Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

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."