Page 24 of Wild Scottish Gold (The Enchanted Highlands #7)

Kaia

The gold ring lay in my palm, the metal still warm, gleaming in the soft candlelight that flickered across my worktable. It had been a while since I’d worked with gold—my focus had mostly been on the distillery project, larger pieces that required brute strength and an occasional muttered curse when something didn’t bend the way I wanted it to. But this? This was delicate. Precise. It demanded something different from me.

Much like the people I’d come to know here.

Orla had commissioned the ring for Finn, a man I was only just starting to get a sense of, though what I knew, I liked. Steady, solid, the kind of man who anchored people rather than set them adrift. A rarity in my experience. Orla had been very precise about the design. She wanted a lightly etched Celtic chain to mirror the one he’d given to her. And she was so excited to have it made for him, which had brought a smile to my lips while I was crafting it. The careful etching, the lines wrapping around each other in a quiet promise. Strength and fluidity. Balance.

I exhaled and turned the ring over between my fingers. There was something about finishing a piece that always left me with a strange mix of emotions. Satisfaction, pride, and—if I was being honest—a tiny, gnawing sense of restlessness. As if my hands were never quite ready to be done.

A knock sounded at my door and Thane poked his head in the door.

“Ready for dinner?” He glanced down at the ring in my hand. “Aww, you shouldn’t have.”

“I didn’t.” I laughed when he held a hand to his heart. “It’s for Orla to give Finn.”

“It’s good.” Thane held it up to the light. “He’s a bit of a pretty boy, so I think he’ll like this.”

“I hope so.” I slid the ring into the pouch and blew out the candle, checking to make sure everything else in my adorable shop was turned off. I loved this spot and worked here most afternoons if I wasn’t in the forge. It gave Thane and me a level of separateness that was important for our relationship and offered me a quiet space to work.

“Ready for the baby shower?” I asked, securing the ring in my safe. I’d give it to Orla later this week when she came by to pick it up, not at a chaotic Sunday “family” dinner that Lia had insisted become a tradition. She was used to a big, busy family, cluttered around the kitchen table, and since her family was still in the States, she was instilling this tradition here in Loren Brae.

It had only been a few weeks since the Kelpie attack, but Thane and I had dutifully attended the Sunday meals, and I had to say, I loved them. It was nice to have a routine, a community, and slowly I was beginning to understand that it was possible to have a healthy relationship with someone who respected you.

“I have no idea how to answer that.” Thane took the key from me and locked up, then hooked an arm through mine. “Not only have I never attended a baby shower before, but I’ve also never done so for a hedgehog.”

Today’s Sunday dinner at the castle had a theme—a celebration for the hedgehog parents to be. When I’d called Sophie, concerned over what to bring, she’d laughed.

“Yes, we all realize this is absurd. And yes, we’re still having a party. Bring nothing but yourselves.”

Still, I’d looked online and had discovered that a heating pad was often enjoyed by hedgies, and I’d ordered one with a cute floral print. It might be silly, but at least we weren’t going empty-handed.

“Audrey’s bummed she’s missing it,” Thane said, as we drove to the castle. She was on a long weekend away with three of her new school besties and their moms. We couldn’t have been more pleased that she was making new friends and fitting in better, and it made my heart happy to know that she was doing well.

Though we could have walked to the castle, everyone was still on edge from the attack, and many of us were keeping our distance from the loch if we could. My physical bruises had healed, but I still had a few hurdles to overcome with the emotional ones. For two weeks after the attack, I awoke in panic and once Thane had learned this was happening, we’d slept next to each other ever since. We were falling into a routine, and I had a few things at his house to make life easier, and he had a few things at mine. I knew at some point we’d have to decide on a living arrangement, if that was the direction we were headed, but for now I was doing exactly what he’d requested of me—giving us time.

But it was good.

We were good. Great, even. I had discovered that I actually enjoyed working alongside him and after the initial grief the men at the shop had given us, they’d accepted our relationship with the occasional banter about us. But it was different this time than before. How could I not have seen that an open, consensual, healthy relationship with shared career interests could actually thrive? I’d been comparing an entirely different situation, one where lies and a power imbalance dominated, to one where I was respected and affirmed. Loved. And my parents loved him. They’d only met Thane via Zoom, but they thought he was amazing.

We parked in the lot and rounded the castle to Grasshopper, Lia’s restaurant. I hadn’t had a meal there yet, but I’d heard amazing things. I might even get to see her loveable broonie. Thane took my hand as we walked toward the castle, and contentment bubbled up inside me. The castle looked lovely, all stately and lit with beautiful lights, and the walkway to the restaurant was lined by flaming torches. I was sure I’d never get over how atmospheric it was here.

Two Gnome statues flanked the door to Grasshopper. Both were dressed in black and white, a butler and a server’s outfit, to be exact.

“Are those…” I trailed off, tilting my head.

I jumped as the gnomes came to life.

“The famous Gnora and Gnorman? Why yes, it is us.” Gnora patted her hair and blew Thane a kiss. “Hey, cutie.”

“This one’s mine,” I said, pulling Thane closer to me, feeling his low rumble of laughter against my arm.

“Oh honey, I’m not trying to steal your man. Though I could, if I wanted.” Gnora gave me a look that suggested she’d sized me up and found me wanting. “I’m just keeping my man on his toes.”

“You drive me crazy,” Gnorman growled. “But I love ye, lass.”

Gnora squealed as Gnorman chased her into the bushes, and then all we could hear was giggles as the leaves of the bush shook.

“I believe we should give them some privacy.” Thane’s voice was warm with laughter, and he pulled me inside. Dinner would be in the restaurant, but everyone was gathered in the lounge area, where presents were piled high on a table. Munroe was behind that, mixing drinks, and Shona was on a love seat with a basket on her lap, a man I hadn’t met yet at her side.

“Let’s go say hello.”

A blur of motion stopped me in my tracks and then I gaped down at where I was now wearing a beaded necklace with “It’s a boy!” on the pendant. Thane had a similar necklace, but his was pink.

“What the hell was that?” Thane blinked at me.

“I believe that was Brice, Lia’s familiar.”

“And what, exactly, is Brice?”

“A broonie? A kitchen elf?” Even as I said it, I had to force a hysterical giggle down. I was getting more used to magick, but there were still moments that just stopped me in my tracks.

“Kaia!” Shona waved me over. “Come meet Owen.”

“Hi, Owen,” I said, bending to give Shona a quick hug and then shake his hand. “I’m Kaia, and this is my partner, Thane.” Boyfriend sounded so … not as important as what we were. Thane’s eyes softened around the edges when he heard how I’d addressed him. I guess we all needed reassurance at times, even my big gruff man.

“Pleased to meet you both.” Owen smiled. He was an attractive man and seemed to just radiate confidence.

“Oh, another American.” I smiled at him. “Quite a few of us have landed in Loren Brae.”

“It’s hard not to love it here?—”

“Oh my God,” Shona squawked, looking down at the basket she held.

“What’s wrong?” Owen wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“I think Edith’s in labor.”

I peered into the basket to see one of the hedgies panting and making soft squeaks.

“Is it time? It can’t be time yet.” Owen sprung up and began to pace.

“Should we get the vet?” I asked. Faelan had reached out to me, and I had her number, but we hadn’t managed to connect yet as she was busy trying to put her new vet practice to rights. “I have her personal number.”

“Yes, please, can you call her? I’m worried. I have no idea what to do.”

Pulling out my phone, I called Faelan who answered on the first ring.

“Hey Kaia, how are you?”

“Hey Faelan, I’m at Grasshopper, the restaurant at the castle? We could use some help with a pregnant hedgie.”

“I’m already here. Lia had invited me to dinner.”

“Perfect.” Crouching at Shona’s feet, I patted her arm. “Faelan’s here. She was coming to dinner anyway.”

“Let me through,” Archie barked, pushing through the people who had gathered. He bowed over the basket, and then stood, his face wreathed in concern. He wrung his hands and began to pace. “She’ll be fine. She’s fine. It’s all going to be fine.”

Was he nervous? Hilda pushed through the crowd and threaded her arm through his. “Come along, Archie. There’s not much we can do for her. We just have to wait.”

“Right. Of course.” Archie bobbed his head and Hilda drew him away, making soft reassuring noises and patting his back.

Aww, the old softie.

“Where’s my patient?” a voice sounded, and I turned to see Faelan, her hair braided back and a medical bag in her hand. She was directed forward and she crouched by the basket.

“Hi, Shona, good to see these two again.” Faelan peered in the basket. “Ah yes, she’s well on her way.”

“I think so. I hadn’t realized she was panting until just now.”

“If possible, maybe we could go to a quiet space? It might stress her to have this many people about.”

Lachlan gave a soft whistle. “Everyone into the restaurant. We’re clearing out the lounge. This baby shower is about to turn into a Meet the Babies instead.”

“Will this take a while?” I asked Faelan as I stood and took Thane’s hand.

“Could. Sometimes it happens within an hour, depending on how long she’s been in labor. Sometimes much longer. We’ll just see how it goes.”

Lia ushered us into the restaurant. It was such a cool space inside with walls of greenery on both sides of the large hall, and candles tucked in crevices in the stone walls. Thick wood beams crisscrossed the ceilings and large windows looked out over the well-lit gardens.

“It’s family-style tonight. Italian, naturally.” Lia waved us over to where she’d set up a long table on one end of the restaurant. “Smoked oat and crowdie ravioli with brown butter and hazelnuts, brassica and truffle pappardelle, neeps and gorgonzola hot honey pizza, and a wild mushroom risotto.”

“This looks incredible,” I said. We all grabbed plates and piled them high with delicious food, while Lia went around and put carafes of wine on the tables. In moments, we were all seated, chattering about this and that, and I relaxed back into my chair, turning to Thane.

“This is good,” I said.

“Delicious,” Thane agreed, taking a bite of the pizza.

“No,” I said, elbowing his arm and pointing around the room. All my new friends were here, along with their own loved ones. They were becoming family, and the shared secret of magick was an invisible thread that bound us all together. I missed Marisa and especially my parents, but I felt like I was home. Like I belonged here. I still wonder if my great-aunt had known and that was why I was the benefactor of her will. And with Thane by my side, I felt so…complete. Thankful. “This. Us. All of it is good. Right.”

“Aren’t you glad you stayed?” Thane leaned over and brushed a soft kiss over my lips. “I am.”

“I—”

“It’s a boy!” Owen rushed inside, his hands in the air. “And a girl.”

We all jumped up and clapped. A voice came from the lounge and Owen leaned back.

“Never mind. I’m completely wrong.” Owen ducked his head back into the lounge and then came back into the restaurant, his hands in the air again. “Four! Four babies. Sex undetermined because it takes a while to show, I’m told.”

“I wonder how he decided who was a girl.” I laughed as we all clapped.

“Probably thought one looked cuter than another,” Thane said.

“We’re parents!” Shona came into the room, and Owen lifted her to twirl her around in a circle. “Mum’s doing well. Everyone’s happy and healthy.”

Clyde burst from the wall, bellowing, and we all shrieked and laughed as he did a victory lap of the room before disappearing back through the wall. Lia glared from the back, her hand at her chest. She notoriously struggled with Clyde’s sudden appearances.

Tears sprung to my eyes. Silly, really, I knew—to be crying over a hedgehog birth. But nevertheless, I was. It was just so sweet, and when I looked around, I could see that I wasn’t the only one who was touched by the announcement of the new arrivals.

“If this gets you going, just wait until Murdoch has babies.”

I gaped at Thane, gripping his arm.

“I’d never even thought about that. Oh my! We could have baby ravens in our future. You’re going to need to build a bigger bird box.”

“Don’t worry, Kaia. I’ll take care of it.”

He would, too. His steadfast confidence was just one of the many things I loved about him. Leaning in, I kissed his cheek.

“You’re going to be the best raven dad ever.”

“Do you think ravens paint their talons? Inquiring minds want to know.” Thane grinned when I burst out laughing.

“Oh, I’m sure of it. Murdoch is going to look fabulous in pink sparkles.”