Just before dawn, when Maddock’s shift was set to end, Maddock released Brachan, and we made our way out of the castle as quietly and quickly as possible.

We saw no one on the way out of the castle, in the stables, or along the path leading to the castle gates. It gave me hope that the rest of the morning would go just as smoothly.

We took two horses to the clearing. Brachan had his own, and I rode with Maddock on Stella. The ride was somber, as each of us seemed to be in our own worlds of worry.

It was a sunny day and warmer than any I’d experienced since arriving. Surely, that had to be a good omen.

Maddock knew the exact location of the place Machara had mentioned. He wasn’t surprised that it was the place where Machara’s father lived. He’d always thought it had a different feel to it—that I would be able to see what he meant when we arrived.

It didn’t take us long to reach the hill before the clearing. No place on the Isle was very difficult to get to.

Midway up the hill, he dismounted and tied our horses so we could make the rest of the journey on foot.

“We need to prepare here, lass. There is no way to know how quickly after entering the clearing he will choose to appear.”

“How do you mean?”

As far as I could tell, this entire thing was just going to require a whole lot of luck and wit. Words were important with faeries—I would have to watch every word that came out of my mouth.

Maddock and I walked hand-in-hand, with Brachan on the other side of me. He reached out to gently touch my shoulder so I would stop.

“There is a reason why there are so many stories of mortals falling for members of the fae, lass. The fae doona know how to relate to all that mortals feel, so they rely on their ability to manipulate yer baser instincts.”

Maddock released my hand to step in front of me so that I was looking at both of them.

“He’s right, lass. ’Tis possible he will try to take ye as his own. Ye will have to resist him.”

Faerie charm was the last thing I was worried about. “Guys, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Your grandfather has to be like a thousand years old, right? I’m not going to be wooed by any faerie.”

Maddock completely ignored me as he turned to look at Brachan. “Do ye have the ability to sway her, lad?”

He nodded. “Aye, but ye willna like it.”

“Do it. She needs to see how overwhelming the sensation can be. Just a little, lad. Doona truly touch her.”

I stood as still as I could as I watched Brachan saunter toward me. He stopped when our chests were nearly touching and gently leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“Do ye want me, lass?”

I snickered at the feeling of having his lips so close to my ear. “I am quite fond of you, Brachan, but no, I don’t.”

A warm stream of air suddenly swept over my ear, and the need that shot through me was crippling. I could feel my legs begin to shake, and it shocked me to realize that what I wanted more than anything was for Brachan to reach out and pull me toward him.

“What about now, lass?”

“Okay, okay.” I held my hand up and stepped away from him. “I get it. Please stop.”

As quickly as the sensation had come, it was gone.

“God, that’s creepy.”

“If a true fae decides to woo ye, lass, ’twould be ten times worse.”

I regretted my earlier statement. I wasn’t sure I would be able to resist any sensation that was much stronger than what Brachan had just caused me to feel.

“Why would he want to do that?”

“To idle yer mind so that whatever bargain ye strike with him holds no real benefit to ye.”

I’d been frightened the moment this foolish idea popped into my mind, but now I was truly terrified. “Is there not anything I can do to resist that? To keep my mind clear?”

Maddock reached for me and pulled me into his arms. “Ye must find that place inside ye that benefited ye for so long. Seek the distraction, seek that place that keeps ye from feeling. Keep yer mind busy so he canna find his way in.”

Surely, I could do that. I’d only been letting feelings in for a few days now. That coping mechanism couldn’t be all that far away.

Brachan reached out to touch my back, and with Maddock’s arms still around me, I twisted to look at him.

“’Tis time, lass. The other men are most assuredly already out looking for us. We must enter the land of the fae before they arrive. I will give the two of ye a moment. I’ll wait for ye at the top of the hill.”

Maddock said nothing until Brachan was a good distance away. When he did speak, his voice broke. “Kate, lass. I’m trying to stay strong, but I doona want ye to do this. Too many things could go wrong. I willna be able to bear it if ye doona come back to me.”

I kissed his cheek and cupped his face with my palm.

“I have to do this. This is my part in all of this. I have no doubt of that. I want Brachan to be free of her, and one day, I want you to be free, as well. You’ll never be if I don’t play my part.”

“I want to marry ye, lass.” He said it so casually, I almost missed it.

“You what?”

“I want to marry ye. The moment ye return, I want us to leave here and get married. To run away together, just ye and me. What do ye say, lass?”

Eloping had always been my dream. But there was no way he could’ve possibly known that. “I say yes. As soon as I’m back, I will marry you.”

“Then I shall wait, lass. Please doona let them keep ye there for years.”

“Years?” Just the thought filled me with terror. “I don’t plan to stay there for lunch, Maddock. I will not be there for years.”

“’Tis what faeries do, lass. Doona be surprised if time is part of the bargain he tries to strike with ye.”

I nodded, but my mind was now elsewhere. I needed Maddock’s word that he wouldn’t come in after me.

“I need you to make me a promise, Maddock. You have to promise me that you won’t go in after me, no matter what. We have no way of knowing what Machara’s father will do, and we can’t risk one of The Eight ending up dead. There’s only seven of you living. If another one of you dies, Machara breaks free. Do you understand? You have to promise.”

He nodded and closed his eyes sadly as he gave his word. “I promise, lass. Now, kiss me and go before I decide I doona have the strength for this and pull ye away from here. Right now, I doona think I am above leaving Brachan to deal with this on his own.”

“That’s not an option. But I will kiss you. I’ll kiss you now. I’ll kiss you when I return. And I’ll kiss you every day after. Everything is going to be fine, Maddock. I just know it.”

I hoped it wasn’t a lie. Something deep inside suspected it might be.