He Who Calms Her Mind

"How is the new book coming along?"

I was taken aback by his question. I ha d to stop walking to fully absorb what he wanted to know.

"How..."

He looked back at me and smiled, "I have been reading your books since you began your debut, lass." His grin was back in place. Gads, I wanted to wipe that smile from his face at the same time, I wanted to kiss him senseless. "They are...interesting."

Of course, they were for him. All the books I have written were about Celtic gods. They, so it should be interesting. "I am looking forward to reading more about my people." He then resumed walking.

I stood there, mouth agape. The audacity of this man is beyond me. A part of me wanted to hit him at the back of his head, but I knew a part of me wanted something more. In the end, I just closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Duncan was determined to have me, and I am still unsure why.

Duncan stopped in the middle of the road and looked back at me. He was a bit far from me, yet I could feel his eyes were on me. Gauging me, trying to understand what was inside my mind.

"I can't read you."

Angus's words suddenly pop into my mind. Somehow, I knew that gods could read the minds of humans. I have read that much information to come to that conclusion. Knowing that they were true gave me shivers.

Was that the reason they could never be detected? They were able to read what was inside a person's mind, making each move smooth and not complicated.

These gods and goddesses have been alive as long as the world was created. I guess it was the only way for them to survive.

Duncan smiled that mega-watt smile that made me wet and gooey inside. Why was this man so charming? Like I want to be mad at him but I cannot. He then held out his hand for me.

I looked at it. Myriad thoughts were swirling inside me. Trepidation, weariness, doubts, and a whole dose of fear, yet despite all those negative thoughts, I reached out and held on to his hand.

The moment our hands were entwined, I was enveloped in a peacefulness that I never expected. All the things that were in my head vanished, and were replaced with a calmness that was rare for me to have.

"How?" I whispered.

"I am guessing that Angus had told you that he cannot read your mind. He is not the only one. Jane had tried the very second you met," Duncan kissed my knuckles before he tugged me close to his side. "She was happy. Ever since we have mingled with humans, we could always read their minds. Yet here you are," he said with a smile.

"A wretch in a perfectly good device?" I had to ask.

"No, you were a breath of sunshine for us," he answered.

"Immortals can be around you without shielding their mental defenses. And from the years you have worked at The Belle, the whole place was a paradise for gods." Duncan casually said.

I felt my knees buckle and I would have fallen if Duncan did not catch me.

Gods. I have been housing gods ever since I came to Scotland. Beings that I have been writing about. Beings that were considered fiction. It was scary and Jane never told me.

Not once.

"Jane gave clear instructions. NO ONE is to talk to you. Inside The Belle, they are clients. People who came to rest and have a good time. Even the humans that you employ their minds could not be read inside the grounds. But once out of The Belle, the Natural shield simply vanished." Duncan carried me bridal style and he started walking off-road.

"Put me down, Duncan," I asked him. The man simply dropped a kiss on my forehead and continued walking. Defeated, I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaned my head on his shoulder, and just enjoyed being carried.

After all, this time I was conscious, not like the first time.

There was a hint of coldness in the air, knowing that the Highlands was a bit more wild than the other places in Scotland, I mentally made a list of things to prepare for the guests that were to stay on The Belle for the next few months.

"Do I need to stock some thicker blankets? Most of my guests are immortal. So, meaning everyone's body temperature should be able to adjust to the harsh Highlands weather right?" I asked Duncan.

"Lass, you still have human guests. Just treat them like normal humans," Duncan replied. "They are there because you gave them the peace of mind they long to have. Yes, we can shield our minds from constantly hearing your thoughts. Eventually though, like any other being, it drains us."

I was so engrossed in my thoughts and his voice that I didn't bother to look around me.

The place where he took me was breathtaking.

A castle could be seen not far, and when I looked at the ground, there was even a worn-out path that leads to it. We stopped at a lone picnic table near a loch. I have no idea the name of this loch, but it had an ominous look about it.

He placed me on the bench before he deposited the bag of goodies that Riley gave us. How he managed to carry both of us I will not be asking. Duncan sat beside me before taking all the food out of the bag.

There were two thermal mugs and some paper plates with a knife and some spoons and forks. I looked at him. An eyebrow raised and asked, "Are we having a picnic?"

"No, lass, we are having a date," Duncan replied.

"Say what?" I asked.

"A date," replied Duncan.

"When did I agree to have a date with you?"

"Who said that I asked?" he questioned back.

"So this is a form of kidnapping…"

"Would you like me to take you to the laird's house to file a complaint?"

"Would the laird even listen to my words? After all, he was the one who bought me her."

Duncan laughed. A full belly laugh that made my insides turn into goo. His laugh was sexy as hell. And from the way he let it out, I would bet that he doesn't laugh much.

"Ah, Julie, lass," he said. Duncan drew me into his arms and kissed my forehead. I felt him sigh and after a few seconds, he whispered, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For making me feel alive again. And it seems like, whenever I am around you, the voices around me stop."

"You mean the thoughts that you can hear?"

I only got a nod from him.

It was my turn to sigh as the reality of what had been happening to me for the past several years sunk in.

First, Jane was an immortal person who had been alive for as long as the earth has.

Second, The Belle was actually a place where immortals young and old go to relax and have fun.

Third, I was a person who had a null effect on all immortals' ability in reading minds. Making The Belle a perfect place for immortals to relax and just be alone.

Fourth, Jane must have known something. And it made her do all the kinda things for me.

Fifth, Duncan had known about me far longer than I have known about him.

And that should irk me, right?

Why don't I feel irked then? Why do I feel o belong to this man, being? Why do I feel like he was? the only person I can lean on that would never break? Why does it feel right to be in his company?

He must have seen or felt something was off about me. He picked my hand and laced our fingers together. All my negative thoughts died instantly. I was suddenly covered in the peacefulness that was so rare for me.

And that scares me.

Because for the longest time, I felt protected.

And I know, that being vulnerable was something I didn't want to be.

Not again.