Lucan scanned her with a look that left her breathless. His gaze pinned her a little too long and a little too deeply.
“You care about her a great deal,” he said.
She ran a hand over her arm and rubbed it. “I do. Veronique wasn’t very maternal, so I took on that role.”
“Thank you, Elise. I appreciate you taking care of my daughter.”
His gratitude warmed her. Her family had never expressed any gratitude for what she did. She’d practically been invisible.
She avoided glancing up at him to avoid him probing her with those eyes again. “I’ve been searching for her through these neighborhoods.” She motioned at the roads with brick buildings leading away from the harbor. I’m guessing she just wants space, but I don’t like her being out there alone.”
“Right,” he agreed. “We have to look for her.”
“Together?” She pulled her gaze to his face.
“Together.”
When their eyes met, it was just like that unexpected sizzle from last night. Her body froze while she heated from the inside out. The sparks that passed between them had seared her with that strange sense of connection.
He was a womanizer. That’s what Veronique told her, justifying her reaction of cursing him. Elise had to remember that.
Lucan broke eye contact and cleared his throat. “It makes more sense for us to search for her together.” His voice came out louder and gruffer. “I don’t know much about her, and you do. But, I do know the area well. And we could take to the air.”
She whipped her head back and glanced up. “The air?” she repeated.
“Naturally. The best way to find her is by searching from an aerial view. I’ll use gargoyle magic to cloak us from humans.”
She blinked a few times. “We’re going to—fly?”
Yes,” he replied matter-of-factly as if it was an everyday occurrence.
For him, maybe. But for her, she preferred the sturdiness of the ground beneath her feet.
“I’m going to tell my brothers what’s going on,” he said.
He turned away on the sidewalk and stood motionless, like a statue. She glanced at his profile. His nose was straight and chin strong, the hard lines and curves gave him a rugged appeal.
With his statue-like stillness, she guessed he was communicating telepathically. She didn’t have that ability nor did any witch in her coven, but, she wouldn’t be surprised if some of the more powerful ones were able to do so.
He faced her and asked, “Do you have a picture of her?”
She shook her head. “No. I didn’t think to bring one.”
If she was like the humans around here snapping selfies on every block, she would have had several on her phone. But, there was no need for her to have a phone like that. Technology was magic for humans, just like divination, potions and spells were for a witch. But, there were times an electronic gadget would have come in handy, like that moment.
“Danton and Mattias will search for her, but a description of a girl with dark hair wandering through the streets of Salem is bound to lead to false positives. Do you know what she was wearing?”
“She typically wears jeans and a t-shirt.”
Lucan groaned. He muttered, “Like every other teenager around here.”
“Come on.” He took her hand and led her to a concealed area beneath some trees.
The warmth of his hand provided security.
“Don’t be frightened,” he said.
“Don’t be afraid of what?”
“When I shift.” He turned from her and undressed.
She gaped as he bared himself before her, gaze traveling down the impressive muscles in his back and down to his rear. She scolded herself to look away, but when his skin took on a gray pallor, she watched, transfixed. His body contorted to a bulkier shape while gray wings emerged from his shoulder blades and stretched out with a wingspan that doubled his size.
He stuffed his clothes into a satchel. When he faced her again, his features were distorted, yet still recognizable as his.
She stepped back, mouth agape.
“Elise, it’s still me. You have to trust me.” His voice sounded deeper and gravelly.
She continued to stare. Although she knew he was a gargoyle, she’d never seen one shift. To see a breathtakingly attractive man shift into this distorted, monstrous state was too fantastic to be real.
“It’s me, Lucan. We need to find Marguerite.”
Hearing her niece’s name snapped Elise out of her spell. Marguerite had gargoyle blood. She couldn’t recoil if Marguerite ever shifted to this form.
Elise pulled a sweater out of her handbag and wrapped it around herself. Having never flown before, she had no clue as to how to dress. At least she was mostly covered with her jeans, boots, and long-sleeve shirt, and sweater.
She took a bold step toward the gargoyle. “I’m ready.”
Lucan stepped behind her and wrapped massive gray arms around her. Massive arms that reminded her he was a protector. That’s what gargoyles were known as—the protectors of the earth.
When he pressed her body back against his solid form, she gasped.
“It’s okay,” he said. “I won’t let you go.”
That wasn’t what she was afraid of. The heat of his hard body against hers shot strange sensations through her body—sensual ones. Every place their bodies touched singed her with awareness. What was wrong with her? It was terribly confusing and wrong on so many levels.
Elise tried to ignore how his intimate hold affected her as they ascended. She avoided looking down. But, what the heck? How would she find Marguerite by searching the skies? She hadn’t shown any indications that she could fly.
After a quick pep talk to convince herself that Marguerite was safe, she glanced down. The shoreline appeared like a jagged puzzle piece. The dozens of white boats were like stars in a midnight blue sky, and pockets of green divided the clusters of buildings.
“We’ll start at the hotel and circle outward,” he said.
As she grew more accustomed to flight, she noted how the breeze caressed her skin and flowed through her hair. On some level, she felt like an angel soaring over the earth. But there was nothing angelic about the way her body responded to his, even in this form that resembled a beast more than man.
It was ridiculous. It didn’t make sense. He was the last being on earth she should be attracted to. And she especially shouldn’t be harboring such thoughts when their focus was on finding Marguerite.
Yet, if she was honest with herself, there was something there simmering beneath the surface. And she sensed that he felt it, too. From each time their eyes would meet to the inexplicable vibrant heat between them.
Oh, she shooed it off. Perhaps it was merely a forbidden attraction that called to them both.
Well, she’d deal with that thought at a different time. The goal at hand was to find Marguerite. And the best way to do that was in the arms of the shifter who held her—even if she enjoyed it more than she should.
Chapter Five
LUCAN SOARED WITH ELISE over Salem, starting with the hotel near the harbor and then circling inland. At least, the pedestrians walked sparsely enough that he could identify a girl walking alone. Come October, the sidewalks would be clogged with people dressed up in costumes like vampires and superheroes and witches. For now, many sported Red Sox and Patriots hats and jerseys.
The morning progressed with no signs of Marguerite. They took breaks whenever he needed a moment to recover from carrying her over Salem. Although his primary concern was finding his daughter, his focus was challenged by the closeness of the beautiful woman in his arms. Her fragrance drove him to want to hole up some place alone with her for days and explore the wonders of her body. This almost overpowering yearning didn’t make sense. When he focused on a mission, he fixated on that with determination—and finding his daughter was paramount. But somehow Elise shoved his resolve off-balance. What was it about her?
W
hen he heard her stomach growl, it was time for a break. It would help him regain his equilibrium, as well, after she’d knocked him off-kilter with her enticing feminine appeal. No wonder she was a witch, she could easily cast a spell over any man she encountered.
He landed behind a vacant building and released her. He turned away to shift and pulled out his clothes. After he dressed and faced her, she blinked several times.
“How about a bite to eat,” he suggested, aiming for some normalcy after her initial foray into flight with a gargoyle.
Her cheeks turned pink. “You heard my stomach growl?”
“It was cute. It reminded me that I need to refuel, as well. Have you eaten anything today?”
She shook her head. “No, once I woke and saw Marguerite was gone, I was too preoccupied with finding her.”
“Let’s get some food into you before we continue the search. It won’t do you much good if you are weakened by hunger, will it?” He smiled.
When she gave him a sheepish smile back, she had an appreciative glint in her eyes. “True.”
“Besides, my brothers are both out looking in the area as well. Do you think she would’ve ventured beyond it?”
She furrowed her brows. “I don’t think so.”
They walked along Washington Square, passing the Hawthorne Hotel, and then he steered her to Essex Street. The scent of food from nearby restaurants triggered his taste buds.
“This will work.” He pointed to a small café advertising baked goods and sandwiches. “Service should be quick.” He thought of Marguerite. Would she be able to take care of herself? “Does she have any money, so she can eat?”
“She has some spending money,” Elise replied. “It should last a week if she budgets well.”
After he ordered a roast beef sandwich and she a chicken Panini, they took their sandwiches and bottled lemonade and sat at the outdoor tables. They took a few bites interspersed between comments about the food and area.
He said, “You know her best. Where do you think she went?”
She pursed her lips. “I don’t know exactly. She’s in a different country. She doesn’t know anything about this area, so she likely didn’t go far. I’m guessing she just wanted to get away.”
“What does she like to do?” Lucan asked. “That might narrow down where we should search.”
“She’s a typical kid. Hangs out with friends. Practices spells. She’s particularly fond of brewing potions.”
A small sound of surprise escaped him. When Elise peered closer, he said, “It’s strange to me that I have a daughter who’s a witch.”
“And part gargoyle. Being a mix of two species is bound to be tough. Something neither of us would understand.”
Guilt gnawed at him with a deeper bite. It had been bothering him since she’d told him Marguerite had run away. “Was I that terrible to her yesterday to make her run?”
She tilted her head as she gazed at him. “I don’t think so. But, it’s a sensitive age. Things we wouldn’t notice might trigger her.”
He replayed what he’d said and done. “I don’t have a clue. It goes to show I don’t know anything about being a father, especially to a girl her age.”
“You can’t be expected to. It will be an adjustment. And one of the reasons she might have run away is to get attention.”
“From whom?”
She shrugged. “Anyone.”
He took a massive bite of his sandwich and chewed while considering what she said. Still, nothing came to him. “Why?”
Elise had taken a small bite, the way she’d been taking tiny bites all along. He tried to slow his pace before he gobbled his sandwich whole.
After she swallowed, she said, “With her mother torn from her, she was already having a hard time. And then discovering the identity of a father she never knew existed, it’s bound to have stirred some tumultuous feelings. Maybe she wanted to get away from it all—an act to see if anyone cares?”
He leaned back. “By running away? How would that accomplish anything?”
“Perhaps it doesn’t. But—it might be a cry for help.”
He peered at her as he sensed she was revealing something more personal. “Did you run away when you were her age?”
She put down her Panini. He wasn’t going to let her cryptic comment go. “Maybe once or twice.”
“What happened?”
She picked at the crumbs on her plate. “No one noticed.”
A pang of empathy struck him like a whip. “Ooh, that’s rough.”
She made a small sound of acknowledgment with a carefree wave as if it wasn’t a big deal and then sipped her lemonade. He saw through the defensive gesture. It was barely perceptible in the melancholic tinge of her voice and that haunted glint in her eye. Her pain tugged at him, like a wrenching in his gut.
Lucan leaned back in his chair. He was getting too close to her. What the hell was going on with him? He had to rein himself in to be back in control of his emotions.
But, the desire to discover more about the woman across from him was too difficult to dismiss. He had to know more about her. The more he listened to how she perceived situations as a young woman, the better he might be able to understand his daughter, right?
It was bullshit. At least, partially, since he knew his motives ran deeper. But why?
He raised his gaze to Elise. “Tell me what happened.”
ELISE TOOK A SIP OF her drink to buy time to formulate an answer. Why did she open her mouth? Her years of occupying the cold space cast by Veronique’s shadow were not ones she wanted to revisit.
She searched the streets for a welcome distraction. They’d passed witch museums, stores, and restaurants that morning. It seemed as if the city embraced the term ‘witch’ since she spotted it everywhere. Even the police officers sported Witch City on their badges with an image of a witch on a broom. It wasn’t an accurate depiction of a witch, but at least witches appeared to be welcome here these days. Somehow, she could shift the conversation off this topic, and steer it to questions about Salem.
But, why shield herself from the question? He didn’t necessarily want to know about her, but get insight into young women of that age since he was now the father of one. Why not opt for the truth? It might help them find Marguerite.
“It’s not easy growing up in the shadow of a talented, gifted, beautiful older sister,” she admitted. “Especially when you’re rather average in comparison.”
He cocked his head. “Average? Why would you say that?”
“I don’t have a fraction of the abilities with magic as she has. I’m not as dazzling. I’m not as—well, anything.”
“I disagree.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ve known you for just a short time, but it’s long enough to know you’re not as you describe yourself.”
She gave him a skeptical look.
“You’re courageous,” he said. “You crossed the ocean to find me. Resourceful to have located me since our kind lives in such secrecy.”
She rolled her shoulders. “I had help. I heard of a shifter in London who was the best at tracking supes. And, oddly enough, he’d been to Vamps before.”
He made a grunt of acknowledgment. “It attracts all kinds of beings—for better or worse.”
“Without him, I doubt I ever would have found you.”
“You’re still selling yourself short. You’re kind and devoted. You’ve taken care of Marguerite.”
She groaned. “Until now.”
“Like you said, this is what girls her age do.” He peered closer. “Like you did, for instance.”
“Right,” she said, trying to convince herself as well. She couldn’t bear to picture Marguerite in danger. She was Elise’s niece, but more like a daughter to her. “She’s likely rebelling against the situation. It’s normal. If you think a situation is unfair, you have limited options to express it. Acting out or running away are a couple of ways to do so.”
Lucan eyed her with a keen gaze that penetrated
her so deeply, she wondered if gargoyles had x-ray vision. Would he look at her with that same piercing gaze if they were in bed together?
Shaking her head before lurid thoughts crept in, she said, “Thank you for helping me search for her. I know this has all been sprung on you so suddenly and you’ve been handling it all quite well.”
“I should thank you,” he said. “Would I ever have known that I had a daughter if you hadn’t brought her over here? Probably not.”
True. Elise took a bite of her Panini, savoring the flavors on her tongue. She was ravenous. She gazed out at pedestrians peering into a window displaying silver jewelry, crystal balls, and Tarot cards and thought about what he’d said. She’d had to convince Marguerite to come on this trip as she had mixed feelings about meeting her father. On some occasions, she’d expressed her curiosity on meeting her father and finding out what he was like. At other times, she’d stubbornly refused—stating it was too late. He hadn’t been a part of her life and there was no point in forcing them to meet now.
Elise had encouraged her. “Just meet him. It’s the right thing to do for both of you. Even if nothing comes of it, it’s better to know than to wonder.”
Marguerite had agreed, yet had expressed her wariness on the journey over. “What if he doesn’t want to meet me?”
She’d already taken on a defensive shield, prepared to be rejected. It made sense. Her mother hadn’t shown any maternal warmth. Why would a father who’d never met her be any different?
“Have an open mind and give him the benefit of the doubt,” Elise had said. “We’ll deal with what happens when it comes.”
But, Marguerite had already expected the worse and must have perceived some slight during her first conversation with her father, convincing herself of whatever negative reaction she’d feared. Elise felt badly for her. She’d tried to provide a nurturing role in her life—something Elise had lacked from her parents’ lack of interest in her.
INFLAME: (a gargoyle shifter and witch romance) (Underground Encounters Book 8) Page 4
