by E A Price
Still panting, he carefully rolled onto his back. Their bodies were still joined, and she could feel him twitching inside her. She collapsed onto his chest, feeling the thud of his heartbeat, which was almost as thunderous as hers.
“I love you,” he murmured, encasing her in his wings.
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Forty-One
“We will have to leave the Hardcastle mansion. I do not see that we have another option,” said Luc.
Kylie grimaced and leaned her head on his shoulder. His tail wound its way around her ankle, and one of his hands lay on her thigh possessively. Even with all their troubles, he was watching the unmated males in the room to ensure they knew she was his. In particular, the male known as Chief Tight Pants needed to know that Kylie belonged to him. To be fair, Chris was too busy glaring at Ric and Brenda, who, in spite of Ric’s huge size, had managed to squeeze into an armchair together. Kylie believed they made an adorable couple. Luc decided that he did not like open displays of affection between couples, unless they were between him and Kylie, in which case they were completely acceptable and tasteful.
“I’m not exactly sure where we could go,” she said.
“I’m still trying to sort out my uncle’s legal documents,” said Andrew. “He owned a lot of property; maybe we could find somewhere else.”
Gustave cleared his throat. “Most of his property was for rental purposes, but he may have some that I do not know of. He was very secretive.”
“But this is your home, you shouldn’t have to leave,” wailed Maggie.
“Too right,” said Bea.
Luc looked at his gargoyles. “What have you to say on the matter?”
Gracchus nodded. “Gargoyles have never been too attached to places or buildings. Traditionally, we live out in the open and hunt. And if the hunting is bad, we move on to a new place. If we have to, we will move on now, too. I am in agreement.”
“We must do what is best for the clan. I must ensure my mate and child are safe,” said Cai as he placed a hand on Ingrede’s shoulder. “I am in agreement.”
Wolfe squirmed on Ingrede’s lap. “I am in agreement,” she added.
“I am not leaving,” declared Ric. “I cannot leave Brenda.”
Chris rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath, turning slightly red when he found Annis gazing at him.
“Perhaps I could come with you,” suggested Brenda.
“No,” snapped Chris, jumping to his feet. “You are not dragging my niece with you.”
“She is of age, she may do as she wishes!” argued a fierce Ric.
“She’s in school.”
“I do not believe it would be a good idea to move Drago,” said Annis softly, slicing through the testosterone laden tension. She glanced out the window to where he was sitting in Bea’s garden, staring at the moon. “I do not believe the travel will be good for him. He is improving here, and getting used to his surroundings. Perhaps in a few months, he could leave. But I believe he should stay, and I would wish to stay with him, too.”
Luc inclined his head at their newest gargoyle addition to the clan. “And you?”
Twenty-Six shrugged. “Do I get a say?
Kylie smiled encouragingly. “Of course, you do.”
“Well… I don’t know.”
“Very helpful,” muttered Ric.
Twenty-Six gave him a very human hand gesture, which he was mightily annoyed about when Brenda explained what it meant later.
“Honestly, I spent my whole life being poked and prodded by the people who came after you. I don’t think they’re going to stop just because you change your zip code. The more of you there are, the less likely it is you can hide anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to spend your time looking for the people doing this, and finding out who they are and what they want rather than wasting all your energy hiding?”
Everyone stared at her. Twenty-Six didn’t seem to care. She’d been observed since the moment she was born. She would happily proclaim to anyone who would listen that she was way too messed up to be self-conscious.
“She has a point, Chief,” said Gracchus, slowly.
“Indeed,” Luc rumbled. “Kylie?”
She raised her eyebrows. Who me? You care what I think?
His eyes hooded. Of course I do.
Her lips pursed. Not what you said the other night.
His face tightened. I am trying, little one.
The others couldn’t fathom the silent communications.
Finally, Kylie smiled. “You know I will go wherever you go.”
Luc didn’t bother to hide his smugness over this statement. Everyone could read his expression, it said, this female belongs to me and she adores me – suck it.
“But, we will be in danger wherever we go. Maybe we should try and stand our ground. Show these people, the council, or whoever they are that we can’t be pushed around. We don’t really know anything about them, other than the fact that they seemed to want to create a race of super gargoyles.” Her eyes flicked to Twenty-Six, who had grown bored of the conversation and had started reading a magazine. “I know our priority is finding the other gargoyles, but the way things are going, we won’t be able to hide much longer anyway.”
“We are not hiding…”
“No? Then maybe we should tell them that.”
*
“Why have we stopped?” snapped Blackthorne.
His trip to New York had been cut short by news of Adler’s death and the destruction of the lab. He was in no mood for his personal security to fool around.
Blackthorne banged on the partition, trying to get his driver’s attention. “Whatever it is, deal with it and hurry up.”
The rest of the council – the remaining members – were panicking like the useless headless chickens they were. He needed to find out what happened to Adler and find a way to spin it, so it didn’t sound as horrific as it probably was. The last thing he wanted was the other council members running scared. Idiots though they were, they were idiots who had resources and power he needed.
He heard some shuffling, slammed doors and some… growling?
Blackthorne summoned a bolt of lightning. It crackled in his hand as he waited for the attack. Nothing happened.
Impatient to get it over with, he stepped out the car and found himself faced with four enormous male gargoyles. One of which had to be…
“Lucifer.”
The male gave him a level gaze. “We are not here to hurt you,” rumbled the huge gargoyle.
Blackthorne tried to tamp down his fear and extinguished the lightning. It wouldn’t hold off four of them anyway. He doubted it would be enough to defeat one of them.
“I take it you are responsible for Adler’s death.”
“He brought it on himself!” howled the pale blue gargoyle. Blackthorne took him to be Amalric. Although who the other two were was anyone’s guess. Yes, there were a lot more gargoyles alive than they had thought.
Lucifer smiled grimly. “Truthfully, he did not die at our claws. But he could have.”
“What do you want?”
“All my clan wants is to survive. We wish to find a way to survive amongst humans.” His eyes narrowed. “But we cannot do so while under attack by your people.” He took a step towards Blackthorne, who went against every instinct in his trembling body, and forced himself to remain still.
“Finding you was easy. Killing you would be even easier. But we won’t. You leave my clan alone, and I will leave you and your people alone. Do we have a deal?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Lucifer gave him a genuine smile. “No, you don’t.”
Blackthorne watched as one by the one, the gargoyles leaped into the sky, each of them shooting him lingering glowers. He slumped to the ground and waited for his clamoring heartbeat to calm.
Chapter Forty-Two
“You are not dropping out of school to mate a gargoyle. End of story.”
Ric growled at Chris
’ possessive tone.
Brenda rolled her eyes as the two males practically started beating their chests at one another. Why did she have to be the grown-up one here?
“No, I’m not, Uncle Chris. I’m going to school, and then I’m going to college – just one near to Ric.”
“This is a bad idea; it’s your senior year - you need to focus.”
“She is my mate,” snapped Ric, curling his wings around Brenda. “You should not give her orders.”
For a second she thought he was going to add ‘only I give her orders’. If he had, she was thoroughly prepared to slap him upside the head. Thankfully, he appeared to be learning and trying to be a more modern gargoyle. Earlier she had witnessed him trying to learn how to use the washing machine under Annis’ guidance. Brenda would apologize to Annis later for that. Perhaps the shrunken garments could be saved for baby Wolfe?
Chris, her usually levelheaded uncle, was struggling to maintain his temper. “She is my niece, and you barely know her.”
“I am her destiny!” howled Ric.
Chris’ derisive laugh could be almost heard throughout the whole house. “Destiny? Are you kidding me?”
“How dare you!”
“Both of you stop!” yelled Brenda.
She extricated herself from Ric’s grasp and stood part way between the two of them. “Look, Uncle Chris, I know I’m still young, but I’m not a little girl anymore. Yes, I’m still in school – and finishing school is really important to me, but so is Ric. And no, we haven’t known each other very long, but I knew Kevin,” this was punctuated by Ric growling, “Kevin,” she repeated sternly, “for two years, and look how that turned out. Besides, I seem to recall that you married a woman you only knew for three weeks, and the two of you were really happy.”
His face clouded, and Brenda immediately felt guilty. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“It’s fine, peanut. Please continue with your rant.”
“Actually, I think I was done with you.” She swung her gaze to Ric, who actually looked a little apprehensive. “Yes, I am your mate, and I’m thrilled about that. But Chris raised me, he’s been like a father to me, and he’s just worried about me. He would never do anything to hurt me. Hell, he just helped save your ass from Doctor Frankenfreak because I asked him to and because he’s such a decent guy.
“So, both of you here’s the deal. Ric and I are together, but because of school and because it would look kind of weird, I’ll continue living with Uncle Chris.”
Ric opened his mouth to object, and Brenda raised a hand. “You’re otherwise occupied during the day anyway, so it would be best if I just come and visit you here at night.”
He frowned so she hurriedly added, “Which I will, every night.”
Chris coughed, so she amended that to, “As long as I’ve done my homework.”
Both the males grumbled.
“I know this will be tough, but we will make it work. Right, guys?”
More grumbling.
“That’s the spirit.”
*
Chris angrily stomped through the house. He was worried for Brenda. Worried she was making a mistake and worried she was rushing. He didn’t want her to get hurt again.
“Are you okay?” asked Annis.
He paused with his hand on the door handle. The small gargoyle appeared behind him with Bob by her side. The dog gazed up at her adoringly.
“Yeah, sure,” he said tightly. “Sorry, I almost forgot Bob.”
Annis beamed and tickled the mutt’s ear. “He is always welcome here.” Bob dutifully panted.
“They seem happy together,” she said hesitantly, afraid he would lash out and tell her it was not her place to say so. “I do no think I have ever seen Amalric truly happy until now.”
He let out a cluck of annoyance. “She’s still so young. She doesn’t know what she wants.”
“Most gargoyles mate at her age.”
Chris gave her a curious look. “And you?”
“Me?” she squeaked.
“Are you mated? Did you ever mate?”
“No… I never… no.”
“See? Sometimes it’s better to wait.” He cocked his head to one side. “You look different today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I better go. C’mon, Bob.”
It took a two-minute wrestling match and a promise from Annis that she would see him again soon to get the beast onto his leash. Finally satisfied, and a little flustered, Chris turned and sauntered away, perhaps a little less angrily than a few minutes before.
Annis sighed and wiped the cherry gloss off her lips. The hell was she thinking?
*
Twenty-Six watched as the other gargoyles went about their business. They had accepted her more quickly than she would have expected. Luc had quizzed her on her life as a lab rat. Kylie had made little oh sounds every now and again and gave her sympathetic looks. In particular Luc was fascinated by the fact that she was not forced to sleep during the day. He had trouble coming to terms with that and tried to make her give him a demonstration. But being watched by a gargantuan gargoyle hardly aided her ability to fall asleep, and after trying for an hour, Kylie found a way to otherwise occupy Luc. Sadly, that was after he’d given her a really long history of the gargoyles. Yawn.
She scratched the back of her head. She still had that awful chip in there, but Kylie was trying to find a way to get rid of it without ripping her head open.
Things were a lot different outside the lab, and this place was certainly a step up. No one pricked her with needles when she was least expecting here. She wasn’t sure how long she intended to stick around, but she guessed it would be okay for the time being. Plus, it was kind of nice being around other gargoyles. Annis was harmless enough, and she liked talking to Gracchus.
She pulled out the book of baby names and set about finding a new one for herself. The name Twenty-Six was getting tiresome.
*
“Little one, are you dressed yet?” A note of hopefulness that she would say no was present in Luc’s voice as he folded himself into the bathroom. He found his mate patting her face dry, but still in her nightgown.
“Almost, I’m still a little tired.”
He grasped her chin and studied her face. “You do look tired.”
“Thank you,” she said sourly, turning back to the mirror, adding a layer of peach lipgloss. Where had her cherry flavor gone?
“But still lovely,” he added.
“Mmmm hmmm.”
“I worry about you.”
“I know.”
“I love you.”
Kylie’s shoulders sagged slightly. “I know.”
“You are still angry about what happened with Chloe.”
“Of course not; it was an accident.” She certainly would not hold it against Ingrede, so why should she blame Luc? She was convinced Chloe was just trying to escape and hadn’t intended to kill herself.
Luc gently rubbed a hand over her back, his claws moving in circles, sending tingles through her body.
“But you are angry about what I had planned for her.”
“Not angry, babe. Just… concerned. I can’t help it. I’ve finally got rid of my nightmares of watching Ophelia kill Holling, and I don’t want to replace them with nightmares of you killing anyone. I’m sorry, I’m such a pussy.”
“One of Maggie’s words.”
“Yes.”
“I thought it meant your womanhood.” His hand slipped down her body, under her nightgown and cupped her sex, making her moan obscenely.
“Sometimes it does,” she whimpered.
“Then that is not an insult. Your womanhood is beautiful, and it belongs to me. Mine.” He growled as sharp teeth nipped her ear.
“I’ll explain the use of the word pussy later.” She tapped at his hand to remove it, and he pouted slightly. “We have two new gargoyles who need waking up,” she admonished lightly. “After that, I’m planning on going straight back to be
d.” His face fell before she added, “And of course, I would like you to join me.” She would never be too pissed for that.
Luc wrapped her into a hug, curling his tail around her leg. “Our differences are not insurmountable, little one, they are merely…”
“Freaking annoying?”
“Yes, indeed. Freaking annoying. Are human relationships easy?”
“No, in my experience they are filled with awkward silences, lots of arguments, stealing money and cheating.”
His chest rumbled. “You never met a human male worthy of you.”
“No, good job I met a gargoyle. And once you go gargoyle, you never go back.”
Kylie brushed her lips over his and squeaked as he grabbed her ass. “C’mon, big guy, time to wake the gargoyles, there’ll be plenty of sexy times later.”
*
Ric and Brenda were sitting on the roof of the mansion. Brenda was curled between his legs and he wrapped his wings around her for warmth. The vague sounds of a busy household floated their way. Annis, singing a lullaby to Wolfe, Drago growling, Gracchus watching TV and the loud sounds of Cai and Ingrede fighting? Oh! Brenda blushed as she realized what they were really doing.
“It’s nice up here,” she said, “but don’t you dare let go of me!”
Ric tightened his arms around her, and she pretended she couldn’t feel him silently shaking with laughter.
“Luc has agreed to bless our mating at the next full moon,” he said before kissing her ear.
Brenda fidgeted in his arms. “Yeah, about that, Annis warned me…”
“We will not have to copulate in front of the clan. It is an old tradition that even my clan did not indulge in. Annis’ clan was stuck in the past. Besides, I do not wish to give your uncle another reason to dislike me - he already loathes me.”
“True.”
“Aren’t you supposed to argue, and reassure me that he does like me?”
Brenda twisted her neck to look at him. “You want me to lie to you?”
Ric chuckled. “Perhaps not.”
“He just thinks I’m too young to know what I want, and that it’s too sudden.”
