“Probably a good idea. However,” Anna pointed to the place where he’d been sitting before, “I still have questions.”
Against her will, her mind spun back to earlier, when she’d first awakened. She’d intentionally tried not to think about it because he’d known every other private thought that crossed her mind, so there was no way he’d miss this one.
Across the fire, Obsidian stiffened and shoved an overly large piece of fish in his mouth.
Huh. Got that one too, did you?
He was taking an inordinately long time to chew his meal. Well then. Two could play that game.
She bit off a chunk of her own fish, chewing slowly. Obsidian echoed her.
Another half a minute passed in silence. Ah, hell with it. When had she turned into such a chicken, anyway?
“Earlier, when I first woke up, what was that about?”
His ears flicked forward in question, but his expression was as placid as a lake on a breezeless day.
Play the mute all you want. It will not stop me from dragging an answer from you.
She waited a moment more. Nothing.
Fine.
“The ‘hand on boob’ and let’s not forget the ‘spooning me like a champion’ thing.”
She was damn sure if blushes could show on his jet-black gargoyle hide, he’d have been beet red.
“Ah, that... there was nothing untoward. Though a human might mistake it for something else.”
“Don’t try that ‘she’s a human, she won’t understand’ card on me.”
He cleared his throat nervously, then gave the fire a couple of good pokes, but he eventually ran out of distractions and glanced up at her.
“For years, after a long day of lessons, I would come and curl up next to you. Hearing and feeling your slow heartbeat always reassured me, made me feel less homesick in those earlier days. My mentors said I should keep it up because I was sharing power with you, feeding your body energy it needed to aid in its healing.”
He stared into the fire for long moments before continuing. “It also had the added benefit of allowing me to share some of what I learned with you. Though you may not be able to use what I gave you yet—it takes a very disciplined mind to control dreams and access what I shared. But in time you’ll master that ability.”
The bit about the sharing of knowledge was interesting. Once training starts, that could come in handy.
As for the rest?
Well, maybe she’d been barking up the wrong tree. But still. The gargoyle sitting next to her was an adult male. And life experience had taught her the only men she could trust were blood relatives. All others had ulterior motives, even Obsidian, even if he hadn’t yet realized it.
“I don’t... not like what you fear. I sleep in my stone form every night to rejuvenate from the rigors of my strenuous training.” His response sounded a little defensive. “As I did last night. I’d only just returned to my flesh and blood form moments before you did.”
He was telling the truth. Her gargoyle nature stirred awake enough to let her know that.
With guilt, Anna remembered how she’d reacted and his snarl of pain. “Hey. Yeah. Sorry for any misunderstanding.”
“If I’d known you would wake... I’d have...” He used the excuse of rescuing the last bundle of fish from the fire to stall. After unwrapping it, he offered half to her and then shoved the rest in his mouth.
“You’d have what? Not been fondling my boob?” She added helpfully after his words failed him.
Obsidian coughed and sputtered like he’d swallowed his tongue. Anna came around to his side of the fire and thumped him a few times in the middle of the back. After he’d cleared his airways, he laughed, a sound that was full and rich and surprisingly pleasant.
“Exactly so,” he agreed at last. “Anna Mackenzie, please forgive me for that. I assure you, I didn’t have ulterior motives besides wishing to share my strength, magic, and knowledge with you.”
“I see that now.” And she did.
After that, much of the earlier tension vanished, and they continued to eat in a companionable way. Occasionally, she’d ask a question, and he’d answer. Other times, he’d offer some exciting bit of his history she hadn’t thought to ask.
But eventually, he looked up at the sky, sighed and stretched, then said they should return to his dwelling to get ready for the day. He couldn’t put off taking her before the elders any longer.
Chapter 7
WHILE ANNA WAS USING his bathing chamber to wash up before going to meet with the elders, he mulled over his options. Unfortunately, he saw no way to scratch together more alone time to give her a chance to adjust to the new him. As soon as others knew she was awake, they would monopolize her time, distracting her.
It was one reason he’d taken her to the cliff instead of just going to the communal fires where there was usually food. He’d even debated taking her for a flight to one of the other islands that dotted the ocean in this region. But if he didn’t show up for the festival preparations, it would draw suspicion.
But, curse the dark, she was his Kyrsu, and he wanted to cement that bond before venturing forth. Selfish of him, but true.
He was still digging for more options when a pounding rattled the door.
“I know you’re in there,” Truth called through the wood. “I don’t want to be late for the assignments. You know I want to get picked for the hunt. Get your lazy backside out of that nest!”
Obsidian huffed at Truth’s timing. Now there would be no way to keep Anna’s waking a secret for a few hours more. “I’ll be there in a moment. I slept in.”
“Liar! You never sleep in.” A fat pause followed a deep huffing breath. “God and Goddess! Do you actually have a woman in there with you?”
There was more loud sniffing and huffing laughter from outside. At which point Obsidian realized there were others out there with Truth. Just his luck.
“I came to apologize,” Oath piped up. “But we’ll come back later.”
“No, we won’t,” Hunts in the Storm injected with a hearty laugh. “I’ve waited too long for the mighty Obsidian to fall. Now maybe a dryad will look in my direction.”
“Storm!” Truth growled out a warning.
Damnation! Truth’s younger brother was back from the mainland early? Storm was renowned for his tracking skills, but also for hunting down the truth. He never left any leaf unturned in that quest.
There was a snort from behind Obsidian.
“Friends of yours?” Anna asked.
“Not for much longer,” he grumbled.
“Hah! You do have a woman in there!” Deeper sniffing sounded.
Anna made her way to the hidden door. She jabbed a thumb at the shielding magic. With a nod, he pressed his palm against a geometric section of spell work and released a tiny surge of power. After the slightest of pauses, the magic covering the door shivered and drew away to the sides of the frame.
Swiftly feeling along the door, Anna soon found the recessed latch hidden among the carvings decorating the entrance. With a click, the latch released, and she pulled open the door.
“Hello.” She grinned at the rabble outside his door. Truth was there with Oath, Nightshade, Storm, Lark, and Meadow.
To a one, their expressions all reflected shocked surprise.
“I’m Corporal Anna Mackenzie, but I suppose my military rank is worth as much as spit here, so you can just call me Anna.”
The two dryads were more composed, bowing their heads and uttering hesitant welcomes. The four gargoyles were still speechless, but Obsidian didn’t miss how they leaned forward ever so slightly and drew in deeper breaths.
He resisted the urge to slap each of them alongside the head. Instead he marched past them, forcing them to move aside for Anna, or get run down by him.
“My Kyrsu is newly awakened and in need of clothing, boots, belts, and weapons. Why don’t you five,” he eyed Oath, Nightshade, Storm, Lark, and Meadow one at a time, “See if you c
an round up some of those items while we speak with the Council of Elders. While you’re at it, why don’t one of you inform the healers? They’ll wish to examine Anna no doubt. And, Oath, you’re quick, run ahead and inform the council we are coming.”
The others, especially Oath, looked crestfallen until Anna spoke up. “Aren’t you going to introduce them before you go chasing them off?”
Obsidian huffed his displeasure. “You’ve just tossed open gates that were better left closed and barred. But have it your way.”
He made quick introductions and then chased them away before they could bombard Anna with a thousand questions. After the others were gone, Truth came to pace at Obsidian’s shoulder while Anna walked a little way ahead. The other gargoyle bumped his shoulder.
“Sly bastard,” Truth said, using human words he’d learned from Obsidian while he’d dwelled on Earth. “Is she why you didn’t want to come celebrate with me last night? Not that I can blame you. After catching her scent, I’d be tempted to lock myself away with her too. I had no idea humans smelled so good.”
Obsidian cuffed Truth. “Watch your tone when you speak of my Kyrsu. Besides, she didn’t wake until just before dawn.”
“Aren’t you touchy today?”
“Do you want a second cuff?”
Anna cleared her throat. “I might not hear the words, but I know you’re doing that silent communication thing again.”
Obsidian winced. “Forgive me. It won’t happen again.”
Then he side-eyed Truth.
The other gargoyle only gave him a toothy grin in return. The look promised more trouble from that front later.
“Treehouses. I still can’t believe you live in tree houses.” Anna leaned over one of the bridge railings to study her surroundings again. “They’re even more spectacular by daylight.”
“Yes, I suppose,” Obsidian said distractedly as he shouldered past Truth to stand beside Anna.
“Getting stuff up this high must suck balls.”
Obsidian grinned, only now coming to understand how much Anna had shaped his personality.
It did ‘suck balls’ as he could attest from having to haul up items. “I’ll give you the full tour once we’ve seen the elders.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Chapter 8
ANNA KEPT HER BANTER light and social while she studied every little detail for unseen danger and routes of escape, just in case things went sideways.
And things always went sideways, eventually.
“No one will harm you.” Obsidian’s thoughts flowed through her mind. It felt so much like Shadowlight her throat tightened again in that foolish way. Yet, it was different, too. There was a strength and discipline his younger self had lacked.
“None would dare. Not after Lord Draydrak went to so much work to save you and has made his wishes known. And even if someone is foolish enough to question Death’s judgment, they will face me first. No one hurts what is dear to me.”
A low growl accompanied his last sentence. The sound echoed through the air and Truth made a nervous questioning huff.
Obsidian’s unearthly growl was nothing like Shadowlight’s. Might as well compare a wiener dog to a wolfhound. And while she was sure his words were meant to inspire, they didn’t.
In fact, her internal ‘shit’s going to hit the fan’ early warning system was screaming an alert. Shadowlight’s adoration had been an innocent infatuation, and she’d viewed it as sweet and harmless. Something he’d outgrow.
But he hadn’t, had he? If anything, this new Obsidian had somehow shaped that innocent adoration into something far more possessive. Bloody fuck.
“Now who’s talking mind to mind and excluding the third wheel from the conversation?” Truth asked with a wink directed at Anna.
“Third wheel?” Anna muttered and then cast a questioning glance at Obsidian.
He shrugged. “I picked up many things when I was on Earth. Apparently, others soon picked up on my odd turns of speech. And as my mentors sometimes say—it spread like a wind-driven fire through dry grass.”
“Well, something got lost in translation.”
Truth leaned forward. “How so?”
“It’s complicated.” Anna wasn’t about to waste time on explaining dates and third wheels when she had a more valuable way of using the time, like learning everything she could about Haven and its citizens.
But just then the section of the bridge they were traveling ended in a square platform.
“There are stairs and ladders for the dryads’ use,” Obsidian indicated the rope ladder, and then pointed across the way to a larger tree where wooden stairs circled the massive trunk. “The younger trees support smaller structures, but the ancient hamadryads can carry a much greater load. If you’re still not up to climbing the ladder, I can fly or carry you.”
Truth’s snort was a sound rich in unspoken innuendo.
Obsidian half turned to give his friend a small lip curl and a flash of fangs.
“Thanks, but I’ll climb. I’m feeling stronger now, and I’m sure I could use the exercise.” And there was no way she was letting him carry her around like a child or— she glanced at Obsidian’s massive size—like a child’s favorite stuffed toy.
Booming laughter rang through the trees, telling Anna he’d been in her head for that one, too. After aiming a grin at Obsidian, she started down the ladder.
Truth just sort of hurtled himself over the side of the bridge and jumped from tree branch to tree branch, using his wings to slow his speed and his tail like a rudder. The gargoyle swiftly outpaced Anna. Glancing up, she sought Obsidian, but he wasn’t above her.
“Here.”
Anna turned toward the soft call to find him perched on a branch less than two feet away. Hell, she hadn’t even heard him move. Man, he was stealthy for a big dude. His big bulk hadn’t even shifted the branch enough to make the leaves shake.
“You will teach me how you do that.” Her statement came out a demand, not a question.
“Just as soon as you can shape-shift.”
“Damn straight.”
Obsidian’s gentle smile grew into a grin. “I have missed you very much, Anna Mackenzie.”
“I’m glad to be back, too.’
Anna reached the ground without incident, but it took longer than she thought. The tree was tall, the bridge system about two-thirds of the way up, which left a lot of ground to cover.
While she didn’t fear heights, it was nice to have her feet firmly on the ground again. The sickly swaying motion of a rope ladder was never her favorite sensation. Not that she’d admit to fear or weakness.
When Obsidian led the way, she followed. Truth brought up the rear.
They’d only made it a few hundred meters when Obsidian muttered a curse and came to a halt. Anna skirted around his wings and spotted a group ahead.
This group was a mix of three gargoyles and four dryads. One gargoyle towered over the other members of the group. She’d bet if he stood next to Obsidian, he’d only be an inch or two shorter.
What the heck was the Lord of the Underworld feeding his gargoyles? Growth hormones? Stem cells? GMO foods? Magic potions?
Though, this new fellow wasn’t as heavily muscled as her two companions.
“Friends?” Anna asked sarcastically, knowing from Obsidian’s stiff posture that this group was anything but friendly.
Obsidian huffed again, sounding less happy than before. “Do you remember earlier when I said I was happy here? That I had mentors, friends, acquaintances, even a few rivals? Well, here comes a rival.”
“Figured as much.” Anna moved to lean against a tree trunk, cocking her leg while she waited for the newcomers to reach them.
“I see the abomination has finally awoken,” the biggest of the newcomers said.
Whoa, Mr. Sunshine. Nice to meet you too.
Obsidian rumbled low in warning, but Anna reacted faster.
“The abomination has a name.” She pushed off
from the tree and circled to the left, forcing the dryad standing in her path to move or get run down.
The dryad studied Anna’s approach with hostility but moved out of the way. Anna gave the dryad a searching look but decided the Fae wasn’t a real threat. Her attention swung back to the big, belligerent fellow.
“Name’s Anna. Though I’m more curious why you hate me so much when you don’t even know me.”
“I know what you are—a human with magic, an unnatural abomination created by our enemy—that’s more than enough reason.”
Obsidian snarled.
Turning, Anna arched an eyebrow when she saw Truth holding Obsidian back—barely.
“Who’s the prick?” She jerked a thumb at the bigot.
“Reaver.” The word came out harsh and ugly. Matched the name perfectly. “If you give her so much as a bruise, I’ll break both your wings.”
Anna grimaced. She’d learned enough. A minor scuffle didn’t scare her, but for fuck’s sake, the ones standing before her were the good guys, supposedly.
“Look, Reaver, I have better things to do than stand here and take part in some pissing contest. You don’t like me. I think you’re a prick. And even the Battle Goddess’s lowest minions had better manners than you, so fuck off until you can at least match their conduct.” Anna continued to walk around him, sizing him up.
“You would compare me to one of the enemies?” Rage rolled off his words.
“You bet. You wanna know what else? I get why you don’t trust me. I wouldn’t either, coming from there, but the least you could do is treat me with enough respect to give me a chance to prove my worth before judging me and deciding I’m an enemy.”
Reaver’s expression shifted into something even less pleasant.
“Eh? That’s how it will be?”
“I’m taking you before the elders,” Reaver lunged forward.
Anna allowed him to capture her wrist. She kept her body relaxed, and when Obsidian charged forward as she knew he would, she used the distraction to twist free of Reaver’s hold.
The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9) Page 125
