Free The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare

rushing back into her mind. The short reprieves he offered her were the greatest of gifts. Still, he was an overbearing, self-important Sassenach… With the most mesmerizing amber eyes.
    She shook the thought from her mind and extracted her hand from the infuriating Lycan’s grasp. Immediately, she was assaulted by stray images of strange people’s futures. When she walked back through the doors of Macleod House, she would drop to her knees, kiss the floor, and refuse ever to leave her home again.
    Once she saw a particular person’s future, it wouldn’t haunt her again unless she focused on it and willed it into her mind. At home, she’d already seen her father’s future, that of the butler, and footmen, cook, and every maid in residence. It would be a relief not to be inundated with unwanted thoughts, like she had been the last several weeks.
    “Since ye’re the one who wanted ta stop, my lord, I think I’ll just get some rest and see ye in the mornin’.”
    Dashiel shook his head. “I’m afraid I must insist.”
    Cait scowled at him. Insist, indeed. “Are ye goin’ ta blackmail me inta dinin’ with ye, now?”
    A wolfish smile graced his lips. “If I have to. Will it be necessary, Miss Macleod?”
    Blast him for being charming. She really did hate that about him. If he didn’t make her knees weak or look so concerned about her, it would be easy to discount him all together. Cait wasn’t used to either. Only one other man had ever made her knees weak, but they had no future together, no matter how much Cait wished otherwise. And no one ever looked at her with concern the way Brimsworth did. The other witches in her coven always came to her for advice and reassurances that things would turn out all right.
    It was nice to have someone worry about her for a change. A very handsome someone. What a shame that he was a Lycan. And how disconcerting that she couldn’t see what the future had in store for him.
    “Miss Macleod?” the earl said, a frown marring his face as he took a step toward her.
    She must have been lost in thought. Cait shook her head and stepped backward. “Just woolgatherin’, my lord.”
    A look of relief passed over his features, and he smiled. “Dinner? We have quite a lot to discuss.”
    Doing so would put her heart in danger, and Cait couldn’t allow that. Her coven depended on her, and falling head over heels for a Lycan was not in anyone’s best interest. She’d have to escape him tonight. “I am tired, my lord. Why doona ye come by after my bath and see if I’m feelin’ up ta it?”
    “It’ll be my honor.” And with that, he was gone and took with him all the warmth in the room. Cait heard a shoe tapping against the wooden floor planks and then noticed that Jeannie was frowning at her.
    “I doona care for that man,” her maid muttered.
    Neither would anyone else in her life. Cait flopped down onto her bed and stared up at the water-stained ceiling above her. “Keep yer voice down,” she whispered. “He can hear ye.”
    Jeannie’s eyes shot to the door, which was still closed. “He canna hear me.” But she lowered her voice just the same.
    Cait smiled. “Trust me, Jeannie. He can.”
    Jeannie rushed forward, clasped Caitrin’s hands, and whispered vehemently, “What are ye doin’, Miss Cait? He’s a villain of the worst sort. Lamont says he’s the one who bashed Lord William over the head and chained him ta a bed so he could steal Lord William’s wife.”
    Cait knew all about his crimes against the Westfields, but she wasn’t about to discuss the situation with Jeannie. Besides, they needed to do something more important. Escape. Potions were not her specialty—Elspeth and Sorcha excelled at those. But Cait was a witch; so she should be able to manage what was required.
    “I’ll make ye a list of ingredients I need ye ta find in the village for me.”
    Jeannie blinked at her. “Ingredients?”
    “Aye,” she whispered. “Somewhere I have Lady