Down the Rabbit Hole

Her brows shot up. “You’re not surprised by what I’ve told you? You know?”


“You weren’t imagining such things. They are very real.” It was Colin’s turn to take in a deep breath before explaining. “My father was an old man who still mourned the loss of my mother, his soul mate, when he met Darda Campbell and was so dazzled by her youth and beauty, he married her within days of their meeting.”

“Were you offended?”

He shook his head. “Though I cared not for her, I wanted only my father’s happiness. When it became obvious that he was not happy, I took myself off to battle, in order to give them time alone. But when I returned, and Darda learned that her new husband had named me his only heir, she came to me with a proposition. Renounce my claim to my father’s estate, and she would do all in her power to make his last years happy and peaceful. Refuse her offer, and she would place a curse on both of us.”

“What did you say to her?”

“I could not, in good conscience, accept her terms, since I believed that she did not have the well-being of my clan in mind. As for her curse, I scoffed at her attempt to frighten me.” His hand tightened on hers as his voice lowered to a whisper. “If only I had listened to her.”

“Are you saying you believe in magic? You actually believe in Darda’s curse?”

“How else to explain? Immediately after my refusal, my beloved father was dead.”

“Could Darda have killed him, just to make you believe her?”

He nodded. “It is quite possible. But soon after, Darda died by her own hand. She left a note to me, sealed in wax and stained by her own blood, saying she was taking her life so that she could never be tortured into rescinding the second half of the curse, which she’d called down upon all within the confines of this castle, and upon me.”

“Your people turn into birds or animals?”

He nodded.

“And they know it is happening?”

“They know. But they cannot change it.”

Beth could barely breathe. Even as she asked the question, she feared she already knew the answer. “What is the curse on you?”

“You have heard of the Beast of the Highlands?”

She swallowed before nodding.

“On the first night of every new moon, I must leave this body and enter the body of a great stag. I am compelled to climb to the highest reaches of Stag’s Head Peak until dawn. If I survive a hunter’s arrow, I will live for another month. But with each new moon, the curse begins anew, until a shrewd hunter’s arrow shall find me, and death shall surely claim me.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. “That’s why I was being warned to be indoors before dark. We are drawing near to the new moon.”

“It is, in fact, upon us. Through the years many have spotted the great stag, known as the Beast of the Highlands. Many more have heard the fearsome sound of hooves racing through their villages. All who live here avoid going out after dark, especially on the night of a new moon. And each time, I am prepared to die. But this time, more than ever, I am convinced of it.”

“There must be something we can do.” She pushed away from him and began to pace. “What if I were to tie you up? Or lock you in the stables?”

He reached out a hand to stop her pacing and drew her back down into his arms. “Do you not think I have tried such things? But I am helpless to evade this curse. I am compelled to kick and bite and free myself, even though I know I should not. I am helpless to stop the curse. And tonight, at midnight, as the new moon rises, I believe I will face my final hunter. My executioner.”

“Darda’s son, Ian.”

He nodded. “Or one of his accomplices.”

Beth wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly to her. Against his temple she whispered, “This can’t be. None of this makes any sense. There has to be a way to stop this madness.”