Page 31 of Claimed by the Clan Chief

Isla was silent as she dabbed at Una’s face with arnica.

“He’s too free and easy with his fists. He’s got a musket too, I don’t ken where from.” Una paused. “I guess I should be thankful he didn’t pull that on me.”

Isla shivered. “I wish there was more I could do to help.”

“There is something.” Una set down the mug and reached for Isla’s hand.

“What?” Isla stared at Una’s narrowed, puffy eyes. “I’ll do whatever I can.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Aye, of course.”

“Will you make me an ill wish?” Una’s eyes widened.

“An ill wish?”

“Aye, I ken you have the ability, your sort have.”

“My sort?” Isla managed a small laugh. “What does that mean?”

“You ken…” Una leaned closer. “One in cahoots with the fairies and the devil.”

“I’m not cahoots with fairies or the devil.”

“But you ken stuff other folk don’t.” She nodded at the shelf of small bottles and jars. “You ken what plants to use, what will help each condition.”

“That’s called healing. I’m interested in the power of nature, that’s all.”

“Ah, I ken what you’re doing. Very clever.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“Isla, I’ve seen you collecting strange things with those cats at your feet, seen you sneaking into the forest on several occasions on nights when the full moon shines like a silver coin.”

“But—”

“Ye can nay fool me.” Una shrugged. “Your aunt is one and so are you.”

“I’m one what?” A strange itching sensation crawled over Isla’s scalp. She didn’t like what Una was insinuating.

“A witch.”

“I’m nay such thing.” Isla plopped the cloth into the water, creating a splash. “Just because I understand the power of Mother Nature does not mean I’m a witch.”

“But ye can make an ill wish, can’t you?” Una reached for her hand again. Her eyes were pleading and her breaths rasping.

Isla said nothing.

“I’ll naught ask anything of you ever again. I might not have been the best friend in the world to ye, Isla, but I’ll make it up to you.”

Isla swallowed. “What do you think an ill wish would do?”

“If I’m lucky it will kill him,” Una huffed. “Have him fall off a cliff, stumble into a deep bog when he’s drunk, or have a meeting with the wrong end of his musket.”

“An ill wish creates a cloak of bad luck; it doesn’t make things happen on their own.”

“Aye, I ken that.”

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