It Happened One Bite Read Online Free PDF Page B

he was a ghost? Was that what she meant? He scoffed to himself. He was the furthest thing from a harmless specter. But, he’d be whatever she desired, right up to the moment she freed him.

Four
    Blaire ripped off a piece of crusted bread and popped it into her mouth. She glanced around Briarcraig’s dismal dining hall, which was not much improved in the light of day. Her eyes were tired and aching, and there was an insistent pounding in her head. Sleeping draughts always had that effect on her. Not that she’d had much of a choice the night before.
    It was her own fault for allowing Brannock to remain with her during the night. How could she have forgotten that the lad kicked in his sleep? She must be covered in bruises all along her left side. Making matters worse, he also snored like an old man, making the bed rumble all night long. No, she hadn’t had a choice about the sleeping draught. But she did wish it didn’t make her mind feel quite so foggy.
    Her dreams had been fitful. Trapped ghosts and glowing rings. Though the ring wasn’t a dream, was it? She tugged the cord from beneath her serviceable dress and held the ring up for inspection. Under the daylight, it didn’t seem to possess the otherworldly glow from the night before. If it still weighed more, she’d grown accustomed to the difference and didn’t notice it now. She ran her fingertip along the griffin etched on the side. The symbol of the valiant soldier. Passed from one warrior witch to the next for generations. Never had she seen it behave so strangely.
    It was a shame Caitrin wasn’t here. As the seer of their coven, Cait would understand the situation with a close of her eyes and a few magical words. Thinking of her sister witch brought Blaire’s attention back to her own hasty departure from Edinburgh. Perhaps she’d send her all-seeing friend a note explaining her absence. Truly, she should have done so before she left Lindsay House.
    Blaire tore off another hunk of bread and started to compose the letter in her mind. Before she finished her thoughts, Aiden strode into the dining hall as if he owned the place. Blast him for looking so well rested and bright-eyed this morning.
    “Why are ye scowlin’?” he asked, sliding into a place at the table beside her.
    “Difficult night,” she grumbled.
    “Indeed?” Aiden’s eyes widened in surprise. “I slept like the dead. Was the bed uncomfortable?” He broke off a hunk of cheese and bit into it.
    She shrugged. “Brannock knocked on my door last night, scared half ta death of ghosts and other such nonsense. I let him stay with me.”
    “Ah, rotten luck there.” Aiden winced. “The lad kicks.”
    “I’m well aware.” She somehow managed to keep the growl from her voice. “And his paranoia is infectious. I had the strangest dream last night of a ghost.”
    His silver eyes lit up. “I dinna think ye believed in ghosts.”
    She shook her head. “In the light of day, I doona believe in such nonsense. But the dream felt so real in a strange way, Aiden. I canna describe it properly.”
    “Ye should go back ta bed for a while. Ye doona look quite right.”
    Blaire laughed. “A lady of leisure I’m no’. Besides we have quite a lot ta do today.”
    “There’s no rush.”
    Of course, he wasn’t rushed. He’d gladly spend the rest of his days in the crumbling castle, which was not appealing in the least to Blaire. “I’m goin’ ta jot off a quick note ta Cait and then start ta work on the first-floor parlors.”
    Aiden sighed. “If ye insist.”
    “Well, I wouldna insist, but ye did promise ta entertain some sheep farmer this afternoon.”
    ***
    Blaire climbed to her feet and wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand. “I canna believe Aiden talked me inta comin’ ta this filthy place,” she mumbled under her breath as she carried a bucket of dirty mop water and rags to the door. “Brannock!” she bellowed.
    She tilted her head to listen for the sound of footsteps.