Page 60 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
Elryk shakes his head. “Sorry.”
Nasser cracks his knuckles. “Looks like I’m overdue for a visit to DarkWing Castle.”
I look at Elryk in confusion but he just mouths, “Don’t ask.”
Nasser turns his attention back to me, his expression becoming serious. “I know why you’ve come, Conduit. And there isn’t much time. I have sensed a disturbance coming from the west.”
“The Sluagh approach,” Elryk says.
Nasser’s eyes flash bright gold and then deep red. “Nasty creatures but powerful and deadly.”
So cool.
“Aye, that’s why we need Noah to learn how to use his powers. So we can strengthen the barrier,” Elryk says.
Nasser closes his eyes and when he opens them again, they’ve returned to their normal gold. “How would you feel about a romantic evening boat ride?”
I startle. “Uh, what?”
Nasser grins. “The best way to teach a Conduit how to use their powers is to have them tap into a raw magic source, like a ley line.”
“What?” I squeak.
“There are two key places on the ley line where one can tap into its powers. The DarkWing clan protects the central core of the line near their castle, and I protect the access point that dwells deep under these waters.”
I gasp. Now that earlier talk of him being their clan’s friend and ally takes on a whole new level of significance.
“There’s no time to waste,” Nasser says with a grin. “And believe me, Noah, no one ever forgets their first time tapping into the raw power of the ley line. It’s almost better than sex.” He winks. “Except for sex with me, that is.”
Chapter thirteen
Elryk
While those entrusted with protecting the ancient ley line in Scotland are primarily the gargoyles of the DarkWing clan, they have been known to have some powerful allies to help in their endeavors. In the 1800s, the Loch Ness Monster—more commonly known as “Nessie”—took over as Guardian of the Loch, which contains an access point for the ley line. Not much is known about this creature besides the fact that it enjoys taunting humans with its existence. Many have sought to capture Nessie, but all have failed. Yet this creature continues to make occasional appearances to keep its existence fresh in the minds of others. One can only assume that “Nessie” has a bit of a mischievous personality. Then again,perhaps guarding a loch gets rather tedious after a while, and Nessie just needs some fun and games to alleviate the boredom?
—Guardians of the Line: A Hidden History,by Dr. Targan Wildethorne
Iknow that Nasser’san outrageous flirt, and he’s just trying to get a rise out of me, but dammit, it’s working.
The kraken likes to tease his friends, just like Braewyn. Normally, it rolls off me without any effect. But now when it comes to Noah I’m feeling… territorial.
He’s special to me in a way no one has ever been. I don’t want him to be interested in other men.
It’s impossible to miss him checking out Nasser’s nude body appreciatively. The kraken is very attractive in his human form, and he’s got a charismatic personality that I can’t hope to compete with. I’ve always been the boring, stoic type, unable to express my feelings.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The Oracle told me to trust in the Goddess. These insecurities are foolish. For better or worse, Noah’s my fated mate and I’m his.
I know that Nasser doesn’t mean anything with his flirting, that he just gets lonely here in the loch. There aren’t many krakens still around in the world. They used to live and prosper in the seas, but over time the encroachment of humans—along with their pollution—forced most of them to retreat to the deepest, darkest depths of the oceans.
Now, his species tends to eschew contact with land and the people on it entirely. Some have chosen, like Nasser, to take up residence in natural bodies of water that remain cleanerand less dangerous for them. But as a whole, they have been disappearing from this realm for a long time.
Members of the DarkWing clan try to visit Nasser as often as possible, and he is able to spend time on land, but to keep the loch safe, he cannot travel far from it. I’m thankful the Goddess recognized the limitations of gargoyles and chose him to protect this part of the ley line. We do not do water well.
I know he yearns to find his own fated mate. He’s certainly waited longer than I, having been alone here in the loch many decades more than I’ve even been alive.
“Come on, you two,” Nasser says, walking along the shore with casual grace and no compunctions about remaining nude. “I’ve got a small rowboat hidden here in the forest for our purposes.”
Noah gapes at him. “Did you know we were coming? Are you psychic?”
