Page 10 of Wild Scottish Gold (The Enchanted Highlands #7)

CHAPTER NINE

Kaia

W hen I woke, my tiny bed was empty, and I was rested in a way that I hadn’t been in a very long time. Stretching, I noticed twinges in my muscles, and when I closed my eyes, flashes of the night before brought a smile to my lips. Thane had been true to his word, ensuring that if we were to get this out of our systems, that no stone would go unturned, so to speak. Now I had to somehow pretend it hadn’t been the best night of my life.

Burying my face in the pillow, I breathed in his masculine scent and silently berated myself for my choices. Because, really , how was I supposed to pretend he hadn’t dominated every inch of my body and brought me so much pleasure that I might have competed with the Kelpies for shrieks in the night?

Remembering the early morning disturbance, I sat up and reached for an oversized hoodie I used as a robe. Pulling it over my head, my mind whirled at the memory of those otherworldly sounds. Was I meant to be helping with … that? Were the other women out there in the early morning hours, fighting off Kelpies, while I’d slept blissfully in Thane’s arms? I wouldn’t even know what to do. I mean, I’d picked a weapon, I guess, but what did that even mean? Would I be stabbing a Kelpie in the eye with it? And if they were really made of water, would it even do anything?

A thousand questions whirled as I stumbled out of the bedroom, my sights on my bathroom, when I skidded to a stop.

Thane stood over my kitchen counter, a cup of coffee in his hand, wearing no shirt and a smile on his lips as he perused my sketchbook.

“Hey!” I exclaimed, rushing over to slam the book closed. “Those are my designs for Common Gin.”

“They’re good.” Thane took a sip of his coffee and regarded me over the rim of his cup.

“They’re not ready.” I slammed the notebook back on the counter and glared at him. “And that’s cheating. Now you owe me a look at your designs too.”

Thane’s smile widened, and he stepped forward, caging me against the counter. Putting his coffee down, he placed an arm on either side of me, forcing me to pull my attention away from his exceedingly well-muscled chest and up to his face.

“Okay,” Thane said, simply. The lines around his eyes were softer today, as though some of the tension he habitually carried had eased, and I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicious.

“That seems too easy.”

“I’m in a good mood.” Thane shrugged and before I could stop him, he bent and gave me a kiss. It was just a brush of lips, soft, but when I sighed into his mouth, he angled his head, deepening the kiss, and it took everything in my power to bring my hands up to push him back.

“We … we can’t.” I struggled in a breath, and then took another, forcing myself to abide by the agreement we’d made. In the light of day, it was a touch easier to remember that we had very real responsibilities, plus, I had to figure out this whole Kelpies and magick thing. There wasn’t much room for me to be breaking my own rules this early into a new life, one that I’d carefully saved for and dreamt of, because if I burned bridges with the only man who owned a forge in town, then I’d be stuck. It would take me a while, but I’d be able to save up enough money to build my own, but until then? I was at the mercy of the man who owned the equipment I needed to successfully do my job.

And I’d just slept with him.

Again .

“If that’s the case, then why are you caressing me, love?” Thane asked lightly, and my eyes rounded in horror. I’d gone from pushing his chest away to gently running my palms over the smooth contours of his muscles.

“Damn it.” I snatched my hand back and glared at him. Ducking under his arm, I moved away. “I … just give me a second. And stop snooping.”

Making quick use of the bathroom, I stared in the mirror as I brushed my teeth. I looked … well, hell, I looked like I’d been thoroughly pleasured the night before. My skin had a nice flush to it, and a touch of beard burn could be seen at my neck if I angled my head just so. My hair was a mess, in knots and springing out around my head, but the tension lines in my forehead had eased.

Rinsing my toothbrush, I took a moment and stared at myself.

Would it be so bad if this could be a thing? Thane and me?

No. Bad .

I dried my hands and left the bathroom. My new life hinged on the grace of this man, and I couldn’t muddy the waters.

Though the waters may be a touch opaque after last night.

Thane grinned at me from where he sat on the couch, still with no shirt on, scrolling his phone.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“You look beautiful. And annoyed, which I find even more appealing for some reason.”

“Stop complimenting me,” I grumbled and went over to where the coffee had been made. At least that was a perk of having someone here and waking up before me. Pouring myself a cup, I turned and leaned against the counter, even though I wanted to nestle on the couch next to Thane.

“Fine. That mop of yours needs a good tidy.” Thane gestured at my hair, and I winced.

“But … I just woke up.” I patted the mess of my hair—which he’d had a large part in contributing to—and glared at him.

“It might be time for a shave too, lass.” Thane’s eyes dropped to my bare legs, and I gasped.

“I didn’t know I was taking someone home with me last night,” I argued.

“And ye snore like a banshee.” Thane laughed when I slapped my coffee cup on the counter.

“I do not snore.” I pointed at him. Did I? Maybe I did . Stan had never complained, but it wasn’t like we’d shared a room.

“Just cute wee ones,” Thane promised, and I stomped a foot, eliciting another chuckle from him.

“Thane,” I said, my tone serious, and he sobered.

“Aye, lass?”

“We can’t …” I picked up my coffee and moved forward, settling on the arm of the couch across from him. “This can’t … we have to not do this again.”

“Aye, lass. I reckon you’ve the right of it. Too bad, as it was a belter, wasn’t it?”

“A belter?” Distracted, I cocked an eyebrow at him, wondering if he was referencing how loud I got during our, ahem, activities the night before.

“Och, a belter, lass. We use it to describe someone or an experience as outstanding, fun, fantastic. You know, you’re watching the match and it’s a pure belter, you ken?”

I blinked at Thane, enjoying the rhythm of his Scots and wanting nothing more than to crawl into his lap. Forcing myself to stay focused, I cleared my throat.

“Right, um, yes, it was a belter. But it can’t happen again. We got it out of our system.”

“Did we, love?” Thane’s eyes glinted in the sunlight that streamed through the window and my heart twisted. How was I going to keep a professional distance from this man?

“Aye, we did,” I said, mimicking him.

“If you say so.”

“Thane, this is serious.” Taking another sip of my coffee, I furrowed my brow, needing him to understand why we had to stop.

Even now, years later, I could still remember the looks of my co-workers when they realized I was dating the boss. I’d thought they were jealous at the time, unhappy that maybe he was giving me the better jobs. It was only after that I’d realized it wasn’t jealousy but judgment in their eyes. An experience I didn’t wish to repeat.

“Och, Kaia. I know it.” The smile finally dropped from Thane’s face, and he leaned forward, something shifting in his eyes. Was it sadness? “I was just enjoying the afterglow a bit, I suppose. I know you’ve the right of it. It’s in both of our best interests to remain as colleagues.”

“Right.” Why did that suddenly annoy me? This was exactly what I wanted, no, needed. But hearing the words come out of his mouth was a touch annoying. Frustrating, even. The dopamine center in my brain just wanted more of him, but Thane was not a drug I could get addicted to. So I needed to pull my big girl pants on and move on. “I’m starting my life over in Loren Brae. And that includes the need to establish my business. And you … well?—”

“I own the space that’s allowing you to work and start your business. And if I think with my cock instead of my head, I could potentially screw this up for you, and you’ll be out of a place to work.”

“Erm, yeah, that’s pretty much it in a nutshell. I can’t … I just can’t afford to do it all on my own. Not yet. At some point I might be able to afford my own shop, but not to the extent you have built up. The forge is a vital piece in my journey here.”

“And you don’t want to just come work for me then?” Even as he said it, Thane winced.

“Oh, right. That would go over so well.” I shook my “mop” of hair. “We’re already on rocky ground with me leasing from you. How would the guys feel if you gave me a salary and then I was sleeping with you? Think that would go over well for me?”

“Och, no. Not likely so.” Thane pursed his lips.

“So. No more of this.” I pointed a finger between the two of us.

“That’s fair, lass. From this moment forward, strictly platonic.” Thane held out his hand to shake and I took it, his rough palm warm against mine. I swear it felt like an electrical current vibrated between us, and I saw the desire flash in his eyes. I’m sure he imagined pulling me into his lap. As much as I could see myself straddling him and starting the day in a more exciting way than sucking down a cup of coffee and getting work done on my sketches, I dropped his hand.

“Right. So…” I gestured toward the door. “I’ll be seeing you around then.”

“May I grab my shirt before you toss me out?” Humor gleamed in Thane’s eyes and I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah. Just get on with it, would ya? I need to work.” Plus, I wanted to get in touch with Agnes and see what time she wanted to meet later.

“On a Sunday? That’s dedication.” Thane stood and picked up his shirt, which was draped over the back of the couch, and put it on. Though I was sad to see those muscles disappear, I also knew it was for the best.

Or so I needed to remind myself, over and over, until he left and I was no longer tempted by his nearness.

I just nodded, not wanting to encourage conversation, needing this moment to be over so I could examine my emotions in private. It wasn’t just that Thane Blackwood had a hot body and knew how to pleasure a woman. He had layers I hadn’t noticed on our first night together. He didn’t say much about his sister the night before, but the love and reverence in his eyes for his niece? The closest I’d ever seen that before was in the way my mom and dad looked at each other…and at me. That little girl may not have a father in her life, but man, did she have an exceptional uncle who would never let her down. I’d love to find a man like that for myself.

He’s a colleague. You need to keep this platonic moving forward. You’ve already crossed way too many lines. Time to be an adult and put your professional boundaries up, Kaia.

Thane checked his pockets, making sure he had his keys and wallet, and then went to the front door. I stood and walked to him.

“Thanks for the …” I paused, my brain scrambling at what word to land on without sounding entirely too salacious or inviting.

“Fun?” Thane supplied and I raised both eyebrows, nodding in agreement.

“See you at work, pal,” I said.

“Aye. Catch ya later, mate .” Thane lightly punched my shoulder, and I pursed my lips, wanting to laugh at the ridiculousness, but I honestly felt somewhat bereft as I watched him walk away in the soft morning light, whistling lightly. I waited until he was out of sight, and never once did he look back.

Why did I feel despondent?

I’d just had my body rocked six ways to Sunday, had orgasmed more than I could possibly count, and would likely walk with a slight limp for days. I should be exuberant, bouncing around the room, and instead I lingered at the open door, watching the leaves shift on the branches in the soft morning breeze.

A raven landed at my feet.

At least I thought it was a raven. Maybe it was a crow. But this bird was bigger than a crow, which likely meant it was a raven if I could call upon my limited knowledge of birds. Feathers like midnight, eyes polished onyx, it tilted its head at me and dropped something at my feet.

“Well. Hello there, my friend. Aren’t you pretty?” I admired the deep sheen of inky blue tucked among its silky black feathers. The raven backed up a bit, and then bent its head, nudging the item closer to me with its beak. “Is this for me then?”

Yes.

Surprised, I gave the bird a considering look. Had it just spoken in my mind? Or was I assigning it attributes it didn’t have? It wasn’t uncommon for me to anthropomorphize animals, because I enjoyed the idea that they had thoughts and feelings just like humans did. But this felt different. The voice in my head was rough and abrasive, not my own, and it gave me pause.

“That’s … interesting.” Bending, I examined the gift at my feet as the raven hopped back a few steps. “Is that nail polish?”

A half-empty bottle of pink sparkly nail polish lay on the stone path in front of my door. Picking it up, I held it in the air and looked from the bird back to the bottle. The only pink sparkly nail polish that I’d had contact with of late was Audrey’s.

“Is this Audrey’s?”

No.

“But you’re wanting me to think of Audrey, aren’t you?”

Was I having a full-on conversation with a raven? Yes, I was. But at this point, did it even matter? Kelpies were screaming in the night, ghost highland coos jumped out of walls, and apparently cats called Calvin could speak into your mind and knew strange things about you . Maybe ravens did talk in Loren Brae.

Help her.

My eyes flew from the bottle to the bird, concern kicking up.

“Is she hurt?”

No. Help her. You can.

I pondered the bird’s words, holding the bottle tightly in my hand. An idea formed.

“You mean with my magick, don’t you? The bullies at school?”

Aye.

Of course it was a Scottish bird. Smiling, I lifted the bottle in the air at the bird. “Thank you, my friend. You’ve given me an idea. Do you have a name?”

Murdoch.

“Nice to meet you, Murdoch. Thanks for stopping by. If you need anything, you’ll, um, let me know?”

Blueberries.

“Um, right. Okay. I’ll see if they have some at the store then.”

Murdoch bowed his head at me, fanning his wings out behind him as he dipped, and then he was gone, arcing gracefully into the sky. I stood for a moment, watching him soar away, clutching the bottle in my hand.

He wanted me to help Audrey. And if my magick worked how I hoped it would, I might just be able to do that. I wouldn’t even need to go to the forge for the idea I had, at least I didn’t think so. Turning, I went inside, closing the door behind me. For a moment, I just leaned back against the door and took a few deep breaths to steady myself, as memories of the night before flashed through my brain.

Thane had been … all-consuming. Larger than life, both in person and personality, he’d dominated my body, my thoughts, and my feelings. I’d never met someone so … potent as he was.

And somehow I had to figure out how to work with him.

Could I use magick on myself? Maybe I needed to make an amulet that would help me forget the intensity of my attraction for him. Sighing, I went to my crate of jewelry-making tools and soon had a mini workshop set up at the counter. Pulling out my phone, I put on a mellow Spotify playlist and picked up my tools.

I wanted to make a symbol of protection for Audrey to wear.

At first I thought about a bracelet, but I wasn’t sure her wrist size or if she was allowed to wear bracelets in school. So instead, I decided upon a necklace she could tuck under her shirt. What I needed to do was form an amulet that, in theory, I could infuse with my magick to give her courage, as well as protect her from harm.

No small order, that. Considering I didn’t even know the first thing about magick. I paused. Should I search for magickal spells on the internet? How did one just start doing magick?

But, typical of my nature, I felt pulled to just carry on, so I did.

Sunlight streamed through the small window above the sink, illuminating the counter cluttered with tools, silver wire, and an assortment of gemstones. My fingers moved deftly as I twisted and shaped the fine silver wire, coaxing it into the delicate outline of a thistle. Using pliers to curl the filigree into tiny leaves and a gently curving stem, I secured each detail with care. The process required patience, but I didn’t mind. It gave me something to focus on other than Thane. Instead, I considered my intent with this piece and what mixture of attributes I should infuse the amulet with.

At the thistle’s heart, I set a small sapphire cabochon, the stone polished smooth and glowing with its own quiet brilliance. Wrapping the wire snugly around the gemstone, I formed a protective cradle. There, I worked slowly, an evil eye motif emerging naturally, the sapphire’s deep blue center framed by intricate spirals of silver that radiated outward like lashes. Holding the almost-finished piece in my palm, I felt the weight of my responsibility. A pendant like this wasn’t merely a charm, it was a guardian. As I worked, I thought about Audrey—small, vulnerable, and braver than she knew. And yet, especially while sitting with her uncle, she was so strong. Confident. Her resolute trust that he’d never belittle or ridicule her showed that he’d spoken that unconditional love into her life. And yet, she didn’t have a dad…and kids teased her about it. How horrible for her. She was the cutest, sweetest kid I’d met, and I hoped that I truly would be able to help.

Once finished, I held the pendant between my palms and closed my eyes. I wasn’t entirely confident in the mechanics behind finding or feeling my magick, so I just did what felt right to me. Warmth shimmered inside me, a glow that seemed to roll over me like a soft wave on a pink sand beach at sunset.

“May you shield her from harm,” I whispered, my voice strong, “and grant her courage to face the shadows.” The pendant pulsed faintly against my skin, as if breathing in the power I offered. I opened my eyes, and the thistle glinted with a subtle, otherworldly glow, the sapphire’s gaze unblinking and watchful. No forge had been necessary—my will, my skill, and my magick had been enough.

Or, at least I hoped it had been. There was no surefire way for me to determine that I’d actually infused the pendant with a protection spell, but either way, it felt right to me and that was enough for today. Pleased, I carefully threaded the piece on a silver chain and then wrapped it in tissue paper, tucking it in my purse to give to Thane for Audrey. We were friends, right? It shouldn’t be seen as anything more than a friendly gift for his niece who was struggling. I didn’t have to tell him it was magick, in the real sense, and therefore didn’t need to reveal any of this side of myself to him. I wasn’t sure I was ready to share that with anyone, to be honest, since I still really had no clue about how any of it worked.

Speaking of, I needed to contact Agnes. Picking up my phone, I sent her a text and she responded immediately.

Hi Agnes – Kaia here. Did you still want to meet today?

Good morning! I was hoping to hear from you. Want to pop by the castle later this afternoon? A few of the girls are getting together.

I paused, pursing my lips. A girls’ night? I mean, I knew there were others in the Order and that I’d have to meet them, but still. Groups of women sometimes intimidated me. Either way, I was in it now.

Sounds great. Can I bring anything?

Nae bother. Lia loves to provide the snacks.

Cool, see ya later!

It looked like I’d be spending my day at the castle. Pleased, I headed for the bathroom. I needed a long, hot shower, another coffee, and some time with some new friends. And all would be right in the world.

Just so long as I could stick to my guns and keep myself from wrapping myself around Thane like the ivy that clung to the walls of my cottage.