Enchanted (18 page)

“Did you film it?” She asked Blake.

“Yes. I think that accident was the strangest I’ve ever seen.” He opened the viewer on the video camera and pressed a button. “Here, you watch and tell me what you think.”

The film blurred as it reversed. After a few moments, it reached a spot just before the accident. He pressed Stop, then Play. Music and voices came over the speaker. Marcy’s laugh came through louder than the rest. Strange, Caitlyn didn’t remember Marcy laughing but she’d been so caught under Shay’s spell, no one else had mattered.

The scene played out, but even at the camera’s angle, she saw nothing to make the limb fall. The tree limb was above the dome. It broke and fell through the ceiling. Was this simply a freak accident?

Her heart missed a beat once she saw the expression on her face as she helped Shay sit and laid his head in her lap. Fear and anguish covered her face. And there was another emotion that flickered over her features as she looked down at him. Concerned adoration.

She shook her head in denial. Uncomfortable, she shifted away and walked to the limb, refusing to admit what she’d seen. All her secret feelings had surfaced in those few seconds. She felt bare, open for everyone to see.

Blake snapped the viewer into place and said, “Well?”

“I don’t know. It was an accident. Something like this will probably never happen again,” she murmured. Squatting next to the limb, she studied the splintered ends. The branch was at least eight inches in diameter. She continued to study it as she sought a reason for it to break. The wind hadn’t been gusting, and the wood didn’t show any signs of disease. Yet, it had snapped.

“The weight might have done it,” Blake remarked. He moved to her side and stared at the splintered piece of wood.

“I doubt it. The wood looks healthy. It shouldn’t have fallen.” She sat on the top step of the pavilion. “I just don’t understand. If Shay hadn’t pushed me out of the way, it would have hit me, not him.”

She sensed Blake’s gaze on her, but didn’t return the look. When he spoke, she realized how stupid her comment had been. “So what are you saying? Nature has it out for you?”

Slumping, she pinched her nose just below her glasses. “No, I’m just saying that it would have been me, not him. He saved my life.”

“You’re not one of those people who believe you owe him now, are ya? Hey, it happened. Just a freak accident. That’s all,” Blake said. He squeezed her shoulder. “I’m going back to the house. You gonna be okay out here?”

She nodded and watched him stroll around the lake and up the hill. He stopped at the top. Marcy came into view from the other side. They spoke to each other. Blake pointed in her direction. Marcy nodded and headed toward the pavilion.

Caitlyn’s shoulders slumped. She didn’t want to see her friend right now. She wanted solitude for a little while. She needed to sort through the roller coaster ride she’d been on the last few days.

Marcy’s blond hair bounced as she marched toward her. A determined glint shone in her friend’s eyes. “Are you all right?”

Caitlyn nodded.

With her hands on her hips, Marcy stopped in front of her. “That scared the hell out of me. I saw the whole thing. If Evers hadn’t pushed you, you might be dead right now. God, Catey, I swear I saw our entire friendship pass before my eyes.”

Surprised at the anger and concern on Marcy’s face, so opposite of the carefree, happiness normally on her features, Caitlyn laughed. All her nervous tension oozed from her muscles. Leave it to Marcy to help her relax. She should have found her friend first instead of coming out here.

“It’s not funny,” Marcy muttered, plopping down next to her.

“I know. I just can’t help it. Shay’s hurt because he saved me,” Caitlyn murmured, sobering with that thought. “I’m wound up tight and didn’t even know it until you showed up and brought me some normalcy.”

“No prob. That’s what friends are for. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you. You are my best friend, even though I don’t act like it sometimes. No matter what I do, you’re always there for me. You don’t look down your nose at me. I guess I never realized that until today.” Marcy wrapped her arm around Caitlyn’s shoulders and squeezed. She leaned over and her head against the side of Caitlyn’s.

Touched by her friend’s words, Caitlyn patted Marcy’s cheek. They sat in silence for a few minutes. A shout from the hill caught their attention. Dafydd waved his arm, calling Marcy’s name. He motioned for her to come.

She sighed. “I guess I need to go.” Standing, she stretched her arms above her head. She straightened and grinned at Caitlyn. “You know, I never thought I’d see the day I would cater to a man. I’ll call later to check on you. Love ya.”

Caitlyn nodded and smiled. As her friend hurried to meet Dafydd, she wished she had Marcy’s easy go lucky attitude. Thinking about her blond friend, she stood and wandered along the lake’s edge.

The wind picked up, and clouds roiled over the horizon. Grazelda was correct. A storm approached. Not wanting to get caught in the weather, Caitlyn hurried back to the castle.

Chapter 20

Shay grimaced. A vile odor came from the black pot on his bedside table. His stomach cramped, threatening to rebel. “Grazelda, take that from here. It more than sickens me.”

“Nonsense, young sir. The poultice will ease yer pain and take the swelling down in no time.” Her lined face puckered in a fierce frown. “Now, turn yerself over and let me apply it as it should be.”

He shifted onto his left side and a groan escaped. His right shoulder throbbed, while sharp pains shot through his upper body with the slightest movement.

“Hurry with you, old woman.” He gasped at the first touch of the heated remedy. “It’s hot.”

“As it should be. Now hush ye, or I’ll place a sleeping spell on ye. Do ye wish that, my fine sir?” Grazelda said, spreading the thick concoction over his aching shoulder. “Oooh, yer skin, ’tis as black as soot, it is. Ye took the full strike from that limb. Are ye crazed? ’Twould’ve killed a normal human. Good thing for ye that ye’ve Tylwyth Teg blood flowing through yer veins.”

She touched a more sensitive spot. He bit down on his bottom lip, trying to fight the pain. Waves of dizziness blurred his sight. Darkness edged his vision. “Hurry. I don’t want to pass out.”

“Ye need to. The rest will help heal ye. I’m almost done, then we’ll get ye comfortable for the night,” she said, her touch gentler than before.

Rhys paced next to the bed. His deep voice remained low when he spoke. “’Twas magic that caused this. Gwyneth was close. Did you sense her before you were struck?”

“I told you, I didn’t sense anything. I saw the look on Caitlyn’s face and that caused me to shove her. I know she saw something. The limb fell so fast, I didn’t have time to look up.” Shay panted as he tried to control the pain. He concentrated on the carved Celtic curves and interlocking designs flowing over the headboard of his bed. He tried to think past the agony but failed.

“Done now. Mind ye stay on that side tonight. Let this one heal without yer weight on it. Come, sire, let the poor dear rest for a bit,” the old woman said.

Exhausted, riddled with pain, Shay clenched his teeth as Grazelda rose from the bed. She and Rhys moved away from the bed to the doorway. Shay heard the low murmur of them talking but couldn’t make out what they said. It took him a moment to realize they had left.

The gentle crackling of the fire lulled him. His eyelids drooped lower and his breathing smoothed out. Even as he teetered on the edge of sleep, he heard soft steps approaching the bed.

“Shay?”

Caitlyn’s faint whisper sent currents of electricity through his skin. He forced his eyelids open. Long dark hair framed her face as she knelt on the floor beside his bed. He smiled.

“Hello.”

A softening of her face melted his heart. “Are you okay?”

“No. I hurt like hell. I suppose I’ll live, though,” he muttered.

She smiled wider and wrinkled her nose. “I hate to say this, but you smell. Really bad.”

“It’s an acquired scent. Stick around, you’ll become used to it.” He shifted his legs and regretted it. White-tipped flames scorched through him. Another groan escaped.

“Maybe I should leave so you can rest,” she said, a frown furrowing her brow. “You need quiet and here I am, disturbing you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t go. It hurts only when I move. I swear I’ll be still.” He patted the bedcovers next to him. “Lie down with me. Talk to me. Tell me about yourself. Your childhood–everything.”

She tilted her head and studied him. With careful movements, she lay down next to him. Their faces were on the same level, eye-to-eye.

“Why do you wear those glasses?” His curiosity needed assuaging. They looked like plain reading glasses without any magnification to them. If that were true, then why would she wear them?

“I can’t see without them.” She brushed a piece of his hair that fell across his cheek behind his ear. Her gaze caught and held on something at the side of his head.

He smiled and asked, “What’s wrong?”

She released a stuttering breath before whispering, “Your ear has a point on the tip.”

He chuckled and regretted doing so. “Of course it’s pointed. I am an elf. You’re the one who chooses not to believe me.”

“Are you sure it’s not a birth defect?”

He bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud. Birth defect. She was amazing. “Caitlyn, you’re wanting me to suffer, aren’t you?”

She stiffened, and he sensed the tension growing in her body. Her answer was precise and cool. “People don’t have pointed ears.”

“Not everyone is the same. Have you ever looked at your ears? Are you certain they aren’t pointed?”

A muscle in her jaw tightened. He had gotten to her. “They’re not. I’m normal, you aren’t.”

He smiled wider. “That’s what makes me special.”

“Shay. I’m trying to be serious. Why do you have pointed ears?” She traced a path over the edge of his ear. Heat, not from his shoulder, started to circulate through him.

“I don’t know. I was born that way. Now, let’s talk about you.”

“No, not tonight. You need to rest. I shouldn’t even be here, but I just needed to make sure you were all right.” She released a soft sigh. Her gaze met his and stayed. “I’m a reporter doing an interview, yet, I feel as though I’m in limbo. My focus is gone and...”

“And you don’t know which way to turn?” He prompted.

She glanced down. “Yes.”

“I suppose that’s my fault. I have a way of causing some people to lose their focus. Don’t worry, I’ll see you through this.” He swallowed, then whispered, “I swear on my mother’s heart.”

Her eyes widened. “Even though she hurt you, you still love her?”

“She was my mother, how can I do anything else?” he muttered. His pain caused him to say things he shouldn’t. She would catch him. It made the chance of losing her greater. But the need to make her trust him overrode his caution. The soft smile curving her lips made him relax.

“You’re a good man, Shay Evers. That, or you’re the biggest con artist around. Either way, I intend to discover all your secrets. Now, sleep, so you can heal. Rhys said the doctor wants you to have complete bed rest for a couple of days. I’ll come back in the morning.” She slid off the bed but lingered, gazing at him.

Drowsiness came over him. A dulled sense of excitement rushed through him. He sensed her powers working. Her desire for him to slumber projected to him and forced him to do as she wished. He smiled as he battled to keep his eyes open.

“I wish you would stay. Just a while longer.”

“Go to sleep,” she ordered.

The last thing he remembered was the satisfied expression on her face.

* * * *

Caitlyn remained by the bed and watched him nap for several minutes. His personality didn’t need the added attraction of his looks, but combined with it, he was devastatingly gorgeous. She had met many handsome men. Most acted like jerks, but Shay consisted of more than a pretty face.

If he covered his face with a brown paper bag, people would still love him. The beauty of his face only added a nice cover to the package. Sort of like a comfortable bed made with silk and lace. It was the comfort offered that made her want to lie down with him, not the spread and pillows. They just added to the picture.

She smiled and bent, brushing her lips against his brow. She inhaled and almost choked. This close to the poultice coating his right shoulder and side, she cringed at the odor struck her full force. Pivoting, she headed for the door with a smile.

In the hallway, she turned to go to her room. Blake stood in front of her. She jumped and gasped. She’d almost run into him.

“Hey, easy,” he said, grasping her upper arms.

“You scared the life out of me. What are you doing?” Caitlyn glared at him, swatting his hands away.

“I wanted to see how he’s doing.” He jerked his head toward the door to Shay’s room.

“He’s resting,” she said. “He let Grazelda put some nasty stuff on his shoulder. I’d love to be here if the doctor shows up again and smells it. It stinks.”