Page 62 of A Highland Gargoyle's Lucky Star
“What do you know about ley lines?” Nasser asks.
Noah shrugs. “Not much. My mom talked about them being like magical fault lines deep within the earth.”
“That’s a good analogy. Much remains unknown about the ley lines in this realm, but they’ve been acknowledged by most magic scholars as the source of all magical energy in our world. The specific ley line we protect is considered the oldest and most powerful,” Nasser explains.
Noah shivers in his coat again, and I wish I could take him into my arms, but I don’t want to risk capsizing the rowboat, which is a bit small for me to move around in.
“Okay, so how does one access this power? If the lines run all over the place, that seems like anyone could tap into it from somewhere along one of them.”
Nasser shakes his head. “An analogy might be that a ley line is like a deep vein of magical energy that’s hard for most to drawpower from. Rather, one needs to find a major artery where ley lines connect in order to be able to tap into it. We call these points nodes.”
Noah considers this for a moment. “So, DarkWing Castle and Loch Ness both contain nodes along the line you protect?”
“Bingo,” Nasser says with a wink.
I clear my throat. “Only larger ley lines possess nodes from where other smaller lines branch out. Because our line is considered the main source line, its nodes are big and are the starting point of many other smaller ones that draw power from it.”
“Is there any specific reason for these two locations?” Noah asks.
Nasser grins. “That’s a very good question. Whoever, or whatever, created the ley line marked these as powerful and important places. But to this day, we dinnae ken why.”
“Well, Loch Ness is pretty deep and mysterious. That seems like a no-brainer to me,” Noah offers.
“Aye.” Nasser waggles his eyebrows. “It’s also how I can keep the legend of ‘Nessie’ alive.”
I sigh and shake my head.
Noah laughs and his eyes shine merrily at me. “Hey, poor guy’s gotta get his kicks somehow. He’s stuck out here, all alone, just hanging in the lake and guarding this line. I say, let him have his fun.”
Nasser bats his eyelashes at my mate. “It’s official. Ilikeyou.”
My answering growl makes them both crack up.
I huff. “It’s cold out here. Let’s get on with it, Nasser. Enough flirting with my mate. I dinnae want him to freeze to death.”
“This is a new side of you, Elryk DarkWing. I’m rather enjoying witnessing it firsthand.” Nasser smirks at me and turns his attention back to Noah. “But my grumpy gargoyle friend is right. We need to begin.”
Noah gulps. “Tell me what I need to do.”
“Deep below us is the node, our access point on the ley line.”
“Oh, fucking hell,pleasetell me I don’t need to get in the water and try to swim to the bottom, because that sure as shit ain’t gonna happen,” Noah warns.
Nasser throws his head back and laughs. “So sassy. I love it. This is the most fun I’ve had in ages. No, young Conduit, what you need to do is send out your magical feelers to try and take hold of the line’s power.”
“What the ever-loving fuck does that mean?” Noah’s voice is full of exasperation.
Nasser chuckles and several of his tentacles undulate around him.
Noah’s eyes widen. “Holy shit. I just realized. You can do a partial shift?”
The smug look on Nasser’s face tells me he is indeed having a good time. “Aye. Tentacles can be handy for all kinds of things. Even in this form, I have access to my other appendages when I need them.”
“Horny hentai fantasies for the win,” Noah whispers in awe.
Nasser waggles his eyebrows, and I fight back yet another growl of irritation.
“My tail can do plenty of fun and sexy things too,” I mutter.
