It Happened One Bite by Lydia Dare Page A

stepped into the room and lifted her fireball high in the air. Nothing but dingy walls, damp stone, and darkness were visible. How long had he been there?
    “Where did ye come from?” Aiden interjected.
    Instead of answering, the stranger stared at her fire. “That’s a nice bit of magic you have there,” he said. But she saw no curiosity in his gaze. No surprise. Any sane man would be worried over a strange lass who could hold a fireball above her naked palm. Perhaps he wasn’t sane at all. Not even close. His wardrobe certainly argued that point.
    “Aye, it comes in handy at times,” Blaire replied. She took a deep breath. A warrior never hesitated to jump into the fray. “Why did they lock ye up?”
    “They?” He arched a dark eyebrow.
    “The witches. Ye almost said ‘witches’ earlier. Ye’re no’ surprised by my ability ta hold fire in my hand, which means ye ken what I am. And those who trapped ye here were witches, too. What I want ta ken is why ye were left ta rot in the bowels of this castle. What type of bein’ are ye? And how long have ye been here?”
    He whistled softly. “You know of a lot of other beings, lass?”
    “A few,” she clipped out. She’d heard all sorts of legends when she was younger, though she’d never quite believed those tales. Until recently when Elspeth met Benjamin Westfield, she’d thought witches were the only anomaly that truly existed. However, now she was quite the expert on Lycans. What else was out there, she wasn’t exactly sure.
    “How interesting,” he said, his voice husky and slow. “I’d like to discuss them with you.”
    Discuss them they would. The unfashionable Englishman wouldn’t step foot outside Briarcraig until he answered her questions and she decided what to do with him. “Aye. Right after ye wash some of the stench off yerself, I’ll be happy ta entertain ye.”
    “Blaire!” her brother scolded.
    She frowned in response. Aiden would be less than helpful during her interrogation. “Doona pretend like ye canna smell him. Do everyone a favor, and prepare a bath for our guest,” she said, sending Aiden the most pointed glare she could muster. Without her brother’s prying eyes, she might be able to force the Englishman to tell her some truths, instead of the evasive comments he’d made thus far. She shooed Aiden away with her hands. “Off with ye. Go on.”
    Aiden grumbled all the way up the stairs. She couldn’t quite make out all the words, but knew they were far from complimentary. With her brother disposed of for the time being, she turned back to their uninvited visitor.
    He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Blaire was nearly afraid he’d expire on the spot, just from taking in that much of his own stench. But a small smile curved the corners of his lips. “You smell like heaven, lass.”
    “I wish I could say the same for ye. And doona change the subject. What are ye?”
    “I am a man,” he said, holding his hands out in front of him with his palms pointed up, as though she could find the answer within his reach.
    “I hardly believe that’s the extent of it. I’m waitin’ for the truth,” she encouraged as she began to tap her foot.
    The Englishman tipped his head backwards and laughed. “And what would you like for me to say? You’re looking at me with your own eyes. What do you think I am?”
    That was the question, wasn’t it? “Someone who doesna own a mirror?” she quipped.
    He scowled at her response. “I’ll set myself to rights in no time. Thank you for ordering the bath.”
    “Do ye own clothes from this century? Or do ye travel around the countryside lookin’ for masquerades ta attend?”
    The Englishman’s eyebrows drew together in confusion. He glanced down at his grimy knee breeches and high-heeled boots that had gone out of style many years before. “Good God,” he muttered to himself.
    What had she said to elicit such a reaction? “I beg yer pardon?”
    But he said nothing and merely shook