Page 106 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

"Aye." Torr inclined his head, winked at Cat, and left, closing the door.

"What is this about?" Brodie growled, wanting this over with.

Chapter 20

Cat strode to the window and back again. "Something I've wondered about for a long time was why Elsea betrayed you and broke the betrothal when the curse started."

Brodie's gut twisted. "My favorite subject. I thank you for bringing it up, sweet sister."

She placed her hands on her hips and glowered at him. She had the stern look of their da when she did that. "Cease and listen, Brodie."

"You have the upper hand now that I can nay stand upright." He had tensed so much his wound ached again.

"Aye, you're forced to listen to good sense... finally."

"Everyone kens why she betrayed me," Brodie said. "'Tis obvious. She did nay want a cursed husband who changed into a beast. She wanted a wealthy, upper crust earl."

"Is that what she said?"

Brodie shrugged. Sharp pain struck him at the movement, and he grimaced. "Damnation, Cat! You are the most vexing—"

"Were those her words?"

Brodie closed his eyes and tried to relax back into the pillows, willing the agony away. What had Elsea said? He tried to recall. The battle inside him had marred his memory. "She gave an excuse. Something about the curse and the witch, as I said."

"She told me the real reason," Cat said in a calmer tone.

"What was it?" he snapped.

"'Twas not because you shift into a beast or that she wanted a wealthier husband. 'Twas because the witch gave Elsea night terrors. 'Twas like Elsea was right in front of you while the witch slit your throat and stabbed you. Elsea watched you die over and over. Wilona also demonstrated her shapeshifting abilities, proving she could reach you long before Elsea could warn you. Did she tell you this?"

"Nightmares are nay real," Brodie muttered. "Besides, I believe little of what she says."

"If you were to have nightmares of someone you love being brutally murdered night after night, you might feel differently."

"You believe all this?"

"Of course."

"'Tis easy to make up such tales. Why did she nay come to me and tell me?"

Cat frowned, glaring at him as if he were daft. "Are you nay listening? She feared you would be killed!"

Brodie scoffed and rolled his eyes. He'd seen nor heard anything convincing. "Hearsay."

"Are you saying Wilona MacRae is not capable of murder?" Cat demanded.

"She's capable, aye. But I have no fear of her. And Elsea could've told me, damn it all!"

"If that hag can get her hands on a knife, she can slit a slumbering person's throat. She could've easily done that to me at Blacktower when she cut off my hair while I was asleep. She had the opportunity. She just wished to capture Torr more."

A chill passed through Brodie. Aye, he hated the witch. Yearned to defeat her, but how could he, trapped as he was?

"Why would Elsea be helping you and the selkies now if she didn't care about you?" Cat asked, raising her voice.

"I do nay pretend to understand her or any woman," he said, teeth clenched against the pain.

"Stop being stubborn. She betrayed you because she loves you so much. If you wish to blame anyone, blame Wilona MacRae."