Page 72 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

But when she'd kissed his cheek in her dark bedchamber... her warm lips, the sweet female scent of her, so familiar, had lured him like naught else ever could. She still enthralled him, even after being away from her for a year and a half.

Looking into her cornflower blue eyes was like being dirked in the chest... over and over. Damned if she wasn't the most beautiful assassin he could imagine.

The way she held her ground and berated him made her all the more captivating. She'd always possessed an intriguing hidden strength, even in her innocence a couple of years prior. She appeared harmless and gentle, but those knives she concealed were symbolic. Now that she was a woman grown, experienced and a bit jaded, she was like tempered steel.

Why had she put herself at such extreme risk to help women she didn't know? Was she that altruistic, in truth? He knew no other woman who would do that. Well, his sister might. She was just as wild and headstrong.

Had anything Elsea had said been true?

She had been right about Margaret, at least. As for the whoreson earl, had her brother indeed signed the contract for her, or had she? Why would an unmarried lady forgo marrying a prominent earl, even if he was in debt? Obviously, he was determined to regain his wealth by any means, no matter how despicable.

Carrying his sealskin, Brodie strode into the surf, shifted into seal form again, and swam toward Rònmòrach Isle. The cool water and exertion did naught to diminish his frustration this time. Once he arrived, he shifted again and hastened toward the selkies' main cave.

"Chief Scarth," he called to alert them of his presence.

Scarth emerged and greeted him, then Harcus came out, carrying his plaid and belt.

"Is the human woman alright?" Scarth asked.

"Aye, I took her to Farspag to recover." Brodie belted his plaid in place. "Lady Elsea is the sister of a clan chief I know." To avoid questions, Brodie shielded his thoughts of his past association with her. Even in human form, the selkies were telepathic. "What of the two males who fell beneath the blades of the raiders during the battle?" Brodie asked.

"They survived and are recovering."

"How many females went missing?"

Scarth's brows lowered. "Eight more. We must find them."

"I intend to."

"The ones we rescued said the human lady cut their bindings," Harcus said.

Brodie nodded. "Indeed."

"Please express our sincere thanks to her. We owe her a grand debt of gratitude." Scarth's solemn tone was reverent.

"I will." Brodie followed them into the cave.

"Ronin salvaged this from the sea." Scarth handed Brodie a wet leather belt with a sheathed dirk attached. "Is it hers?"

"Aye. I thank you." 'Twas the same floral engraved bronze and steel dirk she'd worn when Brodie had met her. An amethyst stone decorated the thistle pommel. "She will appreciate getting this back. She said her father gave it to her."

"She is a female warrior, aye?" Harcus asked, straight white teeth flashing within his dark beard.

"I suppose so." Brodie had watched her practice a few times in the past, sparing with Kieran. Brodie hadn't wanted to spar with her himself, afraid he would hurt her. Or that he would be so lax and hesitant, she would stab him.

"She was brave to help our women." Scarth sat down by the fire pit.

"Indeed." Brodie joined him. "She told me the leader of the raiders is a vile human earl named Talnaroch. When I learn where the bastard launched the galleys from, I'll need some of your tribesmen to accompany me. 'Haps tonight or tomorrow, depending on when I learn the location. We'll search the castle and, if the females are there, rescue them."

Several of the males nodded, while Scarth said, "Aye, we must hurry."

"We were nay able to stop the other birlinn," Harcus grumbled. "'Twas too far ahead and moving swiftly. We wanted to make certain all the freed females returned safely to the island. We helped some of them who grew tired."

Brodie nodded.

"I've sent out patrols to search for the birlinn, to see where it's docked. They haven't found it yet," Scarth said, smoothing his braided, silver-streaked beard.

"What of the humans who fell overboard?" Brodie asked.