Knights of Stone - Lachlan (18 page)

Shaking her head, she said, “I used to think that. But we need to listen to our own needs, as well. Find our own happiness.”

Seth didn’t seem to be listening. With fury in his eyes, he grasped her wrist. “To be with—a
gargoyle
?”

She yanked her arm back and glared at him. “Don’t do that.” Lachlan was her home now. Her new pack. Seth needed to accept that.

In the next second, he was down. Lachlan must have flown from the stage to descend on Seth and now had him pinned to the ground.

“Don’t ever touch her again!” Lachlan warned.

Seth recovered from the surprise and threw a blow at Lachlan’s face, which he deflected. With the next punch, he hit him in the chest, but it hardly affected him.

“Stay away from our pack,” Seth snarled.

“Stop! Both of you!” Raina commanded, but they continued to brawl. Two proud alpha males unwilling to back down.

Those around them spread away from the circle. Lachlan was stronger and took Seth’s punches with scarcely any effect, but Seth was quicker and escaped many of Lachlan’s blows, while he landed more throws.

She had to stop this. Her pack mates were circling, and the gargoyles had dropped their instruments. In seconds, it could emerge into a full-blown battle.

When they broke apart, she launched herself between them and pushed her hands against their chests. “I said,
stop
!”

Both gargoyle and wolf had feral eyes as they assessed their foe, but they paused with her separating them. “You’re going to undermine everything we’ve achieved, everything we’re celebrating.” She turned to Lachlan, “I told you it was okay. You didn’t need to jump to my defense.”

Lachlan breathed heavily. “You’re right, Raina. I need to protect you. When he grabbed you…” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have done that.” He squared his shoulders before extending his hand to Seth. “I was wrong.”

Seth glanced at his hand with revulsion. “I’m done with this,” he declared. “I’m out.” He marched away with disgust.

She thought about calling to him, but what he needed now was space. His pride was hurt, and he needed time to lick his wounds.

What did he mean? He was leaving the celebration? Or the pack?

Guilt hit her with a pang. He was her pack mate. Her childhood friend. Whatever the reason, it was her fault he was leaving.

She didn’t want to hurt him, but she couldn’t force herself to be his mate and rule with him. He didn’t understand. She probably wouldn’t have either until she’d met Lachlan. Maybe one day, Seth would come around, when he found the right one for him and realized what a horrible mistake they would have made by trying to be together. She’d have to talk to her father and see if he could bring Seth around, after he had time to cool off.

Raina turned back to see Lachlan in quiet conversation with his brothers. In a few more moments, Gavin returned to the microphone.

“Sorry about the interruption. Just a minor miscommunication.”

Her heartbeat slowed its frantic patter as they launched into another song.

Eden returned to her side. “What happened? I couldn’t see from where I was.”

Raina exchanged a glance with Lachlan, who was now back to playing bass guitar and watching her closely. “Long story. I’ll tell you later.”

The rest of the concert passed quickly as she reflected on what had happened and again became captivated by the Knights of Stone. One musician in particular held her interest, one she was sure would capture her attention for many nights to come.

The brothers ended the concert with a song about a victory in the Highlands. They put down their instruments to raucous cheers, stepped forward, and bowed.

“Thank you for coming,” Gavin said. “Here’s to our new future.” He raised his hand, and the crowds screamed and applauded.

Lachlan winked at her before he soared into the night sky with his brothers. Within moments, their dark forms were invisible among a thousand brilliant stars and a pale, waning moon.

Lachlan found Raina after he left the stage and led her to a quiet spot in the forest.

“The concert was incredible,” Raina said. “The fight….” She raised her hands and dropped them.

“I know, I know,” Lachlan said. “A gargoyle’s protective streak can get out of hand, sometimes—especially, when we think the person we love is in danger.”

“Love,” she repeated. “So you’re saying you did it out of love to protect me?”

“Aye, what other reason would I have?”

She shook her head as she gave him a scolding glance, which broke with a breathtaking smile. “You make it hard to admonish you when you say things like that.”

He winked. “You make other parts of me hard.”

“Lachlan!” she said with mock astonishment. “You’re always thinking of sex, aren’t you?”

He nodded and pulled her into his arms. “Around you, aye.”

She laughed, a magical sound.

An unwelcome image of Seth intruded his private thoughts. “What did that wanker
want with you anyway?”

Raina tightened in his arms, making him wish he hadn’t brought it up. “However much you dislike Seth, you need to remember I grew up with him. He’s my pack mate, almost like a brother.”

“I understand,” he admitted with reluctance.

“He’s a good wolf shifter,” she continued. “Loyal to the pack. Maybe too loyal.”

Her guilt in hurting him was evident in her tone. Was she avoiding his question? Or trying to convince him to lose the antagonism? “What did he want?”

She exhaled before she replied. “To know if I was leaving the pack to be with you.”

He couldn’t ruin her status with her pack. “Are they making you leave?”

“No.” She raised her chin. “But if I must, I must.”

Her resolute declaration awed him. “For me?”

“Aye, Lachlan.” Her eyes expressed earnestness. “I want to be with you. However, or wherever we can.”

Elation spread in his chest at her words. He picked her up so her feet no longer touched the ground and spun her around. “Wherever you want to go, we’ll go. Whatever you want to live in, I’ll build it.”

“We’ll figure that out,” she said. “A lot has happened with us in a short time, and we still have much to learn about each other. No need to rush any decisions.” She took his hands. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He squeezed them. “Not without me, you aren’t. I want to take you to all the lands you want to see. Watch over you so you can run free wherever you want.”

She bestowed him with a loving smile. “I don’t want to go anywhere just yet. Just want to be with you.” After a heartbeat, she said, “The show really was spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Pride swelled in him. Playing for an adoring audience always invigorated them, but Raina’s praise reached a higher level.

“We wanted to make it special.”

The Knights of Stone knew how to put on a show. To start it off right, the audience had to clamor with anticipation, as ready and as on edge as if anticipating sex. The buildup was foreplay. The gargoyles gave them the slightest movement to increase the excitement, like flickering a finger or moving a foot. Lachlan and his brothers did their usual tricks tonight, but knowing the natives wouldn’t be as easy to win over, they worked on more impressive tactics.

One easy addition was shifting with their kilts. When the brothers played for humans, a stagehand would dress their stone forms with kilts, part of building up the anticipation. Since Raina removed her dress when she shifted to wolf form, wolf shifters didn’t appear to share the ability to hide their clothing. Lachlan included that element to impress the wolves, mostly Raina. Maybe he’d be able to teach her one day.

Maybe not; he enjoyed watching her change.

The light show had been more difficult to pull off so Mason had enlisted Kayla’s help. Judging by the volume of cheers, the crowd had loved it.

“It was special all right,” Raina agreed.

Lachlan had wanted to blow her mind in every way. Not only was it her first concert, it was her first time seeing him as his alternate persona. The way she gazed at him with adoration, he deemed his attempt a success.

“I’m glad you think so. You’re the only one in the audience who truly matters.”

Her smile was radiant. “Is that so?”

He pulled her close so her lips were only inches below his. “Aye.”

The din of the distant crowd grew louder; a reminder they should return to the celebration.

“Good,” she said. “You can be my
date
for the feast.”

He stole a quick kiss on her neck, nuzzling in her sweet-smelling hair. “You’re the only feast I want, right now.” He licked the sensitive flesh, never getting enough of the taste of her.

She moaned softly before pulling back and playfully swatting his arm. “That will have to wait. We have to go over there; it would be insulting if we skipped it. Aren’t you curious to see what it’s like where the witches live?”

He’d been curious for as long as he could remember; having peeked at their homes built in the trees as he flew overhead. Now, he didn’t care. “I’d rather find out about this wolf’s treasures.” He traced his fingers from her neck down over one breast.

She moaned with pleasure, but said, “Later, rock star.” She stroked one of his biceps. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Every cell in his body sparked to life. “I thought we’d try someplace a little more comfortable. Maybe test out the beds in the cabins. Find one we like.”

An adorable, dark flush rose in her cheeks. “Ooh, that sounds tempting. But I do have to admit, I have fond memories in the cave.”

As did he.

He was looking forward to spending another night with her, but had to consider the implications. “What about your pack? Will they mind you staying with me again?”

Her eyes burned bright, reminding him of the feisty woman who bounded into the moors the first time he’d seen her.

“I’m my own woman, Lachlan. Even if I’m part of a pack. It took me a while to understand that, but now I do.”

“Good. Because I have big plans for us tonight. Had all day to think about the things I want to do with your luscious body.” His gaze raked over her, while he imagined some. “I should tell you something about what happens after I play.”

“What’s that?”

He pulled her back into his arms. “I get excited.” Already semi-erect, he grew harder upon contact with her lower belly. “Watching you from the stage, more so than ever.”

“
Och
!” Her eyes widened in surprise, but then she flashed him a knowing smile. “I sense that somehow.”

“You should see how hard I get when I transform from stone to man.”

Her expression turned downright naughty as she lowered her hand down his body. “I can’t wait to discover all kinds of things about you. Especially, what makes you hard.”

She cupped him, making him close his eyes and moan in pleasure. When he opened them, he searched her inquisitive ones before kissing her soft lips.

“Come with me.” He held her hand and led her to the cave with a wink. “I think we can steal a few minutes alone.”

###

I hope you enjoyed Lachlan’s story. I’m working on the stories for the other brothers.
Knights of Stone: Bryce
will be released early in 2016. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to read an excerpt and hear when it’s released. I also share specials, contests, or freebies:
LisaCarlisleBooks.com

If you missed Mason’s story, the blurb follows. Also, I’m sharing an excerpt from
Dark Velvet,
part of a paranormal romance series set at an art colony.

If you have a moment, I’d greatly appreciate you leaving a review of
Knights of Stone: Lachlan.
It means a lot to authors. Thank you!

Lisa

Gargoyles, tree witches, and wolf shifters have divided the Isle of Stone after a great battle twenty-five years ago. When Kayla, a tree witch, hears about the unconventional rock concerts in the gargoyle’s territory, she sneaks from her coven and into their territory to see for herself. Night after night, she returns to see one in particular shift into human form and play guitar at these unconventional shows.

For several nights, Mason has kept watch for the pixie-like female. He plans to seduce her, thinking she’s a visitor from another island. When he discovers she’s one of the tree witches, he retreats, attempting to keep his distance. The temptation is strong, but forbidden.

Kayla and Mason attempt to meet in secret, but other elements on the isle command their attention. A magical cloak created by the three clans on the island is thinning, leading to repercussions from all the clans. Kayla and Mason are caught in the middle of it all, and their actions may change the fate for all.

“I love a paranormal book that has multiple beings, in this book there are Gargoyles, witches and wolf shifters. The plot has twists and turns taking you through such a unique and mysterious world… Great story, great characters… Very unique!”

~ Up All Night, Read All Day Book Reviews