Knights of Stone - Lachlan (11 page)

“Mason?”

“That’s the one.”

“Aye. As were his brothers,” she added with a twinge of guilt, turning her gaze to the fire.

Stop it, stop it. Why don’t you just spill how you kissed him next? Twice.

His brows twitched. “Doing what?”

“Moving logs for the house Kayla and Mason will live in.”

“In the moors,” he said. “Which has been neutral territory all these years.”

She didn’t follow his tone so she turned to him. “Meaning?”

“I know I’m the one who approached Kayla and Mason for help. But it’s been a long time since our kinds have interacted, and it will take time to get used to. With the predicament with the humans, it all seems so rushed.”

Raina pursed her lips, carefully considering her words before she replied. “Change is always hard. But maybe we waited too long. And we needed a catalyst to make us act.”

His gaze flickered over her face with a thoughtful expression. “Maybe.” With a wave of his hand, he added, “Seeing you work with the gargoyle Lachlan made it real all too quick.”

Lachlan. Hearing her father say his name brought the guilt roaring forth.

“We had to,” she said. “That was the best option we had at the time.”

“I know, I know.” With a lift of his head, he asked, “Was he there?”

Oh no, she didn’t like this turn of the conversation. “Aye.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“Aye.” Her wolf raised her head, perking her ears. “Why?”

“Nothing, nothing.” He brushed it off. A second later, he asked, “What did he talk to you about?”

Not sure how much she should tell him, she kept it as general as possible. “He had a couple of questions about magic.”

“Oh?” Both his eyebrows shot up. “What exactly?”

“Just some tips on how to conjure magic.” When he continued to study her, she added, “He doesn’t have the elders of his clan around to guide him.”

“True, they cut and ran as soon as the humans came.” His voice had a bitter edge he didn’t often use. “Giving up the island a little too easily.”

“Truth be told, the humans trampled through gargoyle territory. They didn’t come to ours.”

“
We
didn’t give them reason to. Creating a spectacle like some human rock band.”

Raina opened her mouth and then closed it. No point in starting an argument that would give away her feelings about Lachlan—something she wasn’t sure she could identify herself.

“So did you help him?”

She shrugged in an attempt for nonchalance. “I gave him some tips. You know, clear your mind and all. Don’t see why I shouldn’t since we’re all working toward a common goal, you know?”

He scrutinized her. “I wonder why he came specifically to
you
.”

“I was there in the moors,” she said, trying not to sound defensive. “He knows me a bit, right? I mean we ended up spending some time together with that situation with the humans.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I wonder if there’s more to it.”

Her heart pounded under his scrutiny. “Like what?”

“I’ve seen how he looks at you.”

Fire burned in her cheeks, but curiosity got the best of her. “How?”

“With interest.” He leaned forward. “Even with that impassive look all gargoyles take on, I could see it in his eyes.” He pointed to his own. “It’s all there. You can practically read someone’s thoughts if you focus.”

Since he’d been eying her so intently, she shifted her gaze to the fire, and suspected the heat in her cheeks had little to do with the flames. The fiery mix of colors reminded her of sunset—when she’d meet Lachlan again.

“Come on.” She waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “A wolf shifter and a gargoyle? You know that would never happen.”

He gritted his teeth. “I hope not.”

She considered telling him more. She picked up a stick and moved some logs, kicking the fire up with fresh oxygen. After several moments, she admitted, “I said I’d help him.”

“With what?” Her father straightened beside her.

“Tap into his energy, find his magic.”

In the silence that followed, a thousand accusations battered in her mind.

In a lower tone, he asked, “Why would you do that?”

She shuffled some of the embers with the stick. “He has no one else to guide him. And it’s imperative we restore the veil. Without the gargoyle magic, it won’t work. We need them as much as he needs my help right now.” She rushed it out so quickly, she had to take a breath.

Seconds stretched out, echoing the passage of time like her drumming heartbeat. He was going to disown her.

No. Why was she thinking he’d react that way? They were close; she’d always been her daddy’s girl. He was a great father and a reasonable alpha.

Her father punched into the earth, the grass flattening under the blow. “Damn it.”

His unexpected reaction startled her, setting her off with a defensive string of sentences. “So I
should
help him, right? After all, the humans could be back any moment. And we saw what happened to the younger wolves during the last full moon.” The quick succession of thoughts echoed her own attempts trying to convince herself what she was doing was right, while the dark temptation that pounded through her body hinted at other motives.

He closed his eyes and reopened them, staring into the fire. “I’m the one who went to a gargoyle and witch at first. Now, my daughter’s helping a gargoyle?”

“I’m doing it for the pack, Papa. For all of us.”

She always believed in pack before self. As much as she told herself that was her motive, her wolf sensed otherwise.

Her father searched her face; his expression seemed to contort with a battle raging within. She guessed it included both loyalty to the pack and a love of family.

“I know you are, Raina. It is best for the pack.” He nodded. “You’ll make a good alpha one day when I’m gone. With your
wolf
mate.”

The way he emphasized wolf
indicated he knew more than he may have been letting on.

“Oh stop that. Let’s not talk about when you’re gone. You’re still young, and I hate to think of it.”

“Aye, but we need to prepare for the inevitable. Without the next alphas lined up, many packs fall apart with those fighting for that role. I’m glad you will be the one to lead. With Seth.”

She glanced over at the other pack members congregating near their homes. Seth caught her eye as if he’d been keeping watch on their discussion and she turned away. She was supposed to rule with him one day, mate with him. So why was she kissing Lachlan earlier and enjoying every forbidden second of it?

Enough. Seth was her future. She didn’t belong with Lachlan. No reason to stray from her pack, away from her kind. Maybe she and Seth didn’t share that mystical connection that only existed between mates, but perhaps that was better. Her father still ached after losing his mate. All because of humans. And their weapons.

That thought triggered a memory of her begging Lachlan to get rid of the weapons. How he’d looked at her with such compassion when taking on that task. How he understood what strong emotions they caused her, opening his arms to her.

She closed her eyes.
Don’t. You’re just making it harder.

Opening them, she resolved to regain control of her wayward emotions, which served no purpose other than to mess up her mind. Sure, she may be helping Lachlan now, but if they restored the veil, they’d have no reason to interact again.

“Of course.” She raised her chin to squelch the discomfort churning within. “My loyalty is with the pack.” She glanced around wolf territory—modest homes in clearings where wolves could bask in the sun surrounded by forests with dense cover. This was the only home she’d ever known, her only family. Her father was alpha, reinforcing that fact. And after her mother had died, the other women had taken on maternal roles in her life. Her curiosity about the outside world and other options was a foolish distraction.

The playful cubs had worn themselves out and now curled up together and napped. She squelched her curiosity. This was her world—her pack.

Raina swallowed a lump in her throat and declared, “My future is here.”

Unable to nap with her mind restless, Raina spent the time in wolf form. Hunting prey, she nabbed a rabbit as she waited for the sun to set. At least, that way, she could stop obsessing about Lachlan.

She wasn’t hungry so she dragged the rabbit to their cooking area as someone was sure to eat it. The aroma of meat being grilled over an open fire reached her nostrils, but she still had no appetite. She left the prey, nodding to a male pack mate, Brodrick, who’d dubbed himself master of the grill. He smiled and muttered, “Thanks.”

When she shifted to human form, she wandered down to the shore. Seth was there, staring out to the sea.

When he spotted her, he approached. “I was just thinking about you. Are you all right?”

“Aye,” she replied quickly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’ve been acting off lately.” He eyed her with concern.

“I’m fine.”

He was a good wolf, and he cared about her—as she cared for him. When they weren’t having daft arguments, they got on well. Maybe if they could ignite a spark, they could make it work.

She tried to appraise him from an objective distance, as a new shifter to the pack would—not one who’d known him since he was a cub. She focused on his golden looks and defined muscles; forcing herself to look at him and feel
something.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Nothing. No internal spark. No heat that simmered beneath her skin like when she was near Lachlan. She’d never had that exhilarating moment when their bodies touched. The mere gesture of Lachlan holding her hands in his had electrified her. And when they’d kissed…

“Just thinking.” Her cheeks burned. “I’ll see you later.” She hurried from him before he asked more questions.

She wandered back into the forest where she could be alone. Pacing paths covered with pine needles and edged with fern, her skin tingled with anticipation. She would see Lachlan soon.

Sunset couldn’t come fast enough.

When the sunlight dipped lower, drifting through the foliage of oaks and pine above, Raina trekked back to meet Lachlan. Would he be awake yet? They’d planned to meet back at the cove. If not, she’d wait for him there in the quiet spot where she could be alone with her thoughts.

Her quick pace neared a run as she rushed through the forest. The darkening sky filled with charcoal clouds, indicating rain was likely. The aroma of damp foliage lingered in the air. Her wolf prowled inside, itching with that elusive need for something, which Raina had been trying to figure out.

She reached the cove and glimpsed Lachlan perched on a rock staring out to the sea—almost a mirror image of when she’d seen Seth earlier. Emotions churned through her; a vastly different reaction from when she’d spotted Seth. Her wolf wagged her tail with satisfaction. Raina tamped down the thrill and slowed her steps.

“Hi,” she said in a breathless voice.

When Lachlan faced her, eying her in a way that suggested he was drinking her in from head to toe, her skin tingled with sudden awareness.

“Raina.” He stood and reached her in two massive strides.

For a moment, she thought he’d take her in his arms again, but he stopped. She wrapped herself in his scent, as warm and comforting as a lamb’s wool blanket on a bitterly cold night.

“You get any rest?

“Some.”

“Ready to try again?”

“I am. My brothers and I worked on what you told me.”

“Anything?” She asked with a glimmer of hope.

“I can sense them and they me. Something’s happening, but we’re far from making any significant progress.”

“That’s good news,” she replied. “Maybe with more practice, it will be even better.”

She worked with him for several minutes to help him clear his mind and pinpoint his energy inside. Despite his attempts, something was off. He wasn’t fully connected like he had been the last time they’d tried.

“You seem distracted.”

His gaze flickered across her face and then off to an unfixed point out to the sea. “Something has been bothering me.”

“What?”

“Since you mentioned you will mate with Seth—”

Her muscles tightened. She crossed her arms, stepping back. When he didn’t finish his thought, she nudged, “What about it?”

“I—” His jaw tightened. “He—”

What was he trying to say? “Lachlan?”

His jaw moved from one side then the other. “I don’t like it,” he said through clenched teeth.

She studied him, hands balled into fists and eyes glaring straight ahead. “Is it jealousy?” she guessed, a part of her gleeful at the thought.

He squared his jaw. “I don’t know what it is, but I hate thinking of it.” He dropped his fist onto the rock, but it didn’t appear to affect him “Let’s not talk about it.”

“You brought it up.”

“Forget I said it.”

Ignoring his attempt to brush it away, she prodded, “Does this mean you have feelings for me?”

“Don’t ask me that, Raina.” He ran his fingers through his hair so rough, like he was trying to push something away. “What’s the point? Even if I did, you know this can’t go anywhere.” He motioned between them.

An unexpected shimmer of happiness gushed within. He felt
something
for her.

When a breeze rolled in from the ocean, the brisk air slapped her back to reality as she took in his words. He was right. They could never be together.

“True.” She inclined her head to the right and admitted, “Still, I like seeing you get a little jealous over me.”

“Do you?” He stared at her, not masking his torment. “Do you like how insane you’ve made me since I met you? Unable to focus on anything else, when I’m facing the biggest challenge yet? If I fail at this, we all fail.”

He turned back to face the ocean. The calm waves had given way to more turbulent ones rolling in, which signaled the storm was moving closer. The sky had completely darkened; layers of gray clouds dimmed the moonlight, casting shadows that fit his gloomy expression.

Despite his gruff tone, his admission touched her. He confided in her—his feelings and even his vulnerabilities—something she never would have pictured him doing. A few raindrops fell on his bicep and rolled over the curve of his muscle down his arm.