“How long have I been asleep?”
“Yesterday afternoon and all last night.”
She blinked in surprise. “What? And you’ve been sitting here all night?”
He shrugged. “Ye gave me quite the fright, lass. I thought I was going to lose ye.” He cleared his throat. “That is, I thoughtwewere going to lose ye. What happened?”
“I was bloody stupid is what happened,” she replied, shaking her head. “Pushed too far and let myself get swept away by the magic. I’ve never felt anything so strong as the power in Bail Nan Cnoc.”
Arran nodded. “Our legends say that it’s the most powerful placein all the Isles and is the reason the protective magic could be laid in the first place.”
“It’s definitely where it originates from. It’s… incredible. I could see the magic spreading out across the island like some vast golden net. But it’s broken. There are holes in it. And I let one of those holes suck me in. A rookie mistake. My aunts would be furious. You havenoidea how many times they’ve lectured me on the dangers of magic.”
“Yer aunts sound like my mother. If I had a copper for every time she’s chewed my ear off over something or another, I would be richer than the king himself.”
Jenna laughed softly. “Families, eh?”
“Aye, families.”
He met her gaze, his eyes dancing with mirth, and Jenna found she could not look away. There was something in that deep blue gaze that drew her in, a rarely glimpsed depth of warmth and longing behind the usual stern façade that sent a tingle down the back of her neck.
Arran cleared his throat. “Did ye find what ye needed? Can the magic be restored?”
“I think so. The magic is concentrated on cardinal points. I think the spellweavers who originally created the spell anchored the magic into keystones. If we can find all these keystones, I think I’ll be able to repair the magical net.”
“Then all the resources of Clan MacLeod are at yer disposal. What do ye need?”
“You said you had a library? I’ll need everything you have on the original spellweaving and also as many maps of the island as you can get your hands on.”
“Ye shall have it. I will tell Brother Merrick ye are coming and that he is to help ye find what ye need.”
Jenna flung back the covers and swung her feet over the edge of the bed. “Then let’s get going.”
“What? Now?”
“Why not now? There’s no time like the present is there? The sooner I get to work, the sooner I can get the magic fixed.”And the sooner I can get paid and go home.
“Ye’ve had quite the ordeal, lass. Perhaps ye should rest a while longer.”
“I don’t need rest. I’m fine.” Now that she had a clue as to how to proceed, she was eager to get on with things. Lying in bed was not going to help anyone. And, besides, she didn’t want to risk any more dreams of Alex or her mother.
She grabbed one of the bedposts and used it to lever herself to her feet. A wave of dizziness went through her and she staggered, clutching the post with both hands.
Arran was on his feet in an instant. One of his hands went beneath her elbow, steadying her. “I really think ye should rest a while longer, lass. And besides, Martha will have both our hides if she comes in here and finds ye gone.”
Jenna had no idea who Martha was but she wasn’t about to be dissuaded. “She can’t have our hides if she can’t find us, can she? Come on, I need to stretch my legs.”
Arran sighed. “Are all MacFinnan women as stubborn as ye?”
Jenna snorted. “Oh, you havenoidea, my friend,” she replied, thinking of Aunt Elise. “No idea.”
“This way then.” He opened the door and held it for her.
Jenna inclined her head in thanks and then preceded him out the door. The corridor outside was wide enough for them to walk side by side, with a wine-red runner down the center and tapestries softening the austerity of the bare stone walls.
“Thank you by the way,” Jenna said suddenly.
Arran glanced at her. “For what?”
