Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

Now, Prisca remembered. She remembered the dress. She remembered the party. She remembered the argument. She didn't remember seeing Will in the garden. But she did remember the first time she saw her wolf.

"I trembled when I saw you," he admitted, resting his head against the back of the chair. She continued to stroke him. "I knew I was taking a chance, and when I got near you, I was almost overwhelmed with the need to claim you. Then you touched me." He finally opened his eyes, his sapphire gaze so intent it nearly hurt to look at him. "And from that moment forth, the only time I felt whole was when I was with you."

A clatter arose from the hallway. Will's eyebrows crunched together as he lifted her from his lap and set her on her feet. "I'll be right back," he said.

Prisca's mind swam with what he'd admitted. She sank into the chair Will had vacated, more confused than ever.

"Out of all my sons, Will is the most troubled." Alice's raspy voice crackled.

"Can I get you anything?" Prisca asked as she sat forward.

"More time," Alice whispered.

"Unfortunately, I can't help you with that. I would give you my life, if I could. Just to see Will happy."

"That wouldn't make my boy happy. He needs you."

Prisca shook her head.

"I am his past, and you are his future." A cough wracked her frail body. Prisca jumped up. "I'm going to see if the potion is ready."

But before she could even step out the door, Elspeth and Caitrin Macleod burst inside the room. The blond witch closed the door firmly behind them. Then she turned the key in the lock.

Elspeth rolled her eyes. "Ye doona think

that

can keep the likes o' them out?" She laughed lightly.

"I always forget who we're dealin' with." Miss Macleod shrugged. "I doona think we'll need it, regardless. She'll be healed. Today."

"Truly?" Prisca gasped.

"Ye still doona believe." The blonde tsked at her, a light smile on her face. She held her hands out to Elspeth. "We'll try the potion first, just so we can say we did."

Prisca could only watch as Caitrin Macleod helped Alice to sit and then lifted the cup to her mouth.

"It should work instantly, if it's goin' ta work at all," Elspeth said as Alice took a small sip.

"That's positively vile." The dowager grimaced.

"Ye doona have ta drink anymore," the blond witch said as she put the glass on a nearby table.

"Did it work?" Prisca asked.

Elspeth shook her head and pressed her lips together firmly. Prisca's heart nearly broke. Will would be so upset. They all would. Tears blurred her vision.

"I have a feeling ye know what we're ta do now," Elspeth said dryly, eyeing her friend.

The blonde's eyes twinkled.

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Prisca snapped. "She could have already been healed!"

Elspeth put an arm around Prisca. "Her powers doona work that way. She doesna ken some things until events happen in the present. Then it changes her perspective."

Caitrin Macleod smiled devilishly. "Ye are no' allowed ta heal her, correct?" she asked Elspeth.

"Ben said I canna, but he's not here," she started. "I'll do it."

"Ben would never forgive you," Alice rasped out.

The blonde waved a hand negligently. "There's nothin' ta forgive. She willna do the healin'."

"Then who will?" Prisca barked. "Please stop talking in riddles!"

The pretty witch shot Elspeth a look. "This one is a pain in the arse," she said motioning toward Prisca. "I'm so glad William has ta put up with her for eternity." She laughed loudly.

Alice smiled weakly.

Then the blonde pulled Elspeth closer to the bedside. "Have ye felt the babe move inside ye?" she asked.

"Just little flutters," Elspeth admitted.

"Why doona ye let Her Grace feel the movement?" she asked, winking at her coven sister.

Elspeth's eyes scrunched together, and then she began to smile. Prisca was on the verge of ripping someone's hair out, preferably Caitrin Macleod's. But Elspeth stepped closer to the bed and took Alice's hand in hers. She pressed it to the tiny mound where her baby rested.

Prisca watched as Alice began to smile. Her eyes began to shine. Her skin, which had looked so pale, returned to normal. Prisca's mouth fell open as she realized that she'd just witnessed Ben and Elspeth's

baby

heal the dowager duchess.

They'd tuck her away in Bedlam for sure.

Finally, Elspeth bent and pressed a kiss to their mother-in-law's forehead. Then Alice sat up, swung her feet over the side of the bed, and stood up, stretching dramatically.

The door suddenly burst open. Major Forster tumbled into the room first. He came up short when he saw Alice standing up, smiling at him. She was across the room in a flash. Alice stood up on her tiptoes and touched her lips to his. His arms snaked around her waist as he deepened the kiss.

Lily rushed into the room next. "I tried to keep them busy, but it was impossible…" Her voice trailed off as she took in the passionate embrace. "Oh, my," she said, color suffusing her cheeks.

Will, Simon, and Ben all stood dumbfounded behind Lily.

"She's better," Elspeth sang out.

"That's obvious," Simon grunted, still staring at the couple.

"The potion worked?" Ben asked.

"Well, no' exactly," Elspeth hedged.

"Elspeth Westfield, if you tell me that you healed her…" Ben growled, his face turning red.

Elspeth held up two hands as if in surrender. "I promise, it wasna me," she laughed.

"Prisca?" Will asked.

Prisca laughed loudly and pressed her hand to her chest. "Me? I can't heal anyone." She pointed to Ben. "You are in serious trouble, Benjamin. When that baby arrives, you'll be up to your

armpits

in trouble." Then she doubled over with laughter and relief all rolled into one.

Will put his arm around her and whispered in her ear. "What happened?"

She cupped her hand around the shell of his ear and said, "The baby did it."

"Seriously?" Will pushed her to arm's length and studied her face.

She nodded. "It was amazing."

"So are you," he whispered.

From the threshold, Simon coughed loudly. The dowager duchess and the major paid him no heed. He took a step toward them, but Lily intercepted him. "Let them be," she said, tugging him into the corridor.

Ben and Elspeth slowly followed.

Ben sighed. "Please tell me you didn't put yourself in danger on purpose."

Elsepth shook her head. "Of course no'."

"Why is it that you nearly died when you healed me? But not when the two of you healed my mother? Is it because your powers are combined? Stronger?" He placed a hand on her belly.

"Maybe. I think it's more about the connection, though. Ye and I share a bond," she said softly as she cupped his face in her hand. "I would give all of myself to heal ye. I'd give a lot for yer mother, too, but I dinna have ta. Evidently, my power combined with that of the bairn's made it all look simple." She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. He growled and swung her into his arms and dashed toward their quarters.

"What was that about?" Prisca asked of Will.

Will coughed into his closed fist, obviously hiding a grin. She punched his shoulder.

"Tell me," she pleaded.

He stood up tall and tried to appear serious, but failed miserably. "They're going to their rooms. Where they will take a nice long nap. One Benjamin will enjoy immensely."

"That's what she whispered?"

"With a little implied meaning behind it, yes." He wagged his eyebrows dramatically at her. "Want to go back to the dower house and take a nap?"

She could think of nothing she would enjoy more. Besides, she wanted to get a closer look at that birthmark on the center of his lower back, just to be sure she hadn't lost her mind.

Twenty-Eight