by Tamsin Baker
I see the jealousy in my brother’s gaze, his silver eyes narrowing and darkening with shadows. I smile at him with as much kindness as I can inject.
“Yours will find you, too, brother. Have no fear. Fate is kind.”
Christiana presses a small, warm hand to my cheek. “Did you just say, over a century? You’re joking, right? You can’t be older than thirty-five.”
When I don’t answer she narrows her eyes at me.
“How old are you?”
I stared down at my Beloved, fighting the need to kiss her. “I think I should take you back to bed.”
Rafe scowls at me, the ever-perfect brother. “You didn’t tell her yet? That’s not fair, Roman.”
I grin at him and stand up with my Beloved in my arms. Back to bed we go.
“I had no time before. You’ll understand when your time comes. But I think it’s time to explain. Let’s go, beautiful.”
I nod to my brother and head off, wondering where Gabriel is. Probably off with another human girl somewhere.
I gather my Beloved close to my chest, walk back into our bedroom, shut my door and lay my girl on the bed, unwrapping her like she is a present.
“Yum.” I press kisses to her dark pink nipples, the flesh tightening into little pouting tips just perfect for my mouth.
Her hands cup my face, tugging me up to her.
“Are you going to explain?”
Probably best. In a few hours, I will turn into a statue and disappear on her. I don’t want that confusion for my Beloved.
“Yes. My name is Roman Mansovich. I am a Gargoyle shifter.”
Her big blue eyes blink once, as though in slow motion. This will test how tough she is.
“Pardon me?”
“I change into a Gargoyle during the day. At night, I am free to move around the city. My wings are usually invisible to the human eye, but being my Beloved, you could see them when I flexed them in the restaurant tonight.”
She swallowed obviously, her slender neck working hard.
“Ah … all right. Say I believe you. What does this all mean then?”
“Gargoyles have only one true mate, a Beloved that is their other half.”
She nodded. “Like a soul mate.”
“Yes. Someone who pulls us in, as you did to me. An undeniable attraction, a taste, a smell. We unite and bond for eternity. As a Gargoyle shifter, I am immortal, as you will be, too.”
That gets her attention. She sits up on the bed, her soft breasts bouncing and getting my attention. Her eyes bulge. “Are you telling me you can’t die? That I can’t die?”
“Well … not with bullets or anything stupid like that. There is one way to kill a Gargoyle, and that is to destroy him while in statue form. I am vulnerable then.”
“Is that what you and Rafe were discussing when I came into the room?”
“Yes. We have lived in peace for most of my existence. We don’t harm anyone. In fact, we live a very quiet life. I have some investments I manage, our money stream etc., but we have no born enemies, and our numbers are so few we rarely attract any attention.”
“Then why?” She bites her lip. It’s one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen, and blood flows to my cock.
Focus.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Someone has found out about us. Not only what we are, but how to kill us. Something that only those closest to us know. Someone has betrayed us, and the hatred is spreading. There were deaths in Chicago last year, and then only now, Los Angeles. They are spreading across the United States, and I am afraid for my brothers.”
“You protect them?”
I shrug. “I have always done my best, as I am the oldest. But all of us are vulnerable during the day. That is why I have hired the best protectors for us, but it may not be enough.”
She shuffles closer and curves her naked body against me.
“Well, you have me now.”
I stared down at her, the rosy flush against her cheeks proclaiming her humanity.
“So you believe me?”
“I have no idea what I believe, but I’m too happy to care at the moment. Happier than I’ve been in a decade, and I don’t want common sense to ruin that.”
She sighs and nestles closer, her breathing slowing down as sleep pulls her into its embrace.
I kiss her cheek and hold her close. What has happened to her to cause so much unhappiness? I will find out, and although I was impatient by nature, we have forever.
****
I watched Christiana sleep for the final hours of the night, shaking her awake before sunrise.
“Good morning, beautiful. I have to say goodbye for the day.”
“Goodbye? Why?”
She snuggles closer, her gorgeous warmth something I will indeed miss through the long day.
“I need to get into position, or I won’t heal.”
Not to mention the pain I would be in, frozen inside without the sun.
“I don’t understand.”
I kiss her and sigh. “I explained last night. I have to go onto the roof and turn back into a Gargoyle. I’ll be across the street. On top of the library. I’ll be back tonight.”
She rolls over and sits up, rubbing her eyes.
“You were serious? This isn’t some weird game?”
“No.” I shake my head, a strange laugh bubbling in my gut. It’s been so long since I spoke to a human properly. I’ve forgotten how little of the paranormal world they understand.
“Would you like to watch my brothers and me fly over to the library and shift into our stone forms?”
She hesitates for a moment, then nods.
I pull her up, a strange ache tugging at my heart. “I’m going to miss you today. More than you know.”
“Me, too. Please don’t go.”
Her words tug at my heart, but I have no choice. The rules of my world and life are finite.
“I must. But please be here when I come home.”
Or I will find you.
It doesn’t need to be said.
My heart will find her no matter where she goes now. If there is one thing I remember from my reading of the Beloved scriptures, it is the connection. Once united, the bond is considered so powerful that a Gargoyle could find his Beloved, even if separated by half the world.
“Come see. And please don’t be scared. I don’t want you to worry about this.”
She nods as I tug her out of bed, wrap her in a blanket, and get dressed myself in my comfortable black jeans and white t-shirt.
“The boys are up.”
I can hear my brothers preparing for the flight, and I hurry to meet with them out on the balcony.
Nate, Gabe, and Rafe all stand on the balcony, and they turn as one as we approach.
“Brothers, this is my Beloved, Christiana. Chrissy, you know Rafe, and this is Gabe and Nate.”
My brothers nod, their faces strained with the time of day. Their shift is upon them.
“We must go.”
“I know.”
I kiss Christiana on the head and stand on the balcony ledge. “Let’s fly.”
My brothers and I extend our wings and together we fall off the building.
I hear Christiana’s cry as she rushes to the ledge and feel a moment’s regret at not taking more time to explain everything to her properly.
We soar through the air, landing on the top of the New York library.
My brothers go to their corners, and I take my place at the front of the building, crouching low, kneeling on one knee with my hand in a claw like position.
I lift my eyes to see my Beloved’s red hair blowing in the breeze as the sun begins to rise. Heat sears my flesh, and the weight of my stone cast presses down upon me.
Chapter Four
Christiana
Watching Roman jump from the rooftop with his gorgeous brothers was one of the scariest things I’d ever witnessed. I saw Roman’s wings extend, but couldn’t see the other three’s.
But when I
rushed forward to see them plummeting to their deaths, I was shocked to see them gliding over to the building opposite us. The state library.
Weirdest possible thing I had ever seen.
Then things got even more creepy and amazing. There on the roof of the library, the men moved to the posts I was sure were usually occupied by large, grotesque stone gargoyles.
Then, to my utter astonishment, they bent down into strange positions. The sunlight hit, and then they turned to stone.
Just like that.
They are a decent distance away, but my eyesight is impeccable. I wasn’t wrong.
They turned into Gargoyles.
I run, or rather, I stagger back to Roman’s bedroom, my heart pounding so loud in my ears I can barely think for all the noise.
What on earth have I gotten myself into this time?
I lie in bed wrapped in a blanket for goodness knows how long. The apartment is quiet, and my stomach growls.
Do they eat? Yes, they do. I’d seen Roman eat steak last night. But would they have food in the apartment?
Only one way to find out.
I push myself out of bed and go to pull on my clothes from the night before. I stare at them in my hand, and I can’t do it. They are dirty and smell of fear, and Greg.
No way am I putting that on my body again. I feel changed, and in a good way.
I open the lid of my suitcase and stare down at my clothes. Clothes of my old life. None of it appeals, and yet, what else am I going to wear?
Maybe… I walk over to the door leading out of Roman’s bedroom. One of them leads into a huge en-suite with a large tub.
Definitely need a soak in that!
The other leads to a walk-in wardrobe, filled mostly with jeans and white t-shirts of different cuts.
He certainly likes what he likes.
I take one of the only long sleeve shirts down from the rack and walk into the huge bathroom.
If Roman told me the truth, and it is so fantastical, I just have to believe it, then I have all day until he comes home.
I flick the taps on the bath and let the hot water fill the tub, steam clouding the mirrors and surrounding me in a relaxed atmosphere.
A good, long soak is just what I need, and when the tub is mostly full, I slide in and let the heat wash everything away.
How have I ended up here?
Yesterday I was in a dead-end job and living with a horrible man, who was more a liability than anything else. Now, I am lying in a hot tub, in a multi-million-dollar apartment, having had the best sex of my life with a virtual stranger.
Talk about a Cinderella story.
A giggle floats out of my mouth, and I sink beneath the water, scrubbing my hair with my nails beneath the surface.
I push up again and break the surface. What am I going to do about work?
I look around and remember Roman’s words. Sure, he’s rich. And I love the fact that he had saved me from my pitiful existence. But I want to be useful, too.
Maybe I can help with the security side of things. Not literally of course, but I am a pretty good people organizer, and I am sure I could help in some way.
I float and swim in the tub until my belly is so hungry I am in pain from the cramps.
I pull myself out of the tub, towel myself dry, and grab some fresh knickers and a bra. Wearing Roman’s shirt makes me feel close to him, and he was so big, the tails go all the way down to my knees.
I have a black belt attached to one of my dresses, so I pull it off and wrap it around me, too.
When I glance in the mirror, for the first time in my life, my red ringlets don’t bother me, nor does my awkward nose. I am owned by a big, powerful man, and nothing else seems to matter.
Though I am still reeling from the possibly magical Gargoyle thing, I am ignoring the problems at the moment.
I sneak out into the huge kitchen, expecting someone to jump out at me.
The remote control is on the table, so I flick on the tv, turning the volume to low, just so I have some background noise to break up the silence.
In the fridge, there is meat. And meat. And more meat.
Not my first choice for breakfast, but what other option do I have?
There is only one frying pan in the huge cupboards, so I cook the steak and sit down at the glass table by myself and eat my steak.
It is a strange feeling, and I won’t be surprised if I am being watched. In fact, I probably am.
A shiver courses down my spine. Time to get out of the apartment.
I run back to the bedroom, pulling on some leggings and boots with a cringe. I have some secret savings that Greg hadn’t gotten to. I can afford to buy a few new pieces of clothing, until I get another job. Anything from my old world seems dirty for some reason now.
I move to the front door and open it, jumping back with a start as the security guard from last night turns to face me.
“Good morning,” he says.
“Ah … um, I’m Chrissy.”
“I’m Bill, ma’am. Will you be needing a car? An escort somewhere?” He is showing me all the respect that he gave Roman. Wow.
“Me? No. I just wanted to get out for a bit … maybe, go over to the library.”
He nods once. “Then I better come with you. None of the men over there know you, and they tend to shoot first and ask questions later.”
I swallow hard. “That sounds … um, bad.” What sort of men have Roman and his brothers hired?
A small smile quirks up his lips. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll lock up and head over with you.”
“Oh, thank you.”
He pulls the door shut behind us, clicking and flicking the locks.
“All right. Let’s go.”
We ride the elevator down and for the first time in my life, I am escorted by a security guard, across the road and into the library. It is a little scary, yet exhilarating.
Bill is older than I am, and has a feeling about him that makes me feel safe.
“Are you going to take me to … Roman?”
“If you’d like to see him?” Bill asks, his tone the gentlest I’d heard so far.
“Ah, yes. I would.” Despite the fact that I have no idea how I feel about the Gargoyle thing, I have to face it sooner rather than later.
We ride the ancient elevator up to the top floor, and then step out onto the roof. A cool breeze blew my hair around my face, and I take a slow, deep breath. I haven’t tied it up because I know Roman prefers it down.
I could hear my heart beating in my ears, a loud, thudding sound that makes my arms and legs tingle at the same time.
Bill moves away, and I turn to follow him. Five armed men in black, who were covertly positioned all over the rooftop, step forward.
I swallow hard, my stomach rolling at the implied danger I am in.
They nod to Bill, and he walks back to me.
“They’re fine. You can go see Roman if you like.”
I’m not sure I want to anymore. This is getting creepier by the second.
“Would you walk over with me?”
He nods and puts a gentle hand around my waist, guiding me over to the edge of the ancient building.
“There’s Rafe. He’s the biggest, by far.”
I nod, a part of my brain in total shock at what I am seeing. Bill is pointing to a stone gargoyle. A statue. A grotesque creature with wings, fangs, and a tail. How could that be the huge, handsome man I’d seen last night?
“And there’s Roman. The head of the building.”
I don’t want to look. Because I know what I am going to see.
But it has to be done.
I force myself to turn, to look where Bill pointed. And there he is.
My heart races in my chest, and the need to flee pulses through my bloodstream. Roman is a monster. I had sex with a monster. A frozen in time, sharp toothed, winged creature that I know nothing about.
Is this how I wanted to spend the rest of my life? Visiting my man, gargoyle, whatever,
during the day on the roof of the state library?
What sort of life will we have if I only see him during the night hours?
Tears threaten my vision, and I release a pent-up sob. I can’t do this. He isn’t even human!
My legs turn to jelly, and yet I force them to run. I turn and bolt across the roof like someone is chasing me, adrenaline zinging through my system.
I reach the elevator, my breathing labored and coming hard.
But no one is chasing me, and Bill was staring at me with sad eyes that make my own tears well and fall down my cheeks.
I press my finger into the button over and over, until the door finally closes and I sink to the floor against the wall.
What have I done?
I need to get away from him, and yet how? I have no job, no money and practically the clothes I stood up in.
I look down at my crumpled form, a hysterical laugh bursting out. What clothes? I wear some leggings and Roman’s own shirt.
The doors ding open, and strangers stare down at me.
“Are you all right?” An older lady asks me, and I push myself to my feet, embarrassment flushing up my neck with a heated blush.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Walking isn’t easy, but I push myself to continue through the library and onto the New York streets.
Where was I going to go? What would I do?
I could never see Roman again.
Even as the thought hits my mind, my body collapses in on itself. Pain shoots through me like a knife has been driven into my heart.
I collapse onto a park bench, barely able to breathe, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead. What has he done to me?
This isn’t right. I need to get further away from him.
But the more steps I take, the worse the pain gets. I can feel a panic in my heart that is not my own. Whose is it then?
I glance up at the Gargoyle that was Roman, an impossible story. Yet I have seen too much evidence to back it up so far.
“No. This can’t be true.”
I force my legs, heavy like weighted down with lead, to move. One step in front of the other. The pain, the desolation, the sadness that weigh me down are like a storm of grief.
God. No.
I stop and sit down again on another bench. What am I fighting against? This is not making any sense.
