Elin wasn’t sure that his brother would listen to reason. Donald had preconceived notions about witches. She’d like to say that he would understand if he bore witness to anything, but she feared that might make things even worse.

  “There will be a good number of MacDonnells here,” Rob continued.

  “Then I’ll ensure she makes the first move. Hopefully, they’ll be there to see it. If the MacDonnells are angry at anyone, then it should be me. I want you and your clan blameless in all of this.”

  “What if her father and clan know what she is?”

  It was certainly a possibility. “Magic doesn’t randomly choose people. There is a bloodline. Her mother was a witch. Whether she used magic or not, I cannot say.”

  “If her clan knows what she is, then…”

  “I need to be careful. She’ll have warned them about me.”

  Rob’s horse shifted his feet beneath them, anxious to move.

  Elin knew this might be the last time the two of them were alone. It might be the last time she got to see him, though she tried not to think too hard about that. If she did, she wouldn’t proceed with her plan. But this was about more than her and Rob. This was about innocents in the castle. It was about anyone Marcia decided was in her way. Like it or not, Elin couldn’t divert from the path she was on.

  She soaked up Rob’s warmth and strength for as long as she could. Once they parted company, she would be on her own. Her thoughts turned to the witch. Marcia might be young, but she could be more powerful and end Elin’s life. And if Elin did win, there was always Donald and the three clans that would probably witness the battle.

  Elin swallowed and shifted to look at Rob. “I want you to promise me something.”

  “Anything,” he said as he met her gaze.

  “Don’t defend me if others turn against me.”

  “You can no’ be serious.”

  “I’m very serious.”

  “I can no’ give you that vow. I’ll protect you to my dying breath.”

  “That means everything to me. More than you’ll ever know. But I’ve seen mobs before. I know how things can spin out of control. People you’ve known for your entire life—your family, even—won’t act as you expect. They’ll say things, do things. I know what I’m facing by doing this. You don’t.”

  His lips formed a hard line. “I’ve been in battle, lass.”

  “This is different. Please, trust me. You want to protect me? I’m trying to do the same to you. If they come for me—or Marcia—don’t get in the way. You won’t be heard, nor will you be able to halt them. They’ll kill you, too.”

  “I just found you. I can no’ lose you.”

  She grabbed his face in her hands and smiled. “These few months with you have been the most amazing of my life. I didn’t just find a beautiful place to live, I found a friend. A lover. A soulmate. I found someone who made me feel safe and captured my heart before I even realized it. I found you, my love. Everything I’ve endured has been worth it for the time we’ve had.”

  “It isna,” he argued. “I want more.”

  Elin did, too. She silenced him with a kiss before he could say more. At first, he remained stiff against her, then he slanted his mouth over hers, his tongue slipping past her lips. The kiss was long and languid, full of love, desperation, and, yes, hope. But there was regret there, as well. She briefly thought about dismounting and pulling him with her into the woods to feel his body inside hers one more time. But it would only prolong the inevitable.

  She needed to go. Now.

  Elin ended the kiss and looked into Rob’s eyes. She smiled, putting his face to memory. “I’m happy I told you my secrets.”

  “Aye, lass,” he murmured and kissed her gently once more.

  Then she looked at the castle.

  Rob said nothing as he clicked to his horse. The closer they rode to the structure, the more Elin had to fight to remain seated. So many things could go wrong. Rob’s brothers could turn against him. She could be detained before engaging Marcia. The witch could catch her unawares. Or, worse, hurt others before Elin found her.

  Her gaze lifted to the imposing castle as they rode through the gates. Dozens of people milled about. Men. Women. Children. Most wore the Mackenzie plaid, but there were other tartans, too.

  “The MacDonnells are here,” Rob murmured.

  Elin scanned the faces around her. No one paid them much heed. There were too many people, too much activity. Three clans gathered in one place meant that the noise and chaos would help to hide her. But it also hid Marcia.

  “There’s no good outcome other than ending the witch,” Rob murmured as he halted his horse. “She’s already proven that she cares little for the lives of others.”

  “I know.” And Elin did. That didn’t make anything easier. But it did help.

  Rob dismounted, then reached for her. She let him help her to the ground. His hands lingered, and she wanted to lean against him and take more of his strength to fortify hers that waned.

  “I love you,” she whispered. “No matter what happens, don’t ever forget that.”

  She tried to leave, but he held her hand, halting her. She looked back at him, into his blue eyes. He tightened his grip. “I love you, lass.”

  “Trust me.”

  “I do.” He winked, his lips curving into a sexy grin.

  She couldn’t help but smile in return. His attempt to lighten the mood bolstered her resolve.

  He kept his grin in place and released her. “I’ll find my brothers.”

  “I’ll be here, having a look around.”

  “Be careful.”

  Then, he turned away. She watched him weave through people in the bailey as he made his way to the steps and up to the castle door. Rob’s horse nudged her with his big head once Rob was inside. Elin turned to the steed and scratched him behind the ears.

  “You’ll look after him, won’t you?” she asked the animal.

  The horse stared at her with his dark, soulful eyes and blinked.

  “I know you will. How about some hay?”

  She was about to lead him to the stables when a lad rushed over and took the animal. Elin could feel the eyes of others on her. Some had seen her come to the castle during the sickness, and now, everyone wanted a look at the Sassenach.

  Elin kept her head high. She had a description of Marcia from the Gira. Curly blond hair, brown eyes. Pretty but not striking. Elin had hoped for something else to be able to pick the witch out of a crowd, but that’s all the Gira had said. Perhaps she should’ve asked Rob. Then again, they’d had other things to speak about.

  She slowly walked around the bailey, her gaze lingering on faces as she sought out her target. Elin found a spot where she could stand and still see the gate as well as the castle doors. She kept her gaze on both in hopes of spotting Marcia. After a while, it became apparent that the witch was most likely already inside the castle.

  Elin wished Rob were beside her, but she was also glad that he wasn’t. She wondered if the Gira were near as they had promised. Their offer to help if she needed to escape had been surprising, but maybe it shouldn’t have been. Asrail had shown her that not all Gira were the same. Just as not all witches or humans were. There were good and bad and everything in between for all of them.

  Elin’s stomach churned with apprehension. She kept her back to the castle wall so no one could sneak up behind her. While she might have come with Rob, that didn’t mean others wouldn’t restrain her, especially if following their laird’s orders. She tried not to think about Rob or how long he had been gone, but she couldn’t help herself.

  But, most of all, her concern was over Marcia and the battle she knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid.

  Elin’s gaze was drawn upward. She found herself staring at a window in the castle. She couldn’t see in it, but she knew who was on the other side—Marcia.

  “Time to play, then,” Elin murmured.

  She might not be able to see the witch, but she knew what was coming. She glanced at all the innocents who would be hurt if they remained, but even if she tried to get them to leave, they wouldn’t. Elin jerked her gaze back to the window. She felt her magic run through her. She had ignored it for so many months, pretending she didn’t have it. Now, it was the very thing that could save everyone.

  No, not could. Would.

  She didn’t have any choice but to win. Because if she didn’t…

  Elin didn’t let that thought finish.

  14

  Rob was fast losing patience. “This is important.”

  “You brought her to the castle,” Donald said, glaring. “You brought Elin. On the day that I announce both of our engagements.”

  Rob tried to rein in his anger, but it became increasingly difficult. “I told you I wouldna marry Marcia.”

  “The deal has already been struck.”

  “You did that without speaking with me.”

  “Because you’ve never wavered from doing your duty.”

  Rob snorted. “There is no blame on us for what happened at the MacDonnells. We shouldna pay for that lass’s anger.”

  “What’s done is done.”

  “Do you even want to marry now? Because I doona think you will be happy with your next wife.”

  Donald crossed his arms over his chest. “You speak of happiness and love as if they were the most important matters. Peace. Allies. Those are important, Rob. You know that.” He dropped his arms and turned to walk away.

  “There is more to Marcia than you know.”

  Donald halted and threw up his arms in frustration. “Of course, there is.” He spun back to Rob. “Let me guess. Elin told you something.”

  “Nay. Marcia did.”

  “Oh, really? Pray tell, what is that?”

  “She cursed you.”

  Donald’s nostrils flared. He strode until he stood almost nose-to-nose with Rob. “You think because I asked Elin if she was a witch that you can do the same about Marcia? She’s from a good family.”

  “And Elin is English, so that makes her an enemy?”

  “It makes her an outsider,” Donald snapped.

  Rob held his brother’s gaze. “You heard Marcia curse you. You’re the one who told me. Then a strange sickness befell our clan, starting right here in this castle. With Anna. If you want to call anyone a w—”

  “Doona say it,” Donald threatened in the same low tone their father had used when he was furious.

  “You didna have a problem saying it no’ so long ago.”

  “I’m sorry you willna be able to take Elin as your wife, but the matter is settled. You’ll do what needs to be done for the clan.”

  Rob shook his head and calmly watched his brother.

  Donald’s eyes bulged at the defiance. “You would dare defy me? You would put our clan at war with the MacDonnells? You would send our men into battle? That doesna sound like the brother I know.”

  “I willna bring someone so malicious, spiteful, and vindictive into our clan. And that’s exactly what Marcia is. You just willna see it because that means you have to take a look at what’s around you.”

  Donald opened his mouth to speak when a shout rose from elsewhere in the castle. Rob knew what was happening. He’d hoped to be outside with Elin before this, but his brother hadn’t wanted to listen to him. Rob raced down the stairs into the great hall, where a crowd had already gathered near the door.

  He heard the gasps as green flashed. The battle had already begun. Rob roughly shouldered his way through the crowd, his brother right behind him. When they reached the steps, he saw that Elin used her body to protect one of the stable hands behind her. People had backed away, leaving a large area where Elin and the lad stood. Across from them was Marcia, who had such fury etched on her face that Rob’s heart skipped a beat.

  “What did Elin do to her?” Donald demanded.

  Rob didn’t give his brother a look. Simply stated, “Watch before you make accusations.”

  Elin’s gaze was locked on Marcia. Elin kept one hand on the boy and the other outstretched in front of her. She sidestepped, keeping the lad with her as she and Marcia circled each other. Elin gave the lad a pat when she was close to the stables. He rushed to the crowd, and the people quickly gathered around him in protection.

  “The MacDonnell lass attacked the lad with…well, it wasna a blade. It was something else,” a man said in dismay.

  “She’s supposed to marry Rob.”

  “Someone like that is only trouble.”

  Rob agreed with the last statement. He wanted to go out there with Elin, but his lack of magical battle experience kept him rooted to the spot. He might end up being more of a hindrance than anything else. Rob swept his gaze over the sea of faces and found Marcia’s father. The MacDonnell laird and his men were staring at Marcia as if she were a stranger.

  Too many people were around. Not just witnesses but also possible casualties. Rob turned back to the those near the door and began moving them away quietly and quickly. Once they were inside the castle, he turned to those on the steps. They took longer to persuade. No one wanted to look away.

  Rob kept glancing at the bailey. The two women kept circling each other. He knew that Elin wouldn’t make the first move. It had to be Marcia. About that time, Marcia grew tired of waiting and chose that moment to attack. The magic that flew from Marcia’s hand was the same green he had seen earlier. It shot across to Elin so fast that he was sure she wouldn’t be able to deflect it, but Elin held up her hands. It was as if an invisible shield were there, turning the green ribbons back on themselves.

  The shock that went through the crowd had many scurrying to safety, with others moving back to give the witches more room. Elin raised her arms and then swept each in an outward circle before shoving her hands forward. It caused Marcia’s magic to zoom back to her, Elin’s bright pink mixed in.

  Elin had been right. There was no face-to-face battle. Witches used strategy, power, and strength—and their magic. He was battle-trained in an entirely different way. He’d never felt so useless.

  “What the bloody hell?” Donald said from beside him.

  Marcia let out a scream of rage as she sent another wave of magic at Elin.

  Elin blocked Marcia’s magic a second time, but it took more out of her than she cared to admit. The witch allowed her fury to consume her. For some, it was a good way to use their magic. For others, it put them at a distinct disadvantage. The way Marcia used her power showed that she had little training, if any at all. There was no control, no focus. There was only rage.

  Yet Elin couldn’t easily defeat her as she’d hoped. Marcia’s anger gave her a slight advantage. Not to mention, Elin didn’t want to harm anyone at the castle, so she was being cautious. The only way to stop everything right then and there was to kill Marcia. But…Elin couldn’t. She wanted to get the upper hand that would allow her to confine the young witch. Would that be enough, though?

  Hate and wrath distorted Marcia’s appearance into an ugly visage that even had her father’s mouth gaping in horror. That’s when Elin knew. Marcia wouldn’t stop. She wouldn’t quit. Whatever drove her would keep pushing until someone stopped her.

  For good.

  Elin glanced to the side and spotted Rob on the castle steps, watching. That was all the time Marcia needed to strike. A flash of green soared across the bailey and struck Elin’s arm. Agony lanced her. She stumbled and dropped to her knees as she fought to gather her magic and push aside the pain.

  Rob started toward Elin. Marcia saw him and turned her wrath on him.

  “Nay!” Elin shouted.

  She didn’t think, didn’t hesitate. She heaved magic at Marcia. Time slowed as Elin watched the bright pink ribbons of her magic arc across the distance and slam into the witch. Marcia grunted, her body bending sideways with the force of the impact. Elin saw the pink tendrils wrap around the young witch. She focused on them. They had to hold. It was her one chance.

  “Stop. Please!”

  Elin refused to look away from the witch.

  “Please!”

  The plea was too much. Elin glanced to where the voice had come from and spotted Marcia’s father. The laird hesitated to go to his daughter. Elin held her injured arm against her and got to her feet. Her magic wobbled from the pain and Laird MacDonnell’s distraction. She focused once more.

  “Please,” the laird begged again, finally moving a few steps to his daughter, who thrashed against the magic that held her. “She’s just a lass.”

  Hate still burned in Marcia’s eyes. She didn’t know how to get out of Elin’s hold, but she hadn’t stopped trying. Elin saw the witch’s mouth move and recognized a few basic spells, but none were powerful enough to end Elin’s magic. But that wasn’t what concerned Elin. The instant Marcia was free, she would retaliate.

  Against her, against her father, against Rob. Against anyone and everyone. There was too much hate, too much bitterness and hostility for there to be any other outcome.

  Elin glanced at the MacDonnell laird. He couldn’t even look at Marcia. She shouted for him, demanding that he get her free, but he didn’t acknowledge her. Anger thrummed through Elin.

  “You knew,” Elin said to the laird. “You knew what she was.”

  He swallowed and glanced around. “I doona know what you mean.”

  “Not giving her proper training resulted in this.” Elin pointed her good hand at Marcia. “Look at her rage. She’s used her magic to get what she wants and strikes out when she doesn’t get it. She cursed the Mackenzies. Do you have any idea how many died because of her?”

  There was defiance in the laird’s gaze when he shrugged. “I’ve no idea what you mean.”

  “You created this,” Elin told the laird. “Your daughter will forever be this.”

  “Help her then. You obviously can.”

  Elin nearly laughed. She shook her head, disgusted and repulsed by the MacDonnell laird and his apathy to his daughter. “She’ll only be helped if she wants it. And, trust me, she doesn’t want it. She knows her power, and she knows how to use it against anyone who defies her.”