Lydia Dare Wolf Bundle

by Lydia Dare

  Along one wall, her mother had stacked the bottles used for her potions and healing remedies. Elspeth stepped closer to the far wall, which housed a cabinet of small drawers, each no more than three inches in width. She tugged one of the small drawers open and smiled when her nose was assaulted by the smell of mint. She opened another drawer and oregano tickled her nose.

  Elspeth went on to find basil and bay leaves. If she couldn’t conjure a spell with these, her mother could at least make a decent stew. She laughed lightly to herself at the thought.

  A long table was in the center of the room. She recognized her grandfather’s handiwork in the piece as she ran a finger longingly across the surface. Atop the table, books were stacked in abandon, some still open to the page her mother had last studied. She felt a tiny catch in her throat as she saw the spell her mother had been writing. It was a spell that would only be used to call a loved one home.

  But who would her mother call? As far as she knew, her mother had never loved any man, aside from her father. Elspeth picked up the piece of foolscap and blew the dust from the surface.

  That was when she finally knew. She knew who the man was who’d killed her mother. She’d known all along it was her father. But she’d never seen it written in ink the way it was. The foolscap may as well have been marked with her blood, for her mother had poured her heart out on the page. She had finally taken it upon herself to call to him and ask for him to return. To visit her one last time. Obviously, he hadn’t come. And her mother had finally died of loneliness.

  But she’d left one thing behind. The man had a name—a first one, at least—Des. And Elspeth had to find him.

  Ben knew it was much too early to pay a visit to Elspeth, but he’d woken several times thinking of her during the night. He hated the idea of her being all alone in that house. He would take a quick run over to her tiny cottage and see if her friends were around. If so, he wouldn’t worry over her.

  He jogged through the woods, so intent on his path that he suddenly found himself there and didn’t even remember how he’d arrived. Of course, no one was moving about. He glanced at the shrubbery and said quietly, “If you’re going to attack me, let’s get it over with.”

  The shrubbery made no response. No leaves trembled. No vines lengthened or entangled him. Perhaps it was safe. He softly knocked on her door. He waited to hear her call out, or at least hear her footsteps as she crossed the floor. His Lycan hearing allowed him to hear the smallest of footsteps, even the ones made by bare feet. He imagined Elspeth climbing out of bed, her feet bare as she padded toward the door.

  But no one answered his knock. He tapped a little louder. There were still no signs from inside. What if something was wrong? What if she was hurt?

  Ben turned the door handle and poked his head inside. He glanced around the room and saw nothing amiss. But neither did she appear to him. He walked into the kitchen and saw a spoon stirring a pot of oatmeal. All by itself? Surely that wasn’t one of her powers. He walked over to the stove and moved the pot from the heat. The spinning spoon immediately stilled. Ben shook his head and called to her again.

  He glanced across the kitchen and finally saw the hidden door, which was usually covered by a large rug. The rug had been casually tossed to the side. He stepped to the edge of the hidden door and looked down. And there he finally found her.

  “Elspeth?” he called. He could see her there in candlelight, her face glowing as she sat still, thoroughly engrossed in a book in her lap. She didn’t look up.

  The rungs creaked only slightly as they bore his weight. When he reached the bottom of the ladder, he jumped softly to the hard-packed earth.

  He was before her and pulling the book from her grasp before she even realized he was there.

  “Havers, Ben!” she cried, her hand fluttering to land on her heart, which now beat so loud that Ben could hear it. “Ye nearly scared the life out of me.” Her eyes narrowed at him. “What are ye doin’ here?”

  “I came to check on you. To be sure you’re all right.” He wiped a smudge of dust from her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

  “Oh, I’m fine,” she said and pulled the book back into her lap.

  Any other woman would be mortified to be caught in her nightrail by a man. And even more so if she knew what she looked like. Back in London, there were chimney sweeps with less dirt on them than she was wearing.

  He reached over and tugged the end of a spider web, untangling the mess from her hair, which looked like orange flames in the light of the candle.

  “Thank ye,” she mumbled. She barely glanced up at him.

  “What is this place?” he asked as he took in the sights and scents around him.

  Without looking up from her book, she mumbled, “My mother’s secret room.”

  “I can see why she kept it a secret,” Ben said quietly. She didn’t turn and look at him. He crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s filthy.”

  “Filthy, aye,” she murmured, but still didn’t raise her head.

  “Elspeth, the trees have come alive, and they tried to kill me on my way to your house.” Something had to get her attention.

  “That’s good, Ben,” she said quietly as she turned the page.

  “I want to make love to you,” he said, unable to bite back the small smile and pleasant thoughts that came with that statement. Perhaps he could shock her out of her trance.

  “Aye,” she nodded.

  “Did you say ‘aye’?” he cried.

  “Mmm… hmm.” She nodded. “Whatever ye say.”

  Ben blew out a frustrated breath as he paced behind her. Then he had an idea. He unbuttoned his trousers and rubbed his fingertips lightly across his birthmark.

  “Oh,” she cried as she jumped up. The book fell from her hands and thunked to the floor.

  “Finally I have your attention,” he said as he leaned against a cabinet.

  “Doona do that ta me, Ben.” Her green eyes flashed in anger. She shook her first finger at him. “That wasna fair.”

  He chuckled at the look of indignation on her face. “I gave you fair warning, Elspeth.”

  She bent and picked up the book. “I’m sorry. I was readin’ my mother’s journal.”

  “Anything interesting?”

  A spark of pain lit in her eye and then quickly died. “Very much that’s interestin’. She wrote about my father.” She sighed long and loud. Then drew in a deep breath. “Ben, can I ask ye for a favor?”

  He stepped closer to her and brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “You can ask me for anything.”

  “Can ye take me ta London?”

  That came out of nowhere. “I said I would, but what’s so urgent?”

  “I need ta find my father. Ye said yer major could help me.”

  Ben nodded. He’d been trying to get her to London, away from the others, anyway. What a stroke of luck to have her change her mind to leave sooner. “I believe he can.”

  “Good, because I’m goin’ ta kill him once I find him.”

  Twenty-three

  ELSPETH WAS MORTIFIED BY WHAT SHE’D SAID, AND more so by the look of utter shock on Ben’s face. Still, she wouldn’t take the words back. She was a healer, and she’d never wanted to hurt anyone—except for “Des,” whoever the devil he was. Perhaps the loss of a limb would suffice. She scratched her head as she considered her options.

  For years she’d heard her grandfather lament the fact that her father had killed her mother. She’d never been sure what he meant by that, since she’d never laid eyes on the man, and her mother had only died five years ago. But now, having read pages and pages of her mother’s words, she knew exactly what her grandfather meant. She remembered the day. Elspeth had been sick, so sick that she’d nearly died. She’d been told later that her mother had tried every remedy known to her. And nothing worked. So, in desperation, she’d reached out to El’s father for support.

  It had taken every bit of power she had, her entire essence, just to reach out to
him. And still he hadn’t come. The additional stress on her body had weakened her and left her unable to fight when she caught the same illness Elspeth had. It was all because of him. She had called to him, but he hadn’t come. He’d put her in the ground, just as sure as if he’d plunged a knife into her heart.

  “I must have misheard you,” Ben said smoothly.

  “Ye heard me correctly. When I find my father, I’m goin’ ta kill him.”

  “You’re a healer, Elspeth,” he reminded her.

  She closed her eyes. It went against everything in her soul to do harm, but how could she let him live peacefully after everything he’d done? “I’ll make an exception in his case.”

  Then she felt Ben’s warm fingers brush her cheek, and her eyes rose to meet his. “I don’t think you mean that, Ellie. There’s not a cruel bone in your body.”

  She hadn’t realized how cold she was in her mother’s room, but his touch warmed her in an instant. “I canna just let him roam around out there. No’ after what he did ta her.” Not after what he did to me.

  “Are you sure he’s even alive?” Ben asked softly.

  Elspeth felt the air whoosh out of her. She hadn’t considered that. What if he was dead? It would explain why the summoning spell hadn’t worked. “I suppose ye have a point. But I need ta find out, Ben. One way or the other.”

  He flashed her a smile. “We’ll find him, one way or another.” Then he winked at her. “But you’ve got to promise me not to kill him, if he is alive.”

  It should be an easy promise to make. She knew she could never go through with it, no matter how badly he deserved it or how badly she wished she could. Feeling bitter, she simply shrugged.

  “Now, I mean it, Elspeth. I won’t have you getting yourself into trouble. As Blackmoor’s brother I hold a little clout, but not enough to get authorities to ignore murder charges. That sort of thing is frowned upon in England, you know.”

  Elspeth heaved a sigh. “All right, I won’t kill him.” But she wouldn’t promise not to maim him. Perhaps she should bring the others with her, as Sorcha’s, Blaire’s, and Rhiannon’s powers could do a bit more damage than hers ever could.

  Ben’s fingers drifted to her neck and he stroked her gently. “What a relief. I’d hate to see this beautiful neck stretched on the gallows. It would be such a waste.”

  She frowned at him. “Ye make it very difficult for me ta stay in a foul mood, ye ken?”

  His smile brightened the dismal room. “Ah, my sweet little witch, you shouldn’t have told me that. I’ll hold all sorts of power over you now.” His fingers moved lower over her shoulder and down her arm, spreading a tingling warmth all the way to her fingertips. “When do you want to leave? Today?”

  He was the kindest man she’d even known, completely ignoring his own ailment. She was embarrassed to realize that she had ignored it as well, and now she knew how to fix him. “Oh, Ben, I’m sorry. I was bein’ a bit selfish. I do have wonderful news for ye.”

  He raised his brow in silent question.

  “It’s all in there.” She pointed to the journal. “We were right. My father came here for the same reason as ye did. He couldn’t transform either. All of mother’s notes are right here. The potions, oils, spells she used.”

  She saw pure joy in his eyes. “So you know how to heal me?”

  “I believe so. Mother healed him, anyway.”

  Ben easily plucked her from her seat and spun her around in his arms. “Ellie, you don’t know how happy you’ve made me.”

  With the room spinning around she had a fairly good idea. A laugh escaped her. “Havers, put me down, ye silly man.”

  But he didn’t. Though he stopped spinning, he held her tightly in his arms, her legs dangling off the ground. Then he pressed his lips to hers. Elspeth wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, certain the room still spun.

  Ben groaned as his tongue explored Elspeth’s sweet mouth. She tasted like tea and blueberries. She tasted like Elspeth, which he was discovering was his favorite flavor in the world. He sat her on the long table before them and pressed himself between her legs. What he wouldn’t give to sink into her.

  The scent of her arousal touched his nose, driving him to distraction. In her flimsy nightrail, he could feel her nipples harden against his chest. He gently pushed her back on the table, never removing his lips from hers.

  He started to put himself above her, but something fell from the table and crashed to the floor.

  Elspeth sat up with a start. She blinked her striking emerald eyes at him and smiled. “I’m certain we’d be more comfortable upstairs.”

  He wholeheartedly agreed. Her mattress had to be more comfortable than a hard table in a dank room. “Lead the way, love,” he growled against her neck. Unable to resist himself, he nipped her lightly and she raked her hands through his hair.

  Ben kissed her softly one last time before helping her off the table. She scrambled up the ladder, her perfect little bottom swaying before his eyes. Her nightrail didn’t leave much to the imagination, and Ben had to work to keep his hands to himself, at least for the moment.

  He thought about riding in his coach with her for a fortnight. He could squeeze that bottom all he wanted, as well as everything else. It would be the most pleasant journey he’d ever take… one that would surely ruin her reputation, should anyone find out about it.

  There was only one solution. They’d leave for London right after he married her. He wouldn’t make the same mistake her father made. He wouldn’t ever let her go, and he would protect her until the end of time, and that meant more than physically. He wouldn’t let anyone ever speak ill of her.

  Ben climbed the ladder after her. “Ellie, there’s something I have to ask—”

  Just as his head popped up in the kitchen floor, a blazing ball of light came hurling toward his head. He lost his balance and fell back into the secret room.

  “Good God!” he yelped. What was that? And what was that smell? He touched a hand to his head and realized the ends of his hair had been singed.

  He looked above him and found one of her sister witches glaring down at him. The girl’s raven hair hung loosely about her shoulders, and her grey eyes flashed with indignation. “Just what do ye think ye’re doin’ here, Westfield?”

  She knew him, but he had no idea which one she was.

  “Blaire Lindsay!” Elspeth’s panicked voice filtered down to him. “I canna believe ye did that.”

  A moment later Elspeth peered down at him, concern etched across her lovely brow. “Ben, are ye all right?”

  “She burned my hair,” he said, at a loss to find other words.

  “My aim was off,” the vicious witch complained. “I was hopin’ for yer handsome face.”

  “Blaire!” Elspeth admonished. “How dare ye come inta my house and treat my guest in such a fashion?”

  Ben leapt to his feet. He was a sitting duck with her standing over him like that. He needed to get to higher ground. He climbed the ladder.

  “I dare,” Blaire told her in no uncertain terms. “Look at yerself, El. Ye’ve got next ta nothing on and—”

  “My wardrobe is no’ yer concern.”

  Finally aboveground, Ben approached the fighting witches. He stared at the dark-haired Blaire. “What did you throw at me?”

  She shrugged, looking completely unrepentant. “A fireball. And I have more, so I’d watch myself if I were ye.”

  A fireball? That was much worse than the vines that came to life. “Thanks for the warning,” he muttered.

  “I think ye should leave, Blaire,” Elspeth said quietly, though there was a dangerous edge to her voice.

  Blaire shook her head. “I dinna come for a social call, El. Caitrin’s been hurt. She needs ye.”

  Twenty-four

  “HURT?” ELSPETH ECHOED. HER HEART STOPPED beating. “What happened ta Cait?”

  Blaire’s eyes flashed to Ben before she replied, “I’d rather explain on the way.”


  Elspeth grabbed her friend’s hand and towed her toward her bedroom. “Explain while I dress. I may need somethin’ from my stores.”

  She shut the door behind them and went straight to her armoire, pulling out the first dress her fingers found. “Speak, Blaire.”

  “It was Westfield,” she whispered.

  Elspeth spun on her feet, panic washing over her. “I beg yer pardon.”

  “She’d gone out for a walk with her maid, and they were both attacked.”

  Elspeth shook her head. “Ben would never do that.”

  “Ye doona even ken the man. How do ye ken what he would or wouldna do?”

  She didn’t know him all that well, but still… “I ken he wouldna hurt anyone.” Except for the “whore” when he had lost control. Had he lost control again? She shook the thought from her head. Ben’s altercation had been during an act of intimacy. He wouldn’t attack two women on a walk. There had to be a misunderstanding.

  “Ye would believe him over Cait?”

  She had a point. She’d known Caitrin all her life and Ben only a week. “What did he do?” Her heart ached as she asked the question.

  Blaire took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her dark mane. “He attacked them both, though Cait got the worst of it.”

  “Attacked them?” Elspeth echoed in horror.

  “Aye, the maid said the wolf came out of nowhere and attacked before disappearin’ inta the woods. Will ye dress, already?”

  Elspeth realized she was clutching her blue muslin in her fists, and she shook her head. “Sorry.” She tore off her wrap and nightrail and started to slip into her dress. “It wasna Ben,” she said as she slid into her old, worn half boots.

  Blaire let go a beleaguered sigh. “Of course it was. Did ye not hear me say it was a wolf?”