Page 11 of A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star (Tales from the Tarot)

Chapter eleven

Noah

Mama Delilah’s Daily Horoscope Reading

You’re full of fire and passion today, but don’t lose sight of what’s most important, Sagittarius. Keep your wits about you and steer clear of trouble. The stars are saying you’re about to make a new friend, but watch out for foes on the horizon. No one is an island, and neither are you. Believe in those who’ve earned your trust. They’ll be there for you when you need them most.

E lryk immediately jumps to his feet and that’s when he seems to realize that, apart from my underwear, I have no viable clothes left. He ripped my jeans to shreds—talk about hot—and my shirt is covered in come from both of us, and is probably super crusty by now.

I manage to pull on my boxer briefs, but I’m startled when he unravels his discarded kilt and covers me with it.

“Wear this, mo ghràidh.”

I try not to let my giddiness show. That’s the second time he’s called me that. He might not realize it, but I understand what that means. I’ve watched Outlander enough to know the Gaelic for “my love.”

But we don’t have time to get into that right now, especially since I suspect his usage of the term was a bit unconscious on his part. I clutch that precious secret to my heart and survey Elryk’s fabulously naked body.

“What are you going to wear?”

He shrugs. “Most of this lot has seen me naked at some point or other.

It doesn’t bother me.”

“I’m not ashamed of my body. I have no problem showing it off either.”

His eyes flash red for a second, and I gasp. I had no idea they could do that!

Elryk makes that wonderful rumbling noise again and his expression turns dark. “But I dinnae want anyone else to see your beautiful naked body, only me.”

I run a hand through my disheveled hair. “You sure know how to flatter a boy.”

I let him arrange the kilt around me, which contains quite a bit more material than I realized.

Once he has me rather modestly covered, he leads the way out of the room.

Braewyn’s waiting for us on the other side, and obviously trying to fight back a very obvious smirk of satisfaction. “I see you two are getting along well now. That’s good.”

I stand tall and push my chest out as I strut down the corridor, wrapped in Elryk’s kilt and smelling like sex.

Do not pop another boner right now! I tell myself repeatedly.

I clear my throat. “Of course, we get along famously. We’re fated mates, after all. Destined for greatness and all that jazz.”

Or jizz.

I snort and try not to giggle as my mind reverts to being fifteen. This happens to me sometimes when I’m coming down from a post-orgasm high. But man, oh man, watching Elryk come like a fire hydrant all over me earlier was quite possibly one of the sexiest things I’ve ever experienced in my life.

Elryk loops his arm through mine and walks confidently at my side, utterly naked. And damn if that isn’t one hundred percent distracting.

“Are you just strolling through the castle like that?” Braewyn adds, clearly amused.

I toss my hair. “No walk of shame here, honey. We both got laid, and we’re feeling fine. Ain’t nobody gonna bring us down.”

Braewyn laughs. “It’s official. I like you.” He follows alongside us and pats Elryk on the back. “The Goddess chose well, my friend. I’m happy for you both, and I hope I get so lucky one day.”

I nearly stumble when I see a big, bright smile bloom on Elryk’s normally serious face. It’s absolutely stunning and somehow makes him even more handsome. So much so that I’m a little weak in the knees at the sight.

“You’ve got time for a quick shower, but make it fast,” Braewyn tells us.

Elryk nods and scoops me up in his arms before I have a moment to protest, and then he’s half running and half flying up the stairs to what I realize is his bedroom.

I’ve not been in here yet, but I don’t have time to look around either as he deposits me in the bathroom.

“Get in the shower. I’ll run to your room and get you some fresh clothes.

We’ve got to hurry, though.”

I sigh but do as he asks. It seems we’ll have to save more sexy fun for later.

By the time he gets back with my clothes, I’m nearly finished washing up, and I hop out of the shower as he jumps in.

I cast a last lingering look of regret at his beautiful bare backside and tail— is he really going to fuck me with it? —before I towel off and get dressed.

I smile to myself when I realize he’s selected a white pair of boxer briefs from my bag complete with a colorful rainbow on the front and the words “I woke up this gay.”

Awww. My gargoyle boo gets me.

I pull them on along with my last clean pair of jeans and a long-sleeved red crewneck. It’s not exactly as warm as I’d like since the weather is a bit chillier than I anticipated here in the Highlands. Besides, I only packed about a week’s worth of clothes for this trip, so I’m probably going to have to see about finding somewhere I can purchase a few more things, including some heavier sweaters.

That brings me to a halt, and I sit down on Elryk’s bed as I fully absorb the reality of my new situation.

I’ll actually need to get quite a number of things if I’m going to be staying here. My parents can probably ship a few essentials and put anything else in storage. I don’t have a ton in that tiny apartment in Chicago in any case, and not much that I’d miss really.

And I do fully intend to move here and make this my new home.

What I told Elryk wasn’t a lie.

Part of me recognizes this whole situation is a little bit bananas, but it also feels so fucking right. The moment the Oracle told me the situation, my gut instinct acknowledged the truth of it all. I’m also happier than I’ve been in I don’t know how long.

Of course, some of that’s probably due to the fact that I just got laid, but still.

Elryk is amazing, and I want to know everything there is to know about him. I’m quite confident we could be awesome mates, and our sexual chemistry is off the charts, so that’s a really fucking good start in my book.

By all that is holy, do I ever want him to fuck me for real. Believe me, I’m going to make that happen sooner rather than later. Life’s too short, and I’m not going to miss out.

While I don’t fully comprehend all that this bond between us entails, I do know that even in such a short time I can’t imagine being apart from Elryk for long.

I already care for him more than I have for anyone possibly ever.

It’s not precisely love just yet, at least I don’t think so, but I have a sneaking suspicion it won’t be long before I’m head over heels for my very own real-life Goliath.

I seriously need to introduce him to that old cartoon. He could give Keith David a run for his money with his deep, sexy voice—and the accent on top of it. Mmmmm…

I can only hope that by the point I’m gaga for my gargoyle, he’ll feel the same about me.

There’s still a lot of things we need to figure out. First and foremost in my mind is money. What kind of work can I do here to make money for myself? Is the clan going to pay me for my services as a Conduit, presuming I can actually do what they think I can? That seems kind of… icky, especially since I’ll be essentially getting room and board for free already. But at the same time, I’m not a citizen and this castle is quite remote. Finding a day job could be tricky.

Then there’s the matter of getting a visa to stay here. Will Elryk and I need to get married for that?

Thankfully, the UK recognizes interspecies marriages among humans and Otherkind, but it could still become a bit of a long and drawn-out process from what I’ve read.

For now, though, I set aside these concerns since we need to hear more about what urgent news awaits us.

Once Elryk is dressed in a fresh kilt, we hurry back downstairs and this time head toward the Great Hall, where a larger group of Guardians have gathered. A new gargoyle I haven’t met stands beside Kelwyn at the front of the room, talking quietly with him.

As I survey the group, I have to marvel at just how handsome all of these Guardians are. No doubt many of them are waiting to find their fated mates as well. I truly hope the Oracle’s vision was correct, and that I’m only the first of many to come along.

Once everyone is seated, Kelwyn gets their attention. “I’m sorry for having to call you here so late this evening, but we have urgent news. I’ll let my brother explain what he’s discovered.”

“That’s Raedyn,” Elryk whispers in my ear and I nod.

“As you all know,” Raedyn begins, “our clan leader sent me out west to try and discover what this forthcoming threat is that the Oracle saw in her vision.” He swallows and I could almost swear his gray face goes ghostly pale for a second. “’Tis no ordinary threat we’ll be facing, but an ancient one that few remember nowadays.”

Elryk sits at attention, his entire body rigid and on high alert.

“The Sluagh are coming.”

The room goes deathly quiet before everyone breaks out into anxious whispering.

He might as well have said the classic Game of Thrones line, “Winter is coming.”

Kelwyn raises a hand for quiet and everyone settles down.

“But I thought the fae had tight control over them. They’ve not been seen in our realm for hundreds of years,” someone I don’t know calls out.

Raedyn’s expression turns grim. “I’m afraid the evidence is irrefutable. And from the fae representative I managed to speak with, it appears that a portal between their realm and ours was opened that shouldn’t have been.”

Louder whispers follow this news.

“They’re still investigating on their end,” Raedyn continues, “but they aren’t quite sure who did this or how. Although the portal’s been closed since it was discovered, it was open long enough for quite a few… unknown things to cross over to this side.”

“What exactly are these Sluagh you mentioned?” I decide to ask

Raedyn stares at me for a long moment and then smiles. “You must be the Conduit. Welcome and thank you for being here in our time of need. We will undoubtedly need your power to help us against this threat.” He takes a deep breath and lets it out. “The Sluagh have a number of different legends about them. They’re a long-forgotten threat, usually found in the Western Hebrides, where portals used to open more often between this realm and that of the fae. From what the DarkWing clan history books indicate, they are dark spirits that try to attack the living. They’re malevolent and destructive in nature, and always hunt in packs. They can also fly like us. The Sluagh require the life force of the living to survive, but this time they appear to be heading straight toward a greater source of power.”

“Our ley line,” Elryk rumbles.

Raedyn nods. “Aye.”

“Is the power of a ley line similar to a life force?” I ask.

“Not all ley lines,” Raedyn explains, “but this one, most definitely. As the line that provides most of the magical energy in this realm and feeds other smaller ley lines all over the world, it possesses a unique wellspring of energy that is unparalleled. Some believe it is a direct line to the Goddess, although we cannot say for sure.” His expression turns steely. “All I know is that we cannae allow the Sluagh to have any of that magic for themselves. They’re dangerous enough already; we cannae allow them to become more powerful. All Guardians will need to be prepared to fight.” He looks at Elryk. “And we must strengthen the barrier before they get here.”

“How much time do we have?” Elryk asks, his expression deadly serious.

“A few days at most.” He turns to me. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to learn to use your powers fast, Conduit, if you’re to help us weather this onslaught.”

Elryk clasps my hand and squeezes it. I squeeze back.

“I understand. I’ll do everything I can to help Elryk and the rest of the clan.”

Raedyn nods and gives me an approving smile. “Some of our agents out west are monitoring the situation and doing their best to ensure the Sluagh stay as far away from human towns and cities as possible. Our only advantage right now is that they appear to be more interested in the ley line than in the human population, but that won’t last. If their power grows, they’ll move on to attack them eventually, and we cannae allow that.”

Kelwyn moves to his brother’s side. “I’m calling in reinforcements from all over the country to help us, but Guardians of the Line, we will need you most of all to protect our people and uphold our duty. Begin preparing for battle.”

At that moment, the Oracle glides into the room, her cane moving back and forth to guide her to Kelwyn’s side, where she stands and faces us.

“Fear not, my fellow clan members. Although the coming threat is deadly and powerful, we can defeat it. The Conduit is the key.” She turns her milky-white gaze straight in my direction, and I can’t help but shiver. “I have had another vision. Elryk DarkWing, you must take the Conduit to Loch Ness to help him tap into his abilities. There, our long-standing friend and ally will guide him.”

Elryk stands and bows. “It shall be done.”

Kelwyn begins organizing Guardians into different groups and assigning them preparation responsibilities while Elryk leads me out of the Great Hall.

“I know it’s getting late, but time is of the essence. Do you think you can handle a trip to Loch Ness?”

I steel my resolve. “Who needs sleep when the fate of the world is on the line? There’s no way I’m letting some evil creatures get the better of us.”

He grins. “It looks like I’ll be taking you for a visit to Loch Ness much sooner than I’d anticipated.”

I rub my hands together with glee. “Bring it on. I’m so ready to meet Nessie.”

His lips twitch. “I am glad to hear that, because Nessie’s going to be your teacher this evening.”