“Let me get your number. I’ll get something together this week. Just us girls. You can give us readings,” Sophie exclaimed, pulling out her phone. It all seemed so innocuous and normal, and not like I’d just taken part in an ancient ritual to protect a magickal Truth Stone. The dichotomy in situations was giving me mental whiplash.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I began, but she waved my concerns away.
“Oh, hush. It will be fun. Plus, you said you loved astrology. If your powers are there, don’t you want to work with it more?”
“Maybe? I guess.” My stomach twisted. I hated turning my back on astrology and even speaking poorly about somethingI loved made me feel ill. “But I’d love to meet the others. Honestly? I could use some friends right now.”
It grated to admit it, but I had always been a creature who craved companionship. I loved going to parties, making friends, and being in the thick of things. Living in Glasgow had been fun, but I’d also found it tricky to make new friends at my age. Without a shared interest like being in school together, it was harder to meet groups of friends to join.
“Aw, I get that.” Sophie casually looped an arm over my shoulder and gave me a quick squeeze. “I know what it’s like to be a stranger in a strange land and all that. I’m more than happy to help you meet people.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. I just got a job at the pub, too, so I’m sure that will help.”
“No way!” Sophie said, tugging me toward the castle. “Are you bartending? Serving? You should ask Lia. I’d bet she’d put you on some shifts too.”
“Why would she need to? Brice seems to be able to do the work of twenty,” I pointed out, laughing.
“Yeah, but he can’t be seen by regular people,” Sophie said.
“I think I just need a little time. I’m happy I got the job at The Tipsy Thistle, but a lot has happened in the last two days, and I really just need to process for a moment, I think. Get my feet under me.” I still didn’t have it in me to tell her that I’d screwed up a spell and made it so Torin couldn’t tell a lie. Well, technically I hadn’t screwed up the spell—it had worked, hadn’t it—but it was just not for the intended recipient.
Which was the problem, really. I’d picked a random spell and had just jumped into it without bothering to think about needing to have a recipient for said spell. So, yeah, I guess I had screwed it up.
“You’ve only been here two days? Damn girl, yeah, you need a little time.” Sophie shook her head at me, and then her smilewidened as she looked at something over my shoulder. “Though, I’ll admit, things do tend to move fast in Loren Brae.”
I glanced behind me to see a handsome man dressed in a kilt and a thick woolen jumper striding across the lawn toward us.
“Oh my,” I said.
“Hands off. This one’s mine.” Sophie blew him a loud air kiss, and he detoured to us, and grabbed her around the waist to dip her low in a steamy kiss. When they came up for air, Sophie’s face flushed, and eyes dreamy, I almost sighed.
“Sorry about that. This one gets a little demanding when she sees me in a kilt if I don’t immediately pay attention to her.” The man grinned at me, and I felt a little woozy myself.
“This is Lachlan. He tried to kick me out of the castle when I first came here. But we sorted that out, didn’t we, honey?” Sophie fluttered her eyelashes at him and he just laughed and poked her in the side.
“I’m Liora.”
“She’s Zara’s sister. Faelan’s new assistant? And, she’s just joined the Order.”
Lachlan’s mouth dropped open. “Och, lass. Congrats to you. That’s fabulous you found the next one so fast.”
“I didn’t. It sounds like Gloam did, actually.”
“Smart little fox.” Lachlan held out his hand and I shook it. “Welcome to the Order, Liora. If you need anything, just let us know. There are a whole lot of us around, and we are all tuned in to what’s happening in Loren Brae. You’re not alone here.”
“Oh, thanks.” For some reason, those words made tears prick my eyes and I had to turn away for a moment and collect myself as Sophie chattered something about marketing photos to Lachlan.
I wasn’t alone here. I’d known that, when I’d decided to come back to be closer to Zara, but it meant even more to hear it from someone else. Particularly because I still wasn’t entirely surewhat to do if a Kelpie attacked me. Clearing my throat, I turned back around.
“And if a Kelpie attacks?”
“Reach for your power,” Sophie said, automatically. She brought a fist to her solar plexus. “You can feel it. In here. You might not know how it will manifest. Mine is my voice. I’m the Knight. So I’m one of the most powerful against the Kelpies. I try to be available and as close as I can be at all times, but it’s a large loch and there’s only so much I can do.”
“You do a great job, darling.” Lachlan brushed a finger under Sophie’s eyes where I now noticed the dark smudges, presumably from lost sleep. “More than is expected of you.”
“I accepted the duty, didn’t I? When I became Knight?” Sophie shrugged him off. “Liora, is your car here, or do you need a ride?”
“Nope, I walked. All good. I’ll head on back now and I think the walk will clear my head.” I nodded to Lachlan. “Nice to meet you.”