Watcher Exposed: Dark Angels Paranormal Romance (Watchers of the Gray Book 8)

by JL Madore

  What affected the warriors, affected the family.

  “Fine,” he snapped, wanting to rip the head off the human smiling over at him. “Brennus, fill the man in and let’s get this over with.”

  Ren watched Ringo’s level of excitement rachet as he hung up his phone and jumped off his bed. He raced across the room to his backpack and started stuffing things into it: his drawing pad, his pencil case, his laptop, a book on ancient symbology. “My goodness, someone lit a fire under you. What’s going on?”

  He looked at her, and his face broke into the most amazing boyish grin of delight she’d never seen. “C’mon, I’ll show you. Can you bring my guitar? We’re going on a road trip, and I don’t want you to get bored.”

  “Road trip?” Ren grabbed the neck of the guitar and followed him down the stairs at a clipped pace. “I’m not sure you’re supposed to be out of bed, let alone out of the house. Where are we going?”

  He shook his head, rounded the landing, and pointed down the stairs to the mural in the grand foyer. “See this?”

  She stared at the depiction of wild horses she’d marveled over upon her arrival the night before.

  “When I painted the wild horses for Austin, I went with trompe l’oeil to achieve the softness she was hoping for. When she talks about horses, she paints this beautiful picture in my mind of tall, silky grasses waving under a summer breeze as the horses run free, their long manes tossing, while their playful whinnies fill the air.”

  Ren nodded. “That’s exactly the mood you captured.”

  He smiled, turned around, and after opening a door she thought would be a coat closet, headed down a flight of hidden stairs. She followed him down, and they hurried along a long corridor before taking a turn at a juncture and ending up in an Otherworld chapel.

  “When Zander asked me to design the meditation circle and pentacle portal for them, I went with mosaic tile. It reflects an artform of past centuries and their history. It’s rugged and will withstand their usage, because let’s face it, even when they’re calm, they’re pretty much bulls in a china shop.”

  Ren giggled and saw his point. “So, what has you so inspired this afternoon?”

  He smiled and ducked back out into the hall. She chuckled as they hurried along, his excitement infectious. They went back to the principal corridor and past a massive underground garage. When they took the next right, she heard the sounds of women giggling ahead.

  “Ringo!” the tiny blonde woman said, raising dirty hands and waving at them. “Welcome. Come in, join the fun.”

  Ren searched her memory for the woman’s name. If she had them straight, Ronnie was the tiny blonde, Thea was the tall, blonde angel, and Layne was the Djinn with the long black hair tipped in green. Austin, of course, she remembered.

  Ringo set his backpack down and hurried to grab one end of an old wooden table. “Where’s this going?”

  Austin stepped back, letting him take her place, and swiped a piece of loose hair out of her face. “In the hall until we get this place cleaned up and you do your thing. We’re preparing your canvas for you. How are we doing?”

  Ringo looked around, and his eyes lit up. “I get all of this?”

  Ren’s curiosity got the better of her. “His canvas for what? He’s keeping me in suspense.”

  Austin came over, and her brown dog trotted along with her. “Storme is a witch. Did you know that?”

  She nodded. “Yes, Hark told me earlier how she came to their rescue last night.”

  Austin smiled. “Well, witches need a place to work their magic. They need an altar to praise the goddess, storage for herbs, flowers, and oils, and a pentacle to cast a circle.”

  Ronnie swept past them, kicking dust across the cement floor. “We’re holding our first meeting tonight and hope to start working magic tomorrow night, once we get all our supplies. You’re welcome to join us.”

  Austin smiled. “Yes, Storme wants at least nine, but preferably twelve of us in the circle. We’d love for you to join us.”

  Ren didn’t know much about the Wiccan religion. She didn’t know much about any of the human religions. She knew about Lady Divinity, and her brother, the Dark Prince, and the Choir of angels, but nothing beyond that scope.

  “May I think about it? Lady Divinity sent me here for a specific purpose. I wouldn’t want her to think I’m losing sight of that.”

  “I want to join you,” Ringo said. “Can a boy be part of a witch’s coven? I believe in the goodness of the goddess and the ultimate love of nature. I even have a bit of magic already.”

  “You have a lot of magic,” Thea said, removing the last of the boxes, so they now stood in an empty twenty-by-twenty-foot room. “And we’re counting on it to transform this place into an inspiring witch’s den by tomorrow night. Storme deserves a place to work on her craft.”

  The sound of a baby sputtering had Thea turning up the volume on a monitoring device. “That’s my cue. Good luck, sweet boy,” she said, ruffling Ringo’s hair as she passed by. “I look forward to seeing what you come up with.”

  “As do we all,” Austin said, hugging him with one arm and pressing a kiss to the side of his head. “Are you feeling up to the artistic challenge, sugar?”

  Ringo nodded. “Yeah, of course. Nothing makes me feel better than creating. I just have to figure out what would best suit the spirit and intent of a witch’s circle. If you ladies wouldn’t mind, may I have the room?”

  “By all means,” Ronnie said, bowing as they exited. “Let your muse loose, kiddo. We’ll stay out of your way, but be upstairs if you need us for anything.”

  Layne and Ronnie hustled up the hall and headed back to the house. Austin stayed with Ren, and they stepped out of the room and out of Ringo’s way.

  “He’s such a talent,” Ren said, as the boy took his laptop and drawing pad, and sat cross-legged in the center of the room.

  Austin beamed. “He certainly is, and I think it’s wonderful that Lady Divinity sent you to watch over him. Zander doesn’t talk much about his transition, but I know from what he has said, that it was a lonely and painful time. I’m thankful Ringo has a guardian angel watching over him.”

  Ren wasn’t sure she would go that far, but supposed, technically, that was the role she played at the moment.

  “And I also want you to know,” Austin said, her gaze growing soft and warm, “if you have any questions or concerns about anything or anyone in the household, I’m available to listen or to help, or to answer questions where and when I can.”

  Ren broke her gaze away from Ringo. “Sorry, did I miss something?”

  “No, no. I’m simply saying if you ever need a woman’s ear, I’m here for you.” She reached down her right side, and her dog met her hand. Pulling a woven leash from her pocket, she clipped it on his collar.

  Ringo and Hark had both mentioned Austin’s lack of sight in the Human Realm and how it rarely played a restrictive part in her life. After watching her, on her own and interacting with the others, she knew why.

  She wasn’t the type of woman to play the victim.

  It was only so glaringly obvious because she stood the polar opposite of Ayana. Her sister had everything handed to her and still found endless points to complain about and tasks she needed others to do for her.

  Ren watched Austin walk up the main corridor. She and her dog paused for a moment at one of the doorways and poked her head inside. “Hey, Hark. Can you check on Ringo when you finish your workout? He’s starting an art project in the storage room down the hall and will likely need an hour or two.”

  “Consider it done,” came the deep-voiced response.

  “Thanks. And Hark?”

  “Yes?”

  “Zander will figure this out. You’ll be back in the streets before you know it, I’m sure.”

  Hark saw the worry in Austin’s gaze and heard the lie in her voice. Not that she would intentionally mislead him, she was simply smart enough to know his exposure wouldn’t resolve itself a
s quickly as they all wanted. In the meantime, his face was on every network media screen, and he needed to keep out of sight. For the first time in his life of duty, he was benched.

  Fitting then, that he was straddling the leather bench of their weight system and contemplating his life’s meaning without nightly patrols. Getting back in the game, he adjusted his workout gloves and wrapped his fingers around the pull grips.

  Closing his eyes, he drew a deep breath and focused on anything but exposure. Right. Left. Breathe. The weight he set was shredding his shoulders, but he welcomed the burn.

  Right. Left. Breathe.

  Ringo seemed better.

  Right. Left. Breathe.

  His eyes flipped open the moment her scent hit his senses. There, peeking around the frame of the door was his beautiful mate. He reached back and released the grips, rising to his feet without thought.

  She held that power over him—to call him to her.

  He was drawn to her by a force stronger than he imagined possible. His beast roared to the foreground, and he felt brazen and hungry. “Hello again,” he said, cupping her jaw.

  The feminine squeak that escaped her as he claimed her mouth made him realize he’d taken a liberty. They’d only met last night, and he walked right up and kissed her.

  Yes, and it was heaven. She tasted of sweet succulence, of the ambrosia of the gods. He growled, his tongue sweeping the seam of her lips, hoping for—no, needing—more of her.

  Her mouth, soft and welcoming, parted on a sigh.

  He pressed forward, consumed by his hunger. Never had his heart raced like this for a female. Never had he ached to take a female to the floor and ravish her.

  He couldn’t help himself. Ren was his.

  His to claim. His to protect. His to possess.

  The trembling of her hands on his biceps broke the spell. She was afraid. He released her and stepped back, aghast. “I’m so sorry. I, uh, that was unforgivable.”

  Ren leaned back against the doorframe and touched her lips. Her lush breasts heaved with a breathlessness he shared, a tendril of auburn escaping her messy bun. “Not unforgivable. Not if you meant it anyway.”

  He stared at her through half-masted eyes and let his beast’s growl freely. “Oh, I meant it. You don’t realize it yet, my beautiful Ren, but you are mine. Fast or slow, eager or cautious, we will get there. I will win your heart.”

  Her trembling hand moved from testing her lips to cover her throat. “Why? How? What is this?”

  “It’s fated love—a mating call,” he said, gauging her reaction. “Nephilim have one true other half, a soulmate if you will, and you are mine. Lady Divinity sent you to me, and it locked into place. You are mine.”

  Ren frowned, and he hated the fear in her eyes. Usually, she had a curious light, a warmth in her gaze that lit up her face. At that moment, it was guarded. She didn’t trust what was happening. She didn’t trust him.

  Or maybe she thought he was some kind of creeper, stalking her. He realized then that he held her pressed against the wall. He stepped off and cursed the aggression pumping in his veins.

  After putting ten feet between them, he raised his hands. “I apologize. This isn’t how I want things to happen. I want to go slow, to court you, to seduce you, but the need is so strong. It’s like my body isn’t mine to command.”

  He followed her gaze and glanced down at the nylon shorts he wore. Fucking hell. There was no hiding that. His erection was indecent and completely overwhelming. “You must think me a barbarian. A rutting brute.”

  “A little on the barbarian front,” she said, a nervous smile quirking at the corner of her mouth. “Not a rutting brute. Your struggle helps. It’s good to know I’m not alone in that.”

  He drew a deep breath and exhaled. “You’re not. Please know this isn’t voluntary. I would never put you in this position if I had any control or choice in the matter.”

  Her expression fell, and an acrid wave of grief assaulted his sinuses. It didn’t last long. In another heartbeat, she bit her bottom lip and anger won out. “I’m sorry you’re unsatisfied. I’ll speak to milady at once.”

  Faster than he could react, she spun and hurried out the door.

  Unsatisfied? The hamster running his wheel tripped and fell, stumbling in the dark, trying to figure out what gave her that—oh, sweet heavens. “Ren, stop.”

  He raced after her, the buzzing in his head exploding to new heights. “Stop, please.”

  She didn’t, and he was forced to cut off her escape before she made it to the stairs. The rubber soles of his trainers squeaked on the tile as he backed her against the wall of the corridor.

  Shit, she was crying. Grabbing her elbow as gently as he could, while still ensuring she couldn’t get away, he palmed the closest door and pulled her into the gym changing room.

  The oversized washroom with floor-to-ceiling shelves of black sweats wasn’t the most romantic place, but it was private. He locked the door with his will to prevent her getting away. “You grossly misunderstood my comment.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “You did,” he said, his voice firm, his eyes locked on her. “I was saying I’m sorry you’ve been forced into a relationship with me. I’m aggressive and hungry and am taking things too far, too fast. I wouldn’t take your right to choose if I had any control. Not that I wouldn’t have chosen you. You’re an unwitting victim in this while I’ve won the fu—freaking lottery.”

  He frowned when her gaze remained clouded. She didn’t believe him. Or maybe she didn’t want to. Was it so awful to be tied to him? What was he asking her to give up? Why did he automatically think she had to give up her life.

  What would he give up for her? Everything.

  Damn, his mind was a jumble.

  Stepping forward, he dropped to his knees and took her hands in his. “Ren, my beautiful female.” He pressed his lips to her tightly gripped fingers. “In a crowded room of thousands, if I set eyes upon you, I would see no other. Your voice makes my heart thunder. The sweet acceptance in your eyes comforts me. And your smile gives me purpose. For me, this mating is perfect. Love at first sight, without question. What terrifies me, though, is that you don’t feel the same.”

  Ren stared through a wall of tears at the massive, gorgeous warrior laying himself open at her feet. She believed him. The truth was plainly written in his eyes. Something otherworldly was happening inside her and she suspected it was very similar to what was happening to him. The pull. The attraction. The need to know him, to touch him—to love him. What she didn’t understand was how this could be happening to her? Next to him, next to Ayana, next to all the gorgeous, incredibly talented, A-gamers of the three realms, she was no one special.

  She swiped at the warm runnel on her cheeks and drew a steadying breath. “I feel . . . honestly, I don’t know what I feel. Honored? Unworthy? Skeptical? Baffled?”

  His face twisted. “Unworthy?”

  She shrugged. “Imagine this amazing package is being delivered and the girl who it’s intended for stops to tie her shoe and suddenly, I’m standing there. I feel like it wasn’t supposed to be me, but it’s too late, and now you’re stuck.”

  Hark frowned. “You’re not a consolation prize.”

  Is that the way she saw herself?

  She studied the reflection of the two of them in the mirror and sighed. “Don’t get me wrong. I know I’m smart and worthy of happiness and love. I have assets to offer. It’s just . . .” She moved to him and turned them, so they were side by side and gestured to their image. “It’s this. You are an immortal warrior of the Choir, prized member of the Otherworld, savior of the innocent. You’re sculpted and panty-damp-sexy, and I’m—”

  Hark held up a finger to stop her words and shifted, so her back pressed against the solid wall of his chest. Still focused on their reflection, he untied her hair and settled it down around her shoulders.

  He set his chin atop her head and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. His st
rength amazed her, but it was the tenderness in his touch, the genuine softness of his smile, that made her heart ache. “Look deeper than Archangel genetics and see me, Ren. My sole purpose in existing is to slaughter. I am a trained assassin. The evil souls I dispatch reel inside me endlessly, festering, battling to take control. It’s sickening and leaves me tainted and hollow, isolated and trapped.”

  Regret darkened his eyes and the need to soothe him ebbed in her fingertips. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t you see? I never cast a second glance to any female because I had no future other than death and killing. I had nothing to offer. Until now.”

  Their conversation from last night—was it really only last night—about how everything changed for them with Austin filtered in. Lady Divinity balanced their new mortality with love. They could marry now, have children, build futures.

  She leaned back against his chest, and he eased his hips away. Her silent laughter vibrated in her chest. “You don’t have to hide your hunger from me. You want this. I accept that.”

  “Progress,” he said, some of the tension in his face draining away. “And I admit, I’m rushing you. I’m overwhelming you. It’s just—I’m overwhelmed too. You see, it’s like this amazing package was delivered to me. It has my name on it, and it is exactly what I wanted. I’m so excited that I’m ripping it open and making a mess when I know I should slow down and be more careful.”

  She laughed. “Is that really how you feel?”

  He shrugged, a boyish grin completely draining the tension from his face. “You haven’t seen my brothers interact with their mates, so you don’t realize how perfect this will be. Lady Divinity may have set you in my path, but it’s you and I who get to make this work. I know it to the marrow of my bones. It’s that confidence that has me moving too fast.”

  Ren drew a deep breath and smiled. “Well, I have unquestionable faith in Lady Divinity. I suppose I can suffer through a brave, lovestruck warrior wanting me too desperately to control himself.”