Chapter 16
ELENA PIERSON
I’m grateful for Lachlan’s sure hold on me as I start to stumble at the sight of an empty beach before me. The moon overhead highlights the ground, a sparse tree line, and throws blue gray shadows that dance across the still water before us.
“We’re back at the lake,” I announce, recognizing the terrain from earlier.
The glass-smooth water mirrors a star-dusted twilight, offering no sign of civilization, and I gaze out across the expanse feeling like it’s been days since we arrived here in the van.
I swallow back the urge to panic and try to stop the wobble in my knees that threatens to put me on the ground.
“Aye we’re back at the lake. Are you alright, Elena?” Lachlan asks, his voice rife with concern over me.
His hand rubs a small circle on my back, and the last dregs of whatever weird power the Lady of the Lake has seems to go away.
“Yeah, I’m okay. That place was magic, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” Lachlan says, turning toward a narrow and overgrown dirt path that’s almost swallowed by the shoreline.
Thunder rolls overhead in the distance, and I begin to panic anew as the usually placid waters start to churn.
“Lachlan, what’s happening?”
“Looks like Vivian doesn’t think we’re square after all,” he mutters with derision.
The sky bruises.
An unnatural frigid wind blows, pushing my short hair behind me and hurling spray of lake water at my face.
“Oh no,” I cry out when the sky opens and rain begins to pour down in big fat droplets.
The shower falls in relentless drive sheets that blurs the surrounding English hillside, engulfing the area in an opaque, gray tinged blur.
“We have to find shelter,” he says, just as a flash of violet lightning tears across the sky, and my stomach plummets. Thunder follows immediately—a deafening percussion that booms into my eardrums and vibrates the ground, just as I feel Lachlan’s arms go around me.
“Come on, we’ve a bit of a trek before us, and I’m afraid we won’t be able to go back and get our things for some time. Better we find somewhere away from Vivian’s fit,” Lachlan offers, gathering me into his arms and stepping onto the path that hopefully leads to somewhere to stay for the night.
Feeling a bit like a damsel but not minding with how the air keeps shifting around us like a maelstrom, I turn into Lachlan’s chest as he walks us easily toward what I hope is protection from the sea witch’s wrath and this weird storm.
He carries me easily, bending his head over my body to shield me from most of the rain as he walks.
Being so enveloped in his arms like this brings on another wave of want that goes right to my middle and my breath hitches, leaving me hyper aware of my clothes and Lachlan’s proximity.
I swallow, trying to anchor my thoughts while being battered by cold night air and try to mask the sudden heat flushing my cheeks.
I really wish I had my hoodie right about now to hide my face in it.
“Oh, no! My phone!”
Natalie is going to be worried sick.
“Hey, we’ll get your things back. Not to worry, aye? I swear it to you, my flower,” he says, his voice dropping into a sweet tone.
He’s right. She’ll be okay as long as I message within the next couple days. She’s used to me going quiet for days at a time, especially when I find a sample since I’m like a dog with a bone when I have something to work on.
His hand gently but securely squeezes the meat of my thigh, and a thrill goes up my spine. “You’re shivering. We’ve got to get you out of here,” he tsks, mistaking my bodily response for one of cold and fear.
The possessive touch of his hands sends another jolt of heat straight through me, making my stomach flip. A warmth starts in my middle, quickly turning my nipples hard as his hands seem to touch everywhere.
Shit.
I nod quickly, not daring to look him directly in the eyes, while praying we can find somewhere with a bed.
“Come, I think I saw a faint light just over the side of this hill. Don’t get upset, we’ll get your things back to you, not to worry,” Lachlan urges, and gently walks us both through the short field.
Bless him, he thinks it’s my kit causing my erratic breathing.
Up ahead, the dark silhouette of a wooden house finally materializes against a bare grassland. The amber glow of a porchlight a guidelight to sanctuary.
But before we can even shake the lake damp from our clothes, an older couple steps out onto the porch. The man wears a thick green wool cardigan, and the woman holds onto a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
“Oh brilliant, you managed to make it across the wood. What an odd storm. I’ve not seen storm squalls that high since I was a girl,” the woman chirps, her British accent warm and inviting.
“Well, move out of the way, woman, and let them get inside.” A churlish male voice says.
“Ugh, fine, budge up a bit.” The older woman shuffles closer to her husband, allowing Lachlan to carry me over the threshold.
He moves to set me on my feet as we step into the roomy cottage.
“I’m Beatrice, and this is my husband, Arthur. We saw a light coming from the lake and figured someone might be arriving shortly.” The little old lady says, and I’d swear on everything she’d be an exact match for Julie Andrew’s voice.
“Welcome travelers,” Arthur adds with a nod. “Terrible business, this wind tonight. We’ve got the kettle on and fresh scones in the kitchen, and there’s a vacant cabin at the end of the hill if you’re keen.”
Panic sets in again when I remember, we don’t have our luggage which means we don’t have any money to pay for a stay.
“Oh Arthur, they’ve not yet said they mean to stay, you numpty,” Beatrice gripes.
I smile and roll my lips, fairly sure I’ve never heard Julie Andrews call anyone a numpty before.
“We’d love a cabin, wouldn’t we, Elena?” Lachlan responds, sending them both tittering happily.
“Oh it looks as if you’ve lost your baggage, you poor dears,” the proprietress says, before I can even open my mouth to mention payment.
“Aye, we seem to have lost our luggage. But I’ve a card here to pay for the stay,” Lachlan says smoothly.
Relief floods me as I remember he keeps Frank Stein’s card shoved in his pocket that we used first for the train ride to London, and the fare to get us here to the lake.
The elder gentleman shakes his head. “No trouble at all, we can sort it out and square up in the morning. I’ve got a small card terminal around here somewhere.”
Lachlan grins and hugs me to his side. “Aye, that’ll do then. We’re a bit weary from our journey and just need to get situated and warm up.”
“Stupendous! The cabin is straight down the hill behind the big house, you can’t miss it, it’s the only building for miles,” Arthur says kindly, walking us to the back door, Beatrice following up the rear. “Would you like us to walk you down?”
Beatrice pushes a key at Lachlan, who takes it in his grip before bending to scoop me back up into his big arms.
“No thanks, mate, I’m sure we’ll manage. Thank you,” Lachlan says with a nod of his head before bringing us both back out in the elements.
Vivian’s storm rages on, but the cabin is only a short walk from Beatrice and Arthur’s house.
The cabin is much smaller, and once we step inside, opens to a quaint living space that branches off into the kitchen, along with a bathroom, and single bedroom.
Lachlan guides me into the bedroom, which is small but incredibly cozy. An empty brick fireplace, plush velvet armchair and a massive old fourposter bed piled with blankets make up the room.
Once the heavy bedroom door shuts, Lachlan turns to face me. He takes my hands and finds them burning hot despite the cool night air.
“Elena, you’re burning up, and you’ve been breathing like you ran a marathon. This is more than just your baggage and phone, isn’t it? Talk to me,” he says.
Maybe it’s the magical things that have happened to me in the last day.
Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve met people I thought were only myth and legend, but for whatever reason, I decide to be brutally honest with him, because I can’t take much more.
“I don’t know what’s happening or why Lachlan, but I’m completely and unbearably aroused right now, and it’s making me crazy. ”
Lachlan blinks, as if the sudden revelation catches him completely off guard as he processes the real reason for my state of breathing, and the shock in his gaze makes me want to wrap myself around him and kiss him that much harder.