Sometime later, Dani awoke, surprised she'd drifted off. Gavin must have worn her out. Smiling, she slid her hand between the linen sheets beside her, finding them warm. He had not been out of bed long.
One candle on the bedside table still burned, and the hearth fire glowed warm—the way she felt inside. She'd had no idea she could feel such excruciating tenderness for anyone. Like when he'd laughed and told her she made him happy. Realizing her own absolute joy in that moment had brought tears to her eyes.
Her stomach growled as a hunger pain struck. She remembered they had been too busy to eat dinner. Would he eat with her now?
"Gavin?" She sat up and surveyed the vacant room. His shirt and plaid had vanished from the chair. Where had he gone? She peered at the tray, still loaded with food and wine, but she didn't want to eat alone.
She arose, then pulled on her smock, cloak, and boots. Carrying the candle, she eased the door open, slipped into the corridor, and crept down the stairwell. Gavin's deep voice rumbled from some distant place, and she followed it to the small screened-off room near the front of the great hall.
"I believed she was the answer to our prayers, that she would make the curse null and void," Gavin said.
"Methinks 'twill take longer," Ewan said.
"How long?" Gavin's tone dropped so low she had to strain to hear. "The last thing I want is for her to find out what I am. If she does, she will fear me and leave like everyone else."
"She saw you today in your other form."
"Aye, and yesterday too. She thinks I'm a trained hawk. She said she would name me Gavin Junior."
Oh crap! What?Dani placed a hand over her gaping mouth. He couldn't mean… No. Her mind whirled with confusion. She was still asleep and dreaming. Or having a nightmare.
"'Tis the only part of the spell still a secret," Gavin said. "'Haps Wilona strengthened it when she came here with that potion… or cast a new one."
"Heaven help us. I warded her off as best I could, m'laird. If I could've gotten to her in the form of that wolf, I would've killed her."
"Nay. If we kill her, the curse will magnify."
"Och! She is a thorn in the flesh!" Ewan blustered.
"Indeed. Keep a watchful eye out, as I will."
"Aye."
"She's wanting Dani out of the picture, and if she gets her hands on the lass, she'll kill her."
Chapter 16
Dani ran up the stairs, stubbing her toe on the last step. "Ow, dammit," she grated out between clenched teeth, trying to keep her voice down. The pain told her she wasn't dreaming.
She closed the door and launched into a frenzy of dressing, putting on her skirt, petticoat, and bodice over the smock. Her jerky movements only made it more difficult.
She must have misheard what Gavin said. His accent or dialect must have butchered what he'd meant to say. No one could turn into a bird. That was crazy talk. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to calm herself.
They'd tried to convince her Wilona turned into an owl. Now, they believed Gavin morphed into a hawk?
"No! That's insane."
Once dressed, she recalled the conversation she'd overheard—she thinks I'm a trained hawk.She said she would name me Gavin Junior.
Dani had spoken those words to the hawk. How did he know that if he hadn't been there?
"It's ludicrous." She paced. "Freaking nuts! No one changes into a bird." What should she do? Confront him? Ask him why he'd said that to Ewan. Ask him if he honestly did turn into a hawk. And if he did, why the hell hadn't he told her earlier, like before she said her wedding vows?
The doorknob rattled and turned. Panicked, she jumped into the dark corner behind the large armoire. Breathing harsh and pulse thudding in her ears, she could hardly hear.
Gavin sauntered into the dim room, closing the door. He unbuckled his belt and disrobed, tossing his clothing onto the chair.
He sat on the bed, then slid a hand out toward the tangled covers on her side.
