Chapter Two
Connor
Those weren’t the words Connor expected to hear.
Somewhere deep in his gut he’d known there was nothing natural about this place, this village that had appeared from nowhere veiled in a fierce storm.
His skin tingled with warmth, struck by a strange sense of familiarity, as if he ought to recognise these streets and the wary, dark-eyed woman standing before him.
“I’m not sure any of us know how to respond to that question,” he said gently, gesturing at the stunned faces behind him. “However, we’d be pleased to find out what you do know so we can perhaps get to the bottom of this.”
There. Let that whelp Gauthier see I know how to talk to people. He would tackle the man’s use of his first name later, when things were not so fraught with uncertainty.
“What is the last thing you remember, Luciana?” Adrian asked. “You say there was a storm, which we experienced too. Then you woke up in your house here, in this strange valley?” He waved a hand around. “There was no warning? No one else is awake to give you any answers?”
So her name was Luciana. Connor had missed a chunk of the conversation while preoccupied with his pride.
He glanced over at Fraser, who looked as bewildered as the rest of them. He was about to ask a question when the woman spoke again.
“I woke up here, yes, and looked outside to see I was no longer in my world. Mine is a place of sharp edges, of dark shadows and secret spaces that no one dared tread. It looks a little like yours, but it’s…
” She paused, choosing her words slowly.
“More peaceful. Green, and with so much water.” Her gaze marvelled at the loch in the distance.
“At home, we struggle to find it. The land is barren and the water restricted.”
Connor couldn’t imagine a worse place. It sounded as if her world offered little pleasure, a stark contrast to the rich land he stood on and the beautiful country he represented.
Fraser moved forward, his eyes alight with curiosity. Adrian looked entranced by the story, his green eyes sparkling as he pushed back his hair from his face.
He really is an annoying git.
“What’s the name of your home world?” Fraser asked. “Our world is known as Earth, and you’re in Scotland, one of the countries in what we call the United Kingdom.”
Luciana laughed, a tinkling sound that made her appear more at ease. “I am from Earth too, my friend, but we call our places worlds. I think they are the same as your countries. Mine is called Utharia.”
Fraser cleared his throat in embarrassment. “Ah, I see. Apologies, I wasn’t sure what you meant when you said ‘my world.’”
“You thought she was an alien?” Connor murmured in his ear. “Really?”
He chuckled when Fraser flashed him a death stare.
“And yes,” Luciana continued, “I went to my neighbours’ homes to see if they were all right, and they are all still sleeping where they fell. I tried to wake my friend Irial, but she would not be roused.” Her face paled. “I hope they all wake soon.”
So did Connor. He didn’t quite know what to do with the information he’d been given so far, but perhaps someone else in the village might have a clue.
In the meantime, he needed to assess the area, gauge the scope of the problem, and get some plans in place. He was surprised by how easily he’d accepted the fact that a whole populated village had appeared out of nowhere overnight.
This village’s presence was going to put a dent in his clan’s plans to remain secret and secure on their own land.
There would be areas to avoid when the pack ran, and this would have to be one of them. He couldn’t risk their secret being revealed. They’d been hidden as shifters for centuries, and that was not about to change.
He turned to the other men. “I think we need to split up. Each take a section of the village and take note of how many homes and people we’re talking about.”
He looked over at the spire of what he assumed was a church, noting its arched windows and simple stonework. “I’ll start with the kirk and circle around left. You find a spot to call your own, and we’ll meet back here when we’ve finished.”
He turned back to Luciana. “Can you give me a general idea of how many people live here, and how many homes so we know what we’re dealing with?”
She blew out a shuddering breath. “We are a community of forty-five. A diverse collection of people with…” She stopped, again choosing her words carefully. “Unusual talents.”
Adrian muttered something beside him. Connor turned. “Did you want to say something?”
“It appears this is then a hamlet, not a village,” Adrian murmured. “In its official classification of course.”
Connor stared at him. He had no idea what Adrian was referring to. “And that matters how?”
Adrian shrugged. “Mon ami, I am merely observing. Feel free to call this,” he waved a hand, “whatever you want.”
Give me fucking strength. Arrogant bastard.
Connor turned to Luciana. “What kind of talents are you referring to?”
Luciana waved a hand. “Ones that are generally not seen by the outside world,” she murmured. “My people are those who fear living amongst the medians, as they don’t understand your world.”
“Medians?” Adrian looked intrigued. “Who are they?”
Luciana stared at them gravely. “You are.”
Connor frowned. “Can you explain that a little, please?” He had an inkling of what she meant, but he needed her to spell it out. “Are you referring to people without these ‘talents’ you mentioned?” If so, you’re in for a shock. You’re in my world of wolves now.
She nodded. “Yes. Those who live on the intermediate plane. Neither under the Earth, nor above it, or within the veil itself.” She appeared loath to say much more; instead she gazed around her worriedly.
“I can’t say much more, or they may punish me.
If my world is here, then they will also be, even if not in person. ”
“Who are ‘they’?” Fraser asked.
Luciana shook her head in sudden panic. “I can’t say. Please don’t ask me. They have eyes and ears everywhere. I can see them. They are the shadows in the darkness, the things you see when all is lost.”
Her fear was palpable, and Connor’s protective instincts rose, along with a need to reassure her. He didn’t remember seeing any damned shadows.
“Well, whoever or whatever they are, if they’re dickheads, they’ll need to deal with me. This is my valley, and I don’t take kindly to arseholes making trouble.”
“I don’t understand all these words,” Luciana said quietly, “but thank you for the offer of assistance. Although I don’t believe you’d be able to take them on. They have too much power.”
“We’ll see about that,” Connor growled.
“Indeed,” Adrian murmured. “They haven’t met you yet. I’m sure you’d be a formidable opponent.”
Connor glared at him, wondering if the man was mocking him. But Adrian’s face remained placid, showing no hint of mockery.
“Yes, well, we’ll see.” Connor muttered. “Come on then, enough talk. Let’s walk the village and see if we can get any answers. If anyone needs help, howl.” He stopped, unsure how much he should give away at this juncture.
He was pretty sure Luciana wasn’t ready to witness humans shifting into wolves, regardless of her background. “I mean, call out, whatever. Stay alert, and we’ll meet back here when we’re done.”
The other men nodded and walked off in opposite directions.
“Luciana, why don’t you stay here in case anyone wakes up and comes looking for you. They might need to see a friendly face.”
She nodded. “I shall do that. Thank you. I know this must all seem very strange to you. I can barely believe it myself. This is the first time this has happened…” Her voice trailed off, her eyes filling with dread. “My community will be scared when they wake up here, as I was.”
Connor walked toward the church, looking around as he took in the buildings on the cobbled street.
Each side featured a mix of what looked like residential houses, some with signs declaring Apothecary, Tea Room, and Spells and Potions.
There was one with a sign that said The Dry Pig, which he took to be a tavern, even if it didn’t resemble a traditional pub.
It was a hodgepodge of small stone buildings joined together in what appeared to be a wide circle.
Connor had an uneasy feeling he knew exactly what type of talents existed here. How in hell did I get saddled with some sort of supernatural village on my land, filled with beings of unearthly powers?
Would these people be dangerous? No doubt. He hoped they were friendly enough, like Luciana. Huh. He hadn’t even asked her what her talent was.
He reached the church and approached the wide wooden door with caution. The steps were overgrown with moss, and a pleasant scent of lavender and damp grass wafted from the verdant lawns on either side of the path.
Whatever had brought this place here, it didn’t appear to have affected the village’s flora as the flowers and foliage remained intact.
Connor was certain he’d seen a rabbit bolt out of the churchyard as he approached. His wolf senses had wanted to give chase, but he had more important things to do right now than bunny hunting.
He knocked on the door, hearing the hollow sound reverberate deep within the structure. “Hello? Is anyone in here? I’m about to enter.”
There was only silence, so Connor knocked again. Nothing. He reached for the ornate brass door handle, crafted in the shape of a horned deer, and pushed it open. His senses told him no one was in his immediate vicinity, so he entered.
Inside, the church was unearthly quiet, save for a soft rustling in the roof beams. Connor looked up to see a couple of curious wood pigeons eyeing him warily from the rafters.
He chuckled at the sight, feeling a sudden wave of relief at the birds’ presence.
It added an element of normalcy to what had been a most unusual morning.