas mine,” he said. “We must trust in our hearts, even when we fear them, aye? For we’ve reasons to go on, for all the hearts that hold us in theirs.”

Lark was crying so hard she couldn’t answer him, and then he gently handed her to someone else. The moment the other man put his arms around her she knew it was Fletcher, and that he had heard everything.

“I’m sorry,” she finally got out. “I’m going to kill you, I know I am, but I’m in love with you. Send me away. Somewhere far, far away.”

“Och, my lass.” He kissed her brow and looked into her watery eyes. “I’ll never let you go now.”

Chapter Sixteen

When the enchantress came out in the late afternoon, Speal used a quick gesture to tell the rest of the Cait Sith on deck to remain silent until she signaled them again. She then kept her mind filled with the sailor’s thoughts and memories as she bowed to Derdrui.

“Sovereign, we’ll arrive at Insii Orc within the hour.” She glanced past her at the open door of the cabin. “Do you wish a meal prepared for you?”

“I eat mortals, not mortal foods. Do try to keep up.” The enchantress went to the railing to gaze at the horizon, her eyes narrowing. “Why, I do believe someone is using my beloved Mar’s power in the open. How kind of them.”

Speal joined her, but all she sensed was the cold, wet sea wind in her face. She looked over to see Dearg cozy up to their sovereign’s other side, and how Derdrui patted the small Cait Sith as if she had become a pampered pet.

“’Tis the prince’s enchantment,” the little fiend said. “One now wielded by a mortal.” She breathed in deeply. “A young, ripe female.”

“Not the same one we captured in Aberdeen,” the enchantress murmured as she sucked in more air. “She’s from the same place, I believe.”

Peering again at the horizon, Speal frowned, and then gasped as she saw something at a far distance soar up into the sky. “’Tis that an island? The island belonging to the MacMar?”

“Too small. An islet, I believe.” Derdrui smiled with pleasure. “Only my dearest love’s power could move something so large into the air. You see how it glows green and blue around the edges?”

Dearg squealed with excitement. “My princess, that couldnae be more than a day’s journey from here. We may sail there directly now, and kill them all.”

As the two terrors giggled together Speal closed her eyes briefly to keep back her tears of frustration. Their sisters had gone without food or rest because the enchantress had promised to release them all as soon as they reached Insii Orc. Now they would have to again chase after the MacMar. She should have jumped overboard with Fiacail while she’d had the chance.

No, I shall do as she would.

“We agreed to take our sovereign to Insii Orc, no further. Dearg, if you wish chase the MacMar, you may sail the boat.” Speal turned to address the rest of her sisters on deck. “Everyone below. There’s no food, but ’tis past time for our rest.”

The enchantress’s smirk quickly vanished as all the Cait Sith left their posts and went below deck.

“Go you mad?” Dearg demanded, brandishing a blade now. “Order them back, or I shall gut you where you stand.”

“You’re their leader now. You make them work.” She turned her back on the little fiend and went to the hatch, waiting until the last of their sisters descended before she followed them down.

Speal gathered the others around her, and saw how frightened they were. That more than anything they had endured made her want to weep. “Fia would never allow that wee monster treat you thus. Nor shall I.”

“Dearg, she’ll truly carve your heart from your chest,” one of the younger shifters whispered, darting a fearful glance at the open hatch.

“She may. I dinnae care anymore.” She put an arm around her. “If I’m killed, then each of you must decide your path. Our wee turncoat may make as many threats as she wishes, but she may only end you once.”

The younger girl nodded. “Mayhap ’tis time for us all join Fia.”