I’m in a slightly better mood with my bonded. I’m unsure of my feelings towards our bride, however. Mostly, I think the ache in my chest is disappointment.Disappointment that we are terrible enough to run from.In naught but a robe, with no supplies, she would rather face the wilds, and lone gargoyles, than be safe and pleasured here.
I collapse in a chair, suddenly defeated. Ben’s white hair is in a thick braid down his back and he’s in leather breeches and a green linen shirt. Theo is in his solid grey fatigues, looking like the dangerous male I know him to be, his tail wrapped around his leg and his wings folded back, but obviously tense, as he holds the pan in one hand and turns to slide the bacon onto our plates. Ben looks up at me from the map and a soft smile plays at his lips.
“Want me to tie your hair back, Arch?” he questions.
I must look a wreck.
I manage a dry chuckle. “I suppose, Ebenezer.”
He stands and comes behind me and I spread my wings up and around him in a familiar gesture. I hear him hum in pleasure as he starts to run his fingers through my unruly black hair.
“You should grow it, it’ll be easier to manage.”
Theo puts the plates of food down and sits, rubbing at one of his horns. “I think we should discuss our plans for what we’re going to do when we find our wayward bride.”
“Spank her, edge her, and fuck her ass hard,” I grumble. Ben finishes tying my hair back in a bun and sits down.
Theo sighs. “I don’t think that’s going to further any of our goals.”
My ire rises suddenly. “And what do you see ourgoalsto be, Theodore?”
He shakes out his wings as he sits at the table. “Well. First, I do believe we need to make sure our bride understands the seriousness of her actions.”
I snort but Theo continues. “After that, I think we need to take action to connect with her.”
Ben interrupts, “Itriedthat. I showed her my lab! Offered to help her start a yeast strain. And she ran off!”
Theo sits back, legs spread wide, crossing his thick arms over his chest. “Look, she was pulled from her own home, where she’s apparently taken care of herself for more than half her life. From her work, from friends, I assume. Maybe a lover? With eight hours of notice. And shefought! Those bruises on her.” He shakes his head, rage twisting his features, again upset that someone had harmed our bride.
“I’m afraid we’re fucking this up. She’s not a gargoyle, known to expect such a position her entire life. Not just expect, but hope for!”
I growl, “Humans lost the war. They agreed to this.” I spit, “Sheagreed to this. She needs to fulfill her obligations!” I’m yelling and on my feet.
Both Theo and Ben are looking at the ground, silent. That tells me they don’t agree with me.Argh, everyone needs a good spanking and fucking around here.
I take a deep breath and sit back down, picking up my fork.
Theo starts again, “I think we should be very... lenient with her when we find her.”
I swallow a bite. “No. Decisions have consequences.”
I see my bonded exchange a glance but they don’t argue further.
“SON OF A BITCH,” THEOgrowls.
I shake my head, in awe. Two young adult male gargoyles,dead.
Stones, she’s a tough little thing.To take out two males in their prime, godsdamn.
Ben is standing by the door, shocked.
One of the dead alphas has a slit throat, the other had been stabbed to death. I squat down to examine the body; there’s a wound on his carotid artery. That would have quickly weakened him.
Her blood-soaked purple robe is next to the body and tiny bloody footprints lead away, into the closet.
Theo is rubbing his head, his wings fanned out nervously. “I’ll clean this up. Our bride can’t be incriminated in this. You two go ahead. If I can’t locate you when I’m done, I’ll meet you at home.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
