Rescued (Book One of the Silver Wood Coven Series): A Witch and Warlock Romance Novel by Hazel Hunter Page A

bottom and brought her hips to his.
    Erica glanced at the door. “You neglected to lock that again.” She untangled herself from his embrace and patted his chest. “I will come to your bed in an hour.”
    “Or sooner, if you want to be pleasured.” He arched one dark brow. “I may fall asleep.”
    She eyed the broad bulge of his erection. “Somehow I doubt that. An hour.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek before she took her notes and went out into the hall, only to nearly walk into Lachlan. “Did you need something, my dear?”
    The younger man’s sly blue eyes met hers in a guileless stare. “I was looking for Wilson.”  
    More likely he had been eaves-dropping, Erica thought. Of all the men in the coven Abel’s assistant was the one she trusted the least. He always seemed to pop up where he wasn’t supposed to be. She also suspected his frequent trips into town were not always, as he claimed, to deal with coven business matters.  
    “I saw him go out to the barn after dinner,” she said. “Perhaps he’s still there.”
    Lachlan inclined his head and strode off.
    Annoyed now, Erica headed to the kitchen, where she found a tired-eyed Aileen standing over a pan of milk on the stove. As she always did when she saw the young witch, Erica forced her mind to blank and her mouth to smile.
    “Are you still having trouble sleeping?”
    “Yes, and it’s Wilson’s fault. With all his tossing and turning lately I can barely close my eyes for three seconds straight. So tonight I’m drugging him.” She turned off the burner and poured the warm milk into a tumbler before adding some powdered chamomile. “Are Troy and Summer over at his place?”
    “Yes. They’ll probably be back in the morning.” Erica had tried to check on them with a quick scry, but something had blocked her vision. “You two should stay here tonight. Wilson has no business dragging you in and out of here on cold nights.”  
    Aileen yawned and nodded. “He says we should help with the preparations for the gathering, but I think he wants to keep an eye on other developments and, of course, me. Just in case I decide to seduce his brother with my awesome body.” She patted the curve of her bulging belly.
    “The more they love, the stupider men become,” Erica said firmly. “What do you think of inviting Summer to join our circle?”
    “After knowing her only a week?” Aileen frowned. “I really can’t say. She seems very nice, and she’s a hard worker, but I’m not sure she’s ready. She’s a bit resistant to our ways.”
    “A bit, yes.” Erica sighed. “You were so different when you came to us––so eager and willing to learn. You spoiled us for all other newcomers.”
    “I was so desperate to be part of a family I think I would have done anything to fit in,” the younger woman admitted.  
    Erica felt the void in her chest expand. “Was it so terrible with the people who adopted you?”
    “No, they were very kind to me. I never wanted for anything.” A wistful flicker passed over Aileen’s thin face. “But they were human, and I was Wiccan, and as I grew older I realized how different we were. Sometimes I caught them watching me, too, as if they were afraid of me.”
    “Anyone would be proud to have you as a daughter, my dear girl.” Erica kissed her brow before she handed her the tumbler of warm milk. “Now go to bed, and if that mate of yours continues to wake you, kick him out of it.”  
    The younger woman gave her a sleepy smile and patted her belly.
    “Maybe I’ll have the baby do that. Lately I think the little one has been playing soccer with my bladder.”
    Once she was gone Erica went out into the garden to sit on her meditation bench, where no one would hear her crying, but instead found her brother occupying it.  
    “Ewan, what are you doing out here so late?”
    “Couldn’t sleep. I ran out of sheep to count, so I thought I’d admire the Lady and tally her starry courtiers.” He moved