Knights of Stone - Lachlan Read online

  “We were quite the experience,” Bryce added with a grin. “Ensuring nobody would want to wander elsewhere.”

  Let’s not get them started up again about the concerts, Lachlan told him.

  “All right,” Ian said. “So the problem with tourists is likely small. But we’ll still have to watch for humans coming to investigate the attacks. We may need another two days before we can restore the veil. If it works,” he added with a note of skepticism.

  Lachlan nodded at Ian. “My brothers and I will patrol from the skies.” His gaze traveled to Raina and lingered longer than it should.

  Raina’s skin burned under someone’s gaze. When she glanced up, she caught Lachlan staring at her. She’d heard of the gargoyle brothers, but had never seen any of them until now. They appeared more wild and rugged than what she’d envisioned for glamorous rock stars. He didn’t shift his eyes when she’d caught him, but continued to watch her; his posture straight and sturdy as the oaks behind him. She propped her hands on her hips and glared back to show her displeasure, however the shade of his eyes distracted her—a blend of green and brown, reflecting the colors of the island’s forests.

  He winked and flashed a cocky grin. Och. How arrogant. What did he think she was, one of those impressionable human females who’d fall over themselves to get closer to one of the band mates? Not going to happen.

  The rumors about the reckless gargoyle brothers were now easy to believe. They were notorious on the island for rebelling against their clan. Instead of keeping their identity from humans, they’d played music for them. Entertained them. Encouraged them to return to the island.

  She turned away with disgust. Damn him. The gargoyles were the main reason they were all in this mess right now. If they didn’t keep the humans coming back with their unconventional rock concerts, the humans may have left the isle alone. But no, the gargoyles’ wee antics kept them coming back, drawing more humans each time. Her father spoke, snapping her out of her thoughts about the brash gargoyle.

  “Our pack is committed to working with all of you to restore the veil.”

  The only upside to the horrendous incident was it forced the islands natives to come together in these peace talks. After all, her father had been the one to appeal to a gargoyle and tree witch who’d been meeting in the moors. The veil was essential. Not only did it keep the island undetected by humans, it also provided a shield against the potent effect of the moon on wolves. Young wolf shifters were especially prone to the moon’s power.

  Raina shuddered as she remembered the way it had been for her. In her teens, the moon had driven her half mad and with a longing for blood, and she’d ravenously torn into many deer on the island to sate the blind need. With the veil having thinned even more in the last five years, the young wolves struggled to maintain self-control.

  In recent weeks, her stirrings had returned, different than the bloodlust of her youth, yet one that left her restless and prowling in search of something. The problem was, she didn’t know what her wolf wanted. Confusion and frustration often followed.

  Her pack mates teased her saying she was getting ready to mate. Och, she couldn’t even think of that. She and Seth already bickered like an old couple, and they hadn’t even mated, yet. Today he’d made her late for the peace talk. He’d tried to convince her he should be the one to return, although they’d decided the day before they’d each have a turn at the momentous event, which would affect the future of the pack on the Isle of Stone. It was her chance to make a difference, take on more of a leadership role; she couldn’t let him take it from her.

  Lachlan responded to her father, recapturing her attention. “We need to organize these ideas into a plan.”

  His brogue was deep and gravelly; he spoke with a commanding yet reasonable tone. Despite her objection to him and his cocksure attitude, she caught herself sneaking another glance. After all, she’d heard so much about this mysterious species they shared the island with.

  All negative.

  Still her gaze traveled over him, somewhat transfixed. His long black hair gleamed under the sun’s rays, falling over defined shoulders and halfway down his back. He’d assumed a confident stance that fit his powerful body. Wolf shifters were naturally strong, but gargoyle shifters transformed from stone. Every ripple and contour of his bare torso reflected that aspect. The overall package was enticing, making the lure for human females understandable.

  She wasn’t a human female and knew better. How foolish they were to fall for womanizing bad boys in a wee, appetizing parcel wrapped in blue tartan.

  Och, wee wasn’t the term to describe the massive gargoyle.

  As if reading her mind, Lachlan stared at her again, his eyes now filled with wicked amusement. Raina turned to her father, hoping he didn’t catch her gawking at the gargoyle, but he was invested in the discussion.

  “In years past,” her father began, “the tree witches have prepared a potion that helped protect our youngest and most vulnerable wolves against the effect of the full moon. We could use it again.”

  Her father had a reputation as being more tolerant than other alphas she’d heard about, but that was because he had to be. It took a tremendous amount of courage to admit he needed help from the tree witches and gargoyles—they’d kept to separate parts of the island for so many years. But he did what was necessary for the pack, swallowing the notorious wolf pride. She’d always looked up to him. The two of them had a closeness forged in shared grief and a mode for survival after her mother had died. She hoped to develop his sense and patience for when it was her time to rule.

  “Aye,” the witch named Claire replied. “Kayla already asked us to prepare the potion, and it’s brewing. It should be ready tomorrow.”

  “Brilliant,” Ian replied. “We will send someone to retrieve it at midday.”

  “I’ll go,” Raina piped up.

  She’d heard about this witch Kayla and was curious. She was the one who’d sneaked away from her coven to watch the gargoyle shows and fell in love with a gargoyle shifter named Mason. When Raina’s father had spied them in the moors, he’d seen an opportunity—they’d been the best chance at bringing the feuding groups together, and he’d appealed to them. Was the tree witch courageous—brave enough to cross the boundaries separating their lands? Or was she just pure mental, an outlier who chose outside of her coven?

  “Don’t come into our territory,” Matilda, the other witch, added. “We have a protective shield up.”

  “Kayla will bring the potion to the new house she’s building,” Claire said. “At the copse in the moors. With the gargoyle,” she added, unable to keep the distaste out of her voice.

  Raina glanced at Lachlan to see his reaction. He kept his expression neutral, although she caught his jaw twitch. Turning to his brother, Bryce, she noted the resemblance in their features and strong physique, but Bryce’s hair was shorter and lighter, with reddish highlights.

  “I’ll meet Kayla there,” she replied.

  “We’ll meet here two nights from now at sundown,” Matilda declared. She turned and toddled through the moors with Claire toward their houses in the trees.

  “Shite,” Lachlan muttered.

  Before she had a chance to ask what was wrong, a winged male flew in from overhead. She turned to her father. He nodded and mouthed “gargoyle.”

  The gargoyle landed in front of Lachlan and his brother Bryce. It must have been one of their brothers. Aye, similar strong features—wide eyes that appeared to take in everything, a strong nose, carved lips—but different hair. The newcomer’s was russet, far lighter than Lachlan’s raven mane.

  “Did you get my message?”

  “Aye,” Lachlan said.

  “What’s wrong?” Her father stepped up to them.

  “They’re coming,” the gargoyle barked, his expression grave. “They’re coming now!”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Raina exchanged a worried glance with her father. The implications of what the gargoyle had ann
ounced were serious.

  “The humans are on the way?” he asked, stepping closer to the gargoyles.

  Although there was little doubt that was what the gargoyle meant, they had to know what they were facing.

  “Aye,” Bryce replied, confirming her fear.

  “Where?” Ian asked.

  “Approaching the docks,” the newly arrived gargoyle brother said.

  “Stay calm,” Lachlan directed, raising an arm.

  Raina shot him a withering glance. What did he expect them to do—run with their hands flailing through the moors, shouting, “The humans are coming! The humans are coming!”

  “We’ll take care of them,” he added.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked him.

  “Talk to them,” he answered. “Pretend we’re humans just like them.”

  Was he serious? She shook her head. “That’s a terrible idea.”

  His eyes flickered with surprise at her response.

  “Look at the three of you.” She motioned toward them. “You’re like a bunch of hulks. Far too intimidating to regular old humans. Bound to set off some suspicions.”

  “How do you know so much about humans?”

  “I don’t,” she admitted. “But I’ve seen them. Few, if any, are as—colossal—as the three of you.”

  Lachlan glanced at his brothers before focusing again on her. “True.” He took her forearm in a firm hold.

  Unfamiliar tingles sparkled through her body originating from where he touched her skin.

  “We’ll go together.” He addressed the others, “Fall back, out of sight. I’ll keep in touch.”

  After recovering from the jolt of Lachlan’s touch, she looked at her father. He hadn’t yet responded to the makeshift plan. Why did her cheeks burn with sudden heat? She hadn’t done anything wrong, yet a wave of discomfort swept through her.

  Her father stepped up to Lachlan and demanded, “Why are you taking my daughter?” He studied them both while awaiting the answer.

  Lachlan grimaced, the first time she’d seen him in any sort of discomfort since she’d arrived. He’d exuded a confident aura suitable for a leader of a clan. Had he also experienced that—what could she call it—charge?

  The unsettled look vanished, replaced by the more familiar, proud countenance. “So we appear to be a normal human couple living on the island.”

  With his six plus foot muscular frame and long hair, she’d hardly call him the norm.

  “Your daughter’s right,” Lachlan added. “Having a number of barefoot, shirtless men in kilts approach would make them think we’re a bunch of savages. Humans are quick to judge anything they don’t understand and consider it a threat.”

  So he acknowledged her thoughts. That was a point in his favor—although he still came off as a cocky bastard.

  Her father’s gaze drifted off toward the distance before he nodded. “I understand. Go with him, Raina.”

  She hurried alongside Lachlan out through the long grasses of the moors. His long strides were difficult enough to keep up with as they rushed through the woods into gargoyle territory.

  This close to him, she smelled his aroma, a hint of a dark, spicy musk, but all male and tantalizing. Her wolf inside ceased prowling and stilled, reacting to his scent.

  A dizzying sensation made her body respond in ways it shouldn’t. Most distracting was the sensual tingling in between her legs.

  Stop it! She commanded herself.

  She struggled to concentrate on other fragrances, hoping they’d overpower his. The distinctive pine, the dew that still lingered on the fern, the earthy mix from fallen leaves trampled into the soil below. With these distractions, she calmed that sudden primal reaction. Her wolf lay down and wagged her tail.

  A relief. She didn’t need an attraction to a male who was off-limits to interfere with her life. Her future ruling the pack with Seth was already assumed. Sure, she didn’t get any tingles around him the way wolves did when they found their mate, but that didn’t mean it would never happen. And besides, it might be better if it didn’t. She’d seen how her mother’s death had almost destroyed her father, and the idea of being so intertwined with someone, heart and soul, terrified her. A practical mating would keep her from ever risking being hurt that same way.

  They passed into an open area with a stone stage. It had to be where they held their notorious concerts. As she descended to the rocky shore, she shuffled to keep up with Lachlan’s quickened steps. A boat sailed in their direction with three humans aboard, as the other gargoyle had mentioned. Lachlan’s expression turned somber as they approached the land, but then his sudden change surprised her.

  “Hello,” Lachlan greeted the three humans aboard the boat with a friendly smile. “Can I give you a hand?”

  Although, she knew it was posturing, she’d never seen that dazzling smile. Utterly disarming. Was it part of the whole rock star persona the gargoyles had perfected?

  “Aye,” a male with dark hair and glasses replied. “Thanks.”

  Two others climbed out of the boat, a man with dirty blond hair stuffed under a wide-rimmed hat and a female wearing sunglasses, her brown hair pulled into a loose ponytail.

  Lachlan helped them pull the boat in to the dock. When he bent forward, the muscles in his back stood out. The curves of his shoulder blades shifted under the taut bronze skin. Was that where his wings emerged when he changed? The skin was so smooth. She stifled an urge to touch it.

  Something caught her attention. One had a gun. She scanned the three humans now stepping onto the Isle of Stone, and a defensive streak flared. Humans didn’t necessarily bother her; they lived far from here. But their weapons did. A painful reminder of what they’d torn from her family welled, spreading the familiar ache of loss. She struggled to regain control of her emotions.

  “Why are you armed?” she demanded.

  Lachlan shot a look back in her direction all but commanding her to cool it.

  She ignored him. Humans were notorious fools with weapons. They’d killed many wolves, not for food, but for sport. The ache of her mother’s death washed through her with a reminder as insistent as the waves before a coming storm. She swallowed, now wasn’t the time to drown in grief.

  “We heard of an incident here with wolves. Some people got hurt.”

  Raina opened her mouth to speak, not sure she could control the torrent of emotion welled up by witnessing the gun. Luckily, Lachlan beat her to it. “We know about that. Not sure how those wolves got here, but we took care of them. They’re gone.”

  “What do you mean gone?” the female human asked. “You killed them?”

  “Aye. There weren’t that many.”

  The humans exchanged glances before the female asked, “Can we see their bodies?”

  This female had to be some sort of sicko. Maybe what the humans called a scientist. Why else would she want to examine a wolf’s corpse?

  “No,” Raina declared, regaining a grip on her heated emotions. Focus on the plan. “We got rid of them. Threw them out to sea.”

  The female tilted her head. “Why?”

  “We didn’t want to attract all the insects. And frankly, it was easier than burying them.”

  “You live on this island?” the blond man spoke.

  “Aye,” she replied.

  “And others?”

  “Sure,” Lachlan added.

  “Was this the first time you’ve seen wolves?”

  “That’s right,” Lachlan replied. “Like I said, not sure how they got here.”

  They volleyed rapid statements back and forth, and Lachlan didn’t miss a play.

  “It’s quite a distance to swim from another island,” the man mused while he scanned the island. “Mind if we take a look around?”

  “This is a private island.” Lachlan stepped forward.

  “What’s your name?” the male squinted at Lachlan. “We don’t have any records of ownership of this island.”

  “Who are you?” La
chlan responded, avoiding the question. The island hadn’t been detected by technology for decades for good reason—to keep it from prying human eyes like these.

  “Kirk Brymer.” He flashed a badge, identifying himself as an investigator of some bureaucratic-sounding agency from Inverness. “We’ve had reports of wolves attacking people. We must investigate it.”

  Lachlan glanced at the badge.

  She knew nothing about how humans handled these types of matters, but had to trust he’d take appropriate steps to get these investigators off the island as soon as possible.

  “I’ve already told you the wolves are no longer here. Lachlan’s tone was cordial, but his eyes took on an icy edge. “I doubt anyone on this island would appreciate strangers trespassing on their property.” Still he’d exhibited more patience than she had. Must be all those hours locked away in stone. What a waste of an existence.

  The human’s gaze faltered under Lachlan’s searing one. “Sir, please allow us to conduct our investigation, and then we’ll leave.”

  The tension grew so thick, Raina swore it would escalate to a dangerous impasse. Lachlan broke the silence with a welcoming gesture. “Make it quick.”

  The humans paraded through the gargoyle territory near the shore and continued to the amphitheater, surveying the area as if taking mental notes.

  “Is this where the musicians were playing?”

  “Aye,” Lachlan said.

  “So this is where the attack took place?”

  He nodded. “Everything occurred here. This is where the wolves came. We searched the island ourselves for any others. We got them all.”

  The three humans put on gloves and carried plastic baggies as they combed the grounds. Raina didn’t see any evidence of the attack. The gargoyles must have done a thorough cleanup after all had left.

  “We should keep going,” the bespectacled human said to their others. “And make sure.”

  Lachlan’s jaw tightened. “You must hurry. Those of us who live on the island will find strangers intrusive. If not threatening.”

  “We will be as unobtrusive as possible.”