Page 94 of Bond of a Bewitched Highlander

"Of course. A minor skirmish."

"Well, 'tis a serious wound, lad."

Brodie ground his teeth as another pain spiked. "I ken it."

"You lost a lot of blood."

"But nay too much. I will live."

"I believe you will. The cook is preparing some fresh haggis and black pudding for you."

The thought of it turned Brodie's stomach. "Why?" he said with disgust. "I cannot eat a bite right now."

Finnian shrugged. "When you're able. 'Haps at midday or this eve. 'Twill help rebuild your blood." He turned to Elsea who stood at the foot of the bed. "When the tisane cools enough, can you help him drink it?"

"Aye."

Finnian ambled toward the door. "I'll have the maids bring you broth."

Brodie didn't know whether he could handle that either. Time would tell. "I thank you."

Finnian inclined his head with a smile, then left.

"I might choke down some broth later," Brodie muttered and glanced at Elsea.

"'Twill help you." After lighting a candle at the hearth, she set it on the bedside table.

"'Haps you should take a nap," he suggested. With the dark circles beneath her eyes, she looked exhausted. Had she stayed awake all night for him? Vaguely, he remembered her helping him drink Finnian's vile brew last night.

"I slept a few hours." She resumed her seat by the bedside table and pressed her fingers against the cup. "'Tis still too hot. I wish it would cool so you could be free of pain sooner."

He did not notice any malice in her azure gaze. Saints! 'Twas almost too much, enduring the agony from his wound and the heartache she inflicted at the same time. Indeed, there had been no physical pain in the cave. Only astounding pleasure. However, her earlier words... when she'd told him to strangle her and throw her lifeless body into the sea. He would never! God help him, the mere thought of that demolished him, trapped his breath. Even after the hell she'd put him through, he still didn't wish her any discomfort whatsoever. How daft was he?

"Were all the women unharmed... the selkie females?" she asked.

He appreciated her concern for them. "They appeared to be well. The bastards were holding them in the dungeon, and we had to rush them out of there."

"They had not been... abused?"

"I hope not. I'll have to ask Chief Scarth later. On the way over to the castle, the males took the female's sealskins so they could shift on shore and swim back to the island. Because of my injury and the blood loss, Daavar and Harcus helped me travel back here."

"Thank the saints," she whispered.

"We had nay choice but to kill or injure several of the guards. And you were right, that damned Wilona MacRae was there."

Elsea gasped.

"She appeared out of thin air behind the enemy I was fighting, distracting me. That's when the whoreson sliced my chest."

Elsea's jaw clenched. "That bitch," she seethed.

Brodie was a bit surprised at the unsavory word coming from her mouth, but her brothers had trained her in everything. "Aye, well, she must be taken down."

Elsea nodded but did not comment, which he was glad for. If they killed the witch now, his curse would remain forever.

"After meeting the selkies," Elsea said. "I feel an even stronger urgency to help them. They're so kind and loving, so pure of heart." Tears glistened in her eyes. "I'm even more enraged at how the knave is treating them. Given the chance, I will kill him myself."

Her words startled Brodie. Not just her words, but the resolute look in her eyes. She was not jesting. She truly wanted to kill the man.