Page 37 of A Fine Scottish Spell (The Magical Matchmakers of Seven Cairns #2)
S cotland had finally gifted them a day balmy enough to suit Gryffe and convince him to keep his word to shift them to Seven Cairns.
Under no circumstances would he allow Emily to ride a horse, and that was fine by her.
If they shifted, she would have more time to visit with everyone and make that long overdue video call to her parents.
She dreaded that call, because she had to keep them in the dark about most of the things in her life while at the same time apologizing for disappearing off the face of the earth with no warning.
But Gryffe and even Nicnevin had sworn to help her convince her parents that all was well and normal in her new path as a wife and soon to be mother happily living in Scotland with her clan chieftain husband.
“Ye’ll soon feel the quickening, m’lady.” Inalfi beamed and fluttered about like an overjoyed butterfly while helping Emily dress. “I canna pull yer stays nearly so close as before. The wee ones are growing.”
Emily smoothed her hands down her slightly thicker middle. It was still too early to feel the babies’ movement, but the sensation of new life was unmistakable. “I can’t wait until they start kicking.”
Grimalkin leaned against her, purring so loudly that the vibration nearly shook her.
“Yes…you’re coming,” she told the spoiled panther. “Gryffe finally agreed.”
The great cat yawned and flexed its long whiskers as if pleased with the news that she too, would soon be transported to Seven Cairns.
“Are ye ready yet, my own?” Gryffe entered the bedchamber, stealing her breath away with his appearance.
“Well, aren’t you amazing?”
He smiled, melting her even more. “I thought to dress in my finest to meet yer parents and give them my oath to always protect their daughter and grandchildren.”
His black coat, broad at the shoulders and narrow at the waist, accentuated his alpha male physique to the nth degree.
He wore his colors proudly with his kilt pinned to his shoulder with the MacStrath crest. His close fitting breeches and tall black boots gave off pirate vibes and tempted her to ask Inalfi to leave the room so her husband could take her up against the wall.
He created an insatiable hunger within her that made her greedy for more.
He moved closer, tipped up her face up to his, and teased her with a sexy, lop-sided smile. “When we return, my love,” he said in a husky whisper. “If we give in now to what we crave, we will never get to Seven Cairns.”
She allowed herself a heavy sigh and stretched on tiptoe to steal a kiss. “I hate it when you’re right.”
With a smug tilt of his head, he wrapped his arms around her. “Ye must hate it all the time, then.”
Unable to refrain from rolling her eyes, she motioned Grimalkin closer. “We’re ready to shift whenever you are, my chieftain.”
“That feckin’ cat,” he muttered before nodding. “Hold fast, my own, and keep yer hand on yer wee guardian.”
She buried her fingers in the short black ruff at the back of Grimalkin’s neck. “Ready.”
“ Septem Cairnēs. ”
A flurry of wind gusted around them, making Emily close her eyes. When she opened them, she smiled. Gryffe had landed them directly in front of the pub. She gave him a quick kiss. “You are perfect.”
“Was there ever any doubt, lass?”
“Emily!” Lilias exploded out of the pub, running at full speed with her arms open wide. “I have missed ye so much!”
“You know me this time! You know me!” Emily caught the pub owner up in a tight hug and swayed back and forth with her. “You have no idea how good it feels to be recognized.”
Lilias set her back and gave her the saddest look. Tears gleamed in the pixie-like woman’s eyes. “Mairwen told me about that, and I couldn’t believe it. I am so sorry. I couldn’t see ye as ye truly are. I saw…something else.”
“From the sound of your voice, I don’t think I even want to know what you saw.” Emily pulled Lilias into another hug. “It doesn’t matter now. Everything’s all sorted—as the English say.”
Lilias playfully shook her. “Ye best be talking like a Scot, lass—not an English.” She gave Gryffe a look Emily didn’t quite understand. “We have a surprise for ye. Are ye ready?”
“Uhm…I guess so.” She had thought she’d be the one dishing out the surprises today by telling everyone about her pregnancy. She smoothed her gown more snugly across her middle and turned sideways. “Apparently, you already know?”
Lilias laughed, then tipped a nod at Gryffe. “Of course we know, lass. That one’s pride roared the news of yer wee ones across the realities.”
Emily gave Gryffe a look she knew he would understand. “You couldn’t let me tell a few people?”
“Ye get to tell yer parents during whatever that magic is ye spoke of. I merely told everyone else.”
“About that,” Lilias said as she looped her arm through Emily’s. “We’ve set up what ye need for yer call right here in the pub. The signal’s better and all.”
“I thought you said your signal was worse?”
“We got a new provider…uh…service for the internet. ’Tis much better. Even Keeva thinks so.”
“That’ll be nice,” Emily said even though she wasn’t all that keen on getting scolded in public. She felt certain her mother would have a great deal to say, and she deserved every bit of her parents’ angst. “Is it okay if Grimalkin comes inside? She’s well-behaved.”
Lilias leaned to one side and eyed the Fae panther quietly sitting behind Emily. “She knows not to attack unless ye give the order, aye? Even if someone makes sudden moves?”
“Sudden moves? What sudden moves?” Emily turned and looked at the pub.
Near as she could tell, there was very little going on inside, so there couldn’t be that many customers at this hour.
The breakfast folks should already be gone, and the lunch crowd wouldn’t arrive for an hour or so.
“I promise Grimalkin won’t react unless I’m threatened. ”
Lilias’s smile seemed a little strained—which was unusual, but Emily shrugged it off. The large Fae panther tended to have that effect on some people.
“Come, my own. Time to speak with yer parents.” Gryffe rested a protective arm around her. “Dinna be afraid,” he whispered. “All will be well.”
“I hope so.” She knew they’d be so relieved but also angry, confused, and frustrated. She loved them so very much and prayed she could make them understand that she was truly happy.
As they entered the cozy pub, she waved at Lilias’s brother Lyal behind the bar. With a small teapot, a plate of shortbreads, and a cup neatly arranged on a tray, he met them at their table, set the items down, and gave her a big hug. “Welcome back, Lady MacStrath. I’ve yer favorite tea ready.”
“Thank you, Lyal.” She thought about switching seats, since she’d ended up with her back to the door and facing the window, but the laptop was already at her spot, so she stayed put.
“I’ll fetch ye a whisky, Grand Chieftain,” Lyal said.
“Good man.” Gryffe kept his gaze locked on Emily, and she couldn’t figure out why.
“What’s wrong?” she quietly asked when Lilias went back behind the bar with Lyal.
Both of his sleek, dark brows arched higher. “Wrong?”
“Yes. Wrong. You’re on edge.”
“I am about to meet me wife’s parents. Is that not enough to put a man on edge?”
“I suppose you have a point.” She powered up the laptop, signed on, and clicked the link to make the video call.
It jingled and jangled like it always did while attempting to connect, but her mother never picked up.
“I know it’s early there, but she’s always up by six.
She thinks sleeping in is one of the seven deadly sins. ”
“Does she now?” Gryffe said, sounding distracted. He kept craning his neck as if trying to see behind the bar.
“What are you doing? Trying to admire yourself in the mirror back there?” She couldn’t resist teasing him. It helped allay her own nervousness.
“Excuse me, m’love. Lyal needs something.” He rose and hurried away, disappearing through the door behind the counter.
Emily tried to wave Lilias over, but she disappeared through the door after him.
“Well, good heavens, is something on fire back there or something?” Shaking her head at their strangeness, she turned back to the laptop and tried to get the call to go through again.
Disappointment and frustration filled her.
Had her mother had an early meeting or something?
Had she missed her? “Where are you, Mama?”
“Right behind you, dear.”
Emily held tight to the table and tried to remember how to breathe. “Mama?” she repeated ever so softly.
“Turn around and see, Emily.”
After a deep breath and a hard swallow, Emily pushed back her chair, slowly rose, then whirled about and split the air with a scream.
“You’re here!” She pulled her much shorter mother into an enormous hug and gave in to the happy sobs that refused to be denied.
“I missed you so much. It’s so wonderful to see you. ”
“Oh, my baby girl. I have missed you, too.” Mama hugged and patted and hugged some more. “I was so worried about you, Emily.”
“Do I not get a hug too?” Emily’s father asked. “I am here too, you know.”
“Papa!” Emily’s shriek made Grimalkin growl and move to her side. “No, no. It’s all right,” she told the cat. “These are my parents, Grimalkin. Never ever hurt them. Okay?”
The panther flipped her tail and sat back on her haunches.
“Quite the pet you have there, daughter,” her father said as he hugged her more gently than she’d hugged her mother. As she stepped back, he smiled down at her middle. “Twins, I hear. Who is your OB/GYN? I would like to have a word with him or her and ensure they are worth their salt.”
“We can talk about that later,” Emily said, hoping to dodge the question permanently. She pulled Gryffe closer. “From the way you two are acting, I take it you have already met my wonderful husband?”
“You mean the man who stole you from us?” her mother said with a condescending sniff.
“Aye, that would be me,” Gryffe said, jutting his chin to a more defiant angle.