Knights of Stone
Highland Gargoyles 1
Gargoyles, tree witches, and wolf shifters have divided the
Isle of Stone after a great battle twenty-five years ago. When Kayla, a tree
witch, hears about the unconventional rock concerts in the gargoyle’s
territory, she sneaks from her coven and into their territory to see for
herself. Night after night, she returns to see one in particular shift into
human form and play guitar at these unconventional shows.
For several nights, Mason has kept watch for the pixie-like
female. He plans to seduce her, thinking she’s a visitor from another island.
When he discovers she’s one of the tree witches, he retreats, attempting to
keep his distance. The temptation is strong, but forbidden.
Kayla and Mason attempt to meet in secret, but other
elements on the isle command their attention. A magical cloak created by the
three clans on the island is thinning, leading to repercussions for all the
clans. Kayla and Mason are caught in the middle of it, and their actions may
change the fate for all.
This novella was originally released as part of the USA
Today bestselling Highland Shifters paranormal romance boxed set.
Excerpt
The crowd pushed Kayla closer
to the stage as the last trails of fiery sunset faded. They knew what happened
once darkness fell. She recovered her footing and focused again on the five
life-sized stone gargoyles perched on pedestals on the perimeter of the stage.
The space between them was set with instruments—guitars, a drum set, mic
stands, and massive amplifiers, while a bonfire in a pit behind them cast the
statues in a warm glow.
A stagehand
with tartan draped over one shoulder climbed onto the stage and walked to the
closest statue. He fastened the kilt over its shoulder and around its waist
with a thick belt, covering the statue’s massive thighs. Kayla flushed,
picturing why the coverings were necessary once the transformation began. The
kilt had become a key detail in her fantasies about the guitarist, since it was
the only clothing he wore. The stagehand continued dressing each statue with
the same brilliant blue tartan worn by the gargoyle clan.
The last
vestige of sunlight disappeared from the sky, and night draped the stage like a
closing curtain. The statues loomed, dark silhouettes barely discernible by the
crescent moon with the backdrop of the craggy cliffs and the rugged peaks of
waves in the Atlantic Ocean behind them. The murmur of voices was replaced by
silence. Waiting…
Five torches
blazed on the stage all at once, lit by an unseen force. The audience erupted
in cheers as the dancing lights from the flickering fire basked the statues.
The flames lowered, casting the gargoyles in an eerie, almost reverent glow.
Movement. So
slight, Kayla wondered if it was simply a play of light and shadows in her anticipation
for the change. She fixed her gaze on the statue in front of her, the one she’d
gravitated to each time she’d had sneaked out to see the show. Its massive gray
form stood straight on two legs built for sturdiness. Its chest jutted out
proudly. Gray wings with detailed feathers etched in the stone arched from a
point below its shoulder blades. Eyes cast straight ahead on a face that
appeared to be a mixture of canine and lion. Its right hand twitched, so
slightly she would have missed it if she hadn’t stared so intently. Then a
clawed foot inched forward.
Murmurs of
astonishment burst from the crowd as the transformation began. Their cries of
fervor grew louder as the monstrous statues transformed into taller, slimmer
figures with the bronzed skin of warriors who battled under the midday sun. The
tartan fabric fell over their thighs as they stood erect, covering their
nudity.
Kayla barely
blinked, mesmerized as always, as the statue before her stood to full height,
taking on the form of a human male, but with beautiful raven wings. Hair just
as black snaked rebelliously past his chin. The stony eyes flickered with
animation, turning to a mossy green. His deep gaze seared the audience, seeming
to burn anything in the path. When he found Kayla, he stopped. His expression
was unreadable, but the intensity in his unblinking eyes made her swallow. She
froze under the scrutiny as if hypnotized, unable to break eye contact. Her
stomach lurched, heart pounded, and every muscle in her body tightened, fueled
with blood now scorching through her veins. His penetrating appraisal affected
her so. When his eyes took on a smoldering glint, her skin tingled and a
red-hot awareness grew between her thighs.
He broke the
stare and continued to assess the audience. She gasped, not realizing she had
been holding her breath, and panted while she tried to breathe at a normal
rate.
He turned on
robust legs and strode to a guitar stand. She tore her eyes from him to note
the other gargoyles. They, too, had shifted into the form of striking males.
One had black hair draped further down his back, one had long blond hair, and
two had reddish-brown hair—one wavy and shaggy, the other straight. They took
their place at other instruments. She sought the guitarist again and caught the
first sound of the pick striking the strings. On hearing the guitar projected
through the amp, the crowd roared again, pressing Kayla forward.
The freak show
was about to begin.
Spotlights
flooded the musicians, powered by solar panels near a massive amplifier. The
guitarist continued playing and the others joined in, playing a raucous
crossover between hard rock and heavy metal. The one with long blond hair
grabbed hold of the microphone and belted out a shattering cry that sounded
like a call to battle. The crowd went pin drop silent to listen and then
cheered in unison as the band played on. The front man sang piercing growls and
low croons about the Knights in Stone, the protectors of the ancient forests,
battling against the evil tree witches.
Kayla’s
coven.
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About Lisa Carlisle:
Lisa Carlisle is a USA Today Bestselling author of romance
and suspense. She loves stories with dark, brooding heroes and independent,
caring heroines. Her travels have provided her with inspiration for
various settings in her novels, including deployments while she served in the
Marines. She lived in Parris Island, the California desert, and Okinawa, Japan.
She also backpacked alone through Europe, and lived in Paris, France, as an au
pair before returning to the U.S. and buying a book store. She now lives and
works in New England with her husband, two children, a cat, and many
fish.
Connect with Lisa:
Website: http://www.lisacarlislebooks.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lisacarlisleauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6463824.Lisa_Carlisle
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Carlisle/e/B009C7T8L4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1413555884&sr=8-2-ent
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-Carlisle/e/B009C7T8L4/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1413555884&sr=8-2-ent
Thanks for sharing your book with us,
Tina
Tina
