Page 77 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
“Well, unfortunately, it garnered a lot of unwanted attention from the wrong people at the wrong time. I cannae guarantee there aren’t others who also spotted him and recognized him for what he is—especially so soon after he was newly awakened.” Nasser shakes his head. “Noah was probably glowing like a bloody nuclear reactor to anyone who can detect magic, all while he wandered all over London without a care in the world.”
No doubt there will be others who seek him out in future, but I’ll be there to protect him.
Nasser reaches over and clasps my shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze. “Keeping him safe in DarkWing Castle is the best thing for him. Even after this threat with the Sluagh passes, we both know there will be others. He’ll never be free from those who would wish to use him for their own gain. His gift is a rare and precious one, but it’s dangerous for him to be out in the world now that it’s been activated.” He shakes his head sadly. “What’s been awakened within him cannae be put back to sleep, my friend.”
“I know, but I do worry that Noah will grow tired of this kind of life, and the isolation of it. Nonetheless, I’m willing to do everything in my power to make him as happy as possible.”
Nasser leans back in his chair with a thoughtful curve to his lips. “I’ve told you before, Elryk. You take a bit too much onto yourself. You’re not responsible for anyone’s happiness but your own, fated mate or no fated mate.”
I start to protest, but he holds up a hand to forestall me. “Let me finish. You can certainly do many things to help Noah in his own quest to find his individual happiness as well as on the pathtoward happiness you two will have together as mates. These are two different kinds of happiness though.”
I think back on Noah’s dream that he told me about. He has ambitions that have nothing to do with our relationship, and I want to aid him in making them a reality.
“You should think about the same for yourself, Elryk.”
I startle. “What do you mean?”
Nasser’s eyes grow sad. “My friend, you’ve given up too much of yourself to your clan. I know how devoted you are to them, and yes, your position as Barrier Master is unique. In some ways, it carries a similar degree of burden to that of being clan leader. The fundamental safety of everyone at DarkWing Castle rests on your shoulders and on your sole ability to maintain the barrier.” He fixes a sharp gaze on me. “But that’s not all that you are. Surely there are other things you want to do and achieve in this life.”
“But I can’t leave the castle.”
Not for long anyway.
“True, but perhaps you can find something that wouldn’t require you to leave.”
I consider that, especially since Noah talked about how easily he could live in the castle and work on his dream of becoming a children’s book author. To be sure, he can write and draw almost anywhere.
“Human technology has advanced in miraculous ways,” Nasser continues. “So many things can be done with a computer and an internet connection these days. Now that your castle has finally been brought into the twenty-first century and has decent Wi-Fi, you’ve got more access to opportunities too. Hell, you could enroll in an online degree program if you wanted to.”
His words floor me, and I realize with sudden startling clarity that he’s right. I’ve spent far too long not allowing myself to want anything. To only focus on my duty and responsibility. Ijust assumed there would be nothing else, and no one else, for me. But now I have a fated mate, and suddenly it’s like blinders I didn’t know I had on have been taken off. A whole new vista of possibilities is coming into view.
I swallow thickly. “You’re right. I’ll think on it.”
Nasser nods approvingly and winks. “Please do. Remember, the happier you can make yourself, the happier you can be with your mate.”
Well, if that isn’t motivation enough to kick me in the arse about making some changes in my life, I don’t know what is.
“We need to get back to the castle,” I finally say with a sigh.
“Aye,” Nasser agrees. “My tentacles are tingling with low-grade warning signals. The danger from the west grows ever closer. I suspect it’ll be here any day now.”
I don’t even want to contemplate it, but I know I must. Noah’s still so newly attuned to his powers that I hate placing such a huge burden on him so fast and so soon, but we don’t have a choice.
“Don’t underestimate your mate, Elryk. Noah’s tough. Far tougher than he looks, and I suspect he can be downright fierce and relentlessly determined when it comes to those he cares about.”
I glance over at Noah’s sleeping form and can’t hold back a smile.
“Och, wipe that lovesick grin off your face in front of me. You’re just rubbing it in now, aren’t you?” Nasser teases good-naturedly.
“I truly hope your mate will appear soon, my friend. You’ve waited far too long and deserve to find them.”
Nasser’s expression shutters and he gazes out the window, his eyes distant. “I’ll admit, before you two came to visit me, I was thinking about leaving the area and abandoning my duty.”
I freeze in shock at his words, and he chuckles.
“Hard to imagine, eh? But young Noah was right. I’m awfully damn lonely here. There’s a part of me that feels like it cannae keep going if I dinnae find my mate soon.”
This time I reach over and clasp his shoulder. “Don’t give up. Please wait a little longer, my friend. The Oracle’s visions are never wrong, and I believe that your mate will be among those who’ll appear to us soon.”
