Page 61 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
Nasser winks. “I had an inkling that I’d be getting a new visitor, let’s just put it that way.”
Even I don’t know as much as I’d like to about Nasser’s powers, which are unique and mysterious even among Otherkind. Originally from a much warmer part of the world, he was called here by our Goddess more than a century ago. Long before I was even born. Over time, I’m told, he developed a Scottish accent, but every now and then I hear traces of his original home in his voice.
We quickly find the rowboat, and I pick it up in one arm to move it to the water.
Noah raises the back of a hand to his forehead and sighs dreamily. “Goddess have mercy! You’re giving me hotter-than-Goliath realness right now.” He fans himself. “So damn sexy. Every time you use those amazing muscles of yours, I think I might swoon.”
My skin gets warm and tingly all over from his words, and my insecurity from earlier fades into nothingness.
I flex my muscles as I heave the boat into the water, putting on a bit of a show for Noah.
“Yeah, baby, yeah!” he cheers from the shore.
I can’t hold back a satisfied smirk and a rumble of pleasure. Noah likes my body, and as our interlude earlier made blatantly obvious, we have intense sexual chemistry. It’s downright combustible, and a good place to start as mates.
However, I yearn for us to connect on a deeper, more intimate level. I want to discover what we share in common, find out what Noah likes so I can indulge him as much as possible. Already, I’ve begun dreaming of taking him on romantic dates and spending private time with each other. Part of me dares to hope we can truly build a life together at DarkWing Castle.
I know I don’t have the same kind of bright and joyful personality that Noah has. In comparison, I can be a bit gloomy and too focused on my duty to the clan. But I’m strong, and I’m loyal and loving and will protect him with my very last breath.
I just hope that I can be enough for him because he’s far more than I ever expected I might have to call my own.
Once Noah’s seated in the boat, I push it deeper into the water and climb in with him. I take charge of the oars while Nasser simply walks into the water and swims alongside us, at home in the loch.
Noah shivers in his bulky coat and glances over at Nasser with concern. “Aren’t you cold? It’s bloody freezing out here, and I say that as somebody born and raised in Chicago.”
Nasser laughs. “Even in this form, my body possesses the ability to adapt to any aquatic temperature. I don’t feel the cold like you do. Winter’s a wee bit different, but thankfully this loch is so deep that it never freezes over. However, when it gets considerably colder outside, I tend to hibernate at the bottom of the loch near the access point of the ley line. I can still protect the line should anyone be foolish enough to try to get to it.”
Noah looks around and frowns. “Is it just you here in the loch?”
Nasser turns his face away. “Aye.”
“I’m so sorry. That must be awfully lonely.”
Nasser favors him with a soft smile. “I’m not surprised to find that Elryk’s mate is such a sweet and tender-hearted person.” He nods to himself. “You’re well suited to one another. Elryk can seem a bit gruff and stone-faced—no pun intended—on the outside, but he’s a kind, caring man on the inside.” He shoots me a wry grin. “He also takes too much responsibility onto himself sometimes. I hope you’ll help him work on that problem, Noah.”
Before I can protest, Noah leans closer to Nasser, his face full of determination. “Oh, my God, you’re so right. I will do my very best to help him let go a little.” He beams at me. “Elryk’s super fucking awesome, and I’m excited to get to know him even better now that we’re mates.”
Warmth floods my chest, and the tips of my wings tingle. No one’s praise of me has ever filled me with such joy and gratitude as Noah’s words do.
I am indebted to you, my Goddess. I shall guard my precious treasure of a mate with my life.
Nasser sighs wistfully. “Seeing you two makes me question if I’ll ever find my fated mate.”
Wanting to give him some positive encouragement, I hurriedly explain the Oracle’s latest vision, and Nasser’s eyes kindle with genuine hope.
“I’ve waited over a century for my fated mate and was starting to despair that the Goddess had forgotten me. But perhaps my moment is near. I’ll keep all my tentacles crossed that my mate will be among those coming soon.”
Noah’s face shines brighter than the moon as he beams at Nasser. “I’m sure they will. My mom always likes to say, don’t stop believing!”
The kraken gapes at him for a long moment before laughing with his whole body, raising his tentacles in the air to wiggle merrily.
“Ta, Noah. I’ll remember that,” he finally manages to say.
A syrupy sweet sentiment I’ve never known overwhelms me as I study Noah with a mixture of pride and heartfelt longing. He’s the most captivating man I’ve ever met—and he’s my mate. I wish we weren’t facing the threat of the Sluagh so early in our courtship. If only we could have more time to strengthen our bond, perhaps then I wouldn’t be so worried about what lies ahead.
Right now, though, all we can do is provide Noah with a crash course on becoming a Conduit.
When we reach a point in the loch that only Nasser fully knows, he stops and I pull up the oars. From deep below the water’s surface, I feel the faint but unmistakable pulse of the ley line.
