Night Angel (Gargoyle Night Guardians Book 2)

by Rosalie Redd

  Seth stared at his friend. Indecision flitted through his mind.

  Hannah placed her hand on top of Seth’s and gave him a squeeze. “Rather you than someone else.”

  Respect for his woman made him seem ten feet tall. Mercy extended far beyond any kind of retribution.

  He accepted the dagger and scooted next to Finn.

  Finn lowered his hand. Blood dribbled from the wounded eye socket, down his cheek, and onto his shirt. With his good eye, he met Seth’s gaze. “I never wanted ta kill anyone. Thank ya for allowing me ta right a wrong. Ya take care of the lass, now.”

  Memories of all the good times they’d shared on and off the battlefield swept through Seth. He’d miss his old friend, more than he could say. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and gave his friend one last nod. “I will.”

  Heart heavy, he leaned over Finn and plunged the dagger deep into the mangled opening. The blade sank into the flesh to the hilt. “May Rhiannon have mercy on your soul.”

  Dust and debris swirled around Finn. Instead of his soul disappearing into the Otherworld, the small whirlwind dissipated into the air, scattering Finn’s spirit among the ether, the space between space. The ultimate death.

  A somber shroud settled over Seth’s shoulders. At least Finn had made amends.

  “Seth.” Hannah brushed her fingers down his arm.

  His skin tingled at the contact. He grasped her fingers, ushered them both to their feet, and tugged her into his embrace. Her fresh scent wafted into his senses, and he inhaled a deep breath, enjoying everything that was Hannah.

  “Seth, your back.” She drew away enough to look at him. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but a smile tugged at her lips. “It’s completely healed.”

  He blinked. Even with his preternatural healing ability, his skin shouldn’t have healed that fast.

  Hannah trailed her fingers over his biceps, along his shoulders, and over his chest.

  She gasped. “And your spark stone. It’s gone.”

  He gasped and touched the spot over his heart. Instead of the familiar bump of his stone, his fingers contacted smooth skin.

  A tingle rippled over his shoulders and down his spine. He rubbed his chest again and glanced at the empty spot.

  The ramifications swept through his mind. Had he passed his test? Was he human?

  He grasped Hannah’s hand and tried to dematerialize.

  Nothing happened.

  Hope fluttered deep inside.

  He thought about his past—his need for freedom, his gambling, his inability to save his wife, his fear of dark, confined places.

  “I think I passed my test.” He grasped Hannah’s hands in his palms. “I wasn’t sure Marco would release you, but that was a gamble I had to take, and then, when I stepped into the container and sacrificed my freedom for you, I faced my biggest fears.”

  Hannah’s brows furrowed over her pretty green eyes. “So, you’re human now? You never have to go back to your post?”

  A brilliant flash of light exploded in the room. Seth wrapped his arms around Hannah in a protective embrace and peered over his shoulder.

  Rhiannon stood in the middle of the chamber. A long, silver gown flowed from her elegant shoulders, over her curves, and pooled at her feet. Dark hair fell around her shoulders, her trademark braids hanging loosely from either side of her temple.

  Achos, her small dragon-like constant companion, sat on her left shoulder. He licked his front claws with his long tongue and smoke curled from his nostrils. His green scales shimmered in the subdued light.

  Rhiannon glanced around the old derelict church until her gaze focused on the dome. A smile tugged at her lips, accentuating her beauty.

  “Ah, Seth. It’s fitting your test occurred under your favorite resting place.” She turned to face him.

  He bent to one knee and brought Hannah with him. “Rhiannon. My goddess.”

  “Rise, my warrior, and face me.” Rhiannon strode toward him.

  Seth rose with Hannah right alongside him. He met his goddess’s gaze.

  “Am I truly human?” He choked on the words.

  Rhiannon extended her index finger. She tapped her nail, polished in silver to match her dress, on his chest right where his spark stone used to reside. “Yes, my warrior. When you faced your deepest fear and gave up your freedom to save another, you passed your test. Sometimes the soul reunites with a big bang. Other times, it slips in unannounced. I think yours was the latter. In either case, I love it when I can reunite a spirit with its host.”

  Happiness swelled deep inside his soul, along with a warm sense of worthiness. He wrapped his arm around Hannah and hugged her close. “Hannah, I don’t have much, not a home or a job or even a penny to my name, but one thing I know for sure, I love you and want to learn and grow with you, marry you and raise children together, but I’m getting ahead of myself and babbling like an idiot.”

  He brought her fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m a bit old-fashioned and set in my ways. Will you let me take my time and court you in every way imaginable?”

  Hannah expelled a breath, part sob, part laugh, and nodded. “I love you, too. Thank you for teaching me what it is to love.”

  Seth grinned so wide his cheeks hurt. He unwrapped the cord at his wrist and held the braided leather in his palm. With shaky fingers, he offered it to Hannah. “Please accept this as my promise to you, always.”

  She nodded once again and held out her hand.

  With tender care, he tied the braided cord around her wrist.

  A single tear slipped over her lash and tracked down her cheek. Seth kissed the tear away then brought his lips to hers. He showered her with gentle kisses, but his passion erupted, hot and fiery, and he poured all his love for her into their connection, showing her just how much she meant to him.

  Hannah relaxed into him, her curves melding against his body in all the right places. She was his sun for the rest of his life.

  Rhiannon cleared her throat.

  Seth broke the kiss and peered at his goddess.

  “Well, it’s time for me to go. I have a war to win, after all.” Rhiannon stroked Achos’s head, and the dragon purred. “Be sure to meet up with Beaumont. He’ll give you the reintegration packet with your identification, bank account information, etcetera, so you can start your new life, and don’t worry about the fae. Now that you’re human again, they can’t harm you. That’s part of the agreement Gwawl and I have with Cernunnos. Gwawl hates it, but it’s only fair that once a gargoyle passes his test, he deserves to spend the rest of his life in peace.”

  Seth had forgotten about that. His shoulders lightened. “Thank you, goddess.”

  “Good luck!” Rhiannon departed in a flash of light.

  As Seth’s eyes adjusted to the dimness once again, Hannah tugged on his arm.

  “Let’s go to my place.” A twinkle lit in both of her eyes.

  “Darlin’, when did you say Beaumont and Sadie will return?”

  A knowing smile crooked her adorable lips. “Day after tomorrow.”

  “You don’t have to ask me twice.” As if the hounds of the Otherworld lapped at his heels, he grasped her hand and drew her toward the door. “That’s not much time, but it’ll have to do. I have plans for you, darlin’, lots of plans.”

  Hannah raised an eyebrow. “Does it involve chocolate and whipped cream?”

  Seth laughed. “If you want it to, darlin’, if you want it to.”

  CHAPTER 26

  M arco reformed in the Otherworld. His shoulder hit a stone floor, followed by his hip and one knee. Pain flared at the contact points, and a heavy weight pinned him to the ground. He struggled to breathe, but a few particles of air made it into his lungs, bringing Zain’s scent along with them.

  Anger flared at Marco’s temple. How dare he take him out of the fight?

  He flipped the guy onto his back, grabbed his sword from the floor, and pressed the blade against Zain’s throat. “I
should slaughter you right here, right now for what you’ve done.”

  Zain didn’t flinch. Instead, he raised a dark eyebrow. “Don’t like being indebted to anyone, do you?”

  “What does that mean?” Marco pressed the blade tighter against Zain’s neck. The skin puckered from the pressure.

  “You and I both know I saved your life.” Zain smirked. “But don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul.”

  A deep, familiar male chuckle echoed in the chamber.

  Even beneath Marco’s coat, the hair along his arms rose. In his effort to tackle Zain, Marco hadn’t assessed their surroundings. Instinctively, he’d known they were in the Otherworld, but the exact location hadn’t sunk in until now.

  He glanced toward the sound, catching sight of the fire burning in the familiar wall sconces. Seated in his elaborate throne, Gwawl toyed with the gold chain at his waist. An amused smile curled his thin lips, but his dark, black-as-ink eyes held a promise of retribution.

  “My lord.” Marco rose to his feet and sheathed his blade. He kept his gaze focused on Gwawl’s sandaled feet.

  One of the chair’s human bones, a femur perhaps, slipped between the god’s feet and rubbed along his calf before disappearing into the mass once again.

  “Zain. Come stand before me.” Gwawl’s commanding voice reverberated off the stone walls.

  Zain shuffled to his feet, strode across the room, and knelt in front of his master. His braid slipped over his shoulder and swayed from the movement.

  Gwawl leaned forward and placed his palm against Zain’s forehead. He glanced at Marco. The lines in his face hardened. He released Zain and motioned for him to step aside.

  Zain complied, his head bowed in supplication.

  “I didn’t need to look into Zain’s mind to know you’d failed yet again, but I hadn’t realized you’d lost me a good fae in the process. In addition, it appears the gargoyle has been released from his servitude to Rhiannon. I can feel it.”

  Marco exhaled the frustration burning in his lungs. Not only had he lost his tribute, he’d missed his chance to drain Hannah’s energy for himself. Protected by Cernunnos’s rule, Marco couldn’t go after either of them. Seems the god of the Otherworld thought gargoyles that passed their test deserved to live in the human realm without fear of retribution from a fae. The rule sucked, but so be it.

  Gwawl crooked his finger at Marco. “Come here.”

  Drawn to Gwawl as if the god held marionette strings attached to Marco’s muscles, Marco stepped forward. The scent of his own fear assailed his nostrils.

  Gwawl rose from his chair of human suffering. The mass of bones swirled, filling in the vacant spot, and the soft, anguished cries of lost, forgotten souls echoed into the room. Would Marco join them?

  A surge of panic rushed through him. He tried to resist, but the harder he fought against Gwawl’s pull, the faster his feet moved.

  He stood before the god, swallowed the bitter taste of bile, and met his gaze.

  The god’s nostrils quivered with rage. “I should banish you to the Isle of Tech Duinn, at the House of the Dark One, to leave your soul to rot. Instead, I have a much more fitting punishment.”

  He snapped his finger. A silver collar lined with sharp, pointed teeth rested in his palm. He rubbed his thumb over the tip of a particularly large fang. A drop of blood glistened on his abraded flesh.

  He pressed his thumb to Marco’s forehead and smeared the blood between Marco’s eyes and down the length of his battered nose. As if his body had been invaded by ants, Marco’s skin crawled.

  “Fae, your craving for power and authority is only outdone by your incessant need for my praise. That is your downfall and your saving grace. For your retribution, I sanction you to wear this collar at all times, and you will report to Zain until I deem otherwise.”

  Gwawl snapped his fingers. The collar disappeared.

  Something cold and hard rested around Marco’s neck. Tiny pinpricks cut into his sensitive flesh. The collar tightened and the teeth sliced deeper into his skin.

  Marco bit back a scream. He clamped his jaw so tight pain ricocheted through his cheek and up to his ear but didn’t compare to the agony at his throat. Marco yanked at the binding. The collar melded to his skin as if it were a part of him.

  “Marco, enjoy your new role.” Gwawl laughed. The menacing sound reverberated off the walls, increasing in volume until shards of rock fell from the ceiling.

  Marco dodged a rather large chunk and stared at Zain.

  The fae met his gaze. Locked in a battle of wills, Marco refused to look away, but after a long moment, he buckled under the pressure and glanced at the floor.

  Bile rose from his gut. He wanted to tear into Zain and shred him to pieces. Instead, he was at the guy’s mercy. Gwawl was a malicious bastard, but Marco already knew that. The god was the leader of the fae, after all.

  “I have a new task for the two of you.” Gwawl reseated himself in his chair. The incessant wails of the bones picked up in fever and pitch as he settled into the seat.

  Zain stepped forward and bowed. “How can we serve you?”

  “Bring me the witch named Wynne Becknell.” Light from the wall sconces flickered, casting a shadow over the god’s features. He rubbed his chin. “I am in need of her services. Oh, and don’t fail me, or I’ll shred your soul into non-existence.”

  “It shall be done,” Zain replied.

  And I shall do everything in my power to see that you fail. Marco bent his head, not in supplication, but to hide his snide smile.

  CHAPTER 27

  “Hurry, they’re home. Did you cover it up?” Hannah released the drape from between her fingers. The material slid over the window, plunging the living room into darkness.

  “Yeah. It’s under the sheet.” Seth’s deep, familiar voice carried across the room.

  “Everybody hide,” Hannah whispered.

  A sense of giddiness swept her from head to toe. Over the past two days, she and Seth had spent all their time together in this house, most of it in her bedroom except for the time she’d finished adding the pink touches to Sadie’s picture and repairing the damage to the living room. Thank God for Wynne and her witch’s magic.

  Speaking of Wynne, the witch hid behind the clawfoot chair, and her sister, Sasha, slid under the sideboard table.

  Hannah crept past the couch, careful not to make a sound and headed for the light switch. Sadie and Beaumont, returning from their trip, would open the door any—

  The click of the door echoed through the room. A moment later, light from the streetlamp illuminated the entryway.

  Hannah held her breath.

  Seth wrapped his arm around her, and she leaned into his embrace, back to front. His breath tickled her ear.

  “On the count of three,” he whispered.

  Sadie stepped over the threshold.

  “One…”

  She set her bag on the floor and let out a sigh.

  “Two…”

  Beaumont joined her, his massive frame blocking most of the light.

  “Three.”

  Hannah snapped on the light.

  “Surprise!” Hannah, Seth, Wynne, and Sasha shouted in unison and emerged from their hiding places.

  Sadie jumped while Beaumont tensed.

  “Welcome home, you two!” Hannah laughed.

  Sadie dropped her carry-on luggage and her handbag. She hurried toward Hannah, a big smile on her face.

  Hannah left Seth’s side to meet her sister halfway. With all the love in her heart, she gave her sister a tight hug. After a long moment, Hannah drew away.

  “Did you have a good time on your cruise?” Hannah grasped Sadie’s hands. “What places did you see?”

  “We had a great time…” Sadie’s cheeks reddened, and she peered at Beaumont.

  He laughed, his eyes sparking with mirth, and he wrapped his arm around Sadie’s waist. “Can’t say I remember any place other than the inside of our cabin, except for the buffet, but we won�
��t talk about that. They stock the place for an army.”

  Sasha stepped forward. “Welcome back, lovebirds. Sounds like I need to take a trip like that. Just need to find the right guy first.”

  “Better you than me. I’ll pass.” Wynne fiddled with her yellow scarf at her neck. “You two look happy, glad to see it.”

  Seth cleared his throat and held out his palm to Beaumont. “Welcome home.”

  Beaumont gripped Seth’s hand. His brow furrowed. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Shouldn’t you be on patrol?”

  Seth released the handshake and shook his head, a sly smile forming on his lips. “I’m done with that, now.”

  He unclasped the first two buttons on his cotton shirt and tugged the material down enough to reveal the bare spot over his heart.

  Beaumont audibly inhaled. “You’re human.”

  “Yep, sure am.”

  Beaumont clapped his arm around Seth’s shoulder and gave him a manly hug. “That’s awesome. Way to go.”

  Sadie raised an eyebrow. “Does his becoming human have anything to do with you?”

  Happiness flooded through Hannah, lifting her spirit so high she thought she might walk on air. She held up her palm, revealing Seth’s braided cord at her wrist. “Everything.”

  A smile burst across Sadie’s face. “Details. I want details.”

  “You’ll get them along with some news about Finn, but first, I have something for you and Beaumont.” Hannah guided Sadie toward the dining room. “C’mon everyone.”

  The group trailed behind Hannah and her sister. Her heart pounded so hard, she heard every beat in her ears. “I was going to wait until after your homecoming cake, but I just can’t.”

  Hannah scooted past the long formal table, sidestepping a couple of chairs and stopped in front of the easel Seth had placed in the corner for her. A sheet covered the artwork, hiding Hannah’s sketch from view.

  Hannah held her palm toward the easel. “I never got a chance to give you two a wedding present. So, here it is. Happy belated best wishes. Whatever, you know what I mean.”

  Sadie laughed as Beaumont joined her. She peered at him, a smile on her face, before returning her attention to Hannah. “Do you want to unveil it?”