It Happened One Bite (24 page)

Blaire giggled, not able to imagine such an occurrence. For a Lycan, Benjamin Westfield was generally affable and liked everyone. He sort of reminded her of a lapdog.

“He’s worried about this Trevelyan fellow, Blaire. What is the nature of this feud between Kettering and the other vampyre?”

Blaire had no idea. It wasn’t something they’d ever discussed. Before she could say as much, a loud crash and a
thunk
that nearly shook the walls of the home drew both the witches’ attention.

“
Havers!
” Elspeth jumped to her feet.

“What the devil was that?” Blaire bolted for the door. If that cat was destroying her house…

***

James had not felt such a blinding pain in two hundred and fifty years. He’d taken plenty of punches during that time, but vampyres healed themselves. Evidently, however, he’d lost that ability along with his speed and some of his strength. It was quite evident by the fact that his eye was throbbing like the devil. He looked up from the floor at the more-than-furious Aiden Lindsay, who was being held back but only marginally by the hulking Benjamin Westfield. Even if Sorcha hadn’t confided all about the Lycan, James would have known him instantly for what he was. The wolfish gleam in his eye gave the man away.

“You better get up, Kettering, before I have to let him go,” Westfield said drolly. “You need a fighting chance. Now you have one. Quit nursing that eye and find your feet, man.” In that instant, the Lycan looked almost sorry for him.

James rolled to his feet. The pain had been a surprise. He could still take the captain in a fair fight, at least he thought he could; but putting the man to shame was the last thing he wanted, especially since what he
really
wanted was Aiden Lindsay’s blessing.

Westfield released the captain just as Blaire rounded the corner. “What was that noise?” she cried. Then she stopped suddenly to take in the blood that dripped from the corner of James’ eye. “What happened ta ye?” She reached to touch at his injury.

He winced and jerked his head away. “Well, right now, I have a witch probing at a very tender battle wound.”

“That wasna a battle, blood-sucker,” the captain snarled at him from over Westfield’s shoulder. “I’ll show ye a battle,” he said as he pushed against the Lycan’s hold again. “Blaire, doona touch him. Ye have no idea where he has been.”

Oh, she had a pretty good idea where he’d been. James was certain she remembered when he’d been inside her. The very thought made his body react. This was
not
the time.

“He’s no’ a wild animal, Aiden,” his witch scolded. “And ye shouldna call him names.”

“Must we discuss wild animals?” Westfield asked, as though he was affronted.

“Good Lord,” Blaire murmured. “Who would have thought ye would have such delicate feelings?”

“Keep it up, Miss Lindsay, and I’ll let him go,” Westfield replied, as he nodded toward Aiden, who still was trying to tear free of his hold.

“Benjamin,” the red-headed witch scolded. But a smile lingered on her lips.

“Go ahead and let him go,” Blaire said. “I can take him.”

“That is no’ humorous,” the captain grunted.

“Yet so true,” Blaire taunted.

James had to appreciate the man’s fierce protective instinct toward his sister. If he had a daughter or a sister, he would feel the same way, he was certain.

“Why are ye still here?” Blaire asked him as she rubbed her forehead.

“I told you I’m not leaving you.”

The captain growled at the announcement, and Blaire frowned at his reaction. “If ye tell him about us…” she warned quietly so that only he could hear. But Westfield’s ears perked up at those words. He’d heard. Dear God, now he’d have an angry Lycan
and
an irate brother to deal with.

But the seriousness of the moment was broken when James’ stomach rumbled loudly.

Blaire’s eyebrows shot up quickly. Elspeth Westfield giggled, as did the littlest witch. “My apologies,” James grunted. “I still haven’t grown accustomed to this hunger thing.”

“If ye plan ta make a meal of my sister, I’ll kill ye right here!” the captain bellowed, once again fighting against Westfield’s hold.

He’d love to make a meal of her but not one that involved piercing her flesh with his incisors, not anymore. “Actually, the very thought of blood turns my stomach.” He mulled it over. Although it had been his life source for so long, the idea of consuming the liquid now made him feel a bit uneasy. “I might enjoy some
real
food, however.”

The captain looked about as perplexed as James felt.

From the threshold, Blaire watched James in surprise as he inhaled a pot of partan bree, several helpings of stovied tatties, half a dozen oatcakes, and an entire roasted grouse. Never in her life had she ever seen anyone eat so much food. Apparently, no one else had, either, as they all stood at various places around the dining room, gaping at the one-time vampyre while he finished off a feast that could have fed a family of six.

“
Havers!
” Elspeth muttered beneath her breath.

The sentiment was echoed by all present.

“I thought,” Aiden whispered in Blaire’s ear, “ye said he was a vampyre.”

“He is—I mean—he was,” she replied.

“What do ye mean
was
?”

Blaire tore her eyes from James long enough to look at her older brother at her side. “I doona ken how ta explain it, Aiden.”

He narrowed his grey eyes on her. “Start at the beginnin’.”

James’ chair legs scraped the floor as he pushed away from the table. “It started…I, um,
changed
, after your sister left me.”

Blaire gulped and then turned her gaze on James. “I doona think that’s what he meant, Lord Kettering.” Vampyre or no vampyre, she would kill him if he breathed one word of their time together to Aiden.

“What do ye mean by
when Blaire left ye
?” Aiden’s voice rang out loud and clear.

“Well,” Elspeth nearly sang from her corner, “this bairn is makin’ me rather tired. Rhi, Sorcha, Benjamin, why doona ye wait with me in the parlor for a while? I’d like ta get off my feet.”

After a mass exodus from the dining room, Blaire found herself completely alone. Well, not completely. James and Aiden still stared daggers at each other from opposite sides of the room.

“All right. I want answers,” Aiden grumbled.

James heaved a sigh. “Before the three of you fled Briarcraig, your sister accepted my proposal of marriage.”

“Is that true?” her brother barked.

Blaire shrugged. “Aye, but—”

“Then after
celebrating
, I, uh, woke up alone in my bed to find you’d all abandoned me to the castle.”

Blaire felt Aiden’s eyes narrow on her, but she couldn’t meet his gaze. He’d know the truth for sure if she looked at him.

“And that’s when I knew I’d changed,” James continued. “My heart beats once more, Captain. I’m no longer what I was, and it’s all due to your sister’s love.”

“My sister’s
love
?” Aiden echoed.

James nodded. “Without a doubt, sir.”

Blaire couldn’t find her voice to say a word. She could only watch the two men eye one another as the fight slowly drained from Aiden. “Ye really should have asked for my blessin’ before ye proposed ta my sister.”

James agreed with an incline of his head. “You are, of course, correct, Captain. But I’m asking you for it now.”

“Aiden, wait!” Blaire begged. “I doona ken what I want.”

Her brother scrubbed a hand along his jaw. “I ken ye love the man, Blaire. Ye told me so yerself. And he says it was yer…
love
that transformed him. I’d say ye ken well enough what ye want, and ye made that decision at Briarcraig Castle.”

And she did love James, so much it hurt. But she wasn’t sure that was enough. In fact, she knew it wasn’t. Without James’ love in return, she’d wither away and die. “But I canna do it. I’m no’ the marryin’ sort. I—”

“If yer the
lovin’
sort, then yer the marryin’ sort, Blaire. I doona want ta hear another word about it. Tomorrow I’ll talk ta Mr. Crawford about havin’ the banns read.”

Which meant she had three weeks to talk James out of this madness. Three weeks to convince Aiden that spending her years as a spinster was preferable to spending her years unloved. Three weeks was, in all honesty, not a lot of time.

“Now, if ye’ll excuse me, we have guests in the parlor.” With that, Aiden strode from the room without a look back.

Blaire folded her arms across her chest and glared at the arrogant Sassenach across the room from her. “Well, I hope yer happy.”

His brow rose in surprise. “That you’ll be mine forever? I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

“Yer a fool, James Maitland.”

“Am I?” A deep laugh erupted from him.

She snorted. “Ye’ve been given a chance at livin’ a normal life. A natural life, and ye want ta marry
me
? Have ye lost yer mind?”

“I lost my heart to you.”

How dare he say such a thing! Blaire pointed a finger at him. “If ye mock me, I swear I will engulf ye in a ball of flames. And if yer black eye is any indication of yer weakened state, ye willna survive the experience.”

James frowned at her. “What the devil is wrong with you, Blaire? Do you not love me anymore?”

If only she could lie well. But there was no point to it. “Aye.” She sighed, wishing it wasn’t the truth. “I love ye enough, James, that I want ye ta enjoy the chance ye’ve been given ta start over.”

“This life is only worth living if you’re by my side, love.”

Her heart nearly melted, which wouldn’t serve her purposes at all. She was supposed to be talking him out of this foolishness, not allowing him to talk her into it. A change of tactics was most assuredly needed. “Tell me somethin’. If ye were no’ so certain Mr. Trevelyan was out there somewhere, would ye have followed me ta Edinburgh? Is it simply yer noble nature that willna allow ye ta leave me in danger?”

“I would have come for you, Trevelyan or no Trevelyan.”

Well, that didn’t work. Blaire flopped down at the dining-room table. “Why is it he hates ye so, James? What is the history between ye?”

“We have different philosophies of life.” He settled at the table across from her and leaned back in his chair. “And over the centuries, you meet up with the same people over and over again. Our paths crossed many times, and none of the encounters were particularly pleasant.”

“So all of this is because the two of ye have different philosophies? That’s it?”

He raked a hand through his hair as though the conversation had taken an uncomfortable turn.

“I canna marry a man who willna be honest with me, James. So—”

“Are you going to be this difficult once we’re married?”

She couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face. “If ye insist on this farce, Kettering, I will make yer life a miserable existence. Ye really should reconsider and run off before Aiden can speak ta the vicar tomorrow.”

At that he laughed. He had the audacity to toss his head back and laugh. “You’ll have to do a lot better than that, Blaire Lindsay. I’ve waited a quarter of a millennia for you, and nothing will make me give you up.”

Blast him for being on to her. She narrowed her eyes on him. “I believe ye are evadin’ my question, James. I want ta ken about this feud between ye and Trevelyan.”

“And if I tell you, will you stop being so difficult and marry me?”

She scoffed. “Ye
wish
it was that simple.”

He shook his head. “No, love, I don’t. I love you just the way you are, and if you ever made it easy on me, I’d think you were ill.”

All the air in Blaire’s lungs whooshed from her body. Did he just say he loved her?

“Are you all right?” He bolted from his seat and was standing over her in the blink of an eye.

Blaire tipped her head back to look at him. “Ye are still fast.” What a completely inept thing to say. Of all the questions she wanted to ask. All the things she wanted to say, and “ye are still fast” was what came out of her mouth?

A seductive smile turned up the corners of his lips. “I know how to be slow and take my time when necessary, lass.”

She felt a flush creep up her neck, and she was certain her face was as red as Elspeth’s fiery hair.

His breath brushed across the shell of her ear as he bent to whisper quietly to her, “You do remember what it was like being in my bed, don’t you, Blaire?” His lips touched her cheek gently.

Blaire was incapable of speech. She was nearly incapable of taking a breath. How in the world could she ever speak? She gulped instead.

James chuckled lightly and then stood up tall. “I’ll be back in the morning, Blaire.”

“Ye’re leavin’?” She jumped to her feet and spun to face him. “But ye said ye were stayin’ here.”

He shrugged, nearly feigning nonchalance. But she knew him too well. “I have some errands. And I doubt your brother would want me traipsing back in at some ungodly hour. But don’t worry. I’ll be close by.”

He was definitely up to something. “What kind of errands can ye have this time of the night in Edinburgh?” Let him try to lie to her. That would be fantastic.

“The kind that involve catching rogue vampyres.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he shushed her.
He shushed her? How dare he?
James continued, “It does not involve meddlesome witches, however. So, I expect you to stay here and protect your brothers, just in case Trevelyan gets past me.”

Oh, he thought he would fool her with the
protect your brothers
idea. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, ye doona honestly believe I’ll fall for that, do ye?”

He walked close, until he stood one step before her, one hand cupping her cheek lightly. “I expect you to stay here.”

She said in a sing-song voice, “Ye never could enchant me, James Maitland. And ye certainly canna now. No’ since ye’re very nearly human, or whatever ye are.”

His eyes narrowed at her. “I wasn’t trying to enchant you. I’m telling you what I expect.” His voice was firm and…annoying as the devil. “I need you to trust that I can take care of you.”

“Ye?”

He took a step back from her, obviously irritated. “Yes, me. I’m going to be your husband after all.”

Perhaps or perhaps not. That hadn’t truly been settled, but it was beside the point at the moment. “And have ye forgotten that ye’re human, James? Ye can
die
, ye fool!”

He tilted his head at her. “And that would bother you, Blaire?”

She stuttered out, “O-o-of course, it would.” She’d never get over such an occurrence.

“Why?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

There was no point in denying it. He knew it anyway. “Because I love ye, ye arrogant Englishman,” she ground out after a moment of indecision.

“I love you, too,” he said softly, his lips turned up in a small grin, before he quit the room.

***

James stepped out into the chilly night and searched the darkness for signs of Trevelyan. He
was
there. James was certain of it. He was in Edinburgh, and he was bent on revenge. James had nearly told Blaire what Trevelyan was about, and that it was all James’ fault, but he’d rather not have to explain such things. If he could track down his old foe and dispense with the villain, they could put all of this behind them and start fresh.

His boots crunched along the cobblestone path as he walked away from Lindsay House. But he spun quickly when he heard a noise rattle the bushes by his side. “Who’s there?” he asked.

“You can relax, Kettering. It’s just me.” Benjamin Westfield stepped out into the moonlight, his dark hair hanging over his brow. He brushed it back with an impatient hand. “I wanted to have a word with you.”

James wanted to roll his eyes, but he forced himself to stand still for Westfield’s set-down. He tried to keep the sarcasm from his voice when he said, “I’m well aware that I’ll have to deal with Captain Lindsay simply because I am in love with his sister. Do I have to take on the entire Lycan race, as well?”

“Lycan race?” Westfield chuckled. “I think the proper term is
human
race, Kettering. With some eccentricities.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

“Eccentricities aside, you and I have something in common. And because of that commonality, I want to give you some advice.” Westfield waited patiently for his response.

“You’re a werewolf—,” James began, but the other man cut him off.

“Lycan, actually. Werewolf’s a derogatory term.” Westfield nodded once, indicating that he should continue. “But go ahead.”

“Wait.” James couldn’t let that one pass him by. “It’s a derogatory term? An insult? Truly?”

“It’s a bit like Aiden Lindsay calling you a blood-sucker. I’m sure you didn’t appreciate the reference.”

“If the shoe fits.” James shrugged. He’d always been able to slip in and out of polite society. Yet, if he truly thought about it, the blood-sucker reference was a bit offensive. “But I see your point,” he finally grunted out.

“Back to the human race,” Westfield said, a knowing smile tipping the corners of his lips. “I love my wife.”

James appraised the moon’s height in the sky. “Westfield, I hate to seem impatient, but I have somewhere to be.”

“Exactly why I need to talk with you.” Westfield blew in frustration. “You mean you have someone to hunt.”

“My appointments are none of your concern,” James snapped, finally losing his patience.

Westfield scoffed. Loudly. “I beg to differ on that point. Now would you be quiet long enough for me to tell you how to win with these witches?”

“I didn’t get the impression that you approved of me, Westfield. Why would you give me any advice?”

The man shrugged. “Well, I’ve been where you are. Specifically, on the outside of this coven, and from what I understand,” he tapped his own ear, “excellent hearing, by the way—if you and Blaire both survive the upcoming fight, Captain Lindsay will see you leg-shackled to his fiery sister. So you’re about to enter our circle. That makes you as good as family, regardless of what I think about how you’ve gone about all of this.”

James didn’t care one whit what Benjamin Westfield thought about how he’d gone about all of this. The regal Lycan didn’t know the first thing about his life. “How generous of you. I’ll just be on my way.”

“So you don’t want to know how to get on with this coven? How to get what you want? These lovely witches are a formidable force. I am married to one, and I’m expecting one of my own in just a few months.”

“God bless you,” James muttered. Though an image of Blaire cradling their child, a little raven-haired girl who could throw fireballs, flashed in his mind. He’d give anything to see that sight for real.