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I stiffen as the heavy beat of wings and the scrape of claws on the tiled balcony hit my ears. Then there is the sharp slide of the glass doors as I hear several sets of taloned feet move into the living room. A light ping announces that the elevator has arrived at the penthouse, followed by the rhythmic clip of my human assistant, Eden’s, high heels on marble.
Between rounds with Julianna, I’d been able to send out the address and information of Freddy’s next event to my right-hand monster, Rook. He in turn made contact with Drusila, high priestess of the Los Angeles coven. The magic that surrounds the Keystone is too strong and too massive in its footprint to be easily pinpointed, but with a location to focus on, it might be possible for the coven to see if Freddy does, in fact, have what we have been searching for and where exactly it is being kept. Now Rook and my other brothers will be reporting back with all they have learned.
The thought of seeing the Keystone again, of getting to touch it, makes the Pull rumble to life. I feel it grind against the stone walls of my chest as it aches to get out and to be reunited with its purpose, with my purpose.
“What is it?” Julianna asks, leaning forward in the chair.
Gargoyle hearing, like all of our senses, is built to give us the biggest advantage in defending the Relic Room. What I can hear cannot be picked up by human ears.
“Get behind me.” I stalk towards her, claw outstretched to pull her behind me.
“Why?” Her head jerks back in apprehension, and her body slides forward on the chair as if preparing to launch herself forward.
“Trust me.” I lower my voice to a gentle coax. “Do what I say and get behind me.”
“No,” she hisses, skepticism darkening her eyes. She plants her hands firmly on the chair’s arms and pushes herself up to standing. She takes several small steps to the bedroom’s doorway. “Trust you? Yeah, right.”
I smother a grin. For her own benefit, I need her to obey me, but still, I’m inordinately pleased at her fire in the face of what most humans would cower at. Not many could look at a monster and respond with anger.
“Julianna…”
Confusion passes over her face, softening her brows, before she scowls at me and walks several more feet towards the hallway.
“In about thirty seconds, four other gargoyles are going to walk into this room, just as big and as scary as I am, and you’re naked. Now, get behind me.”
This stops her, her body becoming stiff as she clutches the blanket to her chest.I hear the sharp clicks of Eden’s heels echoing from only a few doors down the hall, loud enough that I’m sure even Julianna can hear it, and quickly decide that now is not the time to argue.
“Stay there then.” I stalk towards the little thief and block the open doorway that leads into the hall. The penthouse is built with gargoyle proportions in mind. There is no use for doors that will only catch on wings and claws and horns. I hear Julianna gasp as, with a greatwoosh, I unfurl my wings, blocking her and the room completely from the hallway’s view.
“Hey, Titan. You know the coven’s ceremonial dagger is just lying on the floor in the entryway, and I found this… uh oh….” Eden shuffles to a stop at the bedroom, Julianna’s purse hanging off her wrist, as she sees me naked, wings spread. Her eyes shoot to the ceiling, then back at the four gargoyles heading our way.
Julianna moves at my back. Her delicate feet pad across the ground, her fingers curling over the edge of my wing.
“Boss,” Rook says as he arrives at Eden’s side. Stiel, Knox, and Dredd follow behind him, filling the hallway. “We got worried something might’ve happened when we didn’t hear from you at your usual time.”
“Apparently, we were worried for nothing.” Knox laughs roughly and leans back against the wall. “Thebossjust decided to sleep in.”
For the first time, I’m seeing my brothers how Julianna might, all of us made different, but with many of our cruel features the same. Our vicious claws and fangs, our crudely cut angles and hulking forms. We were carved to terrify. I raise my wings higher, filling in the doorway as much as I can.
I should’ve handled last night differently, but she is still here at my back, and all I can think to do is protect her.
Eden gasps, and I realize Julianna had poked her head out from around my wing.
“You didn’t.” Eden frowns, her tightly coiled black bun bobbing as she tilts her head and narrows a disapproving look at me.
“For Gods’ sakes,” Dredd bellows. His scarred wings flap with irritation as he spots the human.
“Now we know why you wanted date duty.” Knox lets out a hearty laugh and winks in Julianna’s direction.
An absurd possessive need makes me bare my fangs, and Knox steps back instantly.
“Get out. Now,” I roar. “All of you. I need to deal with this first.”
“We need to talk now,” Dredd snarls. “The Keystone is too important.”
I snarl in response even as the Pull roars in my chest.
I fucked up. For a moment, I entertain sending Julianna away. I’d tell Eden to escort her downstairs and send her home with enough money to forget everything that has happened. My priority is and will always be the Relic Room—the Pull demands it—and anything that challenges it, including Julianna, is self-indulgent. But I can’t seem to do it.
