Chapter 26

Billie’s hand reached for Domnhall, thinking in her sleep that he must have come to bed by that time, but all she found next to her was empty space. Still groggy, she sat up in bed and looked around her, confused as to why he still wasn’t there.

Surely, it was late. Billie had waited for him for as long as she could before sleep finally claimed her, and she couldn’t hear any of the sounds she usually heard in the castle when others were awake.

Is he still with his men?

As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, Billie stood and dressed quickly, haphazardly, before she looked out of the window. She could see a few shadows outside on the walls, the guards walking back and forth as they kept an eye out for an attack, but there was no crowd of men to point to a late-night meeting. Then, she left the room and headed to Domnhall’s study, but that, too, was empty. Next, she tried the library and the great hall, but Domnhall was nowhere to be found.

It was then that concern welled up inside her, her fear for Domnhall like a hand around her chest. For a moment, she had to brace herself against the wall and breathe, reminding herself that Domnhall was a warrior. Perhaps he was somewhere in the castle and Billie had simply missed him. Perhaps he was up on the walls, talking to his men.

Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. There was a pit in her stomach, a warning emptiness that she simply couldn’t ignore, and so she made her way to Hugo’s chambers, knocking insistently on his door.

It took a few moments and a quiet curse from the other side of the door before Hugo opened it. Billie had never seen him disheveled before, his hair sticking up all around his face like a halo, his eyes reddened from sleep—or lack thereof. When he saw Billie, though, any traces of sleepiness were wiped away from his face, leaving nothing but concern behind.

“What is it?” he asked. “Did something happen?”

“I’m sorry tae wake ye, Hugo, but dae ye ken where is Domnhall?” asked Billie. “Have ye seen him?”

“I last saw him at the meeting we had with the council,” said Hugo. “I thought he would be in bed by now.”

“He never came tae our chambers.” Dread clawed its way through Billie’s stomach—a dread which was reflected on Hugo’s face, the color draining from his cheeks. “Dae ye think somethin’ happened tae him?”

For a moment, Hugo hesitated. When he finally spoke, he said, “I’m sure he’s alright.”

Billie wasn’t convinced. It didn’t matter how much she tried to reassure herself or how many times Hugo would tell her Domnhall was most likely fine. She had a feeling that something was wrong, persistent and so intense that her knees trembled until she could hardly hold herself upright. Though Hugo wanted to reassure her, too, there was a tremble in his hands as he quickly pulled on the rest of his clothes and rushed out of the room, Billie close behind him.

“You should stay in your chambers,” Hugo told her. “Just in case.”

“I will come with ye.”

There was no way Billie would be left behind. If something truly was wrong, then she wanted to know. She couldn’t bear this uncertainty, this terror that had no concrete target. At least once she knew the truth, she could either relax, knowing Domnhall was safe, or she could work towards fixing whatever had happened to him.

Hugo asked every guard they found around the castle if they had seen Domnhall, but they all told him the same thing: the last time anyone had saw him was at the same meeting with the council that he had, and since then, no one had any idea regarding his whereabouts. It wasn’t until they had searched the entire castle that they finally found a clue. One of the guards approached them and handed Hugo a folded piece of paper, his face pale and drenched in sweat.

Instantly, Billie knew it had something to do with Domnhall and her stomach dropped, her vision going blurry at the edges. It took her a few moments, as well as a few deep breaths to compose herself, to stop from feeling as though she would collapse right in the middle of the hallway.

“We found this on the door in the kitchens,” the guard said. “Along with this.”

As he spoke, he handed Hugo a knife, small but sharp, its handle carved with intricate designs. Hugo barely glanced at it before opening the letter, but Billie was relieved to find there was no blood on its blade.

Someone may have cleaned it, though.

“What does it say?” Billie asked, looking over Hugo’s shoulders to read the note. Hugo crumpled it before she could, but Billie was quick, her hands nimble. She grabbed the piece of paper and read it herself, and it confirmed precisely what she had been fearing.

Ferguson had taken Domnhall and demanded to be given the MacAuley Clan. Not just that, but he demanded for Billie to come to him alone if they ever wished to see Domnhall again.

She knew there was no chance Hugo or the council would allow her to go alone. Besides, it would be a foolish plan. Even in her panicked state, she knew that the moment she stepped foot near Ferguson, he would have both her and Domnhall killed. She also knew that there was a chance Hugo would try to stop her from going there at all, and Billie simply wouldn’t allow that.

Her presence was integral to any plan they could make. Ferguson had been perfectly clear: she had to be there.

Hugo snatched the letter back, shoving it in his pocket. Just as Billie expected, he gave her an understanding, but stern look, one that made him seem older than his years.

“You must stay here,” he said. “This is the safest place for you now. Or perhaps you can go to your father, but you are not coming with us.”

“Ye cannae convince me,” Billie said. “I will come. Ye ken the only way fer yer plan tae work is if I come. An’ I willnae allow anythin’ tae happen tae Domnhall.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Hugo insisted. “He wouldn’t want you to go and so I will not allow it.”

“Ye have nae right tae make the decision fer me,” Billie said. “An’ neither does Domnhall. I can decide fer meself.”

“Billie—”

“I dinnae wish tae hear it,” Billie said, interrupting him before he could waste any more of his breath. “If ye willnae listen tae me, then perhaps we should ask the council. We will ask if they think I should come.”

Hugo only gave Billie a concerned look, followed by a heavy sigh. He, too, knew what she knew: the council would want her there. They would do anything to get Domnhall back, and so would she.