by A C Warneke
Rhys sucked in a breath but Vaughn was the one who answered, “Sweetheart, when you’re ready, you’ll know. Don’t force it or you’ll only get frustrated.”
“Do you know what would be awesome?” she asked after a few minutes of trying not to think about it and failing. Rhys’s hair was looking pretty spectacular, though, if she did say so herself. If he was a girl, his hair would be perfect for the Renaissance festival. “If gargoyles were real and they came to life at night to protect the world. I bet the three gargoyles on the roof would look glorious flying around the night sky, with their gorgeous stone bodies and magnificent wings.” She sighed with heartfelt yearning, “I would love to see that.”
“You look ridiculous,” Vaughn said after the movie ended. After Melanie had finished styling Rhys’s hair, his brother had slid back to the floor, giving his space back to Melanie. She had promptly curled up against Vaughn’s side and fallen asleep, missing the last hour of the movie. He didn’t mind because he got to hold her in his arms and run his fingers along her soft skin.
Rhys ran his hand over the many, many braids and grimaced, “It kept her entertained," he shrugged. "It was a small price to pay to make your anime coeunt happy.”
Vaughn couldn’t help but smile at his brother’s words. Anime Coeunt. Soul mate. Were gargoyles even given soul mates, at least allowed to keep them? Of all of the gargoyles who ever gave up their nights, he could think of only one that had had his gift accepted and that was long, long before his time. In truth, not all that many gargoyles tried because there were very few humans aware of the world beneath the veil. Of those humans, even fewer wished to love a gargoyle.
Even Katrina, who had loved Armand to distraction, had difficulty accepting his gargoyle nature. She had known the outcome before Armand gave up his nights for her and she was eager to accept the gift, until it came time to actually accept it. At the last moment, she balked, abandoning Armand and breaking his heart.
“I like Melanie,” Rhys said, interrupting Vaughn’s contemplations. “She’s something special.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“Her subconscious mind knows,” he whispered, glancing back to make sure she was still asleep. “She knows what we are, even what our gargoyles are, so what are the fates waiting for?”
Vaughn shook his head, frustration and anxiety tightening his jaw. “I don’t know.”
Rhys was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts, and when he spoke, his voice was hushed, “Have you noticed the increased… activity?”
Vaughn’s jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed as he stared at nothing in particular. “You mean the imps?” At Rhys’s nod, Vaughn gave a curt nod of his head. “They are drawn to humans who are sensitive and having Melanie living in this building is a beacon to the little bastards. They’ve been keeping their distance but I have put up extra wards none-the-less. Her protection charm seems to be an effective deterrent as well.”
“Good.” Rhys nodded his approval. “Did you ask Armand to create a shield or something, just to have a little extra… oomph?”
“He did it before I even asked,” Vaughn answered, grateful to his older brother even if he was angry with him for his hard ass stance towards Melanie. “He’s not happy that she’s here but he won’t let anything happen to her.”
They fell into a companionable silence. For a long time it had just been the three of them, together against the world. Vaughn couldn’t imagine being without his brothers but he also wanted Melanie to become a part of their lives. Would they be able to accept her if she accepted his gift? Rhys wouldn’t be a problem – he was already putty in Melanie’s hands – but what about Armand?
Would Melanie even want to spend a lifetime with him? She was already giving up so much of her time to be with him, getting up early to work at her parent’s shop, staying up late to be with him. It was no wonder she was exhausted.
“Are you going to give up your nights for her?”
Vaughn was quiet for a long time, contemplating the question that he had been asking himself often of late. “We just met and we’re still getting to know one another. So far, nothing bad has happened to her and the imps are leaving her alone, even if they follow her relentlessly. But….”
He looked down at her sleeping face and swallowed against the knowledge that lodged in his throat. “Yeah, I think I will.”
Rhys shook his head, a sad smile playing about his lips, “Armand will be furious.”
“I know.” And Vaughn hated upsetting his brother but Melanie was quickly becoming his everything. He would do anything to keep her safe, to keep her forever. “But it won’t happen anytime soon, we have time. Hell, if she’s willing to accept my gift, I’ll wait until she’s forty before asking her.”
“Do you think the relationship will last that long?”
“I think it will last forever.” Vaughn gave a rueful smile, “At least it will on my side.”
Rhys stood up and clapped Vaughn on his back. “I’d wish you luck but if you had any more luck I think I would have to take a chisel to you.”
Vaughn smiled as his brother made his way to the door where he paused, “I hope she’s worth it.”
After the door closed, Vaughn whispered, “So do I, Rhys, so do I.”
Chapter Ten
“What are your plans for this evening?” Jenna asked from the other end of the phone.
“Same thing that I have been doing every other evening for the past week,” Melanie said, examining her reflection in the bathroom mirror, tilting her head to the side as she looked at the pendant she wore all the time now. Her fingers touched it, feeling the familiar warmth and still being faintly surprised by it. She should have grown used to it but she hadn’t. “Vaughn and I are going out.”
“When are you going to bring him home to meet the family?”
“Soon. I’m dying for you guys to meet him, Jenna. You’re going to adore him.” Melanie grinned at her image as she thought about Vaughn and her family. “And he’s going to love you guys, especially Ferris.”
“I would hope so, she’s your favorite niece,” Jenna teased, though it wasn’t enough to erase the concern from her voice as she continued her interrogation. “You haven’t even told mom and dad about him, yet. I keep expecting mom to ask me what I know about your new boyfriend after she talks with you but so far she hasn’t. What are you hiding from us, Lenni?”
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Melanie assured her sister, even though that wasn’t exactly true. After her date with Vaughn, she was even more convinced that she knew what they were but it just wasn’t making it to her brain. It was on the very edge of her consciousness and she was growing increasingly frustrated by the obstruction. She was also starting to see things out of the corner of her eye, though whatever it was she was seeing wouldn’t be there when she turned her head to look. It was weird and a little disconcerting. She took comfort in the knowledge that it was fate’s way of preparing her for the truth. At least, that is what she told herself to comfort her frazzled nerves.
No wonder so many people would rather close their eyes and go back to sleep. There was a lot out there and only some of it was starting to bleed into her reality.
“Honey, you’ve spent every evening with this guy since New Year’s and none of us know anything about him.” Jenna let out a long sigh before she continued, “I just miss you. I hadn’t realized how much I enjoyed your company meant until you moved out so abruptly and now we never see you.”
“I know it was unexpected and I’m sorry,” Melanie apologized, knowing it wasn’t much and feeling guilt gnaw at her gut as she realized how negligent she had become in regards to her family. She promised herself that she was going to make it up this summer. Especially to Ferris. Even though the candy store filled her days and Vaughn covered her nights, she realized how much she missed her family, her niece.
“Maybe you should move back home,” Jenna suggested. She laughed at that, “Though why you would want to live here i
n this madhouse when you live so close to your boyfriend in that cool castle I don’t know. It must be nice living on the same floor.”
“You could say that,” Melanie mumbled, a blush stealing across her cheeks even though there was no one there to see. Though she hadn’t spent any time in Vaughn’s apartment, they had spent plenty of time in hers, christening every square inch of space, in some rather creative ways. She hadn’t even known she could bend into some of those positions. Yet it wasn’t just the sex, it was everything. He could make her laugh with a look, make her squirm with a touch. He was simply incredible.
“When are you going to bring him home to meet the family?” Jenna asked abruptly. “I’m eager to meet this man that has you so tied up.”
“I don’t know, soon?” Melanie wasn’t sure when it would happen since Vaughn was noticeably absent when the sun was up. It didn’t bother her too much because as soon as the sun went down, he was knocking on her door. It did make arranging an introduction to her family difficult, though. “I’m not sure what Vaughn’s schedule is.”
Jenna was silent for a long time and Melanie could hear the wheels turning in her sister’s head. Finally, she asked, “Mel, are you losing yourself in this guy?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.” Melanie could hear the frustration in her sister’s voice. “Are you losing yourself?”
Melanie laughed, “Not at all. I just don’t know what his schedule is and if you want to meet Vaughn, don’t you think it would be best if he was, you know, there?”
“Of course,” Jenna said, not sounding terribly convinced.
Melanie looked at the small clock on the ledge and saw that there was still almost a half hour left before the sun was to set. Perhaps she was spending too much time with him or thinking about him because she could hardly wait for dusk so she could see him. In truth, though, she wasn’t changing anything to please him. It was a new relationship and he was an exciting man and he wasn’t human. It was to be expected that she would want to spend as much time as possible with him.
It wasn’t just the hot, primal lion sex either. She loved being with him, listening to his voice as they talked about everyday things, as he whispered words of sweet nothings while they ate dinner or strolled along the city sidewalks, as he kept her warm by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his body when it got too cold. And later, when they returned to her apartment, he warmed her up with drugging kisses and hot, primal lion sex.
“We’re still in the honeymoon phase, Jen,” Melanie offered. “In a few months, when we’ve gotten to know each other better and the sex isn’t brand, spanking new, I promise I’ll no longer neglect my family.”
“I’m holding you to that,” Jenna growled, though Melanie could hear the laughter. “Maybe Ferris and I will stop by this weekend. She’s been bugging me to see your apartment, especially since I told her it was like a castle.”
“I’d like that,” Melanie smiled. “We could also go to the candy store. I know how much she loves doing that.”
“Then it’s a date. Oh wait,” Jenna interrupted herself. “We’re having the family dinner this weekend, even Jensen is coming home. You’ll be there, won’t you?”
She had forgotten about the dinner but she smiled at the reminder, “Of course I will be. This will be my first family dinner since moving out.”
“You should bring Vaughn.” Melanie heard the determination in her sister’s voice and understood the worry. But she also understood that Vaughn’s time wasn’t his own.
“I’ll extend the invite but I can’t make any promises,” Melanie fudged, not sure how she was going to be introducing her boyfriend to her family. If they got snowed in, it would be awkward trying to explain his transformation into a… a what? when the sun came up. “Hey, here’s a random question: have you seen Peter? He’s been leaving some strange voice messages and I’m concerned.”
“Didn’t you guys break up months ago?” Jenna sounded annoyed.
“Well, yeah, but that’s the strange thing,” Melanie frowned as she thought about the last couple of voice messages he had left, the increasingly desperate sound of his voice. “It was an amicable split but now he’s leaving messages as if we were still together. Did something happen to him?”
“Not that I’m aware. Why not call him back and tell him to back off?”
“I haven’t really had a free moment and to be honest, he’s in the past. I don’t want to call.”
“Ah, Lenni, just call. He probably has one of your dresses he wants to return or something.” Her sister let out a short chuckle, obviously distracted by the sound of her daughter trying to get her attention. “I gotta go. Ferris and grandma are making cookies and I promised I would be the official taste tester.”
“Didn’t they make a ton of cookies just before Christmas?” Melanie asked in disbelief. Her parents seemed to be greatly enjoying their semi-retirement, traveling a bit more, joining book clubs, and baking cookies instead of candy. Not that they actually made the candy anymore, but still…. “Never mind. Just save me some of those sugar cookies with the frosting.”
“Ugh, those hurt my teeth,” Jenna complained good-naturedly. “Too much sugar.”
“Just the right amount,” Melanie grinned. They said their goodbyes and Melanie returned to the bedroom area and hung up her phone, already forgetting her concerns about Peter.
She was already dressed in a long-sleeved, black cotton shirt with a peasant skirt. Before they left, she was going to throw on a pair of tights since it was winter in Minnesota. Then she and Vaughn were going to one of the bars to see a local band play. She wasn’t going to worry about her hair too much because it was going to get flattened by her hat and then wilted by the heat in the bar.
When someone knocked on her door, her face almost split apart from her smile. He was early and he was never early. Maybe she had been mistaken about the sundown thing. She quickly crossed the short distance to the door and opened it, the smile falling from her face as she saw who was on the other side, “Peter.”
“Sweetie,” he grinned, stepping past her into the room before she could give permission or tell him she had other plans and she’d call when she had a chance.
“Um, now’s not really a good time,” she said as she closed the door and turned around to face him as he examined her apartment. “I’m going out in a few minutes.”
“I know,” he said with a vacuous grin. “I just want to see you. I had to talk to you about something very important and then we can go out and celebrate.”
“I don’t think you understand, Peter. I have a date,” she said, crossing her arms beneath her breasts and glaring at her former boyfriend. He was attractive, in a metro-sexual, bland sort of way, at least compared to Vaughn’s dazzling golden looks. She still considered Peter a friend but what was he doing at her apartment? “What are you even doing here, Peter? We broke up.”
He let out a low whistle, giving no indication that he heard her, “Wow, you’re really slumming it, aren’t you, Mel?”
“What are you talking about?” she asked, crossing to her kitchen counter and getting a glass of water. She purposefully didn’t offer Peter anything because she didn’t want to encourage him to stay.
“When I first saw your apartment building, I was willing to give it, give you, the benefit of the doubt,” he said, his voice doubtful. “But I’ve got to tell you, Lenni, this place really creeps me out.”
“Good, then leave,” she bit out. Instead of taking her hint, he chuckled, moving closer to where she stood. Taking a drink of her water, she forced herself to remain calm. After all she had six years with this man and at one point she had even considered marrying him. In the end they both realized they weren’t right for one another so what was Peter thinking?
“I like your new look, Lenni,” he murmured, running his hand along the length of her spine and sending a rush of unease to the pit of her soul. Moving closer, he pressed his chest against her
back and she shrugged him off. Lowering his voice, he spoke into her ear, “I know about your… indiscretion on New Year’s Eve, how you fucked a stranger in the bathroom. I want you to know I’m not mad.”
Her eyes widened in shock, wondering who had told him and surprised by how much she didn’t care. They were no longer together so it didn’t matter what he thought. “You need to leave, Peter.”
“The type of man who’d fuck a girl he just met in a bar full of strangers isn’t the type to settle down and be content raising a family,” he continued. He didn’t sound quite like the Peter she had known for so long. Something about his voice, his words were wrong. He wasn’t the Peter she had known, even if he wore Peter’s face and spoke in Peter’s voice. His breath was sour against her neck as he continued, “He’ll fuck you then leave you with a disease and a brat.”
“You don’t know anything about it, Peter,” she countered, wishing he’d leave. He was making her uncomfortable, something she had never before felt around him. Maybe he was a skin-walker wearing a Peter suit…. That thought was terrifying. Maybe he was just drunk, though he had never been cruel, even at his drunkest. “Besides, we’re no longer together.”
“Of course not,” Peter said smugly, running a finger along her neck and making her flinch. “A quickie in the bathroom isn’t going to lead to a long-term relationship.”
“Peter,” Melanie sighed in annoyance, stepping away from him. “I was talking about us, about you and me. We are no longer together, Peter. You and I are no longer together.”
“Our break up was a phase you were going through before you took the next step,” he growled as his voice lowered even more. “To be honest, I only let you go because I was feeling guilty for sleeping with Vanessa but I’m over that guilt now and I’m ready to forgive you and move past that.”
