Page 7 of A Highland Gargoyle’s Lucky Star (Tales from the Tarot)

Chapter seven

Noah

Mama Delilah’s Daily Horoscope Reading

Hold on to your hat, Sagittarius! That new love interest is taking center stage and making you swoon. You may not have been lucky in love for quite a while, but this one’s different. However, they also won’t be easily won over. You’re going to have to work for their love and affection. Don’t give up! Your tenacity will pay off if you stick with it. After all, you’re pretty irresistible, and they’ll realize it too if you make sure not to let them get away!

“ I ’m never drinking again, even if Scotsmen in kilts tempt me,” I moan pitifully as I sit up in bed and cradle my throbbing head.

There’s a faint chuckle off to my right and I jerk my head in that direction. I have to blink several times to make sure I’m not still dreaming.

“Holy hotter than Goliath! You’re real?”

The big, brawny gargoyle I dreamed about all night is standing by a tall window with his muscular—and shirtless, might I add—arms crossed.

“Aye, I’m Elryk. I caught you before you could fall off that train last night.”

I gasp as my memories come back to me and I look around, bewildered.

“I appreciate you saving me from imminent death and all, but where the heck am I?”

Elryk’s expression is brooding. “You’ll be staying here at DarkWing Castle for a time in order to keep you safe.”

He moves slowly toward the bed and picks up a glass of water from the side table, then hands it to me. “Drink this.”

I take a sip and then massage my temple, wincing when I encounter the lump from when that fucker Malcolm punched me last night. “Got any aspirin too?”

He goes to the door and opens it, speaking quietly to someone on the other side then returns to his former position.

“My colleague will bring some shortly.”

I take another drink of water, the cool liquid a balm on my parched throat. My mouth feels like ass and I seriously want to brush my teeth. A shower would be nice too.

But first things first.

“Um, so. Am I being held captive here?”

Elryk’s face goes blank. “You’re an honored guest of the DarkWing gargoyle clan.”

I narrow my eyes. “Then why is someone just hanging around outside this room? Seems like a guard to me.”

“For your safety.”

I cross my much smaller arms in a huff and do my best furrowed-brow glare. “Look, Mr. Duncan-MacLeod-From- Highlander -Meets-Goliath-from- Gargoyles , don’t think you can pull the wool over my eyes just because you’re sexy as hell. I’m nobody’s fool.”

That seems to get a reaction out of him. He takes a step back and shifts awkwardly.

Ha! Serves you right . I may be tiny, but I can be intimidating!

Then I do a double take. “Hold on. Back up. My brain’s not fully online yet. Did you say we’re in a motherfreaking castle ?”

His gaze turns wary. “Aye. DarkWing Castle.”

Well now, that changes things.

I explode out of bed like a bottle rocket. “Shit! Where’s my phone? I’ve so got to take some pictures for my parents. They’ll lose their minds.” I pat my pockets and frown, then I spy my bag from the train in the corner of the room and hurry over to it. “Wow. How’d you manage to get my things?”

My disastrous exit from the train hadn’t exactly afforded me time to grab my bag.

“One of my men returned to the train and removed everything he believed was yours from your compartment.”

I beam at him. “Thanks.” I step closer and grab one of his hands, pumping it furiously. “Nice to meet you! Again. I’m Noah. Thanks for saving me from what promised to be a messy and unpleasant death last night.”

His green eyes go wide and he stares at me like I’m some kind of fascinating but potentially dangerous creature.

As I hold his hand, that strange tingly zap of energy courses through me again, just like when I met the brownie and the orc. I’m starting to think it must be magic associated with Otherkind. Given I haven’t had a lot of experience with other species—my neighborhood is mostly made up of humans—I don’t know what is or isn’t normal when it comes to Otherkind.

But even as the zing of electrical power starts to fade to a hum, something else remains. I don’t know how to describe it exactly. It’s a bit like being wrapped in a heated blanket in the winter—cozy, comfy, and soothing.

I can’t seem to let go of Elryk’s hand, which is so much bigger and rougher than mine, and I stare up into his jade-green eyes. Moving closer, I find myself sniffing and then letting out a dreamy sigh. “You smell really good. Like musk and rain and sandalwood, all mixed up.” I inhale deeply and press closer, wanting to get all up in his personal space. “Mmmmm. Love it.”

Elryk’s eyes flash dangerously, but then he pulls back and swallows, a low rumble sounding in his chest that makes me downright giddy.

There’s a knock at the door and I could swear relief washes over the handsome gargoyle’s face.

I mentally cringe. I could have sworn he was feeling it too. Was I just throwing myself at a hot and uninterested guy?

Yep. Sounds about right for my track record.

I let go of his hand and he hurries to the door, where another gargoyle hands him some pills.

Elryk sets them on the nightstand. “Your aspirin.” He gestures toward a door on the opposite side of the room. “Please use the facilities to clean up and then I’ll show you around the castle. I’ll just be waiting outside for you. You’ll meet with my clan leader tonight.”

Before I can say anything, he exits the room and closes the door firmly behind him.

Ah, rejection, how I know thee well…

Of course some sexy gargoyle Highland warrior come to life, like a fantasy I never knew I had, wouldn’t want anything to do with me and my creepy come-on.

What had I even been thinking?

Okay, I hadn’t actually been thinking at all. It was pure instinct. I’d been drawn to him like a Noah-sized magnet, pulled toward his glorious body and irresistible scent. Sadly, he hadn’t been equally drawn to me.

Sadder still, I realize, now that we’re no longer touching, I don’t feel that amazing electric-blanket-of-the-soul sensation anymore. I suspect that was all Elryk’s super amazing mojo at work. If I can find a chance to bump into him, I need to test out my theory.

For reasons.

I down the aspirin and the last of my water, then make my way to the bathroom. It’s all white tiles and utilitarian design, with just a toilet, pedestal sink, and a shower stall. After I’ve done my morning business, I turn on the water and step under the spray once it’s steaming hot.

The pressure is good and the water feels glorious against my body, which I realize now has some other aches and pains from my scuffle with my would-be kidnapper last night. Thankfully, toiletries are stocked for guests and I’m able to wash my hair with a nice minty shampoo and scrub down with some refreshing citrusy soap. The whole ritual, on top of the aspirin now working its way through my system, has me feeling much better and clearer-headed.

My momentary sulky mood vanishes in the steam of the bathroom and my attitude realigns. After all, it’s not like Elryk said, “Ewww! Get away. You’re gross!” Maybe I just came on a bit too strong? Then again, he might not be into guys, or he may have a significant other, or both. But I won’t know until I try making friends with him. Even if I can’t touch, I’ll be happy to look—in a respectful way, of course.

Also, I’m apparently in some kind of castle and I have to explore every inch of it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and no doubt something I’ll be telling candy stripers in the gay nursing home one day.

Ah, let me tell you young whippersnappers about the time I was whisked away to a castle in the Highlands of Scotland by a gorgeous gargoyle…

Chuckling to myself, I step out of the shower after I’ve probably used most of the castle’s hot water—sorry, not sorry—and grab a big fluffy towel off a rack thing on the wall. I nearly swoon.

It’s warm ! The towel feels like it just came out of the dryer. I smile and wrap it around myself like a hug. Sometimes it’s the small things in life, you know?

Curious, I study the rack on the wall and realize it connects to a radiator. Carefully, I touch the metal and find it hot.

“I totally need one of these back home, especially during Chicago winters,” I mutter to myself.

I hurry out and grab my phone, snapping a picture to send to my parents later. For now, I’ll hold off on texting because I don’t know what to say that won’t freak them out—especially Mom—and I don’t want to lie.

Hey, Mom! I nearly got kidnapped and possibly trafficked by some Zoolander model-wannabe with a freaky needle. Then I fell off a train and almost died but got rescued in the nick of time by a supersexy gargoyle in a kilt! Oh, and there was a bus thing too but I Sandra Bullocked my way out of that one and saved the day, in fact!

Le sigh.

Yeah, I have no desire to give her a heart attack or have her jumping on the first plane over here. First, I need to figure out what the hell is going on.

My stomach growls like a saber-toothed tiger.

Okay, food first, then answers.

I rummage through my backpack and find a fresh pair of jeans and a blue hoodie. Then I grin in triumph and yank out a clean pair of black novelty boxer briefs. The word “Nice” is styled above the crotch and right on top of my junk is the white silhouette of a rooster.

Heh .

Whistling a merry tune to myself, I quickly get dressed and voila, I’m presentable and ready to explore the shit out of this castle.

Opening the door Elryk disappeared through earlier, I find him waiting just outside, an unreadable expression on his handsome face.

In response, I flash him my biggest and brightest smile. “Where can I get some food in this joint?”

As if to illustrate my need, my stomach makes another ridiculous noise.

Elryk’s lips twitch. “You’ve got a noisy belly for being such a wee thing.”

I pat my stomach. “I may be small, but I have a big appetite.” I send an exaggerated wink his way. “For more things than just food.”

Sure, that was cheesy. But I can play the goofball with the best of them.

But I startle when I get a good look at Elryk.

Holy hell. I swear his gray cheeks just darkened even as a hint of a smile curves one side of his mouth.

Is he… blushing?

A thrill zips through me.

What a cutie!

Elryk clears his throat. “Follow me and I’ll see you’re fed. Then I’ll show you around.”

The hallway he takes me down has stone floors lined with rugs, and I can’t help but stare around me in awe. It’s like I’ve wandered into some medieval HGTV house-hunting show or something. The castle still possesses hallmarks of its ancient past, but it’s also clearly been modernized in more recent years.

We turn down another corridor and then take a narrow stone flight of steps down a level. When we reach the next floor, we head down a wider hallway that opens out into a massive entryway and I’m so busy looking around, trying to take in everything I’m seeing, that I bump into Elryk and fall flat on my ass.

“Damn, man. You’re probably as solid as one of the castle walls,” I say as I climb to my feet and massage my poor derriere.

I hear a hearty laugh and turn to see another gargoyle striding toward us.

He’s wearing the same kilt as Elryk, and is also sans shirt.

Hell yeah. I freaking love how these gargoyles roll!

This guy has short dark hair and deep blue eyes. He’s a little shorter than Elryk but equally built, and he flashes me a killer smile when he catches me watching.

Evidently, he’s also a charmer.

“You must be Noah,” he says, reaching out his hand.

I take it and once again feel that strange jolt of energy shock me for an instant, but it fades quickly.

The gargoyle smiles. “I’m Braewyn.” He points at Elryk. “This grumpy bastard’s best friend.”

I can’t help it. I laugh.

“Aye. I put up with this arsehole since it seems I’m stuck with him for life,” Elryk grumbles but tempers his words with a faint smile that’s here and gone in a flash.

I eye them both up and down. “Okay, no offense, but I have to ask. Are all Scottish gargoyles as hot as you two?”

Braewyn throws his head back and laughs, deep and throaty. “Oh, aye. I like you. Feel free to deliver all the flattery you like.”

I grin back and bring on the sass, cocking my head to one side. “Watch out what you wish for, honey.”

For some reason, Elryk bristles. “Enough foolishness. Noah needs to eat.”

“Perfect! I’ll join you. I missed lunch and could use a snack before dinner later,” Braewyn says.

Elryk snorts in annoyance and then growls, “Fine,” as he storms off.

I follow at a distance with Braewyn.

“What crawled up his kilt this morning?”

Braewyn chokes on another laugh. “Good question. But it’s actually afternoon now. Nearly three o’clock.”

I run a hand through my still damp hair. “Wow. I slept longer than I thought.”

We arrive at a massive kitchen and I see an older gargoyle with white hair and glasses ordering around several younger workers under his guidance.

“Tal, our guest needs something to eat to tide him over until dinner,” Elryk says. “If you can make it a quick bite, that’d be best. I’m taking him on a tour of the castle shortly.”

I give the older gargoyle a little wave. “Hi, I’m Noah.”

Glasses perched on the end of his nose he studies me carefully. “You need fattening up, lad.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Don’t worry. I have a good appetite. I just happen to have a fast metabolism. Keeps me a lean, mean, sexy machine.”

Tal laughs. “Good to meet you, Noah. I’m Talfryn, but everyone calls me Tal. How do some sandwiches sound for now? We’ve got dinner in a couple of hours.”

I nod eagerly. “That’d be great. But don’t worry, I can make it myself. I don’t want to interfere with your work.”

He shakes his head. “Dinnae fash yerself. It’s my job to feed folk in the castle and I enjoy it. Anything you cannae have? Allergies?”

“Nope. Cast iron gut. I’ll eat just about anything.”

“I’ve some leftover sausages from breakfast. I’ll make ye a couple sausage and cheese butties.”

“Me too,” Braewyn says, raising his hand.

Tal narrows his eyes at him and Braewyn makes with the pleading eyes and praying hands. “Pretty please, Tal?”

The old man waves a gnarled hand and scoffs. “Bottomless pit of a stomach on ye, lad.”

Braewyn grins. “I’m a growing boy.”

I arch an eyebrow at him and he chuckles. “Okay, I’m twenty-eight, but my stomach thinks I’m still eighteen.”

The butties that Tal makes for us are simple fare on homemade rolls with plenty of butter and savory sausage and cheese. They’re just the right amount of greasy perfection for my hangover.

I wolf down two of them and even Braewyn’s impressed.

Elryk sits quietly at the table with us, his face a mask. He’s a bit of a mystery, but I happen to love a challenge.

When I’ve finished my meal and the last traces of my hangover disappear, I jump to my feet, raring to go.

“Thanks for the delicious food, Tal.”

“Aye, you’re welcome. It’s nice to see a young lad appreciate my grub.”

“Can I help you wash any of these dishes?” I ask. Because my parents raised me right.

He takes my plate from me and waves a hand. “Get on with ye. Elryk’s going to give you a tour of the castle, so you’d best be on your way.”

“I know. I’m so excited!” With a grin, I whip my head in Elryk’s direction, my eyes no doubt sparkling with excitement. “Can we go now? I’ve never toured a castle before.”

Braewyn chuckles. “By the Goddess, you’re just the cutest thing, aren’t you?”

To my surprise, Elryk stalks over to me and grabs hold of my arm, gently but firmly. “I’ll show you around now.”

He drags me away from Braewyn, who starts laughing like a loon.

“What was that all about?” I ask.

Elryk mumbles something to himself, but all I catch is, “Cheeky bastard.”

That makes me smile. From what I’ve seen, they’re total opposites, but I kind of understand how that could work in a friendship.

To my utter delight, Elryk still has hold of my arm as he shows me around the castle, and I’m getting even more intense this-gargoyle-is-my-personal-electric-blanket vibes from him. I just want to curl up in his lap and cuddle him. I’d like to do some NC-17-rated things in his lap too, but no need to frighten the man off just yet.

My de facto tour guide appears to forget that he’s holding on to my arm and doesn’t let go the whole time. Because I’m smart, and not going to give up this wonderful experience, I don’t say a peep and just beam the entire way.

The castle is utterly amazing. All around me, I can see the history of its medieval origins in the weathered stone, and I marvel at the fact that it’s still standing today so many centuries later. Much of the interior has been updated for more modern convenience, but on the ground floor, I discover there are a number of formal rooms that hold on to more of their historical roots.

When we get to what Elryk calls the Great Hall, my mind is blown.

The space is so enormous it could rival a famous church cathedral, and the ceiling is at least several stories high. Tall but narrow arched windows line one wall, some with stained-glass accents. Old tapestries line the same wall between the windows and when I get closer to peer at some of them, I figure they’re just about as old as the castle itself. In contrast to the human tapestries I’ve seen in museums before, these depict a history of the gargoyles—and, most likely, this particular clan—spanning many centuries.

I can’t help but be filled with wonder as I try to take it all in.

A huge fireplace on the wall opposite the windows stands taller than me. It looks like a cavern that I could easily camp inside. Long wooden tables with benches are set out in vertical lines and at the far end of the room is a dais with several ornate chairs. For some of the clan leaders or their version of royalty, perhaps?

Do gargoyles have a monarchy?

I try to remember back to my school days, but we were taught a fairly limited history of Otherkind, and almost always only in relation to humanity. Since I’d been attending a primarily human school, that part of the curriculum tended to get short shrift.

Note to self: read up on gargoyle history and culture.

I come to a halt in the middle of the Great Hall and look up at Elryk’s chiseled profile. Before I met him, I never would have thought I had a thing for gargoyles. Unlike some people I know, I’ve never been an Otherkind chaser. When I was younger, I hung out with some guys who liked to brag about their sexual exploits with different Otherkind. The way they were just targeting those who are different for the thrill of it was horrifying to me and I quickly ditched those creeps.

But for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about Elryk.

Sure, his best friend is certainly attractive as well, and a hell of a lot of fun, but there’s just something about Elryk that I can’t help but be drawn to.

He did save my life, after all. So it might be a bit of hero worship coupled with intense sexual attraction.

Speaking of saving my life…

“Hey, so I know this is all coming a little bit late, partly because I was hungry and nursing a hangover and really super freaking excited to be in a genuine castle for the first time in my life, but how exactly did I end up here and what the hell is going on? I mean, how did you find me in my hour of need anyway?”

I blurt that out in one long cascade of word vomit and Elryk arches a dark eyebrow at me. “Everything will be explained tonight at the meeting with our clan leader.”

I pout. “In other words, you can’t tell me anything.”

I don’t bother to hide that I’m a little put out by this.

He considers me for a moment. “The Oracle of our clan, a powerful seer, had a divination foretelling that you would be coming to us, but that danger followed you. So I set out in search of you last night and found you just in the nick of time.” He cocks his head. “The Goddess was clearly looking out for you at that moment. You’re very lucky.”

I can’t hold back a laugh. “Ha! I’ve never been lucky before now. I guess that tarot card reading I had was right. Maybe I’m exiting a karmic cycle and starting a new life phase?” I muse.

He gives me a weird look, but I’m used to it.

“So your clan has a psychic? That’s cool.”

He blinks at me. “You accept what I’m telling you as truth?”

I shrug. “Sure, why not? I mean, I don’t know anything about the goddess you mentioned, but I believe in psychics.”

“I’ve found most humans don’t believe in seers. Not in this day and age.”

I make a humming noise. “I see where you’re coming from. There are a lot who poo-poo the idea of any kind of extrasensory perception.” I reach out and pat his yummy arm. “But I’m not like everyone else. My mom is a total New Age hippie who used to run a freaking Wicca crystal magic shop dealio. Believe me, there are total shysters out there who aren’t legit, but I’ve met a few over the years, and even my mom has a little bit of the gift. Not exactly visions, but she gets instincts, and they tend to be really spot on. I’ve learned to listen to them.”

He studies me for a long moment, and I’m caught in his jade-green gaze.

Fuck me, he’s gorgeous.

Before I can put a filter on my open brain-to-mouth pipeline, I blurt out, “So is it true that y’all don’t wear anything under your kilts?”

Elryk freezes for a moment, ironically doing a very good impression of a gargoyle statue.

I brazen through my embarrassment and continue. “Inquiring minds want to know,” I say, licking my lips nervously.

His eyes track the movement of my tongue, and I feel a flicker of hope when I swear I see something heated shimmer in his gaze, but then it vanishes.

“That depends on the man,” he finally says in that deep, growly voice of his that makes me want to climb him like I’m a dancer and he’s my pole.

“However,” he continues, unaware of my lustful thoughts, “among those in this clan, we dinnae wear anything underneath.”

Sweet. Baby. Jesus. New weakness activated!

Now if he’d just call me Sassenach …

“One of the reasons we wear a kilt is because it gives freedom of movement to our tails.”

My eyes nearly bulge out of my head, and I immediately start checking out his derriere, where I see the pointed tip of his tail sticking out from the bottom hem of his kilt.

I’m really glad at this moment that the Great Hall is not, in fact, a cathedral, because I might have gone up in flames for the very lurid thoughts I presently have about Elryk and his tail.

New fantasy unlocked!

I swallow convulsively several times and squeak out, “That’s nice.” I clear my throat. “Ahem. I can see how that would be… convenient.”

Good. Play it cool, Noah.

“Aye. In battle, we need to be as unencumbered as possible. A kilt is the perfect garment.”

My mouth drops open and I think I’m drooling a little. “Oh my god. Let me guess. You’re like Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod?”

His brow furrows. “What?”

“There can be only one,” I whisper reverently.

There’s a moment of loaded silence as he stares at me like I’ve lost my marbles.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a bit strange?”

I grin. “All the time. It’s kind of a badge of honor by now.”

Looking him over, I take stock of all of the rather noticeable scars on his arms and chest as well as the very visible one on his left cheek. “So you’re a warrior, but not of the Highlander franchise variety?”

He coughs to cover what sounds suspiciously like a laugh. “Ah, I see now. No, I’m just a regular gargoyle warrior protecting my clan.”

I want to tell him there is nothing ordinary about him but decide to keep that to myself. “What kind of foe could you possibly have to deal with around here?” I let out a nervous chuckle. “The Loch Ness Monster?”

His eyes glint with evident amusement. “Hardly. In fact, Nessie’s a good friend of ours.”

“Shut the front door,” I gasp. “Nessie’s real?”

A full-fledged smirk materializes on his face, and I fucking love it.

Makes him look even sexier, dammit.

“Aye, Nessie’s real, but maybe not quite what you might be expecting.”

Well, that stumps me.

“What do you mean?”

“I cannae tell you all the details.” He strokes his scruffy— yum —chin in thought. “It’d probably be better to show you.”

I inhale sharply. “You’re gonna introduce me to Nessie!” My excited squeal echoes throughout the cavernous Great Hall, and I try to tamp it down a little.

“If you’d like,” he says, a tantalizing purr in his voice that sends a zing of awareness right to my motherfucking balls.

Trying to repress a burgeoning hard-on— time and place, libido! —I clutch Elryk’s arm almost desperately. “Promise. I totally want to meet Nessie. Promise you’ll take me.” I add my best pleading look that always works on Mom.

He gazes quietly into my eyes for a long moment before glancing down at my hands, so much smaller than his, trying to wrap around his thick, sinewy forearm but failing completely.

I bet he could toss a few cabers, no problem.

That thought inevitably leads to the idea of him tossing me in all kinds of delightful ways.

I have to bite my lip and focus on willing my semi to go down.

“Aye, ?tis a promise.”

The rumble in his voice that seems to roll up from deep within his chest is something I’m going to get myself off to later, that’s for sure.

It’s like he isn’t even trying but he still manages to ooze sex appeal with the finesse of a motherfucking pro.

My body moves on its own, as if propelled by some kind of magical force, and I reach up to gently yank his head down to my level so I can plant a big, fat kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you, Elryk!”

For once, the serious mask he usually seems to wear falls away and he looks oddly vulnerable and bewildered for a moment. Then the mask returns and he takes a cautious step back, so I let go of him.

Fucking hell. Leave it to me to ruin the moment.

Right about now, I kind of want to punch myself in the head for being such an idiot.

I wince. “So sorry about that. One hundred percent my bad. I got a little carried away and misread the mood. That totally wasn’t cool of me. Consent is where it’s at, and I wholeheartedly believe in that.” I focus my gaze on him and don’t look away. “I promise I won’t kiss you without your permission or direct invitation from now on. That was a real asshole move on my part. I hope you can forgive me.”

He shifts awkwardly and gives me a curt nod. “It’s fine. I dinnae mind, I was just… surprised.” He gestures toward the doorway. “Come, let me take you outside and show you some of the grounds. By the time we get back, you’ll have a little while to unwind before dinner and then our meeting with my clan leader, Kelwyn.”

I follow him outside, considerably more subdued than earlier, and still kicking myself for being such an inconsiderate jerk.

Elryk’s a good guy, though, and he doesn’t seem to hold my behavior against me. But I also notice that he doesn’t take my arm this time, and I’m strangely sad about it but I only have myself to blame.

You barely know this guy. Why are you so hung up on him so fast?

I mull this over, trying to find an answer. Normally, I’m not super quick to glom onto someone, let alone throw myself at them. It’s kinda freaking me out now that I actually think about it. Must be due to the fact that Elryk saved my life. Add to that the fact he’s super freaking hot and it’s no wonder I’m so attracted to him.

That makes a certain kind of sense, for sure.

However, while he hasn’t been outright pushing me away, he hasn’t exactly been giving me the green light to continue making advances on him either. I’m ashamed of how I just behaved. I’ve never been an asshole or a creeper before, and I’ve always detested people who are.

Steeling my resolve, I make a vow to myself that I’m not going to weird out this poor man with my overly enthusiastic interest in him anymore. My attraction is embarrassingly obvious now, so I’m going to leave the ball in his court to see if he wants to reciprocate or not. But in the meantime, I’ll try to at least cultivate a friendship that’s all about respectful boundaries.

After all, he’s going to take me to meet the honest-to-god Nessie, and for that, he will become my lifelong pal.

As we stroll outside, I discover that the exterior of the castle is just as impressive as the interior.

“Sweet fantasy nerd heaven. There’s even fucking parapets,” I whisper with an almost giddy sense of euphoria.

This is like something out of a dream. I’m worried if I pinch myself, it’ll all disappear.

“Aye,” Elryk says. “’Twas a functioning castle used for defense for many years. We’ve not had a battle of massive scale in many centuries, of course, but the castle can still defend against various threats.”

I give an awkward chuckle. “Well, it’s not as if the English army is going to come and invade or anything, right?”

Elryk’s eyes go dark and distant. “There are many other dangerous things in this world than humans and their foolhardy brand of warfare.”

I shiver at his words and want to ask for more information, but he turns and continues to lead me around the estate. There are horse stables and what seem to be some small-scale agriculture endeavors, like a garden behind the kitchens. Elryk tells me there are sheep and some cows, as well, but that they’re out grazing still.

In the fading afternoon light, I marvel at the atmospheric moors and rolling hills that dot the lush landscape around me. It’s like something I’d see on the cover of one of my mom’s Highland romance novels.

But I’m getting the impression that it’s also really fucking remote out here. I don’t see any signs of other human or Otherkind habitation anywhere within my visual radar. Hell, I can’t even see any paved roads.

“So, uh, where exactly are we?” I ask hesitantly. “I don’t see any towns nearby.”

Elryk surveys the horizon. “The castle is situated somewhere between Loch Ness and Inverness.”

Okay, Mr. Vague and Mysterious. I pull out my phone, but realize I’ve got no signal out here.

Well, fuck.

I let out a nervous chuckle. “So, castle in the middle of nowhere, huh?”

He studies me for a moment. “Aye. There’s a magical barrier that conceals our castle and our land from the eyes of most others. This location serves another purpose in relation to our sacred duty as a clan, which is why the castle was built here so many centuries ago.”

“Your clan’s… duty?”

His face shutters. “Kelwyn will explain more tonight. I apologize but I’ve said too much. Let’s return. It’s getting late, and you might want a wee kip before dinner.”

We head back inside, and he helps me retrace my steps to my room, then leaves me with a rather dashing bow that makes my stupid heart flutter.

I flop down on the bed, my mind racing with more questions than answers.

Questions like, why have I been brought here?

And how long do they intend to keep me?