Soon only adults remained, and the musicians started a lively tune. Boo hopped off her lap, trotting back toward the castle. Ella blinked against the smoke and glanced around the darkness on the outside of the fires where men and women laughed.

“Come dance with me!” Hannah said as she ran over. The young woman tugged her arm, making her rise to follow her to a circle of ladies ringing one of the smaller fires.

“What do we do?” Ella asked.

Hannah leaned in to her. “I have no idea.”

Ella gave her a comical frown. “You have made it very easy for me to sit back down.”

Hannah laughed and clasped her hand while the woman on the other side of her did the same. Trapped. “I am Alice,” the other woman said. “Just kick your legs and follow the others.” Kick my legs and follow.

They moved around the fire in a wide circle. When Alice dropped Ella’s hand and began to turn and move her hips, Ella dropped Hannah’s hand and turned, too, her hair whipping out. She smiled at the freedom in the movement, her feet leaping and stomping in time with the drum that accompanied the pipes and flute. Around and around they danced until they were out of breath and laughing.

Hannah caught Ella’s hands. “I am so happy ye will be my sister,” Hannah said. Ella’s chest tightened. Would she be happy for a sister with secrets that could hurt the Sinclair clan? A sister who planned to kill all of her brothers, starting with Cain? Ella breathed past the ripple of nausea, pushing the dark thoughts away.

Glancing over Hannah’s head, her gaze caught on Cain where he stood watching them with Joshua and Bàs. He was a giant of restrained power, but his hands could move over her ever so gently, his kisses soft and teasing. Ella’s stomach clenched again, but this time the feeling was giddy as her rapidly flying heartbeat thudded deeper with the memory of their kiss. The warmth that rose up within Ella dissolved the tortured thoughts of Kenneth’s plan.

“I am growing hot,” Hannah said above the music.

Ella met Cain’s direct gaze. “So am I.” Even with merriment all around him, he looked only at her. As if she were important. As if she mattered.

Joshua interrupted him, tipping his head toward the barn. Cain glanced once more toward Ella, said something to Bàs, and then walked away. Ella breathed deeply again, shaking the spell he’d woven over her. He is my enemy. The thought felt like a lie.

“Find us a seat,” Hannah said, “while I find us something to drink. Maybe a bit of Aunt Merida’s whisky.”