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.He might not love her, but he took his vows seriously.When he’d promised her father he would let no harm come to her, he had meant it.What would Graeme do when he learned about the annulment? Would he storm Castle MacKay? It was her understanding that the keep was impregnable.That knowledge and the king’s signature on the annulment document had sealed her fate.She was lost.And bereft.And powerless.The spirits were no longer with her.Tears spilled from her eyes as she sent Graeme a mental message that she feared would never reach him.Graeme prowled his bedchamber like a caged animal.Something was wrong.A burning sensation in his gut warned him of danger.Danger to whom? Did Blair need him? He shouldn’t have let her leave.The wail of the wind through the trees beckoned him, and he strode to the window.He feared he was going insane when he heard Blair’s voice riding the wind.Fear for his wife escalated.How long would he have to wait before one of his men brought word of Blair’s safe arrival at Gairloch? Tomorrow at the very earliest, he supposed.Heaving a frustrated sigh, he left the chamber to join his men in the hall.Though Blair had been gone but a few hours, it felt like an eternity.Perhaps a game of cards or dice would take his mind off the woman he.He halted, suddenly aware of the direction his thoughts were taking.Could it be?Did he love Blair?His feelings for her were nothing like the pure, innocent adoration he had felt for Joan the Maid.What he felt for Blair was neither innocent nor pure.He wanted her with a yearning that nearly unmanned him.Nay, he couldn’t let himself love Blair.The last thing he wanted was for her powers to return.Chapter FifteenBlair awoke to the sound of laughter outside her tower prison.Disoriented, she was slow to recall everything that had happened the previous day.When full awareness came to her, a cry of dismay left her lips.She was her brother’s prisoner.Her Campbell escort shared her captivity, as did Father Lachlan.Shoving herself to her feet, she caught sight of the food congealing on the tray and she recalled that she had refused to eat last night when Niall’s toady had brought it.She had, however, used the hot water and soap Gordon had brought with her food.The laughter grew louder.Then the door flew open.She wasn’t surprised to see her brother and MacKay standing in the opening.She raised her chin to a defiant angle.“I hope you are shaking in your boots.My husband will retaliate when he learns of this.”“Ye no longer have a husband, lass,” MacKay said.“Ye’re free now to wed me.’Tis as it should be.We will wed immediately.”Blair squared her shoulders.“You canna force me to marry you.”“Oh, aye, I can.Ye will wed me and gladly.”“Exactly how do you intend for that to happen?”“Do ye value the lives of yer Campbell guardsmen and that worthless priest?”Blair blanched.“You wouldna dare!”“I dare much, lady.”“The king will punish you.”Niall’s laughter joined MacKay’s.“Think again, Blair.The king is grateful to us for revealing treasonous acts against him and willna punish us for killing men accused of plotting his downfall.”She sent MacKay a chilling smile.“Dinna you fear I will place a spell on you?” She pointed a finger at his privates.“Once I threatened to shrivel your manhood.I still can, you ken.”MacKay shifted uncomfortably.“Dinna threaten me, lady.If ye attempt to place a spell on me, I will slay ye first, then the Campbells.”Horrified, she blurted out, “Why do you want me?”“Dinna flatter yerself.’Tis not ye I want.I covet yer powers.”“I possess no powers.”“Liar!” Niall and MacKay shouted together.“What exactly is it you want from me? How can my powers help you?”“Once we are wed, I will tell ye.What I have in mind is not a difficult task for ye.”“I willna wed you.”“MacArthur,” MacKay said, “ye can begin executing Graeme Campbell’s clansmen immediately.I recommend ye start with the priest.”“Nay!” Blair pleaded.“Father Lachlan is Niall’s own kinsman.Have you no heart?”“Wed me and all will be well.No one will be hurt, and Father Lachlan can accompany the Campbells to their stronghold after the wedding.”“I will go with you to your keep, but I willna wed you.And if you touch me, I will make you verra, verra sorry.”MacKay shook his head.“Marriage is the only way I can keep ye with me to do my bidding.”“Spare my escort and Father Lachlan, and I vow to remain with you until you have what it is you want from me.”“Dinna let her trick ye,” Niall warned.“I say we execute the whole lot of them and force Blair to wed ye.’Twill make her more amenable to yer needs.”Blair pointed a finger at Niall and slowly moved it downward to his groin.Closing her eyes, she began to chant, aware that what she did was nothing more than a scare tactic.She could no more shrivel Niall’s privates than she could make the sun fall from the sky.Niall must have thought otherwise, for he grasped his groin and let out a high-pitched squeal.“Damn ye! Remove the spell.”Aware that she now held the upper hand, Blair said, “Release Graeme’s kinsmen.”“After we are wed,” MacKay repeated, forestalling Niall’s answer.“I need ye to use yer powers to find something that was lost long ago.”Blair’s brows shot upward.Finally MacKay had given her a reason, though it didn’t satisfy her.What was he looking for? “I told you my terms.Though I willna wed you, I vow to help you locate what you lost.If I succeed, you must let me return to my husband.”“Forget MacKay! Remove the spell!” Niall pleaded in a voice fraught with fear.Blair stifled a smile when she saw that Niall was still clutching his groin.“Release Graeme’s kinsmen, and I will consider it.”“Aye, anything ye say.I dinna want to be a eunuch.”“Dinna be such a coward,” MacKay scoffed.“The moment ye release Campbell’s clansmen, our control over the witch is gone.”“Ye’re a selfish bastard, MacKay.It wasna ye she put a spell on.”“Nevertheless, ye canna release Campbell’s clansmen just yet.Ye can set them free the day following our departure.And be sure to send a copy of the official document dissolving Campbell’s marriage with them.”“Remove the spell, Blair,” Niall cried.“I promise to release yer escort as MacKay directed.”Blair pretended to consider Niall’s proposal.At length she said, “I willna wed MacKay, and I willna remove the spell if you force me to wed him
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