Knights of Stone - Lachlan

by Lisa Carlisle

  When Claire snorted, Raina asked, “Perhaps you can help remedy the situation?” Her tone had taken on a honeyed edge.

  The witch raised a speculative brow, but her eyes sparked with interest, biting at Raina’s bait.

  “How?”

  “The gargoyles are going to fly the humans to their boats. We don’t want them remembering what happened.” She tilted her head and widened her eyes with innocence, reeling the witch in. “Do you have a spell that could remove their memory of hitting the barrier?”

  Her resourcefulness was impressive. Lachlan caught Raina’s eye and gave her a small nod of approval. She narrowed her eyes with an icy glare before returning her attention to the witch.

  Ah, so she was still angry at him. Not that he could blame her. He had been an arse.

  “That’s black magic,” Claire retorted with a dismissive wave, turning her head. “We don’t practice that way.”

  Raina exhaled, her disappointment echoing his own.

  “But,” Claire stumbled into the cluster of downed humans, raising a finger. “I don’t see the harm in befuddling their memories a bit.”

  Raina straightened, eyes now brimming with curiosity. “How?”

  “Give them a potion. It’s powerful enough that just one sip should do it.”

  “How is that different?” Lachlan asked.

  Claire stared at him with condescension, presumably at his lack of magical knowledge. “It’s not powerful, black magic. Just a wee potion.”

  “Won’t they suspect something when they wake up?” Raina asked.

  “They’ll be confused. Have blank spots. Like when drinking too much and blacking out.”

  Lachlan tried to exchange a glance with Raina to get a read on the situation, but she tore her gaze away, giving him nothing.

  “I don’t have an alternative,” he said.

  Still avoiding eye contact, she shrugged. “All right.”

  A small victory. At least, she was still working on the plan, as ad hoc as it was turning out.

  While Claire trekked back to retrieve the potion, the humans stirred. Damn, if they woke up now, he’d have to come up with an explanation he didn’t have.

  Lachlan caught Gavin staring at Raina, drinking her in like she was a refreshing ale. Lachlan clenched his fist, ready to clobber all sordid thoughts he could practically see playing through Gavin’s filthy mind.

  No, wait—what was going on? That was the second time today he’d had this jealous response in regards to his brothers noticing Raina. Of course they’d notice her—she was breathtaking.

  She was also a wolf shifter. Part of the wolf pack. She wasn’t his and never would be. His possessive instincts were off base.

  Lachlan regained his bearing and explained what had happened by the time Claire had returned.

  “What the—what’s going on?”

  Shite. The blond human woke and was struggling to sit up.

  “I can’t move my legs!”

  “You had quite the fall,” Claire said, approaching him with a small cup. “Here, take this. It will help ease the pain.”

  His eyes widened with fear and distrust. “Who are you?”

  She ignored him, bringing the cup closer. “Take a sip. It will help.”

  “I’m not drinking something from someone I don’t know.”

  She rolled her eyes and waved her hand, muttering words Lachlan couldn’t hear. The male’s eyes appeared to lose focus. She pursed his lips enough to get the potion in. “Humans.” Following suit with the other two who were still passed out, she then stood upright and pushed out her chest. “All done. You have about thirty minutes until they wake.”

  It took a moment for Lachlan to realize what the witch had done. Had she resorted to the dark magic she’d referred to moments before or used another spell? With limited time, he didn’t waste any to question her. “Thank you.”

  She gave a curt nod. “You can take it from here, I’m assuming.”

  “Aye.”

  She turned and disappeared amid the lush greenery of the witches’ territory.

  “Ready?” he asked Bryce and Gavin.

  His brothers scooped up a male and female and ascended into the air. He unfurled his wings and picked up the remaining one, the one who’d woken up.

  “Wait,” Raina stopped him by touching his forearm.

  The gesture shot puzzling excitement through his body, just like it had done when he’d taken her hand in front of the humans.

  “I’m coming,” she said.

  Her reaction surprised him. “We don’t have much time. And flying is quicker.” Plus, he couldn’t risk being distracted by her, again.

  “I’m the only one representing my pack.” She snorted. “And I’m not going to let you botch up something, again. I’ll change to wolf form then and meet you there.”

  He grunted. It was no use arguing with her. What did it matter if she came? Besides, a small part of him inside didn’t want to part from her, yet. “Fine,” he snapped.

  “Lachlan.” She gritted her teeth, but stepped forward to hand three guns to him. “Take these out to sea and throw them far from shore.”

  When had she taken them from the other humans? Clearly, she was resourceful. “My hands are already full, Raina.”

  “Please.”

  The haunted glint in her wide eyes implored him, one he couldn’t resist, no matter how awkward it would be to carry them as well as a human. “I will.”

  “Hold on, this might help.”

  She dropped them on the ground and tore off the bottom hem of her dress. One part stretched higher than she’d likely intended and it revealed a tempting glimpse of her upper thigh. Why did she do that? That tiny piece of exposed skin set off an array of possibilities in his already imaginative fantasies. She used the strip of material to tie the weapons together.

  She approached him. “May I?”

  When he bent his head forward, she looped the makeshift hold around his neck. Her alluring female scent filled his nostrils, again.

  “Thank you.”

  Gratitude shined through her eyes. These weapons represented something to Raina, something that pained her. She’d entrusted him with that task, even after he’d behaved like an ultimate baboon. It had to have meant something important enough for her to ask him for help.

  Unable to say a word, he nodded before ascending with the human. He flew them over the heather-strewn moors and then the dense forests fringing gargoyle territory, glancing down for another glimpse at Raina. Deeper in their territory, he spotted the abandoned dwellings used by the gargoyles who’d left the isle. If he didn’t come up with any answers about gargoyle magic soon, he’d have to go to them.

  He grunted. How they’d love to see him grovel; school him in how wrong he was to have played music for humans. The elder gargoyles never understood. How freeing it was for Lachlan and his brothers to express themselves on stage, as their true selves, instead of masquerading as humans. Yet, what did the elders know? They spent most of their time in hiding.

  His muscles tensed, although flying often calmed him. After unleashing a string of curses, he searched his arsenal of magical knowledge. One insightful thought could spark the ammunition needed to repair the veil.

  The witches were likely brewing a potion or changing some spell or whatever they did to protect their territory. The wolf shifters—who knew what they did; so private and stealthy in their section of the island. Still, nothing came to him. What was he supposed to do?

  When he spotted Bryce and Gavin at the shore, he descended. They’d already propped the two humans into their boat. When Lachlan landed beside them, the guns clanged against the human’s head. Served him right for bringing weapons onto the Isle of Stone, especially for terrifying Raina. He stepped into the cool water of the Atlantic and set the male into the boat, trying to place him into a natural position. He and his brothers pushed the boat out to sea.

  “Be right back,” he told them.

  He fle
w far enough out to sea that the current wouldn’t carry the guns back any time soon and then even further to ensure it. If it ever happened, he guessed they’d be too rusted to function. Useless chunks of metal.

  Lachlan soared back to land, spotting a sterling gray wolf watching him from the shore. Red tartan hung from a ring around its neck. It must have been Raina’s dress.

  Even though he knew Raina was a wolf shifter and she’d told him she would change, her new form startled him. How could such a beautiful woman turn into a four-legged animal covered with fur? A sardonic laugh escaped him. He was a shifter, he knew how it worked. Besides his gargoyle form was not considered pretty.

  She loped with grace from the shore toward the forest. He had to admit she was still spectacular in wolf form, sleek and graceful.

  Where was she going?

  He landed on the rocky beach and retracted his wings, scanning for signs of the wolf through the trees. Moments later, a flash of red peeked through the forests. She emerged in human form, approaching him, a seductive sway to her lush curves as she padded through the sand now on two smooth and captivating female legs.

  He sucked in his breath.

  “They’re gone?” she asked.

  “Aye.” His voice came out all wrong, strangled. He cleared his throat. “Maybe the sea will carry them in the right direction. If not, they’ll have to figure it out with their instruments when they wake up. Not my problem.”

  “So we have a little more time to restore the veil?”

  “Perhaps, but not by much.”

  The veil. Damn. As soon as he took care of one predicament, the original one popped up. Time to man up and try to rectify his idiotic words. “Thank you for your help today.”

  She shrugged. “We all need to work together.” Her eyes lingered on him in a way that made him stand straighter. “Good luck.” She turned and strode toward wolf territory.

  No, he didn’t want her to leave. Not like this.

  “Listen,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done that earlier.” He remembered the sensual way she’d kissed him back. He didn’t regret the kiss at all, but what he’d said after about shutting her up. “I didn’t mean what I said.” He returned his gaze to her eyes, imploring her to believe him. “The situation—the uncertainty—” What was he trying to say?

  “Forget it,” she said with a knowing glint. “Forget it ever happened.”

  She turned and headed back to wolf territory. He stared, unobserved, eyes roving over her curves with deep speculation until the last speck of red disappeared in the trees.

  Forget it ever happened? Impossible.

  “No other signs of humans coming to the isle?” Lachlan asked his youngest brother, Calum, when they met at the amphitheater later that afternoon.

  “No. Mason and I searched over many miles,” Calum replied. After a pause, he asked, “How did the talks go? Prior to the incident with the humans?”

  Lachlan pictured Raina running to the talks. “None of this is going to be easy.”

  “They backed out of the peace talks?” Calum asked.

  “No,” Bryce replied. “There was more squabbling than talking, but we made progress.”

  “Dropping over two decades of suspicions isn’t going to happen in one day,” Lachlan explained.

  “Ah,” Calum replied. “Maybe Mason can help when it comes to the witches. Kayla must have some influence on her coven.”

  “Your interpretation of some is optimistic,” Lachlan said with a wry grin. “The elder witches don’t yield much. Very set in their ways. But you’re right,” he agreed. “We may be able to get through to them through the younger witches, like Kayla.”

  “Better than nothing,” Calum replied. “What about the wolf shifters?”

  Lachlan’s mind drifted back to Raina. Her wide eyes that burned with curiosity had been imprinted onto his memories. When they’d flashed at him with fury, she’d been even sexier.

  His actions still haunted him. Why did he go and kiss her, complicating an already difficult situation? She was a wolf shifter, off limits in so many ways.

  “Their alpha is more progressive than the witches. But there are many young ones in their pack, whom I fear may be loose cannons.”

  “I’m guessing you mean the same ones who came over here and attacked the humans.”

  “Them. And Seth, one of Ian’s betas.”

  “How many betas are there?”

  Lachlan thought of Raina. “Two. His daughter is the other.”

  “Her name is Raina,” Bryce added.

  Gavin said, “A bonnie lass.”

  Lachlan’s jaw twitched; the urge to shut Gavin up with a swift punch to the throat roared in him. Figured Gavin would choose that moment to contribute to the conversation.

  “A bonnie wolf?” Calum said. “I’d like to see that.”

  “Much nicer to see than the rabid canines who trespassed into our territory the other night and put us in a right state,” Gavin added.

  Relax, Lachlan directed himself. They’re your brothers. You’re acting irrationally.

  Gavin’s favorite topic was discussing lasses; there was nothing new with this conversation. Except who was mentioned.

  Raina.

  Gargoyles could become obsessed by the compulsion to protect someone, especially one whom they cared deeply about. But he’d never had this reaction before, let alone for a female and a wolf shifter. His hands were too warm, almost clammy. He relaxed them, rubbing the soft fabric of the kilt to keep them from clenching back into fists.

  “They killed our shows on the isle,” Bryce said. “Might as well get rid of our instruments as the Knights of Stone are dead.”

  “Don’t say that,” Calum said. “I don’t even want to think about that, yet. We spent too many years building the band only to have it implode in one night.”

  “We didn’t make us implode,” Bryce said. Shaking his head, he muttered, “Damn wolf shifters.”

  Even though Lachlan agreed, he was already teetering on the edge. Any more fodder would knock him off. Once he thought he reined his unchecked emotions, Lachlan said, “Many factors played a role. Let’s not point fingers. I’ve heard enough at the talks.”

  At the change in conversation, Bryce added, “It was quite the experience. Makes me glad I’m not alpha.” He turned to Lachlan. “You rankled the female earlier. She was a bit put out. What did you do?”

  “Never mind that,” Lachlan scoffed. He remembered how soft her lips were, how she melted into his embrace when they’d kissed. “Just a difference of opinion.” Not wanting to discuss Raina at all with his randy brothers, he said, “Bottom line is we’re all supposed to work on our magic to restore the veil.”

  “That’s good news,” Gavin said with a boyish grin.

  “Not exactly,” Bryce added.

  “What?”

  Three pairs of eyes faced Lachlan. “We don’t have enough information to do our part.”

  “So it’s over?” Gavin said. “Since we have nothing.”

  “Not yet.” He hated to take the next step, but hadn’t been able to think of another option. “I need to go to the Highlands and talk to the clan.”

  He could practically see the thoughts churning through his younger brothers’ minds—Lachlan was stuck. That was the only reason why he’d go to their former clan for help.

  Who knew if the plan with the three groups would even work. It was a big if. Capital I. Capital F.

  “When are you going?” Gavin said.

  “I fly at sunset.”

  “I’m coming,” Bryce declared.

  “Me, too.” Gavin said.

  “Well hell, count me in, too,” Calum added. “Maybe the clan will want to come back once the humans are gone. Then they’d definitely help us repair the veil.”

  “Calum, you’re too optimistic, as always,” Lachlan said.

  “Better than to be a cynical old man,” Calum teased.

  “Only naive twenty-somethings think thirties are
old,” Lachlan retorted. He glanced at each of his younger brothers in turn. As the eldest, they looked to him for guidance. He hoped he wouldn’t let them down.

  Their presence provided comfort in all the uncertainty, not that he’d turn all sappy and tell them. He already had enough to worry about. Would the Calder clan help him? Did he stand a chance at repairing the veil?

  Raina’s face appeared before him again. If he failed, he’d disappoint her as well. Why did that bother him most of all?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  After the sun descended in brilliant orange brush strokes across the horizon, the four brothers transformed to gargoyle form. Cloaking themselves so they’d be invisible to any human onlookers, they unfurled their wings and flew from the Isle of Stone. All were quiet during the flight, which gave Lachlan time to think. The only sounds came from the flap of their wings through the air and the distant sound of the ocean movement below.

  As they flew over the Atlantic, the moon grew brighter. The bright orb reflected in a thousand shimmering lights on the waves of the North Atlantic below. They appeared to float along beneath them as if accompanying them on their journey south. Had it been only a couple of days since the moon had been at its full peak, wreaking such havoc on the Isle of Stone?

  Know what you’re going to say? Bryce communicated to him through his thoughts.

  No. Even silently, he heard the curtness in his tone.

  After several minutes, Calum brought up the future of the band again.

  Just because we don’t have an audience on the isle doesn’t mean we can’t go back to the way we were before. Playing in the cities.

  Gavin let out a mirthless laugh. As humans. Masquerading like we’re one of them. Not being who we are.

  We knew from the beginning the concerts wouldn’t work forever on the isle, Lachlan reminded him.

  When dealing with humans, Bryce added, they find a way to botch things up.

  With supes, too, Gavin replied. I’m going to miss playing. All of it.

  Agree. From shifting from stone all the way to the end when we unfurled our wings and flew, Calum added.

  That’s the only choice, Lachlan declared, wanting to end this sore topic. We have more important things to worry about right now than the future of the band.