Chapter Seven
Luna
The sun was shining, and the air was heavy with the scent of the earth. It was a new day and a new beginning. Artair seemed to be in a fabulous mood and appeared bent on providing me with a positive start to the day.
Graeme was in the driver's seat, taking us to Edinburgh, claimed to be the most beautiful city in Scotland.
I couldn't wait to walk the Royal Mile and see the castle.
We parked about a mile outside of Old Town Edinburgh and made our way through a huge park that led us toward the castle.
It could be seen from just about anywhere, as it sat at the top of a hill.
It was a prime location for spotting the enemy, and I'd read that long before it became a castle, it had been a fortress during the Roman Occupation and, although not proven, was thought to be a Pictish fort before that.
It didn't seem real walking through a park and seeing that up ahead. It didn't take long for me to get swept up in the magic that represented medieval times.
Of course, it helped being with Artair, who, despite his career, looked like a knight from tales of long ago with his height, trim build, and powerful muscles. I could easily imagine him swinging those ridiculously long swords around.
His hand felt warm and huge wrapped around mine, and I liked how he made me feel safe.
He warned me that there was to be no wandering off today, or else I'd be having dinner with a plugged and sore bottom and sitting on the naughty chair.
I wasn't sure what a naughty chair was but was definitely curious, not that I wanted to find out from being naughty.
Mmm, well, maybe I did. Like all things with Artair, being naughty, or good, had its perks and rewards, so how bad could it really be?
When we reached the Grassmarket, I came to an abrupt halt.
The place had some heavy vibes. This is where Edinburgh met, back in the day, to trade and sell their wares.
It was also where witches were sentenced and burned.
Currently, it was occupied by a strip of restaurants and pubs brimming with patio traffic.
I was in love once again. It was so different from Glasgow but had that same vibrancy that drew me in.
The cobbled streets were closed to vehicles, leaving plenty of room for foot traffic and outdoor dining. “Wow. Just wow! I love it here. Can we stop and check out the menus?”
“Your wish is my command. Besides, a beer and a snack will fortify us for the long walk ahead.”
We stopped at the third building on the strip called the Black Bull Pub.
The place was packed, but a table for two opened up in the corner, and Artair looked funny cramped into the tiny space when he took his seat.
The inconvenience of the cramped space was soon forgotten, replaced with watching the hustle and bustle surrounding us.
I enjoyed listening to an array of different European languages and a plethora of accents—not just the highly recognizable Scots, but the Germans, Canadians, and Americans.
It was interesting to note how different our North American neighbors sounded from us Canadians, and I wondered if this was because we'd been part of the British Commonwealth longer than they had.
The States had gotten their independence in 1776, while ours was a hundred years later, and we didn't get our own constitution until 1982.
“I think I'm in love,” I commented absently.
“Better not be with anyone but me,” Artair growled back.
It was an off-the-cuff remark, but I felt the heat creep up my neck and across my cheeks.
In love? With him? I was definitely in lust and something else, but I wouldn't allow it to be love.
I had too many issues for a man of his stature, and there was no way I wanted to ruin his life.
This trip, with him as my guide and Daddy for a few weeks, would be pure bliss—memories I could lean on when my life went back to being on my own.
“I meant the pub. I feel comfortable here, like it's home.”
Artair flashed me a wicked smile. “And here I thought my home felt like home.” His eyes twinkled with mischief. He was messing with me.
I held his gaze and leaned back in my chair, taking a swig of my beer. “Oh, I imagine it's the effects of the country as a whole that has me feeling that way.”
“Aren't you a cheeky monkey? I'll remember that later when you're over my knee.”
“What! How come?”
“Because before this day is through, you're going to run off again.”
I didn't know if I should laugh or be outraged. “No, I won't. I already promised.”
“And that's why you'll find yourself over my lap, because you promised.”
I glared at him over the froth of my beer. “No, I won't.”
“Dare to bet on that?”
He wanted me to bet against myself. I downed my beer and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, an act of mild crudeness to seal the deal. “Sure, I'll take that bet, Daddy. But what do I get if I win?”
“Hmm.” He tapped his fingertips together like an evil genius. “What will Luna win if she doesn't run? How about a million dollars?”
I laughed. “Haha, Mr. Funny.”
“I'm deadly serious, lass. If you win, I'll give you a million dollars, and you're free to leave anytime you want. But I hope you'll stay with me until the end of your trip, as I verra much enjoy your company.”
His thickening accent did all kinds of things to me, my throbbing clit just one of them. But something about the way he said all of that hit a trigger within me, and I was suddenly uncomfortable with a deal that included a sum of money I never expected to see in my lifetime.
“How about if I win, I get to... hmm, let's see. I know! If I win, you will go on a tour of your own castle incognito with me, and then we can hear all the nasty details they say about you.”
Artair laughed. “Fine, and if I win?”
I rolled my eyes. “We already know what you get.”
“Done!” Artair threw some bills on the table. “Come, lass, there is plenty to see.”
I stood and allowed him to lead me from the pub and up a winding road toward the mile. We stopped at all the stores along the way, and he bought me a Dumbledore wand from the Harry Potter store.
“Careful, or I'll cast a spell on you,” I warned, waving the wand at Artair.
“You already did.” He held his hands over his heart like I'd shot him, and I giggled. When we got to the top of the road, Graeme magically appeared and took our souvenirs from us before we turned left to head up to the castle.
Along the way, we passed the witch's well, which looked way bigger in TikTok videos than in real life. It was a tiny fountain attached to the outer wall of a store with a plaque.
“Why so glum, chum?”
I couldn't help but smile. “Seriously, did you just say that? What happened to my sophisticated lawyer, huh?”
“He's taking a day off. Now, why so down?”
“Look at this thing! How can this possibly commemorate all those incredible women who died because people were overly paranoid?”
He gave me a quizzical look.
“They weren't witches, Artair; they were misunderstood women, and probably most of them were healers.”
He nodded his head sagely. “There is a witchy restaurant across the way I think you'll find more than makes up for what is missing at this monument. I'll take you after the castle tour. How does that sound?”
“It sounds perfect. Thank you.”
The castle itself was massive, but only three parts were open to the public. One held the crown jewels and portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots, and James VI of Scotland and I of England, respectively.
The Stone of Scone was encased behind a huge glass barrier, along with the crown jewels, which were incredible.
I would have gawked longer, but there was quite the line of tourists who were expected to keep moving.
That section of the castle had its own gift shop, and Artair bought me freshwater pearl bracelets in every color they had to make up for the one that broke at the airport when I lifted my pack onto my back to hurry to board the plane.
We saved the dungeon for last, but once we wound our way around to the bowels of the castle, I didn't want to go in.
It felt all wrong and reeked of despair.
Can a place still reek of despair even though it hasn't been a prison in over a hundred years?
I didn't know, but the little hairs on my arms rose, while Artair seemed completely unbothered.
“I'll stay here while you go in. The place has creepy vibes.”
It wasn't until an hour later, when I heard him say, “I told you so,” that I realized I'd wandered off along the outer bailey wall.
“Crap!”
Artair laughed, then his mien grew serious. “I thought I was clear that until your stalker has been picked up, you are not to wander off?”
“I'm sorry. I was just lost in thought and wasn't aware I'd even moved from the bench.”
He pressed me against the cold stone of the wall.
“Do you want me to treat you like a child? Do I have to put a wrist cuff on you, attached to a leash that I control, tugging you along with me? Do you need me to spank you in public like a naughty child to get you to understand how deadly serious I am? When I give you an order, what is it for, Luna?”
“My safety?”
“That's right. You've disappointed me, but I'm far from surprised. Come, it's time to go home.”
“But the witchy restaurant?”
“Now that you have lost the bet, you'll have to earn a trip to the restaurant.”
I felt a full tantrum coming on right on the heels of my anger. “I'm going to the restaurant, and you can't stop me.”
“Are you calling your safeword?”