Knights of Stone: Mason (Highland Gargoyles Book 1)

by Lisa Carlisle

  The full moon hung low in the night sky and was greater in size than usual. Their ancestors had called it the giant moon, explaining it was when the moon was close enough to touch and its effects more pronounced. Mason’s familiar stone silhouette loomed with a magnificent ethereal glow under the spotlight from the heavens above.

  Something was in the air that night. Kayla sensed a powerful, magnetic tension that filled her with uneasiness.

  She shook her head, casting it off. It was simply the guilt from drugging her family and running away.

  The gargoyles sparked with movement, animating with life. She marveled at her lover’s transformation. Once in human form, they picked up their instruments and played.

  She tried to catch Mason’s attention through the waving arms of the audience, but his eyes were downcast. Every now and then, they flickered to his left, to the direction of the moors and her home.

  Mason’s face remained hardened as if still in stone. The only clues to his state flashed from his eyes, which alternated emoting melancholy and determination.

  Her heart thumped. Was he thinking about her? Wondering if he could find a way back to her?

  She pushed her way to the front of the stage; she had to let him know she was here.

  See me, she willed. I’m right before you.

  Seconds pounded like a ticking clock before he searched the crowd. Did her message make it through?

  When he caught her eyes, he beamed. The smile lit his face, energy must have rippled through his body, and he played with renewed vigor. The crowd sensed it, too, and cheered their appreciation.

  *

  She’d made it over to him. How he didn’t know. The dread that had burrowed its way deep into his chest cavity no longer had such a powerful hold.

  Mixed emotions vied for dominance during the show. Wondering if Kayla was okay. Wondering how he’d get to her. Lamenting how this was the last show with his brothers, something he’d loved to do.

  It couldn’t last forever and they’d known it from the start. It was only a matter of time before government or military figures appeared at their show to investigate inevitable rumors that would spread from person to person. When that happened, Mason and his brothers had planned to bolt into the air and leave the Isle of Stone. If they were separated, they’d meet in their ancestral homeland in the Highlands and figure out their next move from there.

  While they had the opportunity to play as gargoyles as the Knights of Stone, they would enjoy every last minute of it.

  Mason tried to imprint every detail during this last experience playing here at the gargoyle amphitheater. The pound of the surf wasn’t audible behind them, but still he felt the ocean’s presence behind him like a living thing. One of the things he’d loved about the isle was living beside the sea. The torches on the stage cast a flickering glow as well as a warmth on his skin. The red and purple spotlights highlighted his brothers, but what struck him most was their unique sound. Their rock and roll was unlike any he had heard, echoes of tribal music combined with Calum’s iconic war cries. How’d he’d miss playing with them. How he’d miss them.

  And the audience. Although they’d inevitably be the ones who’d reveal their secrets to the world, how he loved their enthusiasm at their concerts. Without them, they’d have no one to play for. Their cheers and shouts energized them, encouraging him and his brothers to play with more ardor and vigor than when they were on their own. Most of all, if they’d never put on these shows, he wouldn’t have met the female that stood out to him in the crowd. The one who he could never keep his eyes off of, especially now.

  He smiled at her again, anticipating how he could take her into his arms after the show was over.

  A few songs later, Bryce had a drum solo, which gave Mason a chance to regroup. Calum sent a telepathic message. That’s the one, isn’t it?

  Aye, Mason replied. No other words were passed between them and Mason picked up the guitar and began to play again.

  A few minutes passed before Calum added. I sense a surge of emotions. You do love the lass, don’t you?

  I do.

  Calum glanced at Kayla several times as he pounded around on stage like a possessed rock star. She doesn’t appear to be evil.

  She isn’t. She’s the most extraordinary, kind creature I’ve ever met.

  A tree witch?

  Aye.

  And you’ll leave us to be with her?

  I must. Mason’s chest pumped out with love for her as he cemented his choice. He raised the guitar and joined the instrumental interlude. The lead that had settled into his feet earlier dissipated, replaced with a new buoyancy.

  Calum joined his brothers as he belted out a scream, joining them in the song of ancient tribal wars on the Highlands. The pounding chorus of the warriors working as one echoed the solidarity of their brotherhood. Mason threw all his energy into the music, drowning out the underlying reminder echoing in his head that this was their last time playing together.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  A disturbance rippled through the air around Kayla. She couldn’t place what it was, but something was off in the Isle of Stone.

  She caught Mason’s gaze often while he played guitar. Could he sense it, too? She could not discern it from his expression, all emotion seeming to come from throwing his heart into the music. After another song, his eyebrows tightened and he fixed his gaze on her. His worried expression increased her anxiety.

  Howls erupted from every direction. The same urgent cries from the wolves when she was with Mason the other night, but now they were closer. Too close. They sounded right outside the amphitheater.

  The audience searched around with wonder, giving each other confused looks. Many people asked if wolves were part of the show. Others replied they’d never seen them before.

  The howling sounded even closer. The gargoyles put down their instruments and straightened, tilting their heads as if to listen. They exchanged glances and nodded to each other.

  What was going on? She had to get to Mason and ask him.

  Before she even twitched a muscle, a wolf leapt into the crowd and knocked a woman to the ground. A blood stain crept out from her neck. Other wolves followed, attacking the humans. The coppery scent of spilled blood filled the air. People shrieked, running in all directions. Some braver ones tried to pull the wolves from their human prey.

  The gargoyles flew from the stage, changing their appearance in mid-air. Their skin changed to a gray hue, its texture hardening in between flesh and stone. Their massive black wings made them appear twice their size, surrounded them like dark warrior angels. Their kilts fluttered with movement as they descended on the wolves.

  Kayla’s mouth dropped as Mason fought an enormous gray wolf with gnashing teeth. She ran to him, she had to do something, even though her strength could not compete with that of a gargoyle or wolf shifter.

  Think, Kayla, think.

  She didn’t have their physical prowess, but she was a skilled witch. She ran through a quick catalog of enchantments she’d learned, ones she’d never had reason to use during her peaceful upbringing.

  Her mental cataloging was interrupted by a slash of red erupting from Mason’s shoulder blade. She cried out for him, horrified at the gash revealed as the wolf tore away.

  She threw a ball of light and energy at the wolf, without any forethought; a reaction rather than a conscious spell. The force knocked the wolf several feet away from Mason. Stunned, it took a moment to stand on four legs and limp away.

  A wolf bounded onto the stage and howled again. The other wolves bent their heads and wailed in what appeared to be a submissive reply, moving to the stage. The remaining humans who hadn’t already fled the area ran, blood streaking down over their skin, bite marks from the wolves’ attack.

  Kayla rushed over to Mason and searched for the wounds. His new form momentarily distracted her, one in between his transformation between stone and man, so different from the one she made love to by night. She wiped
streaks of blood from his chest around a vicious looking wound on his shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine. You? Did they touch you?” Mason’s voice came out lower than in human form, but one still recognizable as his.

  “They didn’t get near me.” The wound was deeper than it appeared at first and too much blood oozed from it. If she didn’t do something to staunch it, he could be in danger. She closed her eyes and repeated an ancient healing spell her aunts had taught her. Lowering her hands palm-down over his injured flesh, she let her hands hover as she pooled healing energy. When she gathered a substantial amount, she circled over the opening and repeated the Latin phrase. Magic flowed from her into him and slowed the blood flow.

  “What have you done?” He uttered with amazement. “It doesn’t hurt like it did.”

  The wound appeared smaller. “I’m helping your body heal quicker.”

  A grin stretched across his face. “Magical.”

  She shrugged. “I’m a witch.”

  The sound of more howls demanded their attention back to the stage. The massive gray wolf scanned the area from ice blue eyes.

  “The alpha,” Mason said.

  She nodded. It had to be the one they’d met in the moors. “Ian.”

  The wolf transformed into a naked male and she couldn’t help blush when Ian stood before them without clothes. When she caught Mason’s eyes, a smile tugged at his mouth.

  Ian commanded the other wolves to come to him. The other gargoyles, although themselves wounded, tended humans. When she went to assist in healing the humans, they glanced at her as with a mix of curiosity and wariness in their expressions. One with red scratches over his chest approached her and beckoned her to the side.

  “Do you have magic that can erase this memory?”

  She searched through her mental catalog, but didn’t think of one. Even if she did, would she use it? Messing with someone’s mind was powerful magic; one that took away a person’s rights.

  She shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t.”

  He exhaled audibly and returned to the other gargoyles. At some point they’d all changed to their human forms. Would they let a tree witch help them?

  She took a deep breath before introducing herself to them. “I’m Kayla. May I help?”

  Mason stepped beside her. “Kayla, these are my brothers.” He pointed to each of them and said, “Gavin, Calum, Bryce, and Lachlan.”

  The one who’d asked her about a memory spell was Gavin. Calum had a nasty gash above his knee. “That gash needs to be seen to. Will you let me take a look at it?”

  Calum tilted his head. “And do what?”

  “Just let her see to it,” Mason said. “Look at my shoulder. The wound is almost healed.”

  Calum glanced at Mason and seconds ticked by.

  “Okay,” Calum said.

  She used the same healing magic on Calum’s wound. Gavin then let her examine his blood-covered torso. “These are mostly superficial scratches,” she said. “But this may help them heal quicker and relieve the discomfort.”

  Gavin thanked her when she was done. The two other gargoyles kept their distance and watched her with wariness. Oh well, she had plenty of other wounded wolves and humans who would accept her help.

  In another twenty minutes, all the humans had left the island. No doubt they would tell others about the wolf attack and humans would come to investigate what had happened. She’d heard about their thorough techniques for examining crime scenes. At least nobody had died.

  She wiped sweat beading on her forehead. The worst was over for tonight. They’d deal with the ramifications tomorrow.

  Odd, she had come over here to run away with Mason. After the situation with the wolves, she didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t just leave everything unsettled, could she? Her family was on the island. They could be in danger if the wolves attacked again.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother and aunts approach with quick, angry strides, fury blazing in their eyes.

  Shite.

  “You drugged us!” her mother accused, waving a finger in Kayla’s direction.

  “I had to,” she exclaimed. “You held me like a prisoner. And put a spell on me.”

  “I’m your mother.”

  Kayla motioned around. “We can’t talk about this right now. There’s something more important going on. Just listen a moment.”

  The witches’ eyes continued to burn with accusation while Kayla explained what had happened with the impact of the moon on the wolves.

  “Why should we care what happens to them?” Aunt Muriel said.

  “Because we share this island,” Kayla replied. “And we need to work together to protect it and all on it. This feud has to end.”

  “She’s right.” Mason approached them.

  Kayla admired his bravery for stepping up to her mother and aunts when after all they’d blown him back with a spell the night before.

  ’“Without our joint magic,” he continued, “our land is suffering.”

  “You lure the humans here with your—music.” Her mother spat the last word with contempt. “And you lure my daughter away from the safety of her coven.”

  “I’m in love with Kayla. I’d do anything to protect her.”

  Kayla’s heart swelled with pure happiness. He said he loved her. Even declared it before many others.

  “We will not join with the gargoyles or wolves,” Aunt Muriel stated.

  “You’ve tried to steal my daughter from me.” Her mother directed her wagging finger at Mason.

  “I’m twenty-one,” Kayla interrupted. “You have to learn to let go of me, and let me make my own choices.”

  “And you’d choose him?” Her mother’s eyes widened.

  “Aye. I love him. With all my heart, I do.”

  “Over your own kind?”

  “You chose our kind. And look what it’s done to you.”

  Her mother recoiled, pain flashing through her eyes before she recovered. “You’re my only child, Kayla. And I just wanted to protect you from any harm. From avoiding pain like I went through with your father.” Her mother’s voice hitched and her eyes glistened. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Kayla reached out and hugged her. As much as her mother drove her crazy with all her restrictions and even locking her up, she knew deep down it was out of love. “I know. You don’t have to worry so much. I’ll be okay.”

  Her mother wiped her eyes and raised her chin. “He’s not like us. He sits in stone all day. What kind of life is that?”

  “That’s how his clan protects the island,” Kayla explained in a softer tone. “Their magic is different than ours, they use their gifts to observe the land.” She took a deep breath and admitted her plan. “I came here to run away with him tonight, go somewhere where we wouldn’t be shunned.”

  Mason gazed at her with wide-eyed wonder, his face stretching into a smile. “You did? You’d do that for me?”

  “Of course, Mason. I do love you. And I’ll go with you wherever we can be together.”

  “And I, you.” He kissed her hand. “To the ends of the earth.”

  “Oh,” her mother threw up her hands in exasperation before pointing to where the wolves had gathered. “And now I bet you want me to break bread with the wolves, too?”

  *

  Mason was relieved Kayla found a way back to him. Even his brothers were coming around to accepting her. Two of them, at least. After Kayla had helped heal Calum and Gavin, they had dropped some of their suspicions.

  I agree with you, Calum had communicated as they’d cleared the devastation left by the wolves. She appears kind, wanting to help others. Perhaps not all witches are evil.

  She’s not, Mason agreed.

  It’s time to put the past behind us and move on, Calum added. All the other gargoyles in our clan have left the isle. I don’t want to lose you, too. You’re my brother, my best friend.

  Does that mean you accept my decision to be with
her?

  It does, Calum had said. And I will help you however I can.

  This means so much to me, brother.

  All right. Gavin had stepped up and put his arms around Mason’s and Calum’s shoulders. I’m in.

  Lachlan and Bryce had said nothing, keeping their distance from Kayla. Their silence had echoed their disapproval.

  Now while Mason spoke with the witches, they glanced over with suspicion.

  Mason caught movement from the wolves. The wolf shifter, Ian, approached them. At least he’d found a gray garment he had wrapped around his waist. Mason’s brothers circled in behind the wolf.

  “I am Ian, alpha of the wolves,” Ian bowed respectfully as he introduced himself in a low tenor.

  “What is the reason for this attack?” Lachlan demanded as he stepped forward.

  “It’s a horrible incident. My deepest regrets,” Ian stated. “The moon’s presence is strong tonight and the youngest ones lost control.”

  “Well, control them!” Bryce shouted.

  “We’ve tried. We need your help.” Ian explained how the thinning of the magical cloak had also removed a barrier protecting the wolves from the moon. He gestured to the wolves and added how the witches’ potions had been useful in the past. “Now you see why we need to come together, the way our ancestors did many years ago.”

  Mason stepped closer and asked the question that had never been thoroughly explained to him. “Why are we three divided?”

  “What have you heard?”

  “The witches cursed the gargoyles so they couldn’t reproduce and would die out.”

  The witches protested.

  Ian nodded their way. “And you?”

  “The gargoyles attacked us because they’re bloodthirsty creatures,” one of Kayla’s aunts piped. “They have no moral compass.”

  The wolf cocked his head as he appraised them both. “The truth lies in the space in between.”

  Mason exchanged a glance with Kayla.

  “The witches didn’t curse the gargoyles,” Kayla said with relief in her voice.