Not Her Gargoyle

by Annie Nicholas

  “Then stop swaying it in such an alluring manner.” He chuckled. “How did you even know I was looking?”

  “You’re male.”

  Ruby seemed to take pleasure in torturing Nick as she deepened the sway of her hips and tossed her long red hair over her shoulder. It gave a man ideas. The kind that made it difficult for him to walk.

  Before Nick knew it, they were standing in front of a similar apartment building to Ruby’s. Worn brick, rusty fire escapes that most likely were not up to code, and a broken front door. This one’s first floor windows were boarded up though. “Abandoned?”

  She nodded and pointed to a condemned sign covered in graffiti. “I’m sure the shifters will buy and tear it down.” A frown marred her pretty face.

  “You don’t agree?” Not that he thought the fox family should be living in squalor, but at least they had a roof.

  She shook her head. “Where will they live? It’s not as easy as you think to rent an apartment. Especially when the real estate is being bought up by investors. Buildings are selling, rents are getting higher, and then the next thing you know, you’re getting kicked out.”

  “I’m not judging, Ruby. I’ve lived in my share of abandoned buildings, but if money is being poured into the neighborhood, it might give families like the foxes a chance at a better life. Like us.” He was referring to their jobs and their poor attempt to live like regular people.

  “So far, that attitude isn’t working out so well for us.”

  “Tell me what you know about this family.” A beauty and the beast heist was a simple ploy, but sometimes simple worked best. Beauty gained them access to what they wanted, and the beast ensured they would get what they wanted.

  “As you can guess, Theo is a fox shifter. They live in skulks, not packs. His mother is the matriarch but she works downtown and is gone most of the day. So the responsibility of the kids falls on Theo’s older brother, Clive. He was one of the local boys I grew up with. The only difference with him was he never got caught and sent to jail, so don’t break him, okay? He’s a good resource to have when I need something I can’t afford.”

  “How many kids in all?”

  She tapped her well-manicured fingernail on her full lush lips. “I’m not one hundred percent sure. A lot.” She sounded wistful.

  A large family of young fox pickpockets. They’d be lucky to escape with their clothes. Nick sighed. “Lead the way.” If not for the charm, he would just let them keep the bag.

  She was slim enough to squeeze past the broken door.

  He wasn’t so lucky. Using his shoulder, he shoved his way inside using brute force. The hinges creaked and dust from the doorframe snowed down around him. Ruby was nowhere to be seen but he could hear her heels clicking as she climbed the stairs. “Wait.” Following the sound, he found her on the third floor, knocking on the door.

  She waved at him to stay out of sight. “Clive, it’s Ruby.” She fluffed up her hair with her fingertips and smoothed her tight sweater around her waist. Beauty was power and Ruby was a master at using it. The only reason why she wasn’t ruling the city was her soft heart. It was the most beautiful thing about her.

  The lock clicked open and the doorknob turned. Ruby waited for Nick as he strode to hover behind her, arms folded and wearing his best scowl. His brothers said he looked constipated when he practiced it. Constipated or not, it worked. The door cracked open and Ruby pressed her body to the space. Beyond her, a dark-haired man about her age blocked Ruby’s entrance. He must be Clive, the older brother. The fox shifter hadn’t spotted Nick yet since his attention was focused on the low-cut of her sweater.

  “Long time no see, Ruby. What do you need?”

  “That’s not a nice way to greet someone.” Nick could hear the pout in her voice.

  Clive snorted and relaxed along the door frame, opening it a little wider. “You don’t visit unless you want something from me. Out with it.”

  Nick remained still as stone so not to attract his attention.

  Ruby trailed her fingertips along the neckline of her dress, making her mark focus even more on her. “I came to chat with Theo.”

  Clive’s laugh was low and quiet. “What did he pinch this time?”

  She sighed. “My friend’s backpack.”

  The door swung open enough to let her squeeze by. “You’re friends with a dragon?” As Clive turned away to glance behind him, Nick braced his shoulder against the door, and pushed it out of the shifter’s hold.

  He filled the room and loomed over Clive. The apartment was small but clean. Toys lay on the floor in front of a television playing cartoons, but the children were not to be seen.

  Clive stepped back, blocking his path to the entrance to the bedroom. “What the fudge are you?”

  “I explained to Theo that I’m not a dragon. I’m a gargoyle.” He spread his wings for emphasis and knocked a plant off the side table. Inside, he cringed.

  Ruby rolled her eyes. “Clive, just give us the bag and the contents so we can be on our way.”

  “Look Rube, you know the rules. Finders keepers.”

  One hand on her hip, she poked Clive in the chest. “We don’t steal from each other.” Though, she was a tiny woman, Ruby had a way of authority about her. The snap of her voice was drill sergeant precise.

  Clive’s posture straightened, shoulders back and chin held high. “He’s not one of us.”

  “Who says? He’s my roommate and rent was inside the bag.”

  Nick ground his teeth. It was obvious Clive wouldn’t fall prey to the beauty part of their plan. “Look you can keep the money but…” He shoved past Clive and marched toward the bedroom that the shifter had been blocking. “I have a necklace that has sentimental value, which I want back.” Nick reached for the doorknob.

  “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

  Nick heard the click of the safety releasing off a gun. Twisting around, he extended his wings once more and knocked the weapon from Clive’s hand. “You didn’t say he was violent.” He grabbed Clive by the throat as he spoke to Ruby.

  “He’s not—or wasn’t.” Ruby fisted her hands.

  The bedroom swung open behind him and out poured an army of tiny foxes. They attacked all at once. The smallest bit his ankles, another bit his knee, and the two largest used their sharp claws to climb his back, attacking his wings. Nick stared down at the little warriors, mouth agape. Another sharp bite on the back of his knee made him jerk. He spun around, wings knocking half empty juice cups off the table. His left foot slipped in the sticky liquid and he flailed in a cloud of soft, poofy, orange fur.

  “Enough,” roared Ruby.

  The pups paused with their teeth and claws still embedded in his flesh.

  “Get down now.” Ruby pointed to the floor with a no-nonsense expression on her face.

  The foxes lined up in front of Ruby, shifting to their human form so smoothly that it didn’t affect their loose clothes. She frowned in Nick’s direction and pointed to the floor. He set Clive onto his feet away from the weapon.

  “You know better than to have a loaded weapon around the pups.” The focus of her fury stared at his feet. “Clive, don’t you remember what happened to Bobby Jo’s little brother?”

  He gave Nick the side eye before confronting Ruby. “It’s not loaded,” he whispered.

  She gave him a slow blink.

  The bites around Nick’s ankles burned the worst. Those puppy teeth were sharp as razors. He limped into the bedroom and spotted his backpack. After searching the bag, he found the charm. Nick clutched it to his chest and resisted the temptation to slip on the charm right there, but he didn’t need the fox shifters knowing his human identity as well. Who knew what they would do with that information.

  From the other room, he heard Theo’s voice. “I didn’t know Nick was your friend, Ruby.”

  “I know, honey. Pretty brave of you to steal from a gargoyle.”

  “The others dared me.”

  Nick sighed, r
ecalling the pressure he had experienced from his own brothers. Sometimes the line between family and enemies was thin. One thing was for sure—he and his brothers had tortured each other mercilessly, but gods save the soul of anyone who tried to harm their family. He strode out the bedroom, backpack slung over his shoulder. “Everything is here but the cash and phone.” He glared at Clive.

  The fox shifter pointed to the kitchen where full grocery bags lined the counter. “I sold the phone and already spent the money, man.”

  Ruby growled. “That was his first honest paycheck.”

  He gathered her in his arms and guided her out of the apartment. “Try not to eat it all in one night,” he shouted over his shoulder before closing the apartment door.

  She twisted around. “Nick…”

  He pressed his fingers to her lips. “It’s only money. I have the charm back and I can earn more.”

  “But the rent.” She rested her forehead against his chest. “What are we going to do?”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Go home, have something to eat, and go to work in the morning. Let me handle the landlord. Maybe he’ll want to sleep with me, instead.” He chuckled as she slapped his behind.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nick walked Ruby home. It was late and they both had to work early the next day. He shoved the charm deep into the front pockets of his shorts. “I appreciate your help tonight.”

  She took his hand and swung it between them as they walked a few blocks to their apartment building. “That’s what friends are for.”

  Stopping, he faced her. “Is that what we are? Just friends.” He brushed the back of his knuckles over her cheek. “You said you wanted us to go slow the other night. I didn’t mean to push you.” Nick couldn’t stop the way he felt about her. Neither did he want to force a relationship. If all she truly wanted was his friendship, he’d respect her decision.

  Her bright emerald eyes widened as she ran her hands over his shoulders and along his arms.

  “I mean, if it helps, I could wear the charm whenever we’re together.” Nick couldn’t blame her for having reservations. Shifters were both human and animal. Vampires kept their human appearance. It was easier for humans to bond with those types of supernaturals. Creatures who couldn’t fit into human society, like gargoyles, were rare.

  She shook her head. “I would never ask that of you.” Resting her hands back on his shoulders, she brushed her lips over his. Light as a feather but full of promises. “I was scared the other night. I was afraid of being hurt.” She rolled up on tiptoe. “I’m not scared anymore.”

  He met her halfway, grabbing her arms and pulling her against his chest.

  She gasped but he covered her mouth with his. Gripping her hair, he held her tight so she couldn’t escape. Lips like velvet met his and teeth clashed. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and ran a knee along his leg, parting her thighs.

  Oh yes…

  No doubt their chemistry sizzled. He deepened the kiss, meeting her tongue and exploring her taste. She drove him mad. Honey sweet. Untamed. Passionate. Though their outsides were polar opposites, their souls matched.

  He pulled back. Their apartment was just at the end of the street. A short flight.

  Ruby narrowed her gaze as she set her hands on his bare chest. “I want to be more than friends.”

  “Well now, things are looking up.” He scooped her in his arms, wings extended, and lifted off.

  She squeaked. “Give a girl a warning.” She clung to his neck tightly.

  He didn’t mind. “Where is the fun in that?” Tilting, he came in for a landing on the fire escape outside their window. It took a strong backwing to land gently on the old metal frame. He set her on her feet.

  “I’ll never get used to this.” She crawled inside and headed to the kitchen. The clink of glasses drew his attention as he contorted his upper body to fit within the window. She had two Mason jars on the counter and was struggling with a wine bottle.

  He took it from her hands and pulled out the cork. “Ah, a Flipflop brand. Wine of the workingman.”

  She poured the wine. “That’s because it’s dirt cheap and tastes like Kool-Aid.”

  Tossing his back in one huge gulp, he instantly regretted it. “Wow.” He grimaced. “That’s—that’s…”

  “Sweet?” She sipped hers. “Beer next time?”

  He nodded eagerly.

  She walked her fingers over to his and ran a hand up his forearm. “What do you want to do with the rest of our evening?”

  Oh, he had quite a long list of things he wanted to do to Ruby. But…“I can’t stay.” The look of surprise on her face tugged at his heart. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Nick knew he’d regret this moment for the rest of his life. “I was supposed to run an errand tonight but was distracted.”

  “By me.” She crossed her arms. “You really didn’t need to accompany me to HDBP.”

  He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Yes, I did.” Explaining his mile-wide protective streak would only bring the stubborn out of Ruby. He had an idea of how they could pay rent but first he needed to find help. Explaining his plan would raise Ruby’s hope and he didn’t want to dash it if he failed.

  She set her wine aside. “Nick?”

  He crossed the room and exited onto the fire escape. “Don’t wait up,” he called before closing the window and taking off into the night sky. With a heavy heart, he gained altitude and scanned over the rooftops. He had to find his brothers. They were good working as a team.

  Normally, he wouldn’t bother searching. When gargoyles wanted to hide, they blended in to the architecture easily. It was why most creatures had never seen one of his kind. But Nick knew his brothers and their habits. They would want a place made of stone and away from prying eyes. A tall building with easy access to the sky.

  He headed toward the suburbs, away from the city. Where dragons lurked. It was a risk he had to take. The edge of the city didn’t have high rises to hide his flight. He scanned the sky and didn’t see any signs of dragons. His search pattern took him close to the port. At this time of the night, the shipyard was dark and the crane silent.

  In the distance, a single tower stood on a cliff. The full moon rose behind it and was the only reason why he noticed the solitary tower. As he drew closer, the sound of waves crashing against the cliff face filled the air. He tasted salt.

  It was an old lighthouse. Obviously decommissioned since it no longer was lit. Three familiar shapes sat on the balcony surrounding the top of the tower. Nick slowed until he landed softly next to his brothers. “Nate, Norm, Neil.” he nodded to each of them as he said their name.

  They scowled.

  He tilted his head. “You look a little scorched.” Nick pointed at a black patch on Nate’s ear. “You got a little…” He brushed the ash off his brother’s shoulder.

  Nate slapped his hand away. “Where have you been?”

  Neil tenderly got to his feet. “We’ve been searching for you everywhere. The damn black dragon caught up with us last night.”

  “If it wasn’t for Armand, we would be molten lava.” Norm gestured to the darker enclosure inside the tower where the light should have shone.

  Nick peered inside. A shadow detached itself from the darkness and joined them on the balcony. A vampire. Great, another one. The last time he’d mingled with vampires he’d ended up chained to a castle wall. “I doubt he helped out of the kindness of his heart.”

  Pale and tall, Armand was cut from the same cloth as Viktor. Ancient. Most likely a warrior from the old country. They were the worst. “Your parents must have had a thing for the letter N.”

  Nick took a step closer to Armand. “It’s a family tradition.”

  Norm sighed. “You still haven’t told us where you have been.”

  “I bet he’s been shacked up with a girl,” said Neil.

  The crash of the waves below them was the only noise for the next few s
econds.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Nate hit him in the back of his head. “You ditched us for a girl.”

  He blocked his younger brother’s next swing. “I didn’t ditch anyone.”

  “I didn’t know we had other gargoyles in the city.” Armand spoke softly, almost a whisper.

  “She’s not a gargoyle,” Nick replied.

  “A shifter?” Neil leaned forward. “What kind?”

  Nick shook his head. “Not a shifter. She’s human. Her name is Ruby and she’s a waitress at a diner.”

  His brothers exchanged confused looks.

  “Is she blind?” asked Neil.

  Armand laughed behind him, the sound of fingernails along Nick’s spine. “Is there something wrong with him being with a woman?” asked the vampire.

  Nate leaned against the tower and scratched his head. “They tend to avoid us. We’re not like shifters. We don’t have a human form.”

  “Ha, until now.” Nick pulled out the charm from his pocket and slipped it over his head. He experienced the familiar tingling over his skin and the sudden sense of compression as he became human size. He stretched out his arms. “Ta-da!”

  Nate and Norm flinched.

  Neil covered his eyes with his hands. “You’re naked. Put it away before you scar me for life.”

  “Seriously, that’s all you can say.” He glanced down. His shorts had fallen around his ankles again. He yanked them back up around his waist. “Better?” One day, he’d remember to grab them first.

  Armand came around and joined his brothers, assessing him from head to toe. “Interesting.”

  “I’ll say. Do you have any more of those necklaces?” Nate tapped the charm on his chest.

  “I was only able to con the witch out of one. I bet she can make more, though.”

  Norm’s scowl deepened. “Is that how you got the girl? That’s despicable, even for you, Nick.”