Page 54 of Enchanted

Chapter Twenty-One

Rosalyn curled her toes against the shale beneath her feet, trying for a few moments longer to keep herself from sliding into the foaming sea. She had tried making Oberon see the error of his ways, but without success. Perhaps it was time for her to appeal to his vanity instead. “If you kill everyone who you feel has ever wronged you, then who will be left for you to rule over? If they are all gone, you will be the king of no one. The king of nothing. And you will cease to be of any importance in either the human or fairy realms.”

Oberon’s eyes widened as he stared at her with a mixture of surprise and irritation. “I will find new subjects.”

“Where?” Rosalyn latched on to the weak logic she had exposed. “All of Fairyland will turn against you when you take your revenge on their mothers or fathers or children.”

“I will steal human children and make them my new sons and daughters. I will start with the MacLeods.” Oberon’s blue eyes glittered dangerously but behind the danger there also lingered doubt.

“Humans do not give up their children so easily. If you take another of the MacLeod children, it will be you who suffers in the end. With Aria and other magical helpers, the MacLeods will be especially diligent in protecting future offspring,” she said with a renewed confidence.

“You think you understand humans and fairies so well, do you?” A ruddy flush came to his cheeks. “On one hand, you would have me forgive those who wronged me, or have me admit I was wrong. On the other hand, you claim humans, especially the MacLeods, will fight with their last breath before losing a child to me again.”

“Now that they know it was you who took Keiran from them nine years ago, yes. They will fight you and win.”

Oberon’s gaze narrowed. “Are you willing to stake your life on that?”

It was Rosalyn’s turn to frown. “What are you saying?”

“I propose a game. You against me.”

What did she have to lose? If she remained here in this unreal but yet treacherous seascape much longer, she would die. “Explain this game.”

“I hide something for you to find. I will give you a map with clues as to its location.” He snapped his fingers and an hourglass appeared. “If you can find the object before the sand runs out, I will no longer seek revenge on the MacLeods and the fairies who tried to kill me.”

“And if I fail in this quest?” she asked.

He smiled a calculating smile. “I get to keep Fiona’s baby and any children you and Keiran might produce.”

A shiver raced down Rosalyn’s spine. “No, keep Fiona and her child out of this.”

He snapped his fingers again. “Too late.”

Fiona appeared beside the fairy king, floating above the slippery rock that was still relentlessly pounded by the sea. Terror filled Fiona’s expression as she looked about her, biting back a scream.

“Return her to Dunvegan,” Rosalyn challenged.

“She is already a player in this game, so, no.” The fairy king shrugged. “I will allow you a helper.” He snapped his fingers a third time and Keiran appeared, hanging suspended above the churning water near Fiona.

“No!” Rosalyn’s heart soared at seeing Keiran once more, even as desperation constricted her throat. “Not Keiran. Have you not tortured him enough for one lifetime?”

Oberon laughed. “Would you like me to bring someone else into this game?”

“No,” she said, forcing a calmness she did not feel. How had Keiran survived such deviousness for so long? “If we are to play a game, then let it not be here. Take us somewhere we will not have to fight the environment as well as you.”

“Done.” Oberon snapped his fingers and instantly she stood in the centre of the fairy circle where she had come face to face with Oberon for the first time. “You seemed to like this place.”

Rosalyn looked around her. Keiran was still suspended above the ground by Oberon’s magic, and Fiona . . . Rosalyn’s heart thundered in her chest. “Where is Fiona?”

Oberon’s gaze became steely. “She is the object you and Keiran will have to find. If you do not, her baby is mine.” The fairy king snapped his fingers once more. A map appeared at her feet. Keiran tumbled to the ground. Oberon vanished.

She had no choice but to play this cruel game with the fairy king. Fiona and her babies’ lives depended on it.

Keiran rolled to his feet. His gaze shifted to her. His brown eyes warmed, and the hint of a smile pulled up the corner of his lips. A moment later any pleasure she imagined there vanished, and a sombre expression took its place. “Are you really here?” Concern laced his voice as he closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. “Oberon did not hurt you?”

Fear and longing shimmered through her. Only moments ago, she had thought she would never see him again. “I am well, though I am not certain for how long. Oberon is using us as bait in a cat-and-mouse game.” She pulled out of his arms to pick up the map at her feet. “He has hidden Fiona. We must find her.”

Keiran looked at the map in her hands and smiled. “You know why he brought me to you?”