Page 47 of The Werewolf Cowboy
Chapter 13
Grayson told her his ranch was a good half-day’s hike from the cottage, but they didn’t walk there.
Instead, Grayson called in favors from the fairies who watched over his cabin in the woods. Stunned, she watched the fairies use their magick to create a lush carpet of twigs, lined with soft moss. When she sat upon it, dozens of fairies took hold and flew her.
“A magick carpet, like Aladdin,” she called out to Grayson, totally delighted.
On a similar carpet flying next to her, Grayson grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
When they reached the ranch, the sight took Katy’s breath away. Acres and acres of green fields stretched before them. Ringing the fields were the jagged purple tips of majestic mountains.
The fairies gently set the carpets down and she stood, thanking them. Grayson took her hand as they walked toward a two-story log cabin set amongst a copse of trees.
Katy turned to Grayson in astonishment. “It’s almost a replica of the Mitchell Ranch back home.”
Grayson released her hand, snapped his fingers and conjured a black Stetson upon his head, and then a white Stetson for her. “Reckon so. It can be anything we want here, Katy. This is the magick of the Dark Kingdom.”
He stroked a thumb over her cheek, making her tremble anew with need. “You’ve seen the Dark Forest and the ugly side of magick when it corrupts. Now see the good side, the light that is inside all of us, and coaxes us to remain here in this world.”
He led her to a small corral where five white unicorns pranced, their golden horns glinting in the sunshine. The pastoral lands of the ranch were enchanting as the fairies who transported them there.
“Who took care of all this while you were away?” she asked.
Grayson nodded toward a distant cabin. “Chase. My best friend. He oversees the ranch, and brings in the cowhands to work here. But there’s a different kind of wrangling we do here, darling.”
He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “We use our magick to keep things in order, help us get the work done.”
“Is this where you learned to rope and ride? This is your home where you learned to be a cowboy?”
He grinned. “I am a cowboy, darling. Just not in the traditional sense.”
“You ride unicorns?”
He curled a hand around her neck, massaging her muscles. “Out here, we herd deer. They run wild, and we tend to them, and then round them up and sell them to other packs. And hunt them. Fair hunt, though. Release ’em into the forest and give chase.”
“I can see how you would want to stay here,” she mused.
“It makes me feel closer to the earth, to nature. Like a Lupine is supposed to feel.” Grayson skimmed his hand down to the curve of her shoulder, his touch warm through the thick blue fabric. “Like you, Katy. You’re one of us.”
A unicorn trotted over to the fence, whinnied at her. She gave Grayson a questioning look.
He grinned. “Want to ride? This one likes you. She’s got good taste.”
Grayson opened the gate, and Katy ran and leapt on the back of a beautiful white unicorn. The mare whinnied and bounded off. Laughing, she leaned forward, the wind whipping at her long hair. This was freedom and power and real magick. Not the magick of the Skin world, where Lupines had to force themselves to fit in in order to disguise themselves from humans, but the unbridled magick of the Dark Kingdom, where she could be fully wolf and never worry about the Silver Wizard punishing her for accidentally exposing her powers to Skins.
Grayson, mounted on a white stallion unicorn, galloped alongside her. Spotting a boulder the size of a car in her path, she went to steer her mount around it.
“Use your powers,” he called out. “Fly over it!”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she called forth her magick and envisioned the unicorn sailing over the boulder. Wind rippled her hair, and when her eyes flew open, they were flying. Katy laughed with pure delight.
The unicorn landed lightly on its hooves and she gently tugged on its mane to stop it. Grayson pulled up beside her. “Head for that copse of trees over there,” he directed.
As they galloped toward the trees, she mulled over each new experience. Flying horses, freedom to be fully wolf—how could she leave this temptation? And Grayson himself, sexy, handsome Grayson. The worry lines finally eased from his face, making him look even more rugged and handsome than ever before.
Finally, they arrived. As they slid off the unicorns, the majestic creatures began cropping the vivid green grass in the pasture. Katy stared at the sweep of plains and the mountains. “What powers do I possess, Grayson?”
He pushed back the brim of his Stetson. “You carry the dark light inside you, the power of ten Lupines.” A wry grin touched his face. “You have more power than me, sweetheart.”
