Knights of Stone: Bryce
Highland Gargoyles part 3
What happens when love interferes with plans, during the most unfortunate of times?
Gargoyle shifter, and the last of her clan, Mairi, is running for her life, desperate to keep hidden. When she spots two winged creatures flying high above her in the Highlands of Scotland, she momentarily panics, thinking they’re the same beasts who murdered her family along with her entire clan. Realizing they’re gargoyles like her, she takes flight and discreetly follows them to an island.
Bryce, beta of his clan and drummer for the Knights of Stone, senses something is amiss on the Isle of Stone. At first, he believes he’s merely discomfited by the rumors of atrocities occurring in the Highlands. However, he discovers an intruder on the magically-concealed island home. Once he ascertains that the flame-haired beauty is the sole survivor of a traumatizing attack, he returns to the Highlands to warn his former clan.
Somewhere between cautioning the clan and realizing the necessity of destroying the beasts that threaten them all, Mairi and Bryce discover an attraction that quickly evolves into a consuming passion. A problem even greater than the murderous fiends becomes apparent – the love they share may not survive the battle.
Excerpt
Two winged beings soared across the stars. The demons?
Mairi’s heart thudded. They’d tracked her here, miles from home. She slid down to hide in the shadows of the forest as the stark realization chilled her.
God, no. She couldn’t let them find her. Not after what they’d done to her clan.
The claws. The long, curled talons that had trapped her. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing away the image, but their acrid scent lingered in her mind.
Reliving her captivity would only paralyze her at a time she had to act. She needed a weapon. Not much to choose from in the woods. That branch with a sturdy point would have to do. It wouldn’t deter a demon for long, but better than nothing.
Her drive for survival had kept her moving for two or three days, she’d lost track of how many. Seeing the demons again triggered a red hot desire to lash out. Vengeance. Its tendrils wrapped around her like a fiery vine, consuming all thought. They had to be destroyed for what they’d done to her family. And to her. One day, she’d find a way.
If she survived the night. She squinted to discern where the monsters had flown to. The dark shadows soared in the opposite direction. They hadn’t spotted her. She exhaled and tension drifted out of her muscles.
Wait—the forms and flight patterns were familiar. Not like demons, but human forms with wings. Were they gargoyles?
No, they couldn’t be like her, could they? Wasn’t she the last surviving gargoyle shifter in the whole of the northern Highlands? Maybe she’d flown farther than she’d thought.
Her curiosity bloomed. After a moment of hesitation, she spread her wings and pursued them, trailing from such a distance that they wouldn’t spot her. They were barely pinpricks ahead in the charcoal sky. Still she flew close to the tree line to drop under cover of foliage if one turned back. For miles, she followed them over the slopes and valleys of the Highlands, past mountains and lochs, which shimmered with the reflection of the stars.
What are you doing?
Snorting inside, she answered herself. No flipping clue.
Following those who appeared to be her kind had to be a better option than sitting around to wait for the demons to track her. Most likely it was only a matter of time. Taking action with any sort of purpose had to be better than hiding like a rabbit among a pack of wolves in the Highland forests.
The beings ahead soared for many miles and headed over the North Atlantic. Several times, she paused to debate this foolish pursuit taking her farther away from home, but she pushed on. She didn’t have a home any longer. Didn’t have a clan. She was alone.
Bryce and his elder brother Lachlan cloaked themselves in invisibility before flying back to the Isle of Stone. Only the brightest of stars shone through the blanket of fog while the moon loomed with a ghostly iridescence. Even in its waning state, it conveyed its power through the drifting mist. Yet, it hung blameless, as it always did—no matter what damage it inflicted on those below.
Bryce flinched, prickled by the oddest sensation. Like he was being watched. He searched the earth and sky but only saw the dark canopy of trees, with the breeze ruffling through the leaves. The only scent was of the forests below.
He communicated silently to Lachlan. Do you sense anything unusual?
Lachlan paused for a moment. No. Do you?
Aye. Not sure how to describe it. Something I haven’t felt before.
Do you think it could be related to the reports?
While they visited their former clan in the Highlands, the other gargoyle shifters had mentioned strange incidents they’d overheard while on patrol.
Possibly. Bryce shook his head. Or maybe I’m just being hypervigilant after them putting the idea in my mind.
That had to be it. After all the recent incidents he’d faced with wolf attacks, interfering humans, and close calls, even the calmest gargoyle would be on edge.
Either way, stay on high alert until we get back.
Besides, they were cloaked. Humans wouldn’t be able to see them.
But supernatural creatures could.
For a unique shifter romance series with hot men in kilts, read about the brothers in the Knights of Stone today!
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Read the first two books in the series today! Knights of Stone: Mason and Knights of Stone: Lachlan.
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