I’d wanted to speak to Raudrich alone in the hopes of getting the real story about this castle and the interesting men within it without Marcus being present. If even part of the story I’d watched with Kate was true, if the book was to be believed, Marcus’ reason for being here would have a lasting impact on the history of this castle and territory. I knew Marcus well enough to know that he wouldn’t be receptive to such news.

He loved his life back in Boston—even with the recent downturn in his freelance photography business. While I was his best friend, he had many others, as well. And he was even closer to his family than I was to Kate. He was a modern man. He didn’t share my same passion for all things old. Scotland didn’t seem to call to his soul like it did mine.

Was it possible that Marcus was indeed a druid? Did he have powers just waiting to be brought to life inside of him? If so, I knew he was entirely unaware of it.

I found myself wishing that I’d taken the time to actually read the book that had fallen from my shelf. In the surprising turn of events that occurred that night, I’d not thought much of the book as we packed to leave. I regretted being so thoughtless now.

At some point in history, the supposed curse on this land must have been broken. For if not, I imagined the Eight Lairds would still split the land equally in my own time. From what I’d read online about visiting the castle in modern times, this wasn’t the case. What I didn’t know was at what point in history the curse was broken. Was it soon—as in the following weeks while Marcus and I would be here? If so, perhaps it was possible that Marcus could become one of The Eight, help to break the curse, and then return home. But, what if the curse was to live on in this land for another generation or two? If that was the case, and Marcus was destined to be one of The Eight, did that mean he would have to stay here forever?

I’d said nothing to Marcus about any of it, and I had no plans to until I had more information at my disposal. To do so would only make him more eager to find a way to return home. Something I seriously doubted would be possible until we’d fulfilled whatever Morna believed we were meant to.

Besides, so far I’d seen no indication that any of The Eight were capable of magic. I knew it was very likely that once Raudrich was rested enough to tell me the truth, I would learn that much of what had become legend in my own time was untrue.

Since I knew I would be waiting around impatiently for Raudrich unless I found something to occupy my mind and time, I decided to go in search of some writing materials. While no clear story was yet in mind, I could at least start taking some notes and see where my brainstorming might lead.

Most of the castle corridors were quiet, much like the day before. The men of this castle worked hard, and it didn’t surprise me that I had difficulty finding one of them about.

After searching most of the second floor, I made my way downstairs where I could hear the faint sound of voices from a dark corridor I’d yet to explore.

Remembering Harry’s directive that we were free to roam as we pleased, I followed the noise to the top of another stairwell. Two voices—one I recognized as Calder’s—were speaking down below.

Not wishing to eavesdrop, I called out to them right away.

“Hello? Is it all right if I come down?”

The voice that wasn’t Calder’s answered back. “Aye, o’course. Calder and I were just trying to find the source of the foul smell down here. Mayhap ye could help us?”

I could smell nothing from where I stood, but as I made my way down into the dank storage room, the scent of rot reached me. I pinched my nostrils closed to block it.

“Wow. That is rather bad, isn’t it?”

Maddock stood at the entryway to the small storage room and held up the lantern so I would have some light as I descended the last few steps.

“Aye, lass. I keep telling Calder ’tis likely that moisture got into one of our barrels and ruined food, but his imagination has run away from him. He believes something more nefarious is at work.”

I looked over at Calder to see him staring at Maddock with annoyance before turning angry eyes toward me.

“This is yer fault, lass. Ye have no business here. ’Twas clear enough from the moment I met ye that ye were a liar. Now ye have placed us all in danger. Ye and yer brother—if he truly is that—need to leave. Now.”

Stunned, I stepped back against the cold wall behind me. I knew Calder was wary of our presence here, but until now, he’d at least been cordial. Something in his eyes was different now, and I didn’t like his gaze at all.

Before I could say a word, Maddock stepped between me and Calder.

“Shut yer mouth, ye rude bastard. We doona even know what the source of the smell down here is. ’Tis a natural occurrence, I’m certain. Doona place this on her. Time away from polite society has ruined yer manners.”

Calder stepped very close to Maddock, and his tone was filled with venom as he spoke. “Look around, Maddock. Open every storage barrel. Ye will find the same as I did. I spent all morning searching. Nothing is rotting. ’Tis Machara’s anger rising from her tomb. Ye know as well as I that it willna be long before she begins to act out. Timothy’s death was enough to strengthen her. A lassie’s presence will give her even more power. I doona care if the rest of ye are so lust-crazed that ye are willing to damn us all just so ye can stare at a woman for a few days. She’s not worth it, Maddock. I might understand if she were pretty, but ye all know she is not. She’s got more padding on her than half our pigs. Ye are all ignorant fools, and I willna placate a one of ye.”

If he’d said such insulting words directly to me it would’ve been bad enough, but the fact that he was saying it about me—right in front of me—somehow made it worse.

I’d never been small or particularly slender. I was tall for a woman, and my stature would never be described as delicate. I was undoubtedly thicker—curvier—than what modern-day media would have people believe was “beautiful,” but in truth, I was no larger than the average woman. For much of my life, it had been my greatest source of insecurity, especially since Kate’s perfect figure had been the envy of every girl we knew growing up.

For me, those thirty extra pounds were something that ate at my confidence and led me to believe that I deserved less of everything than I did. Less money, fewer friends, less love, fewer experiences. It took me most of my twenties to get to a place where I could see that every self-depreciating belief I held about myself was a lie.

Perhaps someday I would lose the weight. Perhaps not. Either way, my size fourteen jeans were still the least interesting thing about me.

At least, I thought I’d evolved enough for such words not to hurt me. Calder’s words made me think differently. With his few thoughtless sentences, it felt like high school all over again—like standing in the locker room hearing the jeers and whispers of anorexic-looking brats. I had half a mind to tap him on the shoulder and then shove his balls halfway up his ass with my knee for being such an asshole, but while I was still reeling from his words, Maddock grabbed Calder by the throat and threw him up against the wall with so much force that I wouldn’t have been surprised if his head was now cracked and bleeding in the back.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

“I doona know what has gotten into ye, but fear has made ye someone I’m ashamed to know. Get out of my face before I break yer neck. If I see ye anywhere near Laurel or Marcus for the rest of the time they are here with us, I shall see ye sent away from this castle for good.”

I could see by the look in Calder’s eyes as Maddock stepped away that he knew his threat wasn’t an empty one. Leaving Calder trembling against the wall, Maddock took my hand and quickly ushered me back upstairs.

The moment we were in the light-filled grand corridor of the castle, Maddock looked at me. Whether it was intuition or my quickly-reddening face, he knew I was about to cry.

“Come here, lass.”

Even once we’re grown, we all carry wounds that when poked cause us pain.

In a few hours, I would be fine, but for now, I couldn’t deny how hurt I felt.

I allowed Maddock to pull me into his arms as I wept.