Malcolm followed his father to the dungeon. The sight that met his eyes there disgusted him. Four men to each small cell and the stench proved their lack of care.

“We are better than this.”

His father turned to him and glared. “You will keep your mouth shut or else you and your whore wife will find yourselves down here too.”

He moved along until he got to the last cell. The dense air was thick with piss and shit. Malcolm had seen his share of prisoners down here before, but none on this scale. And none treated so poorly. He was more determined than ever to put an end to this.

“Alasdair MacLeod!” his father said.

“I am here.”

“You will answer for the crimes against our clan.”

“And who will answer for the crimes against ours?” Macleod asked.

The MacDonald threw his head back and laughed. “Naught has happened to you that you did not deserve.”

“Where is my sister?”

“She is upstairs and has served as entertainment for me and my men.”

Sheona’s brother was on his feet in an instant and reaching through the metal bars of his cell. “You filthy bastard! You will not harm one hair on her head!”

His father laughed, drawing a sickening churn to Malcolm’s guts.

“Your sister has not been harmed,” Malcolm said.

“You will bite your tongue, lad. Or I will cut it out.”

Alasdair MacLeod narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze to Malcolm. “What do you mean she has not been harmed?”

“I have taken her as my wife and I assure you she will come to no harm while in my care.”

“Enough!” His father grabbed Malcolm by the throat and squeezed. Any hesitation he had left for usurping his father and resolving this mess fled in that moment.

Malcolm grabbed his father’s wrists and pulled his hands away from his throat.

“You will not torment these men with lies about my wife.”

His father spat at him. “You are as weak as a wife. At the hour of our greatest victory, you dare to challenge me? I will see your balls served to you for this.”

Malcolm shoved his father away and turned to leave. Seconds later several men descended upon him and locked him in a cell by himself. His father was stark raving mad and Malcolm had underestimated just how far he would go to see the MacLeods completely destroyed.

“You will rot in here with them until you conform to my judgement. You are no son of mine to take the side of a MacLeod over your own.”

His father and the men retreated up the stairs. Malcolm bumped his head against the cool metal bars. What the hell could he do from down here?

“You are either very brave, or daft.”

Malcolm looked across to the cell containing Alasdair MacLeod.

“Is it true my sister is not harmed?”

“Aye, ’tis true. We were wed just before your arrival. I needed to ensure my father did not have a chance to make a claim on her.”

MacLeod’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you protect one of ours?”

It was a good question. Why would he? Had she in fact cast an enchantment over him, stealing away his wits? Here he was locked in his own dungeon. A slow burn filled his guts. What would happen to her?

“I protected her because I captured her. I felt responsible for her and I knew of only one way to save her from the same fate as her Aunt Margaret.”

“Margaret fares well, MacDonald. And I tell you that because I just witnessed the like I thought I would never see.”

“Oh? And what is that?”

“The son of the chief standing up to him. I believe I may say you have earned my curiosity Malcolm MacDonald.”

“Aye, well if someone does not stand up to him there will be nothing left of the Isles to inhabit. He will not rest until we are all laid to waste.”

“I agree. Do you have a plan?”

“I do. I am not yet willing to share it with anyone except those I trust the most. You will forgive me if I do not count you among them just yet.”

Malcolm sensed honour in the man, but was not fool enough to reveal his entire plan. He wasn’t that desperate just yet. He wondered how long his father would leave him in the cell.

He didn’t have long to wait. Within a couple of hours he was released and brought before his father in the great hall.

“Where is she?” his father asked.

“Who?”

“Your MacLeod wife. We have been searching for the last few hours and have been unable to find her. Did you set her free?”

Sheona was missing? Had she really escaped this time? A lump lodged in his throat. His father continued to interrogate him, but little registered. He had to find Sheona before the wrong person did.

* * *

Sheona pressed her foot on the stone and the door closed behind her. She crept along until she found the top step and used her hands to guide her along. Agnes had come in moments ago and told her Malcolm had been imprisoned. After she left, Sheona took little time to decide what she would do. Now, in the secret passageway and in the dark, she wished she had been less hasty and taken a candle.

She had no way of knowing what would become of her with her husband in the dungeon. There was little choice but to hide until she could figure how to get away from Knock Castle.

Thirty-five steps later, Sheona came to a landing and a bluish glow that seemed to come from nowhere—and everywhere.

She blinked a couple of times when a figure appeared before her. It was the woman from before. Relief washed over her. She was not afraid in the presence of a spirit; she’d been hearing from them since she was ten summers. It was, however, rare to see one so vividly. This one clearly had a strong purpose connecting her to this world.

“Oh thank heavens! My husband has been taken to the dungeon and I did not know where else to go.”

“You were right to come here, Sheona. I will show you a path leading out of the castle. You can hide or you can leave. The choice will be yours, and you will have the means to do whichever you choose.”

Could she leave? Two days ago she had longed for such an opportunity. Now all she could think about was Malcolm. Would the spirit be able to help her set Malcolm free?

“You are the White Lady, are you not?”

The woman smiled. “You are a clever lass. I am the former Lady MacDonald. My husband is the current chief and I am sad to see he has changed much since my death. It pains me to see the clans fighting with such brutality. There will be no winners here unless something changes. My son, your husband, has a vision and I want you to help him. I hope you choose to stay.”

“I will do whatever I can. But, what power do I have?”

“You have more than you realize. My husband will come looking for you soon. You must not be found until Malcolm is released.”

“I can hide in here for a while.”

“That is a good idea, Sheona. Follow me and I will show you the way out of the castle should you ever need to flee.”

Sheona followed the White Lady as they meandered through the winding hallways and eventually to a door leading outside. She wondered how she would ever find her way back until the lady told her, as if reading her mind, to always keep to the right on her return.

Outside, the sun was setting and she had a clear view of the loch. Sitting by the side of the castle, and away from the clutches of the laird, Sheona battled between a sense of peace and fear for Malcolm. There was no way she would ever consider leaving without trying to help him.

A hawk circled high above her. Nearby, bees happily buzzed from flower to flower. It could be any normal day. She closed her eyes and pretended she was back at Dunvegan Castle and just out for a walk. Calm settled over her when she thought about her home. She needed to draw strength to face the challenges ahead and if her home could provide that for her, she would keep those happy thoughts close.

She inhaled deeply a couple of times and opened her eyes. The hawk still circled, and the bees still buzzed, but Sheona saw them differently. They hadn’t changed—she had though. She stood up and walked back to the secret door.

Just as she was about to reach for it, she heard shouting. When she turned around several men ran toward her. Fear coiled inside her heart. She made to dash to the side away from them, but more MacDonalds emerged from around the side of the castle. She had nowhere to go so she stopped and waited for them to reach her.

“You are in a heap of trouble, Lady MacDonald.” A scraggly, fiery-haired MacDonald eyed her with a smirk.

“She is not to be harmed, Hamish,” another said.

Before, about twenty men encircled her. Sheona fought for control of her wits, keeping her eyes downcast as they bound her hands.

“We will not harm you, Lady MacDonald. Malcolm would not like it.”

Sheona looked up to see Connor as the one binding her. He smiled. “You were with him when he took me.”

“Aye, I was. And you’ve no need to worry. None of us will let anything happen to you. We’ve been sent by our laird to find you and that we have done. But we will protect you for Malcolm’s sake regardless of what the laird says.”

She pointed to Hamish. “What about him?”

Connor frowned. “Hamish will do what he is told.”

The man flushed crimson. “Aye, my lady. I am sorry if I frightened you.”

She heaved a sigh of relief. Clearly, while there would be many loyal to the chief, there were others like these men who were loyal to Malcolm. She was grateful that these were the men who had found her.

“Where is Malcolm?”

“He was just brought before his father in the great hall.”

“He is not in the dungeon?”

“No, he has been released. However, I do not think the chief will let him off the leash very much. Malcolm challenged the laird and he did not take it well.”

“So what are you going to do with me?”

“We are to bring you to the great hall as well. I assure you, with Malcolm there, you will be unharmed.”

Sheona nodded and followed Connor around the side of the castle. She remained in the centre of the men until they reached the hall. Her legs were shaky as she entered and she only realized she’d been holding her breath when she saw Malcolm and released it in a heavy sigh.

His gaze flicked over her and what she saw in them did not give her comfort. His brows were drawn tight and he frowned. He was angry with her.

She lifted her chin and approached Malcolm and his father. Both looked like they wanted to wring her neck.

“Where were you?” Malcolm asked.

“I was outside walking.” It was the truth. That she omitted how she got there was not the point.

“Why did no one see you leave the castle?” the MacDonald asked.

She turned to the laird. His face was flushed and he sneered at her with such a look of disgust, she wasn’t quite sure she could find her voice.

“Speak up!” he said.

That made her angry. “There is no need to yell at me, my lord. I have a voice and can answer your question.”

“You don’t have to answer any questions, Sheona.” Malcolm was still displeased for some reason, but at least he was on her side. “As lady here, you are permitted to walk the grounds if you see fit. My father was merely concerned for your safety. Isn’t that right, Father?”

“You have challenged me once too often this day, Malcolm. And I see some time in the cells below did not break you from your disrespectful ways.” He motioned for his men. “Take my son and return him to the dungeon. Then take his wife to her chamber and keep her locked in there until I see fit to let her out.”

The laird approached her and lifted a lock of her hair to his nose. “I will visit you later, Lady MacDonald.” His voice was so low she wasn’t quite sure she even heard correctly.

“You will not touch her!” Malcolm struggled against the men who held him.

His father laughed. “Take them both out of my sight.”

Sheona leaned against the wall when she was inside her chamber; the door was bolted from the outside. She was no further ahead than she’d been before. Except now she had the added threat of the laird’s visit. Thank heavens and the White Lady for the secret passage.