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Nay, she would not be a burden and drain his strength. She would persevere. Suddenly, James came to a halt. Davina stumbled forward, knocking into his back. With a startled cry, she fought for balance.

Strong arms captured her. Lifting her chin, she gave James a wan smile of thanks, trying to hide the exhaustion from her face.

Why have we stopped?She would have asked the question, if she could have found the breath to speak.

“Come,” he said. “We are here.”

Truly? Davina heaved a sigh. They had stopped in a copse of trees that looked no different from any others they had just run through. How could he be so certain?

Motioning for Davina to follow, James tramped through the dense bushes. She dutifully dogged his footsteps, growing more confused as they drew deeper into thick brush.

Then James dropped to his knees and began to crawl. Clamping her chattering teeth firmly together, Davina did the same. He started poking at a thorny bramble bush and she realized it hid the entrance to a low cave.

“We have to crawl on our bellies to get inside,” James said, speaking to her over his shoulder.

Davina instinctively reared back. “Good Lord.”

“I know ye dinnae like tight spaces, yet ye found the courage to rescue Lileas from the crater. This will be easier. The space is not so closed once we are inside.”

Trusting that he was being truthful, Davina ignored the discomfort that assailed her. She imitated his movements, crawling on her belly. Sharp rocks dug into her tender flesh, but she kept moving.

There was nothing but darkness and the rustling sound of James’s body as he pulled himself forward. At one point she could barely lift her head without hitting it on the cave ceiling. Panic swept through her, but she kept going.

Finally, they were able to stand upright. Davina swayed with momentary dizziness, but she willed away the queasiness. It took a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, to realize that the ominous shadows were really only harmless bits of logs and rock formations.

“We must wait to build a fire to dry out our garments or else the smoke will draw those men to us,” James said.

Davina crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. As much as she longed for the warmth of the flames, she knew James was right. At least they were out of the wind.

Her gaze went around the cave, taking in the gloomy darkness. “Is that water I hear?”

“Aye. Just up ahead.”

James took her hand and guided her farther into the cave. Davina kept her eyes on her feet, carefully picking her way over the stones. After a few moments, they entered a second chamber, far larger than the first.

She lifted her chin when they stopped, gasping in astonishment. The area in which they stood was massive in size. Soaring columns of twisted rocks that appeared to be floating in midair were scattered around them, making her feel small and insignificant.

The top of the cave was shaped like a beehive, with shafts of light streaming in from an opening at the peak. Davina craned her neck so she could better see the distinct color variations in the layers of rock that made up the walls and ceiling. Some were dark in color, but others shimmered like silver and gold. It was an enchanting, magical place; a place one imagined to be inhabited by fairies and other mystical creatures.

But the most incredible part was the circular-shaped hole in the ground filled with water. It was fed by a narrow stream trickling down the side of the cave. Vapors of steam rose from the pool’s surface, beckoning with its inviting warmth.

“I’ve heard tales of hidden water pools, but have never seen one,” she said.

“Malcolm and I accidentally discovered it when we were lads. Our father insisted we stay away, but that proved impossible once we took our first swim.”

“Why would anyone want to keep such a magnificent place like this a secret?” she asked.

James shrugged. “We were told not to reveal where it was hidden, nor were we ever to return because the cave was cursed.”

Her mouth fell open. “Nay! How can something this magical be cursed?”

His gaze swept her face. “It’s the perfect spot fer a lovers’ tryst.”

She swallowed. “Aye.”

“But a hundred years ago the serenity of the cave was marred by death and violence. According to my father, two lovers met a most gruesome death at the hands of the woman’s husband after being discovered here by him. Mad with grief and remorseful over the deed, the husband slit his own throat. Months later, the three bodies were found in here together.”

“How awful.”