“I had to save you from the bad man.”
“How did you know he was bad?”
She pointed to her forehead and said, “I saw him here.”
Logan returned in time to overhear the conversation. “Does that mean she’s the faerie?”
Dyna said, “There are four girls here. Astra, Sylvi, Tora, and Lia. I don’t know which one is the faerie?”
Tora said, “I know, Mama.” She glanced at her mother, a wide smile on her face.
Dyna, sitting a short distance away, whirled her head to look at her daughter. “Who is the faerie?”
Tora looked at her mother and smiled. “We all are. But I’m this kind.” Tora pointed to her forehead again, then walked over to her mother, bent over to look in her mother’s eyes, tipping her head upside down, and pointed to Dyna’s forehead. “Just like you.”
“The others are different.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Tamsin
Tamsin stood on the dock on the water’s edge of the Isle of Ulva. She’d paid a man to ferry her over, and he hadn’t asked any questions. Wearing leggings and a long tunic, a mantle with a hood, tall boots, and her hair plaited and hidden had done what she’d hoped. It kept her from being recognized as Garvie’s wife.
It was nearly dark and Raghnall would be half in his cups by now, his usual nightly activity, and that was just how she wished to find him. She thought about going after her daughter first, but she had unfinished business with her husband.
Risking imprisonment didn’t worry her now that she knew she had friends who would stand by her. She could actually thank Raghnall for helping her get away from Ulva, and in doing so, she’d met wonderful, loving people, the kind of people one looked up to, who believed in helping others. Eli, Alaric, Dyna, Maitland, Derric, Magni, Astra… so many she’d met.
And then there was Thane. She didn’t yet know what to make of him, because she was afraid to let him get too close. After all, her father had dumped her on another man for coin, and her husband had tried to kill her twice. How could she ever trust any man?
She knew it would be difficult to allow another man into her life, especially to trust one. But Thane had done one important thing for her—he’d given her hope. Hope that life could be something wonderful if one was surrounded by the right people.
They would have time to get to know each other better if she survived this venture. She would not leave the island alive without her daughter. This much she knew to be true.
Making her way past the empty market buildings, the busy tavern, the inn, and all the other establishments controlled byRaghnall Garvie, she took a deep breath and said a quick prayer. Striding up to the entrance, she paused for a moment to make sure her bow and arrow were well hidden under her mantle. Satisfied, she inhaled deeply and made her way up to the gates of hell.
Raghnall’s land.
“I’d like to see my husband, please.”
Odart came forward. “Lady Garvie? Is that truly you? But I thought…”
“I know you did. This is the second time I’ve escaped an attempt on my life by you and my husband. I’ve come to claim my daughter and I’ll take my leave, never to bother either of you again.”
Odart’s face gave away his thoughts, but she didn’t care. He thought she’d never accomplish what she intended, but he was about to see a different Tamsin Garvie. “Please lead me to Raghnall, Odart.”
“Of course, my lady.”
The men they passed snickered, making odd comments about her clothing and other things she chose to ignore. They’d remember her name after this night. If she had learned anything from Dyna Grant and Elisant Ramsay, it was to have confidence in your abilities. Being a woman meant you were strong, not weak like her husband wished her to believe.
He would learn the truth.
They entered their manor home, moving to the back of the house, away from her old bedchamber. Odart knocked on a door to a chamber she’d never been in because it had always been locked. Raghnall bid him to enter, so he did, but Odart motioned for her to wait. Within a few moments, a young lass exited, tears on her face, a bruise already visible on one cheek. She ran, and Tamsin’s heart went out to her. Then she heard a loud bellow.
She smiled because she recognized that bellow. DrunkenRaghnall.
Odart stepped out and said, “Enter, Tamsin.”
She stepped inside as Raghnall got out of bed and lit a candle, grabbing trews to don, which he did quickly. The room was twice the size of their bedchamber. Tamsin closed the door behind her, taking the key, and said, “I’ve come for Alana. Allow us to leave, and I’ll never bother you again.”
