Page 84 of A Wolf for Winter

She loosed the ties of her satin purse and extracted a cork-stoppered bottle from within. The cork gave a muted pop! as she yanked it free, and as Boar restrained Darren with both magic and his physical strength, Rose seized his jaw and pinched his nose shut.

“Open up, asshat,” she sneered.

Pink liquid sluiced against his tongue and teeth as Lilac poured the entire contents of the bottle into the magic thief’s mouth. He was forced to swallow in order to breathe, and a few heartbeats later, he went utterly still, his eyes riveted on Lilac.

“What was that?” Rose asked nervously, wiping her hands on her ballgown.

“Love potion,” her sister answered coldly. “Undiluted.”

Then Lilac seized Darren’s jaw. “You’re going to tell us everything.”

“Yes, my love,” the brute answered dreamily.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

It was decided that the rest of Drake (“Darren” had been an alias) Morton the magic hunter’s interrogation would be best performed in Hawthorne Hall where the witches would have the advantage. Once again a man, and draped in Drake’s cloak, Allen led them through the woods at a quick march. The magic hunter followed after Lilac like a besotted puppy even with his arm dangling out of his socket. There was no need for any restraints, magical or otherwise, the brute obediently and eagerly following her every command.

“So, uh,” Boar began, raking a hand through his thick brown hair, “how much of a fool was I when I was under a love spell?”

“Infatuation spell,” Lilac stressed.

“Not as stupid as I was,” Rose grumbled, looking like she might once again beat the magic hunter with the stick she was using as a walking staff. They had to bodily yank her off of him only a few minutes before.

“You called me ‘honey,’ ‘babe,’ ‘pumpkin,’” Allen said, ticking off the pet names on his fingers. “‘Handsome,’ ‘lover,’ ‘sugar,’ and I think that’s it. Frankly, I’m disappointed I didn’t get a ‘pookie’ in there to round out the set.”

Boar groaned, dragging a hand over his face. “Oh my Green Mother . . ..”

“And while I’m flattered, I’m very much spoken for.” Allen slipped his hand into Lilac’s, earning him a snarl from Drake which he ignored.

The witch had commanded him never to use the fae inscriptions on his skin nor physically attack anyone, lest he lose her love forever. He hadn’t even defended himself when Rose had been waling on him with her stick.

At present, Lilac favored Allen with a soft smile and squeezed his hand.

Rose rolled her eyes. “First she hates your guts, then she’s freaking out because you’re missing, and now you’re holding hands? Am I missing something?”

“Yes,” Allen said, “there was this time in the attic—”

Lilac whumped him in the shoulder. “Say one more word and I’ll sic Drake on you.”

“I’ll rip out your heart with my bare teeth,” the infatuated magic hunter vowed.

“I think their relationship is the least of our concerns,” Boar said. “Allen, you’re a shifter.”

“One hundred percent.”

“Don’t joke about this. Our grandmother—”

“We’re not serving Allen up to that battle ax,” Rose interrupted hotly. She slung her arm around his shoulders, yanking him down so she could ruffle his hair. “He’s one of us.”

He gave her a genuine smile. “Thanks, Rose.”

“I wasn’t even going to suggest that,” Boar said tersely. “What I was going to say, is that we need to find a way to protect him.”

“Are you feeling alright?” Rose made to test her brother’s head for a fever, but he swatted her hand aside. “You’re willing to break the rules?”

Boar looked Allen in the eye. Allen stopped walking, giving the witch his full attention. “I’ll break the rules for you, Allen Sharpe. Your secret aside, you are a true friend and ally. You saved my sisters. You saved me.”

“Technically I was the one who destroyed the ill-wish choking you to death with those garlands,” Lilac pointed out.