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a MacRuari.” She made the words a statement. “I’ve never heard of them.”
    “Would that you needn’t now.” Her father started pacing, his hands clenched in white-knuckled fists. “I would give anything
     to prevent this union, lass. Anything I own.”
    “But not your honor.”
    He shot a look at her, a hard glitter in his eyes that she’d seen only when he’d been about to go warring. “There will be
     safeguards, ne’er you worry. I may be honor-bound to accept this offer, but once I have agreed, I am freed of my obligation.”
     He paused, his expression not even softening when Telve shuffled over and leaned against his legs. “Thereafter, if even a
     shade of harm comes to you, I will see the Raven and Clan MacRuari wiped off the face of the Highlands.”
    “
The Raven?
” Gelis almost forgot to breathe. “The man who offered for me is called the Raven?”
    Her father jerked a nod.
    “The man you are to wed, yes,” her mother clarified. “His given name is Ronan MacRuari. The
offer
came from his grandfather, Valdar, the MacRuari chieftain. Your father’s connection to this man is the reason he can’t object
     to the marriage. You’ll understand once he’s explained.”
    But rather than enlightening her, his jaw went tighter and his mouth compressed into a firm, hard line.
    “You must tell her, my friend.” Crossing the room, Sir Marmaduke offered him a brimming cup of
uisge beatha
. “She deserves to know.”
    Duncan snatched the cup and dashed the fiery Highland spirits onto the floor rushes. Slamming the empty cup onto the table,
     he glowered at his friend. “How would you tell one of your daughters she’s to wed the scion of such a blighted clan? A family
     so scourged ’tis said the sun even fears to shine into their glen?”
    Sir Marmaduke stared right back at him. “ ’Tis simple. I would start at the beginning.”
    “ ’
Tis simple
.” Duncan’s eyes flashed. “Were that so, think you I would be so wroth? Telling the tale from the beginning or starting with
     the arrival of the offer makes nary a difference. The chance of harm is the same.”
    “You’re fashing yourself for naught. I won’t be harmed.” Gelis was sure of it. “Whatever darkness surrounds his clan, the
     Raven won’t let anything happen to me. I know that from the vision I had on the lochside. Ronan MacRuari isn’t a fiend. He’s
     a man whose soul is aching. He needs me. And he wants me. He’ll treat me —”
    “He’ll treat you with all the chivalry and respect a man owes his lady wife.” Duncan started pacing again. “I ne’er said he’s
     a fiend. And his grandfather, Valdar, has more honor and heart than any man I’ve ever known. Excepting one.” He tossed a look
     across the room to where Sir Marmaduke once again lounged against the table. “Be that as it may, there are unspeakable dangers
     at Castle Dare. The MacRuaris are not fiends. What they are is cursed.”
    “Then they need someone to
un
curse them.” Gelis plucked a drying strand of seaweed off her skirts, twirling it around her fingers. “I have reason to believe
     that someone is me.”
    Duncan scowled at her. “Dinna make light of dark deeds that stretch back to a time when these hills were young. For centuries,
     every MacRuari — or those close to them — who thought he could rise above the curse fell to a tragic end. And if he survived,
     his remaining days were so plagued with horror that he wished he had died.”
    “I see.” Gelis tossed the bit of seaweed into the hearth fire. “That does rather change things.”
    Duncan cocked a brow, looking skeptical.
    Her mother appeared relieved. “If you desire, I’m sure we can find a way to decline the offer,” she said, glancing at her
     husband. “Old ties or nae.”
    “That’s not what I meant.” Dropping into her father’s hearthside chair, Gelis settled herself, making ready for a long, comfortable
     sit. “I am not afraid of the MacRuari curse and I