woodland at the base of the cliff.
Watching for signs of danger, Malcolm gave them an all clear before they descended.
She glanced around the remains of her former home, her expression grim. Some of the small white homes appeared decimated—black edges and smoke stains marring what was likely once pristine.
Witnessing the destruction must have brought her memories rushing forth, making her relive the horror. Bryce had to say something. “This must be difficult for you.”
“Aye.” She blinked slowly and inhaled audibly. When she exhaled, her eyes shined with determination.
“You know where you’re to take cover,” Duncan addressed the warriors before him. “Do so now, and watch for Mairi.”
The gargoyles slipped through the darkness of night to move into their positions. Bryce remained with her. He hadn’t been lying, earlier. He’d keep his eyes on her, never let a demon touch her with its horrid claws.
“Ready?” Duncan nodded to Mairi.
“I am.”
Bryce stepped closer to her, glacial panic pulsing through his veins. He’d never faced this before—with a loved one in such a dangerous situation.
A loved one?
“Be careful.” He squeezed her hand. The skin wasn’t as soft as her human flesh, but it was still her, the connection still giving him the sparkle of heat that happened when he touched her.
“I will.” She glanced at him through her slate-gray eyes and paused. Then she nodded and soared into the air over her former home.
Bryce hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until his lungs compelled him to take a gasp for air.
Mason sidled beside him. You’ve developed feelings for her.
Was it so visible how he’d come to care for her? He didn’t reply.
“Funny, isn’t it?” Mason said aloud with a noise in between a snort and chortle. “Mum and Da have been bugging us for years to settle down. Now, that they’ve left the isle, you go and fancy a gargoyle. In essence, doing what they’ve always wanted.”
Bryce’s stomach churned. Nobody was making any commitments. Especially with the challenge that awaited them. “Let’s not jump ahead. I don’t even know if we’ll make it through the night.”
“True.” In a serious tone, Mason added, “If you do, don’t let her slip away.”
Bryce exhaled with a heavy whoosh. Mairi’s silhouette diminished as she ascended, increasing the space between them. A heavy ache weighed on him. “I don’t intend to.”
Thick fog misted the sheltered forest where her clan had lived. Mairi flew below the canopy of dense woodland, a tight mix of spruce, pine, silver fir, and beech trees. The shimmer of moonlight cast an ethereal glow through their wispy fingers.
The stench of damp moss near the billowing stream filled her nose. Before she’d found the scent refreshing, now it was marred by all the blood of her clan, whose lives had spilled into the soil. She hadn’t been back since she’d burned their remains. The odor of their burning flesh stung her nostrils. The ominous reminder made her recoil.
Or was she imagining she scented it?
She steeled her already tense muscles to prepare for the next step. She couldn’t stay hidden all night. Not conducive to the mission—which she’d volunteered for. Time to follow up with her promise.
Taking a fortifying breath, she soared above the cover of the forests and over the homes of her clan. Now still and devoid of life. A graveyard that mocked her with a morbid reminder of all the boisterousness that it once had. She’d grown up there. Played with her friends. Lived with her parents. Gone, all were gone…
Her breathing quickened. Terror crept up her spine.
She couldn’t do this. Had to get out of there. Escape all the memories of death that surrounded her.
Realigning herself to fly back down, she aimed for cover. To find a temporary refuge under the trees, once again.
She paused in flight. What was she doing? Taking the cowardly way out. The gargoyles were all down there,
Watching for signs of danger, Malcolm gave them an all clear before they descended.
She glanced around the remains of her former home, her expression grim. Some of the small white homes appeared decimated—black edges and smoke stains marring what was likely once pristine.
Witnessing the destruction must have brought her memories rushing forth, making her relive the horror. Bryce had to say something. “This must be difficult for you.”
“Aye.” She blinked slowly and inhaled audibly. When she exhaled, her eyes shined with determination.
“You know where you’re to take cover,” Duncan addressed the warriors before him. “Do so now, and watch for Mairi.”
The gargoyles slipped through the darkness of night to move into their positions. Bryce remained with her. He hadn’t been lying, earlier. He’d keep his eyes on her, never let a demon touch her with its horrid claws.
“Ready?” Duncan nodded to Mairi.
“I am.”
Bryce stepped closer to her, glacial panic pulsing through his veins. He’d never faced this before—with a loved one in such a dangerous situation.
A loved one?
“Be careful.” He squeezed her hand. The skin wasn’t as soft as her human flesh, but it was still her, the connection still giving him the sparkle of heat that happened when he touched her.
“I will.” She glanced at him through her slate-gray eyes and paused. Then she nodded and soared into the air over her former home.
Bryce hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until his lungs compelled him to take a gasp for air.
Mason sidled beside him. You’ve developed feelings for her.
Was it so visible how he’d come to care for her? He didn’t reply.
“Funny, isn’t it?” Mason said aloud with a noise in between a snort and chortle. “Mum and Da have been bugging us for years to settle down. Now, that they’ve left the isle, you go and fancy a gargoyle. In essence, doing what they’ve always wanted.”
Bryce’s stomach churned. Nobody was making any commitments. Especially with the challenge that awaited them. “Let’s not jump ahead. I don’t even know if we’ll make it through the night.”
“True.” In a serious tone, Mason added, “If you do, don’t let her slip away.”
Bryce exhaled with a heavy whoosh. Mairi’s silhouette diminished as she ascended, increasing the space between them. A heavy ache weighed on him. “I don’t intend to.”
Thick fog misted the sheltered forest where her clan had lived. Mairi flew below the canopy of dense woodland, a tight mix of spruce, pine, silver fir, and beech trees. The shimmer of moonlight cast an ethereal glow through their wispy fingers.
The stench of damp moss near the billowing stream filled her nose. Before she’d found the scent refreshing, now it was marred by all the blood of her clan, whose lives had spilled into the soil. She hadn’t been back since she’d burned their remains. The odor of their burning flesh stung her nostrils. The ominous reminder made her recoil.
Or was she imagining she scented it?
She steeled her already tense muscles to prepare for the next step. She couldn’t stay hidden all night. Not conducive to the mission—which she’d volunteered for. Time to follow up with her promise.
Taking a fortifying breath, she soared above the cover of the forests and over the homes of her clan. Now still and devoid of life. A graveyard that mocked her with a morbid reminder of all the boisterousness that it once had. She’d grown up there. Played with her friends. Lived with her parents. Gone, all were gone…
Her breathing quickened. Terror crept up her spine.
She couldn’t do this. Had to get out of there. Escape all the memories of death that surrounded her.
Realigning herself to fly back down, she aimed for cover. To find a temporary refuge under the trees, once again.
She paused in flight. What was she doing? Taking the cowardly way out. The gargoyles were all down there,
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