Page 53 of Wild Scottish Beauty

“Are you okay with Calvin for a moment, Archie?”

“Och, nae bother, lass. The lad’s enjoying himself.”

At his name, Calvin turned to look at me, and a feeling of love flashed through me. He was happy to see me. I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the little kitten, his fur now dry, and wondered if I had subscribed that emotion to him, or if he had managed to transmit that idea into my head.

Okay, now that was getting to be a bit much. Shaking my head at my thoughts, I joined Sophie at the table.

“Potato leek soup. I like it with a dash of pepper myself.”

“Thank you. This looks great.” And it was. Simple food, made from locally sourced ingredients, I was told, andsoon enough I was patting my stomach and refusing another bowl.

“Just wait until you meet Lia and Shona. They are a match made in heaven. Lia is the incredible chef at our restaurant here, and Shona is a local gardener who grew those leeks you just enjoyed in the soup.”

“Oh, that’s right. You have a pretty fancy restaurant on site, don’t you?”

“It’s world class, in my opinion, but Lia will tell you she likes to make comfort food with a touch of class,” Sophie said, motioning with a piece of bread in her hand.

“I can’t wait to meet them.”

“I’m hoping for a girls’ night this week.”

Lachlan snorted. “Just a usual girls’ night?”

“You know, talking magick, saving the world, that kind of thing.” Sophie grinned at him.

“The usual.” Lachlan mimed painting his nails, fluttering his lashes at Sophie. She leaned over to give him a lingering kiss.

“I love you so much,” Sophie whispered, and he murmured something indecipherable against her lips. My cheeks heated, and at the same time, my heart sighed. It was hard not to want something like that even though I was meant to be on my independent “didn’t need no man” journey at the moment.

“Enough fornicating at the dinner table,” Archie barked from the floor, causing Calvin to spring into the air.

“This is hardly fornicating. Old age must be taking your sight.”

“Yet I kicked your sorry arse at darts the other night, didn’t I?” Archie said, and I laughed.

“That’s an aim problem, not a sight problem,” Lachlan protested.

“Your aim’s never … you know what? Never mind,” Sophie trilled, and I laughed harder. For some reason, I felt at home with these people, even though I was still reeling over the fact that the Kelpies were really freaking scary and that I could see the future.

“Sophie tells me you think you found your magick?” Hilda neatly changed the subject, and I nodded, pushing away from the table.

“Should I take my plates into the kitchen?”

“Och, just leave them. Would you like a glass of wine?” Hilda asked, and I nodded my thanks as she held up a bottle of red. I moved to stand with my back to the fire, enjoying the heat, as I watched Archie trail the feather across the carpet for Calvin. The kitten licked its paws, apparently uninterested in playing anymore.

Until at the last moment, he sprang straight into the air and landed on the feather.

“Aha! You can’t fool me,” Archie said, whipping the feather away, and Calvin gave chase again.

“I thought he’d given up on it.”

“Cats will do that. You’ll find they’re finnicky. Mercurial moods. Play hard to get one moment. Cuddly the next. They can be all over the place.”

“Yes, dogs arenevermoody,” Sophie said, side-eying Sir Buster.

“Here you go, dear.” Hilda passed me a glass of wine, and I took a seat in one of the tartan lounge chairs and sipped it, a smile at my lips while Calvin pranced around.

“He really seems to be okay, doesn’t he? Bounced rightback.” Seeing him so bedraggled and tiny had been horrifying. Which, of course, reminded me of the Kelpies. “Um, so, yeah, the Kelpies were pretty freaking terrifying. Guys, I could’ve used a heads-up on how to stop them or whatever. Since I’m part of the Order and all. I felt pretty useless, standing there gawking on the sidelines while they almost creamed Ramsay and Calvin.”

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