The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9)

by Lisa Blackwood

  “We tried to slow the humans.” Gran took a sip of her tea and then continued. “The remaining dryads, with the help of Greenborrow, Whitethorn, and the dire wolves, laid false trails, but the humans were persistent. They found some of the Rivens’ remains. Even in death, those misbegotten monstrosities manage to threaten our people. And science—ever the nemesis of magic—may yet be our undoing. Two weeks ago, some of those images leaked onto the Internet.

  “Now, every alien and monster hunter this side of the equator has been roaming through our forests. Even our spa is full of government types...yes, we had to reopen the spa early for fear our cover story of ‘renovations’ would be investigated. No small business would willingly be closed during the cash cow this episode has become.”

  Gran sighed and ran a hand through her long hair, which strangely wasn’t in her customary braid. It appeared a touch windblown as if she hadn’t had time to attend to it yet. Maybe she hadn’t. Lillian wondered what else had happened while she and Gregory slept three months away. There had to be more. It wasn’t like Gran to be fazed by government types snooping around. In all their combined history, the Clan and the Coven must have run into a similar event in the past.

  Gregory’s thoughts brushed hers, and Lillian knew he had come to the same conclusion. He stepped closer and prodded her in the shoulder with his muzzle when she didn’t immediately ask Gran what she was hiding.

  “Something else has happened to rattle you, hasn’t it?” Lillian kept her voice gentle, for whatever could disturb her grandmother had to be something genuinely fierce in nature.

  Gran dragged in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “While you both were sleeping and healing, the Lady of Battles sent two of her servants to investigate why Lillian had not contacted her as promised.”

  Outwardly, only the slight twitch of his blade-tipped tail told of Gregory’s agitation. But tied so tightly to him, both physically and spiritually, Lillian sensed the cold fear slicing through him, the tension in his wings, the lengthening of his dagger-like claws.

  She could feel his battle readiness so clearly, it could have been her own body undergoing the changes.

  “Who did our enemy send?” Gregory’s deep voice startled Lillian back to the present, and she distanced herself from his thoughts and emotions to better focus on the problem at hand. Later, she would dwell upon the new, deeper connection with the gargoyle.

  “The Lady of Battles sent Lillian’s parents.” Gran fidgeted with her teacup before finally looking Gregory in the eye. “Lillian’s mother we could have handled. A mere dryad, even strengthened by dark magic, shouldn’t have been too much of a challenge for the defenses the Clan and the Coven erected to keep you and Lillian safe. But the dark lady didn’t just send a dryad, she sent her pet gargoyle, too.”

  “So, Lillian’s father was here?” Gregory mused. Lillian sensed he was mulling something over in his thoughts, something he wasn’t willing to express just yet. “Were you or any of the others able to track him? Tell me in detail what he did while here. Every little thing that you were aware of, no matter how small.”

  “Unfortunately, we had no better luck at following or tracking him than we would with you,” Gran answered, displeasure in her voice. “But we were present in the glade when he examined you at length. I couldn’t detect if he wove some spell upon you or not. We feared he had. Then he moved on to Lillian’s hamadryad and spent even longer with her. Lillian’s mother did the same. They couldn’t have missed the fact the hamadryad was healing her and killing the demon seed the Lady of Battles had implanted within her. They must have realized when Lillian emerged from her tree, healed and whole, she would no longer be the Battle Goddess’s tool. Strangely, they both seemed pleased with what they found.”

  “There must be more,” Lillian pondered.

  “Lillian’s mother uttered one sentence: ‘We mean no harm and will return at the turning of the leaves for our daughter and her mate.’ Then they left as quickly as they came. There was no fighting or bloodshed. They simply vanished as Gregory is able to do.” Gran shook her head in remembered disbelief. “Knowing whom they serve, I didn’t believe the ‘no harm’ for a second, and I fully expected them to return with an army at their heels. Days came and went, but no army appeared. Though I still doubt the wholesomeness of their words. Their version of ‘harm’ is likely very different than mine.”

  “And mine,” Gregory rumbled in answer. “Though if they had indeed meant us harm, I should have roused, whether I was healed or not. That I did not and was not even aware of the visit, worries me.”

  Lillian glanced between her gargoyle and her grandmother. “We’re both healed and awake. It’s mid-August, probably a good six weeks before the leaves start to change. However, I wouldn’t put much trust in their words either—we might see my parents long before the first shades of autumn.”

  “I fear that, too.” Gran frowned down at her plate.

  A strange, conflicting mix of excitement and apprehension swamped Lillian—though she wasn’t sure which one she wanted to win.

  From the few scraps Gregory had revealed to her about the time before she’d come into Gran’s keeping as an eight-year-old child, Lillian sensed both her parents had loved her. But more troubling was the fact she also thought her mother worshipped the Lady of Battles without question. She didn’t trust the mother and daughter relationship to outrank sovereign and servant.

  “I will not sit idle and await Lillian’s parents’ return.” Gregory stretched to his full height, his horns once again brushing the ceiling, tail flicking in a slow, measured pace. No doubt a reflection of his present mental state. “We prepare for war.”

  Chapter 2

  GREGORY SPUN ON HIS heels and headed for the kitchen’s back door, already expanding his power out before him, seeking both enemies and friends. As he saw it, his enemies had a three-months head start, a possible fatal advantage he planned to neutralize as soon as possible, starting today.

  He ducked and turned to ease his shoulders through the back door, forcing his wings tight to his back until he was through. The scraping of chairs and hurried footsteps followed him across the kitchen and outside.

  “Gregory, wait,” Lillian hissed, barely above a whisper. “Did you hear what Gran said about the authorities crawling all over the place? They might even have an eye in the sky trained on us!”

  Gregory continued without slowing. He didn’t know what an ‘eye in the sky’ was, though to judge by the mental images he gleaned from Lillian’s mind, he guessed it was probably some strange piece of metal and motors the humans used to spy upon their enemies. Presently, he had greater worries to attend to and wasn’t concerned about the humans. If they became a nuisance, he’d show them what an Avatar of the Divine Ones could bring down upon their mortal heads.

  “Gregory!” Lillian’s hiss had grown in strength. Her thoughts showed she worried humans would find him and somehow capture him. Inwardly, he smiled over her protectiveness. For whatever reason, in this life, his lady was always trying to protect him. It was cute.

  Behind him, Lillian started to jog, attempting to match his longer strides.

  “Stop!” Her voice came out strained. “Someone’s going to see you. You’re just remaining visible to vex me, aren’t you?”

  Gregory chuckled. Even angry, Lillian was adorable. Hmm, she sounded out of shape. Three months in the heart of a tree, cocooned in hamadryad magic had healed Lillian’s wounds, but he’d have to work on getting her fit again, especially if her gargoyle bloodline was going to assert itself within the coming days. She’d need to be strong, both emotionally and physically.

  He turned sharply at a fork in the garden path, taking the left branch. Within a few strides, he dropped to all fours and broke into a ground-eating lope. He continued down the manicured gravel path, beyond the great cedar maze, and farther still, to where a long, narrow meadow was hemmed in on three sides by forest.

  This area had changed since he’d last se
en it. A fence now enclosed the meadow, and the grass had been clipped by grazing. On the far side of the newly made paddocks, two shapes—one dark obsidian and the other dappled grey—grazed in the peaceful manner of horses. Though if these two were horses, he was a deer. Gregory snorted with humor, and the two equines trotted over to his side.

  Neither showed the slightest hesitation at the fence and sailed over it, not bothering to hide their competitive natures. Upon landing, the dappled grey kicked out at his obsidian companion. Make that combative natures, Gregory acknowledged. At least not everything had changed while he’d slept in stone—the unicorn and the pooka still barely tolerated each other.

  Gregory frowned at the two thoughtfully. It wasn’t like them to live in a pasture, and certainly not in line of sight of each other. “Is there a particular reason you’re living on this small parcel of land?” He paused then added, “Together? Pretending to be mortal horses?” The last he found to be the more perplexing question.

  The unicorn tossed his forelock out of his eyes as he trotted closer. He halted a stride away and arched his neck until he could butt Gregory in the chest. While the unicorn nuzzled him for a scratch, he felt a slight tug on his magic—which was the real reason for the affectionate greeting. With a sigh and another chuckle, Gregory complied with both requests, both physical and magical, giving a good rub along the unicorn’s neck and withers, while allowing a small trickle of his magic to flow into the unicorn.

  The pooka snorted and rolled an eye in his direction. Gregory took it as an invitation to groom the smaller black equine, and nearly lost fingers to the surly creature. With a grunt, he slapped his tail along the pooka’s flank and was rewarded by an indignant squeal.

  “Serves you right, you disloyal beast. We’re still going to have a long talk about why you delivered Lillian into the hands of my enemies last spring.”

  The pooka pranced out of reach, while the unicorn, in counterpoint, circled closer, each revolution bringing him nearer until he squared up and faced Gregory.

  “At the time, Lillian was even more fearsome than you,” the unicorn offered with an equine squeal of delight. “Perhaps the little black pony feared her.”

  The pooka curled his lip, flashing very unhorse-like fangs. “It was not fear. She saw to my obedience. I could not match her power.”

  “Liar,” Gregory huffed half-heartedly. “You were a willing victim. You wanted what she offered.”

  “Yes. I wanted to return to the Magic Realm.” The pooka shook his mane and arched his tail, dancing around Gregory at a swift trot. “This mortal world will be the death of us all. Her bargain was one I couldn’t turn down. I would do the same if asked a second time. So, I lied to you, but I wouldn’t be much of a pooka if I told the truth all the time.” The pooka edged close enough to reach out and nip at the edge of Gregory’s one wing. “While we speak of personal weaknesses, as I recall, you were Lillian’s most devoted victim. I can read weaknesses in all beings, their darkest fears, needs, and desires. In you, I saw a readiness to surrender all you were to save her, even if it meant serving the dark.”

  The pooka leaped into the air, bouncing away faster than Gregory’s tail could land a blow. With a whinny of triumph, the black pony trotted back into range, taunting clear in his body language. “Deny it if you wish, Gargoyle. But we both know the truth, how close you came to betraying all you stand for, all you have ever served. How an Avatar nearly betrayed his God.”

  “You just spoke another truth, Pooka. We are both in danger of betraying our natures.”

  The pooka jerked his head high. “You acknowledge your guilt? You surprise me.”

  “Good.” Gregory laughed openly. “The day I fail to surprise you will be the day a pooka has defeated me.” Of all the fae, the pooka was perhaps the most honest about his nature. But as interesting as this was, he was wasting valuable time. “Now tell me why you are both playing at being horses?”

  Gregory turned his attention back to the unicorn, wanting an answer that didn’t require having to see through ten veils of deception just to get one simple bit of truth.

  “Gran’s orders. She doesn’t want any of us to be seen in our true forms by the humans. She said horses wandering in the forests and fields would be more easily explained. And Gran is almost as fearsome as you, Master Gargoyle.”

  “We will all need to become fiercer in the coming days,” Gregory said, conviction he did not want strong in his voice. “War is coming. We must prepare.”

  “Warfare?” The pooka’s ears perked up. “I have not rolled in the blood of my enemies in an age.”

  The unicorn shuddered and made a series of distressed snorts. He edged away from the black pony until he was safely behind the shelter of Gregory’s slightly mantled wings, only then did he scrounge up enough bravery to arch his neck to peer at the pooka. “And you call yourself an herbivore?”

  A pale glow gleamed deep in the pooka’s eyes, just a hint of yellow as if he thought about shedding his pony disguise.

  Gregory was just drawing breath to defuse the situation when the sound of feet on gravel reached his ears. He swiveled one ear in the direction of the sound, judging distance. Lillian was coming fast, kicking up gravel as she ran. “Don’t start fighting.” He glowered at the pooka for good measure. “I have something of importance I wish to ask before Lillian arrives. Gran told me of Lillian’s parents. Were either of you near when they came?”

  The unicorn bobbed his head in assent, and then to Gregory’s surprise, the pooka followed a moment later. He’d expected the pooka would have been nearby. Of all the fae, he most wanted to return to the Magic Realm, and Lillian was his best chance to accomplish his goal. But Gregory was surprised by how readily he was getting answers from the ornery beast. While he was getting answers, he might as well see what else he could glean from his new allies. “Later, when Lillian is distracted by Gran or others, I want you two to seek me out and divulge all you know of her birth parents and their possible intentions.” For the pooka’s benefit, he added, “I will be in your debt.”

  The yellow shimmer in the pooka’s gaze intensified, and he stepped closer to Gregory. His warm breath puffed along Gregory’s skin as soft whiskers brushed over his arm and up along his shoulder to stop at the junction of neck and collar bone. Mobile equine lips nipped softly at an artery before pulling away. “We have a deal, Gregory. I imagine your blood is rich.”

  Chapter 3

  BY THE TIME LILLIAN came pelting down the trail, Gregory was already leaning nonchalantly against the fence, and both equines were safely back on the other side of the rails, grazing like they’d been doing so all along. She skidded to a halt beside him, sweating and out of breath. He merely tilted his head in her direction in acknowledgment and waited patiently while she leaned over, held her side, and wheezed like she’d never run in her life.

  When he stepped forward and placed an arm around her shoulders and urged her to lean against the fence next to him, she complied without hesitation and rested her hip against a post. “What’s wrong with me? I’m as weak as a kitten.”

  “You still haven't completely recovered. Your hamadryad healed you, but now you must rebuild your strength and endurance. You shouldn’t have run so far.”

  She jerked her head up and glared at him. “And whose fault is that? I wouldn’t have had to run if you hadn’t taken off. I still can’t believe you just ran off,” she growled in a remarkably good imitation of him. “Didn’t you hear what Gran said about all the authorities lurking behind every bush? Or did you forget the meaning of ‘stop’ while you slept for three months? Because I’d be happy to give you a little reminder.”

  “I heard what Vivian said about these new human authorities. I simply am not concerned with them. Humans have no power to threaten, hold, or enslave me.”

  “But they can shoot your half-naked ass.”

  Gregory swallowed a growl, not wanting to fight with Lillian about so trivial a concern as humans, not when the Lady of B
attles might already be moving an invading army into position at this very moment.

  Lillian’s seemingly peevish demeanor was nothing more than a disguise, one he’d seen many times since he’d first come to this world. He knew her outward crustiness had more to do with worry than annoyance at having to run after him. Besides, he already had a useful method for handling Lillian’s fear.

  Inching closer, he dipped his muzzle and licked her from chin to hairline. She responded with the usual squawk as she flailed at his muzzle with the flat of her hand. Her contact wasn’t much more than a pat, so he took advantage of her hesitancy to do him harm by bumping her hands away with his muzzle and then landing another sloppy kiss across her face, and then a third along her neck.

  He nuzzled aside the neckline of her top, and her giggles choked off on a gasp. Her fingers dug into his scalp as she grabbed fistfuls of his mane and nearly jerked it out by the roots.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Attitude adjustment.” Gregory chuckled at her affronted look. “You needed a distraction. You were allowing your fear to affect your judgment.”

  “Nice attempt at modern phrases.” One delicate eyebrow shot up at his words. “Sadly, it falls flat when your reasoning is positively medieval.”

  Gregory’s ears perked as hope flashed through his being. “Then I’ll stop trying to adapt to this modern world. We’ll both be happier.”

  “You say and do the oddest things.” She shook her head at him. “Let’s leave this entire episode as a species barrier incident, shall we?”

  “As you wish, my Sorceress.” With the danger of Lillian learning his true intent at seeking out the two equines bypassed, he shook the residual tension out of his wings.

  Tilting her head back, her eyes flicked over his features in a way he knew was trouble. She crossed her arms over her breasts and said, “Don’t ‘My Sorceress’ me as a deflection. You’re hiding something. What did you say to the unicorn and the pooka you didn’t want me to overhear?”