Levet snorted. “I suppose those things include your new mate?”
“They do.”
Levet released his breath in a loud huff. He was a romantic at heart, so he could hardly quibble at Chiron’s desire to be with Lilah. What newly mated couple were not desperate to spend time alone?
Still, he did not want to be stuck in the smelly room with the smelly ogress.
“This is très unfair.” He stuck out his lower lip. “Why do we not just lock the creature in the dungeon? That is what she did to me.”
Chiron glanced toward Inga, his features hardening. “We will need her to locate Riven.”
Levet widened his eyes. “You intend to go after the merman?”
“Did you doubt it?”
Levet shivered as an icy blast swirled through the air. The Lord of the Merfolk had not only imprisoned Chiron’s master, he’d nearly killed Lilah. Chiron wasn’t going to be happy until the creature was destroyed.
“I suppose not,” Levet admitted, his wings drooping. He was never going to get to the water sprites.
“Until then, I want to make sure Inga remains where I can find her when the time comes.”
“Fine,” he muttered, glaring at the vampire. “But you are in my debt.”
Chiron had the nerve to look confused. “Debt?”
Levet clicked his tongue. The male was being deliberately tushy. No wait. Obtuse. Oui, obtuse.
He extended one claw. “First, I led you to this hotel.” He extended a second claw. “Then I searched for the key.”
“Which you didn’t find,” Chiron interrupted.
“Because I was being held captive.”
Chiron shrugged. “Not my fault.”
Provoking leech. Levet held up a third claw. “And then I helped to break the curse that would have killed your mate.”
Chiron flattened his lips. He couldn’t argue with Levet’s spectacular logic. Finally, he gave a resigned shake of his head. “What do you want?”
Levet considered before giving a wave of his hand. He wasn’t going to waste such a powerful favor on a whim.
“I am not yet certain. But trust me, when I decide, you will be the first to know.”
“I can’t wait.” Chiron rolled his eyes, heading for the door. He paused long enough to send Levet a warning glare. “Don’t leave this room.”
Levet waited until he was gone before sending a raspberry toward the empty doorway. “Levet, stay here,” he muttered. “Levet, do not move. Levet—”
“Levet,” Inga suddenly intruded into Levet’s conversation with himself. “Release me.”
Turning, Levet sent her a sour frown. “No way. You locked me in a dungeon.”
The ogress licked her lips, a film of sweat on her broad face. It looked as if she’d endured a long, terrible day locked in the magical bands.
“It wasn’t personal. I had no choice,” she said.
Levet heaved a disappointed sigh. He’d had a brief sense of fellowship with this female. They’d both been abandoned by their families. They’d both been slaves. And they were both judged by their unique beauty.
Now it was obvious she was the villain.
“I always say I have no choice, and it is never true,” he told her.
“It was true. I had to protect Lilah.”
Levet waved a hand. “You did your duty. Lilah is safe, and now it is Chiron’s duty to keep her safe. Your work is done.”
“No.” There was a harsh edge of fear in the woman’s voice. “The curse might have been broken, but that won’t stop Riven from hunting us down and killing us. All of us.”
Levet studied the ogress’s lumpy face. She was truly terrified.
“The vampires are powerful creatures,” he assured the female. He did not know much about the merfolk, but he refused to believe they would be stupid enough to start a war. “Once Chiron has killed Riven, this will all be over. You can go free and I can return to my lava bath. Or perhaps I will remain in the swamp and enjoy a few days with the local sprites.”
There was a silence, as if Inga was trying to decide whether to continue her arguments or concede defeat. Then her features smoothed into an unreadable expression and she was speaking in a soft, oddly mesmerizing voice. “Look at me.”
Levet didn’t want to. He had a sudden fear at the salty scent of power that was floating in the room. But even as his mind screamed to turn and flee, his gaze was locking with the crimson eyes.
A bright light exploded behind his eyes. It seared through his brain, erasing everything in its path. Eventually, he blinked in pain, giving a slow shake of his head.
He didn’t know what happened, but he didn’t like it.
Glancing around the strange room, his gaze landed on a large female who was wearing a dress in a shocking shade of purple and watching him with a guarded expression.
“Where am I?” he demanded, his snout abruptly wrinkling in confusion. “Wait…who am I?”
A slow, sad smile touched her lips. “You are Levet, a famous gargoyle hero. And you are here to rescue me.”
Table of Contents
Books by Alexandra Ivy
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
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