Alec’s gut churned and fell.

“I’ll be right back.” He gave Veda a reassuring grin, lacking confidence to back it up. His father was pissed, and no doubt it was because he’d discovered Veda’s identity.

Alec exited the room and closed the door. His father stormed ahead and led them to his room. Alec’s pulse pounded as he paced over the paved stones.

Once they entered, his father pointed to a chair. “Sit. Explain.”

Alec sat on the hard wood chair. “I brought her with me. She needs our help.”

His father paced. “I got the gist of that from Duncan. I want to hear the entire thing from you. Starting from the beginning.”

Alec blew out a low breath. Here goes. He summarized the encounter with the wizard. His father leaned forward, listening intently.

“No, we can’t help her.” His father waved his arms down. “I don’t trust witches. After what they’ve done…”

“She saved my life. She risked everything, including her own life, and expected nothing in return.” Alec clenched his hands into fists.

“She’s a witch! You’re betraying your mother.”

“No.” Alec forced himself to relax his hands. “What happened to her was the action of one witch. One. The clan has been blaming an entire group of people for all these years, when the younger generation have nothing to do with it. It’s not right.”

“What’s not right is you going against your clan!” His father pointed an accusatory finger at Alec.

“Mum wouldn’t agree. She saw the best in people. She wouldn’t judge Veda for being a different species, and neither will I.” Blood roared through Alec’s veins. “I’m not going along with our clan’s prejudices any longer.”

His father slammed his fist on the table. “How dare you betray me this way? My own son—over a witch?”

“Who saved me from being trapped in a stone prison. Whose bravery deserves the respect of all gargoyles. I won’t abandon someone who sacrificed so much to help me.”

“Damn it, Alec. I won’t yield. Not when it comes to witches. Not when it comes to your mother.”

Alec stared at his father. Through the anger flashing in his eyes, Alec saw the pain. His father’s stubbornness came from loyalty to his wife. But, Alec wasn’t his father, and Veda wasn’t cruel.

“Mum always said we are both the most stubborn of all Taureans, but I must do what I feel is right. The clan has clung to grudges for too long. It’s not the way I want to continue my life. Therefore, it’s time for me to leave this clan.

“Alec, don’t talk like that,” he admonished. “This is your home.”

“No, Da. This was never my home. My home was on the isle. I never wanted to leave it, but I followed the clan here. It was a mistake. I see that now. We should have discussed a way to work with the island’s witches, the way Lachlan and his brothers have done.”

A harsh laugh burst from his father’s lips. “You’re not saying you agree with those fools betraying our existence with their ‘rock band.’”

The five brothers played music for humans, something the clan abhorred. But, Alec couldn’t help admiring a part of their gumption. They followed their heart, even at great risk. Like Veda had.

“Maybe.” Alec struggled to keep his voice steady lest this turn into a shouting match with no winners. “They’ve made peace on the isle rather than holding onto grudges and hiding in a piece of crumbling rock in the middle of nowhere.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this. From my only son.”

“Living here has never felt right, and it’s time for me to find a place that is.”

His father’s nostrils flared, and his face contorted, crimson with rage. “With a witch?”

“Her name is Veda. And she’s the kindest, bravest, most amazing person I’ve ever met.”

His father slammed his fist on the table. “And. A. Witch!”

“No battle lasts forever. And peace must come at some point.” Alec stood. His muscles raged with heat that kept them taut. “Goodbye.”

Alec turned out of the room, feeling his father’s stare boring into his back. His father didn’t stop him, though. Not that Alec had expected him to.

After he closed the door, he closed his eyes. His heart hammered. He fisted his hands into tight balls. He pictured slamming them into the stone walls.

And shatter his bones? Not smart. Had anything he’d done in the last few minutes had a grain of sense?

What the hell had he done? He hadn’t planned any of what he’d said. It had all rolled out of him, like a snowball rolling downhill, gathering more mass with momentum.

In a way, his declaration felt freeing, like he’d shed the weight of stone wings off his back. Besides, this meant he was free to start a new life, on his own terms.

With Veda.

He rushed back to her, eager to announce how they could be together.

When he returned to his room, Veda walked over to him.

“What happened?”

“We must leave. Can you walk?”

“Yes.”

He led them down the hall and outside, ignoring the guards. Once they’d progressed down the hill, he turned to her, “We can’t stay here, but that’s fine.”

She shrugged. “I hadn’t planned to for more than one night.” She tilted her head. “It’s because I’m a witch?”

Alec grunted. “You think I’m stubborn? You should meet my father.”

“That’s all right,” she replied with an impatient wave. “I don’t need a stranger’s acceptance.”

Alec searched the sloping fields ahead under a misty gray sky. “Now we need to figure out where we’re going next.”

“We?” Her voice edged higher with surprise.

“Of course. I told him if he wouldn’t accept you, then I’m leaving.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Why would you do that, Alec?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.” He raised his chin with pride.

Her face turned pale. “No. You can’t.”

His chest tightened with a wary heave. “Why not?”

She shook her head. “You can’t leave your clan for me.”

“It’s done.”

“No, Alec. You can’t. I can’t.”

His pulse quickened. What was she saying? And why? “What about what’s happened between us?”

“I know. It was wonderful. But, we never agreed to anything beyond you helping me get to safety.”

“I thought things changed last night.” 

She rubbed her hands together, nervously wringing them. “No. No, Alec. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lead you on to anything more, but we can’t continue on.”

He stared at her, eyes widening. What the hell was she saying? “Why not?”

“Because I already made that mistake once, running off with Kai. It was a disaster.”

“But—” The verbal blow struck him right in the solar plexus. How could she compare him to that evil wizard after all they’d gone through? “I’m not him.”

Her eyes shined. “I’m sorry, but I can’t make the same mistake again.”

Regret flooded through Veda almost the moment that she heard herself reject Alec. After what he’d just done for her, she turned him down flat?

The hurt in his eyes as almost made her take it all back. And If she was truthful, part of her wanted to stay with him. After the time they’d spent together, it didn’t feel right to separate.

No, there was a reason. Exactly as she told him. After following Kai to Scotland, and discovering what a terrible mistake that had been, she couldn’t repeat it by following another man. She might not be wise enough, but she was well into her twenties now, which made her old enough to make decisions for herself.

Right, she couldn’t blame her mistake on ignorance. She’d known it. She lived it.

She took a steely breath and raised her chin. “I should continue on from here on my own.”

“What are you saying, Veda? What are you going to do?”

“You need to return to your clan.” She took his hand and stared into his eyes. “I need to continue on my own.”

His eyes widened even more so, like two full moons staring at her incredulously. “But, where will you go? Back to your coven.”

“I don’t think so. It doesn’t really matter, though, does it? I left my coven to explore the world beyond our mountains and start a new life. So, that’s what I’ll do.”

“Consider all the threats.” His voice ended with a frantic note.

“There are threats everywhere, Alec. You can’t let worry keep you from living.”

“I can’t just let you leave. Not with all the potential dangers you’ll face out there on your own.”

“You have to.” She said. “I’m not someone you must protect. I have abilities and am able to take care of myself more than the average human.”

“And what if Kai comes after you?”

Her heart stuttered with ambivalence. She breathed through it and it was gone in the next blink. “He hasn’t bothered us yet. It sure shows how much he cared about me, doesn’t it?”

A low growl rumbled out of Alec. “He’s a fool,” he spat. “If I had someone like you, I’d never take you for granted.”

Her heartbeat quickened at those words. But, he’d said someone like her. Not specifically her.

Maybe it was semantics, and she was searching for a way not to get attached. The thing was Alec made it hard to do that. She’d been growing closer to him with every passing hour. Leaving him after he’d invited her here to stay would be difficult—perhaps even more difficult than it had been to leave her coven. But, it had to be done.

“I’m not going to waste any more time being afraid of him.” She straightened her spine. “I’ve spent the last few days looking over my shoulder. That’s done.”

“You’re so brave, Veda.”

Brave? That was the last thing she felt like right now. All the courage seemed to be in her words. She just needed to make her mind and body follow, because leaving Alec was going to be even harder than it was to leave her homeland. And it was even more terrifying than going out in the world on her own. But, she had to grow up.

She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “Goodbye, Alec. And thank you for everything.”

“I should be the one thanking you,” he said. “Or else, I might still be in a stone prison right now.”

She tilted her head. “Maybe us coming together was for a reason. You being trapped in stone forced me to make the decision to take a stand against Kai.”

He pointed to the sky. “Maybe it was written in the stars.” His eyes had a wistful glint.

“That sounds about right.” She agreed with a laugh.

His eyes turned dark and intense. “I know I’m going to miss you immensely. I already do.”

She swallowed. “I’m going to miss you, too.” She searched around their surroundings. The castle remains at the top of the hill. “This is your home. Not mine.”

“Is there anything I can do to make you change your mind?” His voice lowered to a near whisper.

“You’ve done enough for me,” she said. “All the risks. All the pain. I’ll never forget it.”

“It was worth it. I was able to spend that time with you.”

Her mouth went dry as her body simmered like hot lava. Gods, he was making it so difficult. How would she ever find the courage to leave when he said words like that? She took a deep breath to steel herself and closed her eyes. When she reopened them, she tilted her head and gave him a saucy smile. “Now how about a kiss to remember you by?”

His eyes smoldered. He stepped closer and cupped her cheek with both hands. “One you’ll never forget.”

He bent his head and touched her lips with a feather-light touch. Even that lightest of caresses ignited sparks within. A simmering heat surged through her, all the way to her toes. Even they tingled in response to this smoldering connection.

Alec cradled her head in his hands and deepened the kiss. Sparks ignited into flames of desire that licked at her. He pressed his body to hers, all his hard planes demanding more. She softened against him, her body almost liquefied and ready to submit.

He pulled his lips away with gentleness.

“Goodbye, Veda.” His dark gaze probed hers with intensity as he stepped back.

Dazed, she couldn’t even place what was going on. She blinked and adjusted to the sweeping scene around her. Vibrant green plains and foreboding gray stone.

It all rushed back to her. Tears prickled her eyes. She had to go before she started to weep. She broke the gaze.

“Goodbye.” She turned down the hill, treading over the rough terrain. Glancing ahead, all she saw was endless rugged green plains, a journey with no definite destination. Only one thing about it rang clear. 

It took her away from Alec.