Page 27 of Wild Scottish Beauty

“I don’t see how I can work with Ramsay,” I told Sophie on the walk home.

She sighed, nodding her head. “Yeah, he’s being an absolute prick, isn’t he?”

“Really is,” I agreed, glumly. My fatigue clung to me like a heavy blanket as we plodded up the hill toward the castle, and all I wanted to do was go face first into a pillow and worry about everythingtomorrow.

“Give it time. If it’s any consolation, he really is known to be quite tetchy. It’s not just you.”

“Tetchy?”

“Um, crabby, grumpy, annoyed at everything. It’s one of my favorite Scottish words.”

“So, it’s not just me who feels that way?” I heaved a sigh of relief when we got to the castle. The building looked lovely at night, with floodlights angled to light the four towers, and various windows lit from within. It would take some time to accept that I actually lived in a place as stately as this. It felt like I had an apartment in Grand Central Station or something.

“Get some rest. Everything’s better after sleep. Keep an eye out for Clyde on the walk up.”

“Thank you for taking me tonight. I had fun.”

With that, I made my way carefully to my room, on high alert for any ghostly capers, but made it without any trouble. After a quick scrub of my face, I changed into some sweats and dove into bed, pulling the thick comforter over my head and dropping instantly into sleep.

I awoke with a start, hours later, and blinked into the darkness.

What had jolted me awake?

My brain felt fuzzy, as though my thoughts couldn’t catch up with my reality, and when an otherworldly shriek sounded from outside, I did the first thing that came to mind.

I pulled the comforter back over my head.

Trembling, I took a few deep breaths, my brain finally waking up as another shriek rattled the window.

What thehellwas that?

I couldn’t wrap my head around any natural animal that would make such a sound, and steeling myself, I crept from beneath the comforter and pressed myself flat against the wall. Edging closer to the window, I tried to regulate my breathing as my heart hammered in my chest. Shaking, I paused at the edge of the window, scared that if I peeked out, I might become a target for the wrath of whatever that thing was.

In the end, curiosity won out.

Yeah, I know. I’d probably be the first to get picked off in a scary movie.

Dropping to my knees, I peered over the bottom of the window frame. Hopefully, since my room was dark, whatever was out there wouldn’t be able to see me.

A sliver of moon hung low over the loch, shedding dim light across the dark surface of the water, trees swaying in the wind. Movement caught my attention, and my eyes widened to see Sophie, a sword in hand, walking the battlements with Lachlan at her side.

Whatever was out there, Sophie knew about, and if she needed a sword to keep it at bay, well, then it was something serious. But what?And why a sword?

Easing back from the window, I stood and dove back into bed, pulling the comforter over my head. Whatever was out there was not my problem for the moment.I need sleep.Next time I fly business class, I am definitely going to forego the ice cream treat and go for sleep instead.They do say that sleep deprivation messes with your brain.

“This is your adventure,Willow. Sleep now and ask questions tomorrow,” I whispered to myself, hoping that would help calm my racing heart.

I needed answers, because if it wasn’t Ramsay sending me home, that creature screaming in the night might just do the trick.

CHAPTER NINE

Willow

Surprisingly, I managed to fall back asleep, which was a testament to how fatigued I was. It wasn’t just lack of sleep from the flight overseas, but the weeks leading up to my departure had been fraught with sleepless nights where I questioned my future. Like clockwork, I’d spring awake at three in the morning and question every life choice I’d ever made. Apparently, it had caught up with me, and even a screaming beast in the night couldn’t sway me from the first solid sleep I’d had in ages.

Now to just find out what, exactly, had been screaming in the night and why Sophie prowled the castle walls with a sword in hand. No easy task, I’m sure, but since I couldn’t conceivably think of a delicate way to bring up what I’d seen the night before, I figured I might as well do it in my usual manner.

Full wrecking-ball style.

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