“I can wait if you want, Laurel. It’s really not a big deal.”

Marcus was eyeing me skeptically. He could see that something was wrong. While he knew better than to ask, I could see that it annoyed him that I’d yet to tell him what was up with me.

I didn’t want to talk about it. Not with Marcus. Not with anyone.

It had taken an hour-long walk, three failed attempts at meditation, and some serious positive self-talk to gain my composure. I’d actually been thankful for the screaming—terrifying as the sound was with the way it echoed down every hallway in the castle—when it began. It helped me block out my own self-pity-filled thoughts. By the time the mysterious screaming finished, I was in a much better mood.

“No, it’s okay. Go ahead and go down. I’m just going to finish braiding my hair. I’ll be down in just a minute.”

I wanted a few minutes to myself before dinner. I needed to take a few deep breaths and figure out how I was going to manage to sit across from Calder without lunging across the table at him or collapsing into tears again.

Maddock had been nothing but the perfect gentlemen—understanding and tender as he’d held me and allowed me to cry. He’d also hit on me in the absolute kindest way I’d ever been hit on in my life, but I’d not read into that overmuch. It was a pity come-on, but I still appreciated it, all the same.

Marcus hesitated as he reached the doorway.

“Do you think it’s safe? What do you think that screaming was?”

While part of me hoped the screaming was a result of Maddock hooking Calder up to some horrifying torture device, I knew his rude words weren’t enough to deserve such pain.

“I’m not sure, but I suspect maybe they came from Raudrich. I don’t know how medical stuff works around here, but if they were trying to set his ribs or his nose or something, that must have hurt like a son of a bitch.”

Marcus bared his teeth sympathetically.

“Ouch. I really do need to apologize to the guy. Can’t say I’m looking forward to that interaction.”

If Raudrich’s interaction with me was any indicator of his true character—which I had a feeling it was—he would be perfectly receptive to Marcus’ apology.

“Maybe after dinner you can go and see him. He’ll be kind to you, I’m sure. You’ll feel better once you get it out of the way.”

He nodded and opened the door to leave me.

“You’re right. Don’t take too long. I don’t want to field dinnertime questions from everyone without you.”

Once the door closed behind him, I quickly finished the loose braid at the nape of my neck and allowed it to drape over my left shoulder.

I never braided my hair back home, but something about it felt century-appropriate regardless of whether or not that was actually true.

Taking a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I felt a little bit better than I had all day. Calder was entitled to his opinion. It didn’t make it true. My breasts looked awesome in this dress, and my extra “padding” as Calder had said, gave me a comely shape that I quite liked. I had a pretty face and smile, and as far as I was concerned, Calder had the face of a constipated pug. I was certain I had far less trouble picking up men than he did women.

“Screw him.”

I whispered the words under my breath just as someone began to knock on the door to the bedchamber. Dread filled me. If it was Calder, I didn’t want to answer. I didn’t need his apology. I didn’t need to ever speak to him again. Smoothing my dress and straightening my shoulders, I cautiously walked over to the door.

“Who is it?”

“’Tis Raudrich, lass. I came to fetch ye for dinner.”

“Raudrich?”

I was so surprised to hear his voice on the other side of the door that I flung the door open so quickly, it nearly hit me in the head. As I looked back at him, I reeled back in shock.

“Wha…Wha…How? You look great.”

It was nearly as baffling to me as the time travel. Raudrich had looked absolutely awful only a few hours earlier, now he looked unnervingly hot.

His bloodied and swollen nose was healed, and from the way he stood, I didn’t believe his ribs were hurting him any longer.

He also was no longer squinting, almost as if he could see perfectly well.

He smiled at what I knew had to be my bug-eyed expression.

“Ye do know that we are druids, lass? Dinna ye hear me screaming? They healed me.”

So that part of the legend was true. I could mark one question off of my very long list.

“Um, yes, yes I definitely did hear you screaming, but I never imagined that they were doing all of that.” I motioned up and down his body with my hand, and he laughed.

“Ye approve then? I look fair better than I did before, aye?”

“You still looked pretty good before, too, but now you look…wow.”

The moment I heard the words leave my mouth, I nearly fell back in shock. What the freaking hell had gotten into me? I could feel the blood rush to my face as I warmed into a horrifyingly embarrassing blush.

Thankfully, he said nothing to embarrass me further and gracefully moved on to another topic of conversation.

“I hope ye are not overly hungry. The lads are all rather tired after the spell they did for me so I was forced to finish the meal. It has been some time since I cooked. ’Tis rubbish.”

I was famished, but I wouldn’t tell him that.

“I’m sure it will be fine. Is everyone else already down there? I’m sorry if you all were waiting on me. You really should have just gone on ahead.”

“All save Calder are on their way downstairs now.”

At the mention of Calder’s name, my smile fell. I hoped that Raudrich didn’t know about what happened. I tried to keep my tone as congenial as possible as I asked about him.

“Why isn’t Calder going to dinner?”

“He’s gone, lass.”

“Gone?”

I couldn’t tell from his expression whether he knew about what had happened or not. He was totally unreadable.

“Aye. We doona expect that he will return.”

“Oh.” It felt as if a weight had lifted from my chest. I was beyond glad that I wouldn’t have to see him again.

He offered me his arm and I took it as we made our way downstairs.

“Do ye still wish to know the truth of this place?”

I nodded as I looked up into his dark brown eyes.

“Of course, I do.”

“After dinner, come and wait for me on the stairs. I must make certain that Nicol is out of the castle before I show ye. Once he is gone, I’ll come to get ye.”

I couldn’t wait for dinner to be over.