Page 83 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
“Bloody hell, that was like being superpowered by a nuclear fucking conductor,” Elryk says.
I peer up at him with a lopsided grin. “Did it work?”
The look of giddy joy and obvious relief on his face makes my heart flutter.
“Aye, and then some.” He looks around him in wonder. “I can hardly believe it, but we managed to recharge the barrier and strengthen it in one fell swoop.”
“That’s good, right?”
He takes hold of both my hands in his and brings them to his lips, kissing them reverently.
Warmth floods my chest and I feel a little breathless.
Love is weird, but also wonderful.
“You dinnae understand, Noah. I couldn’t have done this without you.
Even three or four Barrier Masters, working together, couldn’t charge the runes as quickly or as powerfully as I was just able to thanks to you.”
I stare at him. “For real?”
He nods solemnly. “This is why your power is so special, my love. Even Barrier Masters like me cannae tap into the power of the ley line alone. Not without frying ourselves alive. Only a Conduit can transmute that power and share it with others.” He kisses my knuckles again. “Noah, you are a precious gift to me and to our clan. I thank the Goddess every day.”
My heart clenches. “Ourclan?”
“Aye, darling. You’re a DarkWing now and forever.”
Outside of my family, I’ve always had trouble fitting in. Most of my friends dropped me whenever my bad luck would bleed over into their lives. As soon as they learned hanging around me meant being in the eye of an oncoming trouble storm, they bailed in the blink of an eye.
But this wonderful clan of gargoyles has welcomed me with open arms—and wings. I’m so freaking touched I’m full of all kinds of sappy feels.
I blink back tears. “I’m super proud to be part of this clan. Now if only I could sprout some wings of my own and ditch the BDSM Baby Bjorn…”
Elryk leans over and kisses the top of my head. “As you told Nasser, don’t stop believing.”
I pull back and gape at him. “You have an unexpectedly cheeky side to you, Elryk DarkWing.” I flutter my eyelashes. “I like it.”
He laughs.
I press into his side with a contented sigh. “I’m just glad this worked. Recharging the barrier was a lot easier than I was expecting.”
“I’ve never been able to do it so thoroughly or so fast. It’s a major worry that’s now under control.”
“Does that mean we’re in the clear? The Sluagh can’t get to the line now that our defenses have been fortified, right?”
Surely it can’t be that easy? Few things in life are.
Naturally, Elryk shakes his head. “It means they cannae get into the castle or directly to the node—they’re protected. But it doesn’t mean it will deter the Sluagh from coming. They can still sense the power of the line and will be drawn to it no matter what. If they cannae get to that power, they’ll take their frustration out on anyone and anything barring their path that they can find.”
“Namely us,” I reply glumly.
“Aye. When they made it into this realm, they were immediately drawn to the sheer overwhelming force of the ley line. It’s often like a beacon to those with inherent magical powers. I told you before, the legends vary, but they do indicate that the ley lines in this world were created through the combined efforts of the fae and the dragons millennia before their falling out.” He uses his free hand to stroke his short beard. “The Sluagh are creatures from the realm of the fae that have become corrupted by dark forces. It would make sense that they’d be drawn to a power of their own kind that they wish to use for evil.”
I frown. “If they have a natural affinity for fae magic, like you’re suggesting, does that mean they’ll actually be able to tap into the line regardless of the barrier?”
“No, not with the barrier in place and strengthened like it is now. However, if something were to happen to me, the barrier would weaken and eventually fail. Then they could get to the line.”
His words chill me to my core. Keeping Elryk safe is a top priority.
