“I’m not sure what the wolves do.”
Although that didn’t help, Lachlan’s heart still pounded in anticipation. “And the gargoyles?”
“We provide protection. It strengthens the bond of the witches’ and wolves’ magic. In effect, sealing the island in a protective bubble.”
“How do we create it?” Bryce asked, echoing Lachlan’s question.
Her worried glance didn’t give him optimism. “Not sure. The eldest and most powerful gargoyles in the clan did that task.”
It didn’t help much. Lachlan studied her face as she spoke as if he could find the key.
She put her hand on his in a reassuring manner. “It’s something you must find within.”
“We’re guessing you and your brothers will have to work together,” their father piped up, stepping out of the shadows.
Lachlan blinked with surprise. He was the last person whom he thought would offer him any help. Well, except for Duncan. His mother must have gotten to him. She had a way of bringing his stubborn father around to her reasoning with persuasive words and a gentle touch. He wouldn’t change his mind for anyone else, except her.
“With only five of you left,” his father added, “Who knows if that’s enough?”
CHAPTER FIVE
The following afternoon, Raina trekked through the dense woods in wolf territory into the sunny moors to meet the witch, Kayla. A young woman wearing a tunic bounded out of the copse surrounded by heather and tall grasses. Petite and pretty with a welcoming smile, she exuded a light floral scent. She looked to be around twenty, a couple of years younger than Raina.
“Hi, I’m Raina. You must be Kayla.”
“I am. You’re here for the potion?”
Raina nodded. Movement in the trees caught her attention. The large male bodies with bare torsos and wearing blue kilts had to be the gargoyles. If so, was Lachlan in there?
“What are they doing?” she asked Kayla.
“Mason’s brothers are moving logs we’ll use to build a house. A couple of carpenters in our coven will build it for us.”
She searched for Lachlan through the shadows where the setting sun filtered through the trees. When she caught sight of his unmistakable silhouette with his long dark hair pulled back, her heart gave an unexpected flutter, and an odd sense of relief filtered through her.
He hoisted a log over his shoulder, one that would weigh down a normal sized male. Muscle movement in his back and shoulder blades captivated her as he carried the heavy wood.
“Mason is one of the gargoyle shifters, correct?”
“Aye. He has black hair, down to his shoulders. Not the one with longer black hair—that’s his older brother Lachlan.”
Raina knew exactly who Lachlan was. Her inner wolf wagged her tail with excitement.
A tree witch and a gargoyle shifter. With the island’s natives separated her entire life, she’d never contemplated that possibility. But if they could make it work…
Don’t. Even. Think. It.
She peeked over at Lachlan, again. He wiped sweat from his brow and straightened, drawing her attention to his barrel-sized chest. A beam of sunlight highlighted the contours with light and shadows and the gleam from perspiration. A vision of them in a torrid embrace flickered in her mind.
Hells bells, he was distracting. Did he ever wear a shirt?
Unable to keep her curiosity about Kayla and Mason’s relationship tamed, Raina asked, “So how did you two end up together?”
A wistful smile spread across Kayla’s face. “I’d sneak over to watch their concerts. And I took a particular interest in the guitarist.”
“I heard their shows are—” Audacious? Lewd? Those were a couple of words she heard tossed around her pack, but it didn’t seem right to insult the gargoyles in front of Kayla. “—quite the spectacle.”
“Aye, they are indeed.” Kayla’s eyes widened with a bright gleam. “You should come see them sometime.”
Raina arched a brow. After the chaos of the last concert, a repeat performance was unlikely. Wolf shifters would be especially unwelcome. “Without an audience on the island, why would they play here?”
“True,” Kayla replied, her gaze drifting off. “I’m hoping it’s not the end of the Knights of Stone, though. Maybe they’ll go play in some of the major cities, again. It’s not easy for them to give up something they love.”
Raina had never considered that. Only the trouble their music had caused. Would Lachlan miss performing? What role did he play in the band? She stole another glance at him. She pictured him on a stage, likely shirtless as always. Adoring female fans would vie for his attention, licking their lips in anticipation of clamping their greedy little paws around his muscular biceps. A quick and unexpected pang of jealousy welled up, and her wolf began to emerge. Her fingernails extended to points, so she hid them behind her back. Taking a few slow breaths, she tamed the heated reaction and her claws retracted.
She had to play it cool, maintain control of her emotions and not react rashly like she did yesterday. If she was to be alpha, she needed to be more like her father. After Lachlan had kissed her, her mind had churned topsy-turvy analyzing why he’d done it—and fantasizing about so much more. The kiss was more passionate than any she’d ever had. Och. Figured he’d only done it to shut her up. Typical rock star action from what she’d heard. Womanizing was part of the package. Bed as many lasses as they could. She groaned at her naivety, while replaying the moment their lips met. A part of her wished they’d do it again.
A saucy voice inside her volunteered to open her big mouth more often so he’d quiet her like that every day.
What was wrong with her? He was a jerk, plain and simple. No matter how devoted he appeared to be right now by helping his younger brother—even if it meant helping build a home for him and a tree witch. Loyalty to one’s pack was a highly prized trait to wolf shifters, and she couldn’t help but admire that quality.
Focus.
“It must have been difficult for you two to get together considering—” Raina left her thought unfinished. What could she say, considering your kinds were sworn enemies? “—considering the differences.” She left it vague. Their relationship intrigued Raina and she didn’t want to say anything offensive to shut Kayla down.
Kayla’s mouth turned into a grim line. “No, it wasn’t easy. We thought about running away, leaving the isle, knowing the prejudices on each side.”
What did a passion like that feel like? Her inner wolf perked up, yearning for that kind of connection with a mate.
Raina remembered what happened with her parents and the familiar tightening in her stomach returned. She ignored her wolf’s longing. Raina had a plan for her life—she would rule with Seth as her mate—even if that elusive connection between them never took shape. Preferably if it didn’t. She didn’t want that kind of vulnerability, which could leave her crushed.
Still, Kayla and Mason’s relationship fascinated her. “Why didn’t you?”
“Everything came to a head the night of the attack. And well, even with the tragic events, it had one positive aspect; it brought all of us on the island together for the first time in a quarter of a century. Before I was even born.”
“Me, too,” Raina agreed. What about Lachlan? He appeared to be in his thirties so he must have been a child when the natives divided the island.
Kayla wasn’t anything like what Raina had expected a tree witch to be like. She was forthcoming and a bit of a dreamer, nothing like the sardonic elder witches who’d attended the peace talks. Since the island’s natives had lived divided for so many years, she’s assumed the witches were reclusive freaks. After all, they lived in tree houses and did who knows what sort of strange rituals. Although Raina’s pack might think she’d lost her mind, she liked Kayla.
Kayla jerked her head up, snapping out of her reverie. “You came for the potion.”
Raina adjusted to the abrupt change in the conversation. “Before the rift between us
, apparently the tree witches would brew a potion we’d give to our youngest and most vulnerable pack mates. I know it’s been twenty-five years at least since they created it for us, but were they able to come up with anything?”
“Aye.” Kayla pulled a purple velvet sac out from behind a tree. She took out a bottle with a smoky rose liquid. “This should be enough for three months. When you need more, come see me here in the copse. You can see the house; it should be done by then. Don’t bother with the elder witches. They’re old and cantankerous.” She laughed. “I swear they’ll still bear grudges long after they’re dead and gone.”
Kayla’s laugh was contagious, and Raina joined in, as she accepted the bottle.
“Thank you, Kayla. This helps us a great deal.” She returned the bottle to the sac and said, “I’ll come see you again. Good luck to you and Mason.”
While she sauntered out the moors, in no hurry to leave, she stole another glance behind her and caught Lachlan staring. The smolder in his gaze ignited a reaction even at a distance, making her want to linger. She swallowed and smoothed down her dress before forcing herself to turn away and continue to wolf territory.
Lachlan couldn’t keep from staring at Raina, but when she turned and caught him, he froze. She watched him through those curious eyes, and, in that prolonged moment, his insides blazed. The sensation flowed like lava coursing through his blood—an inferno that had nothing to do with the exertion of hauling logs under a midsummer sun. What her gaze did to him, leaving him unable to focus on anything but her. She finally broke eye contact and continued through the tall grass. He exhaled audibly, not realizing he’d even held his breath.
Bryce nudged him. “First, Mason goes for a tree witch, and now you’re drooling over a wolf shifter as if you haven’t eaten a meal in weeks.”
Lachlan clamped down the excitement that brewed within and snapped back to the moment. They’d all been moving logs, and he stood still, his distraction noticeable to all. Warmth spread up to his cheeks. He was caught doing exactly what Bryce had just accused him of. She must have thought him a goon to gape at her like that. Covering up his lack of finesse, he replied, “Funny, Bryce. She’s a wolf shifter. And she’s one of their leaders. I need to keep an eye on her.” Affecting a tone of superiority, he added, “Remember the bloodshed in our territory?”
“Of course, I do. A proper fankle.”
“No need to assume I’m thinking with my cock because she’s female.”
Bryce laughed. “Isn’t that what you think with whenever you see a female?”
“That sounds more like Gavin than me.” Although Lachlan had spent many nights chasing after the lassies, Gavin lived for it like it was a sport, as passionate as Scots were for the Highland Games.
Gavin grinned in agreement. “Aren’t you two already married?” he teased Lachlan. “I heard you declared that to the humans.”
“Funny,” Lachlan replied with a beleaguered eye roll. “You know why I said that. To show the humans we’re like them, living normal human lives.”
Gavin glanced in Raina’s direction. She’d almost disappeared from site behind the slight descent of land. “Even though I’m not into lasses who can sprout fur and walk on four legs, she has a fine arse.” He cupped one hand in front of him and made a smacking motion with the other.
Lachlan had the sudden urge to toss the log he was hauling over at Gavin.
He shook his head, trying to shake away the cobwebs of jealousy. A wolf shifter was off limits. No matter what she looked like. Or how her eyes caressed his skin like a warm summer rain.
Off. Limits.
Besides, he had enough obstacles to deal with right now without adding a lassie to the mix.
“All right, all right, let’s get back to what we were discussing,” Lachlan snapped. “Our magic.” They’d been brainstorming ideas since they’d returned from the Highlands—when he wasn’t thinking of Raina and kissing her satin-soft lips again.
“Anyone come up with anything since this morning?”
Nobody had. Terrific.
They’d come out for a break to haul logs and work off some of their earlier frustration. Their talks that morning weren’t productive.
“We’ll have to experiment,” Bryce said.
He was optimistic for such dismal progress so far.
Lachlan dropped the log onto a pile with others. “Experiment? With magic? That can be a dangerous game to play since we don’t know all the rules.”
“I don’t see what other choice we have.”
Lachlan jutted out his chin. Neither did he.
“Wait,” Mason said. “I have an idea.”
They all turned to face him.
“We’ve been thinking the witches would be the best source of helping us with magic.”
“Right,” Gavin said. “And you said Kayla is trying to extract information without raising suspicion.”
“But what about the wolves?” Mason said.
“What about them?” Bryce asked.
“Wolves are shifters, like we are. Our magic may be similar.”
Lachlan studied him. “Go on.”
“Maybe we can ask them how they do it.”
Lachlan bolted upright. “You’re idealistic since you found a tree witch who is open-minded. The wolves won’t share their magic with us.”
“Worth a go, though. Especially, since we don’t have many other options.”
“And since you’re chummy with your wife,” Gavin ribbed, “Why not start with her?”
“Chummy isn’t the word I’d use,” Lachlan stared at the pattern in the bark of the log he carried. “We barely know each other.”
Gavin raised an eyebrow. “Are you more acquainted with any other wolves?”
The only other ones he’d had any sort of conversations with were Ian and Seth. Lachlan scowled at him. “No.” In a lower tone, he added, “I’ll talk to her.”
His brothers howled and hooted, as they continued to rib him.
“I bet you will!”
“You’ll find lots of things to talk about.” Gavin ran his hands over his body with exaggerated sensual movements.
Calum jumped into the play action, rubbing Gavin’s back. “Och, Lachlan, you’re so big,” he said in a woman’s voice.
“And so hard for you, lassie,” Gavin added in a deeper voice. He turned and humped Calum’s leg while Bryce howled with laughter.
Lachlan tried not to join in, but cracked a smile. “You’re all pure mental!”
“You’re better off catching her now.” Bryce wiped the tears of amusement from his eyes and nodded across the moors. “Before she returns to wolf territory.”
Searching for her through the shades of green and purple, he found nothing. “Shite, you’re right.”
He dropped the log he’d been carting and sprinted after her, trying to ignore his brother’s whistles and catcalls.
CHAPTER SIX
Lachlan’s pulse spiked at the prospect of seeing Raina again. His mission dampened the excitement. He’d already had to swallow his pride to ask the gargoyles for assistance, and they’d turned him down flat. He had no desire to face that sort of rejection, again, especially one coming from Raina’s full, pink lips.
As he slowed to a jog across the moors, he debated how to approach her. Asking her directly was out of the question. Maybe he could sneak around it and coax her into giving him information.
A long shot. Yet, no other options came to mind. He’d have to wing it.
When he spotted her red plaid dress through the dark foliage of the forest, the tightness in his chest alleviated. Good, he wasn’t too late to catch her.
He slowed to a more casual pace. “Hi, Raina.”
She stopped and spun around, squinting at him with surprise. “Lachlan?”
Hearing her say his name in a silky rasp knocked him off his game. He resisted moaning aloud. Gods, she was striking.
Too bad she was a wolf shifter. If she was a human who lived off the island
, he could have seduced her by now. Buried himself between her legs as many times as it took to get her out of his system. She’d be long forgotten, simply another diversion for the night. But she was local, which complicated matters—and piqued his interest all the more.
Forbidden.
Maybe that was it. Gargoyles and wolf shifters hadn’t interacted in decades after too much blood had been shed. And for good reason.
Then maybe you shouldn’t have kissed her, you wanker.
Lachlan pushed aside the past to focus on the present problem. He breached the remaining distance between them with confident strides so as not to undermine his spur of the moment plan. “Thought you’d at least say hello when you came to get the potion.” He flashed her his most dazzling smile, the one that many fine lasses at his concerts couldn’t resist.
She furrowed her brows with a quizzical expression. “You seemed busy. Didn’t want to disturb.”
“Just helping out my brother.”
“Mason, right?” Her countenance turned more relaxed. “Kayla told me you’re helping them with their house.”
At least, Raina was talking to him. He wasn’t sure she would after he’d opened his big mouth yesterday. With a casual wave, he said, “It’s nothing.”
She tilted her head in question, which had the oddest effect on him, leaving his thoughts as scrambled as eggs. “So you’re okay with him living with a tree witch?”
“I wasn’t crazy about the idea,” he admitted. “But it could be worse.”
“How so?”
“He could have left the isle with her. Or moved in with a human.”
“Aye. At least, he’s still here.”
She continued watching him with a steady, unreadable gaze. The longer the eye contact, the more it affected him. Even his cock twitched in reaction to her powerful feminine sensuality.
“So,” he began while attempting to suppress his arousal. He needed to steer the conversation to the magic he needed. “The past few days have been quite mad, haven’t they?”
“Indeed.”
“Thanks for going along with the ruse with the humans yesterday.” Don’t say anything about the kiss. Not one word.
Knights of Stone - Lachlan Page 6
