She turned.
"Och. You have red spots all over."
"So do you."
"I have a salve that will help." He pulled out a drawer and retrieved a small glass jar with a cork stopper.
He spent the next ten minutes dabbing a fragrant herbal healing balm on all her itchy bites, then she returned the favor, finding bites in some interesting places.
This endeavor only reignited their sensual activities.
∞∞∞
"Dani." Someone shook her from a pleasant dream about a hot air balloon ride over the moors and mountains. "Dani, 'tis time." Gavin's voice.
Grogginess weighed down upon her. "Hmm? Time for what? I'm sleepy. Tired." She snuggled deeper into the covers.
"Dawn is nigh. If you wish to see me turn into a hawk, you must open your eyes."
His words shocked the drowsiness out of her. Gavin shifting into a hawk—just what she wanted to wake up to. "Mother of all nightmares," she grumbled. Anxiety twisting her stomach, she blinked up at him in the predawn dimness. The candle had gone out, and a faint glow emanated from the hearth.
Talk about a rude awakening… her beautiful, precious husband would morph into an animal. What did he expect her to do after that? Go back to sleep as if nothing had happened? Pretend her world hadn't toppled on its head?
She scooted to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. "I don't want to see this happen, but I have to. I don't have any other choice if I want to know the truth."
He pulled her onto his lap to hold her tight. "Indeed. And I'm sorry."
A chill breeze brushed over her skin, and she shivered. The drapery fluttered. "The window's open."
"I must fly out."
Her stomach ached with anxiety. "Why can't you stay in here, even as a hawk?"
He shook his head. "The urge to escape this cage-like chamber is near overwhelming."
She shivered again, harder this time and not because of the cold wind. "This whole situation is freaky."
He nodded, wrapping his strong arms around her in a fierce embrace. He held her for a long moment, then released her and jumped off the bed away from her.
A grimace of pain crossed his face as he staggered toward the window. Something weird happened, like a lightning bolt combined with a blurry mist, and the large black hawk emerged. Wings flapping, he bounded onto the windowsill, then glided out the opening.
"Holy crap!" Tears in her eyes, she leapt off the bed and ran to the window. His elegant black form disappeared into the gray-white Highland mist over the moor.
"No!" she sobbed.
∞∞∞
That afternoon, as Gavin soared high above his clan's lands, he spied Alpin riding fast and furious toward Caithmore Castle. Three men followed—two armed guards with Finch between them, his hands bound to the saddle in front of him.
What the devil? How had Finch gotten captured? Where was the physician he'd been sent after? Finch appeared unharmed, thank the saints.
Alpin and his two guards wore steel bonnet helms to protect their skulls. Wilona must have warned him about Gavin's habit of dropping stones. He could still do so, causing the horses to bolt or throw them, but they traveled at such a brisk pace, he had no time.
Gavin flew to the castle ahead of the men and let loose loud screeches to warn Ewan of the approaching danger, though he was probably asleep.
If Gavin were bigger, he'd carry Alpin off and drop him in the loch. With his sharp vision, Gavin spotted the unbuckled chin strap of Alpin's helm. Ha! Gavin glided lower over his cousin's head, grabbed the steel bonnet, and yanked it off.
Alpin screamed like a lass.
