Chapter 13
Edna paced angrily back and forth in front of the fireplace. She knew exactly what was happening at Breaghacraig and she knew there was nothing she could do about it.
“Brielle!” She called out to her nemesis through the fireplace, which was, for Edna, the equivalent of a cell phone.
“Brielle, answer me! I know ye can hear me.” Patience was not something Edna Campbell had an abundance of, and Brielle was trying every last shred of it right now.
She waited momentarily for a response, and when one wasn’t forthcoming she opened her mouth, ready to call to Brielle again, but just as she was about to yell, she heard Brielle’s grating voice.
“Alright, alright. I can hear you,” Brielle grumbled. “What could ye possibly want with me? Oh, that’s right, I have yer verra handsome husband here with me. I’ve just been telling him how deceitful ye’ve been with him. He wasnae happy to hear it.”
“I have not been deceitful! Yer twisting the truth. Let me speak with him. I ken yer blocking me from him and from Maggie.” Edna was furious.
Thank goodness, no one other than Teddy, her long-time friend and confidant, was around to witness what was happening.
The inn was closed for the evening and Teddy sat in his usual corner spot, while Edna stood alone by the fire in the dining room, contemplating Brielle’s demise.
She wished she could do it herself, but Brielle had threatened the MacKenzie clan with destruction, unless Edna sent Maggie in her place to Breaghacraig.
Edna hadn’t anticipated that by having Angus accompany Maggie, Brielle would have the perfect weapon to use against her.
“Did ye hear me, Brielle? Let me speak with my husband!”
“I’m afraid that willnae be possible. He doesnae wish to speak with ye, now or ever.
” Brielle laughed maniacally. “Ye’d best be prepared to hand that bridge over to me, as I’m sure to easily defeat the little lass ye sent in yer stead.
” Edna could hear more snickering laughter from Brielle.
“Everyone here believes that the only thing ye care about is the bridge, Edna. They believe everything I’ve told them.
They believe you’d sacrifice their lives for the bridge.
Now isn’t that something? They believe ye lied to them.
I wonder why? Could it be because you’ve done it before? ”
Edna knew Brielle was trying to rile her.
How could anyone believe that Edna cared more for the bridge than she cared about Maggie, Angus and the MacKenzies?
“If ye believe ye’ll win this, Brielle, ye have another thing coming.
Maggie will surprise ye. She’s an even more powerful witch than I am.
” Even as she spoke, Edna felt a shiver of apprehension travel up her spine, wondering how much truth Brielle was speaking amongst her lies.
Yes, Edna had lied in the past, but it had never been malicious.
Instead, it had been her way of helping the people of Breaghacraig to meet their true loves.
What was so wrong with that? She wondered now, in this situation, if perhaps it had been the wrong thing to do.
“She may well be powerful, but she doesnae ken it and after I’m done with her, our bet will be complete and I shall have the bridge and yer life. That was our agreement, wasnae it?”
“’Twas nae an agreement!” Edna protested. “Ye left me with nae choice! I did what I had to do and believe me when I tell ye, ye’ll pay for it, especially if any harm comes to Angus or Maggie.”
“Any harm that comes to them is yer doing, Edna!” With Brielle’s furious response, the crackling of the fire in the dining room grew louder and flames shot from the hearth.. Teddy ducked beneath his table, covering his face and head with his hands.
“Damn ye, Brielle!” Edna cursed. She quickly jumped out of the way of the errant flames, and with a wave of her hands and a steely gaze, put the fire out before it did any real damage.
Fire had always been Brielle’s strongest power.
Edna wished she had remembered to tell Maggie about that.
Maggie is a smart girl she thought to herself.
She’ll know what needs to be done. Edna extinguished the fire in the hearth, abruptly ending the communication with Brielle.
“Are ye okay, Teddy?” she asked.
Teddy crawled out from under the table and dusted himself off before he settled back in his chair. “Aye. Fine.”
Edna’s thoughts turned back to Maggie and Angus. She only wished that she could be there, to help Maggie and to get Angus away from Brielle’s evil clutches. A shiver of fear trickled through her body at the thought of the danger they were both in.
***
What is she up to? Angus thought, as he sat with his back against the cave wall. Brielle had a strange expression on her face. “Are ye well, Brielle?” he asked, not out of any concern for the woman, but rather out of curiosity and frustration at not knowing what was going on.
“Aye. All is verra well.” Brielle turned slowly to face him. “I was just speaking with yer wife. She doesnae miss ye! She told me so herself.”
“Dinnae bother lying to me. I know me wife. She may nae always be forthcoming, but I do ken that she loves me and I love her, no matter what rubbish ye be spouting at me.” Angus watched Brielle carefully to see her reaction, but none came. She merely shrugged and took a seat opposite him.
“’Twill be morning soon and ye and I have work to do. Ye’d best get yer rest.” She closed her eyes and made herself comfortable. “And dinnae get any ideas. Even in my sleep, I ken where ye are and what ye be doing.”
Angus was not surprised by this announcement. He had figured as much already and so didn’t bother to answer her. Instead, he closed his own eyes. Brielle was right about one thing. He was going to need his sleep, to cope with whatever took place on the morn.
***
Dylan led Maggie to his chambers inside the castle, with Chester happily following along behind them.
Since Brielle was no longer in residence, Dylan’s room was his once again and he had decided to let Maggie have it for the night.
She, more than any of them, needed a good night’s sleep and he intended that she would get it in his bed.
“Dylan, I dinnae need to sleep here. I’m quite comfortable in the barracks,” Maggie argued.
“That was fine when your uncle was there with you, but a woman alone shouldn’t be sleeping out there with all those men.”
“But this is yer room, Dylan. I cannae take it away from ye.”
“You’re not taking it from me. I’m giving it to you. I’ll sleep in the barracks.”
They arrived at the door to his bedchamber and Dylan opened it for her. He didn’t step through, instead letting Maggie go in and then he stood in the doorway.
“Would ye like to come in?” Maggie asked shyly.
“No, it’s okay. I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll just head off to bed.
I’ll see you in the morning.” He leaned in to give her a brief kiss goodnight, and suddenly found himself glued to the spot.
Sweet, sweet Maggie. How could he even think of leaving her here by herself?
The kiss lit a fire in him, warming him from head to toe.
His hands moved of their own accord, rubbing over her shoulders and down her arms, while hers were planted squarely on his chest. He wanted her so badly it hurt.
Pulling her even closer, he savored every taste, every touch, and every tantalizing sensation that rushed over him.
When he finally managed to come up for air, he spoke breathlessly.
“Maggie, I have to go, before we do something you might regret.”
“I’d never regret it, Dylan. Yer the man I want to be my first,” Maggie gazed up at him dreamily.
“You’re first!” Dylan was blindsided by this announcement.
“That’s a huge responsibility, Maggie. I think we should definitely wait.
” What was he thinking? He’d never said that to a woman before—not once in his life, but here he was, trying to protect Maggie from himself.
Why hadn’t she mentioned this to him when they were at the waterfall?
If he’d known, he would never have let things go so far.
No, he was determined to wait. And why am I waiting?
He groaned aloud, when Maggie reached down and brushed her fingers along his hardness, which protruded from the front of his kilt.
“Maggie, please. You don’t know what you’re asking.
” He was practically panting with desire now.
She had him worked into a frenzy and if he didn’t bolt now, he never would.
Dylan backed up to create some distance between them.
“Don’t ye want me, Dylan?” Maggie appeared hurt by his rejection.
“Oh, Maggie, no! I want you more than I can say, but this is not right. I want to be your first, I really do, but I … I … ” He had to leave—now. “Chester, stay here with Maggie.” Dylan spun on his heels and strode away, leaving Maggie standing in the doorway, confused and forlorn.
***