Veda carried an armful of herbs as she returned to her new home, a cabin on the Isle of Stone. Alec rested under the sun in his stone form in front of it, restoring his energy. He shifted to human form when she approached. She marveled at the transformation from a mobile stone to chiseled man. Damn, she was lucky.

“Hello, my bonnie lass. How was your walk?” He stepped over to her and greeted her with a kiss.

A tingling of heat started where his lips touched hers and shimmied down to her toes, the way it always did when he was near. Only Alec had that effect on her.

“Terrific,” she replied.

“It looks like you have your arms full.” He motioned at her bounty.

She glanced at the various greenery in her arms, a bunch of basil, mint, lavender, oregano, rosemary, and chives. She sniffed at the fragrant bounty of aromas. “You weren’t kidding about the tree witches working magic in their gardens.”

It had already been three weeks since they’d arrived on the island. Although, the five gargoyle brothers who lived here were surprised to see Alec, they welcomed him back and offered him one of the cabins that had been left behind by the Calder clan. Alec and Veda had chosen the farthest one for privacy. They’d been fixing up their cabin, which needed a thorough cleaning and some minor repairs to be hospitable.

He laughed. “Aye. I’d always admired their gardens from afar. Whenever we soared to or from the island, their gardens sparkled with a mystical sheen that displayed their magnificent bounty.”

“Bounty is right. They gave me far more than I need.” Veda smiled when she pictured what else grew in the coven’s magical lands. “One of the cats is pregnant. Maybe we can take care of one of the kittens?”

“Oh my.” Alec laughed. “I better say yes now. Or else, I have a feeling I’ll enter the cabin one day and find a new furry roommate.”

Veda laughed. It wasn’t a bad idea.

Kayla, a vivacious tree witch who lived in the center of the isle with a gargoyle brother, had introduced Veda to her coven. Although, they were wary of an outsider, they’d soon warmed up to her. After hearing her journey to the Highlands gone wrong, and how she’d fallen for lies from a wizard gone dark, many of the witches listened with a sympathetic ear. Veda clearly wasn’t the first woman to make a mistake by picking the wrong man.

“Have you seen anyone this morning?” she asked. “It seems quiet over here.”

Four gargoyle brothers came and went with their mates, which included a wolf shifter, pegasus shifter, a gargoyle, and Kayla. Only one remained unattached, the middle brother, Gavin. He swore it would always remain that way. Since the brothers often flew to the mainland to play in cities as their band, the Knights of Stone, Alec and Veda often had the area to themselves.

“No.” Alec smiled. “Which means we have plenty of privacy.” He wiggled his brows. “Might as well make the best of it, don’t you think?”

“Maybe.” She glanced away with a flirtatious smile and then caught his eye again.

He pulled her into his arms and gave her an earnest look. “Are you happy here, Veda?”

She gazed into the honey-hued eyes of the gargoyle shifter she’d fallen in love with. “I am.”

“Good. Because that’s all I want. To make you happy.”

She glanced at their surroundings. The isle was even more beautiful than Alec had described it. Mystical. Sparkling with sunlight that pierced through even the mistiest of days. She loved being able to explore from the shore to the forests, from the moors to the tree witches’ gardens. Although he’d disclosed the tragic history here, the inhabitants had restored peace, and there was a sense of community now. Having such a diverse group on this island convinced her she wouldn’t feel an urge to rush away any time soon.

Besides, why would she with everything she wanted right before her?

“You make me incredibly happy, Alec.” She wrapped her hand around his neck and ran her hands through his short hair. “When I left the coven, I never would have imagined living such a dream with the man I love.”

Alec smiled on hearing Veda say she loved him. It warmed him each time.

“And you? Are you happy?” She spread her arms wide. “Is this where your heart takes you?”

“It used to be.” He stepped closer and caressed her cheek. “My heart has found a new place to call home. Wherever you are.”

She gave him an enigmatic smile. “Are you saying you’d venture out with me? Explore new lands? I know how you crave the comforts and security of home.”

He laughed. “True. But, after being with you, I’m learning to be more flexible.

“Well, don’t worry. I’m not in a rush to go exploring anywhere. I’ve had enough adventure to keep me still for a while.”

So had he. When Alec had arrived here, Lachlan, the alpha of the small gargoyle clan, had warned him that the island’s politics had changed a great deal. The gargoyles, tree witches, and wolf shifters had come up with agreements during the peace talks. The island was no longer divided with stark boundaries forbidding others to cross. It had taken some time for Alec to roam freely and not stare in shock on seeing a tree witch or wolf shifter in what had been gargoyle territory. But, it made sense. The divisions had been long outdated.

“Besides, I like being surrounded by the ocean. The sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs is soothing. It’s quite a change from the mountains.”

He furrowed his brows. “But, it was your home. Do you miss it?”

“The mountains were beautiful, but could also be rugged and treacherous.” Veda tilted her head. “I left because it was time for me to move on.”

His heartbeat quickened. “Do you think you’ll ever go back?”

“I’d go back for a visit, but not to stay.” She arched a brow. “And, hopefully, I won’t be going there alone.”

He smiled. “I’m happy to be your travel companion.”

“Good. One day we’ll go visit it. After all, doesn’t it seem a natural fit that a Taurus visits the Taurus Mountains?”

“Of course.” She’d teased him about being a stubborn Taurus often. “By the way, I think I’ve figured out your sign.”

“Oh?” She raised her brows.

“Pisces.”

One corner of her mouth curled into an enigmatic smile. “What makes you say that?”

“You’re a dreamer. And selfless. You’re always willing to help others and not thinking about receiving anything in return. You see the best in people.”

“Oh, Alec.” She covered her heart. “What’s the downside? There’s always a downside.”

“Well, you can be drawn in different directions, making it difficult to make decisions.”

“I might be slightly guilty of that.” She laughed. “But, I’m ready to settle here for a while. An island where gargoyles and witches have found a way to live together. It’s the perfect place for us to start. An older witch once told me about this French saying—vous tombez bien.”

“What does that mean?” Alec asked.

“You’ve fallen well.”

“Ah, I agree. Incredibly well.”

“And what do I need to go searching for when I’ve found what’s been missing?” Her smile turned dazzling, melting his heart.

“I hope you’re referring to a gargoyle shifter.” He raised his chin and turned to show his profile.

“One who is as stubborn as stone and as difficult to yield.”

“Haven’t you noticed I’m learning to be more fluid.” He waved his hand in an echo of the ocean before them. “Like the sea.”

She laughed. “I don’t think you could ever flow that much. Not that I want you to change anything. I kind of like you the way you are. Even if it means stubborn,” she paused to trace her fingers from his chest downward, “and hard.”

He instinctively pushed his chest out, responding to her touch. “I kind of like you the way you are, too. My romantic dreamer. As long as some of those dreams include me.”

“Many of them do. And, some of them can be quite explicit.” She flashed a naughty smile and nodded at their cabin. “You did point out that we have all this privacy right now. It would be a shame to waste this opportunity.”

Alec scooped Veda into his arms. “That’s something I’m never doing when it comes to you. Wasting any opportunity to tell you I love you.” He lowered his head to give her a heated kiss. “And the best way I know how is to show you.”