When a Gargoyle Lives (Gargoyles Book 2) (5 page)

Chapter Ten

Ric rubbed his arm, muttering curses as he glared at the female.  Kylie was fussing over her as she told her a brief history of what had happened to his race.

He had always known that humans were meat eaters but had believed them to have somewhat dull teeth.  This female, however, appeared to have a set of fangs to make even a dragon envious.  Not to mention that kick she gave him.  He wouldn’t be right for days.

Then there was her hell beast.  The hairy, slobbering mutt was currently curled around Annis’ feet whimpering as she scratched his ears - when he wasn’t throwing snarls in Ric’s direction that is.

Humph.

The mated pair, Cai, and Ingrede had calmed a little after Luc bested Cai.  They were simply scared, hungry and protective of their child.  They turned to stone trying to protect their youngling, and when they woke they did not know the war was over.  They simply lashed out at everyone.

The reaction was understandable.  Younglings came first.

After Luc had them submit, they were taken to a comfortable room in the house; they were fed and allowed to relax.  Luc gave them a brief summary of what happened and then left them in Gracchus’ care.  He was not the most caring of gargoyles, but he was forthright and was very calm in every situation.  He would answer any questions they had, and would also be able to subdue Cai if he took it into his head to attack again.  Ingrede had allowed Luc to see the child, but she was still leery of everyone else and was keeping the child close to her.

It was good, though. A youngling meant the continuation of their race.  And Cai and Ingrede would probably have more.

Luc, although still somewhat dismayed that Kylie had almost been hurt, was pleased.  Though his wariness around Cai would probably remain for a long time.

The female Kylie called Brenda regarded them all cautiously.  Though when she got to Ric, she scowled and he bared his fangs, and she snorted before looking away.

“So, gargoyles?” she said in disbelief.

Kylie nodded and bit her lip.  “I know it’s a lot to take in.”

“I suppose it’s better than a demon orgy,” she murmured, almost too quiet even for gargoyle hearing.

“Huh?”

“Nothing.  So there are more like you, but you have to wake them up?”

“Yes, hopefully, lots more.”

Brenda blew out a breath and leaned back.  “That’s quite a story.”

Luc rose to his feet and slowly walked over to Kylie.  Brenda’s eyes widened slightly as her heartbeat sped up.

He placed a hand on Kylie’s shoulder.  “There is more.”

Kylie blushed.  “I was trying not to overwhelm her.”

Ric groaned under his breath.  Like that was going to stop him.  Luc possessed the subtlety and restraint of a dragon in a paddock full of sheep…  Dragons in particular were notorious for stealing and carrying away sheep.  They were the scourge of sheep farmers everywhere in their day.  It was probably an outdated reference for humans he mused.

“I have taken Kylie as my mate,” declared Luc, in what Ric thought was rather a pompous voice.  Even more pompous than his usual voice.

Ric refrained from slapping his forehead.  After he was awakened by Kylie, the first words out of Luc’s mouth were practically, ‘I have mated this human, she is mine, deal with it, or else’.  Kylie should just consider herself lucky she was allowed to go through the gargoyle history with Brenda before the big oaf blurted it out.

Brenda blinked at Luc before breaking out into hoots of laughter.  The room was silent as everyone stared at her in shock.

Luc’s wings flexed as his chest inflated.  “You find this fact amusing?”  Icicles dripped from his words.

“I find it all hilarious,” spluttered Brenda.

“I think she may be a little hysterical,” said Kylie, stroking the young woman’s arm.

“Do you want me to slap her?” offered Maggie, innocently.

Maggie was somewhat earthier than Kylie.  The curse words he had learned from Maggie should hold him in good stead if he ever became embroiled in an argument with a human.  Although, he was not sure he wished to see the young woman hurt.

“I would not risk it,” he said gravely.  “You may never see your hand again.”

Brenda’s laughter died away as she caught his eyes and he swore she actually looked a little smug.  Damned female.

A ghost of a smile crossed over Luc’s lips.  “Though she be but little, she is fierce.”

Brenda looked down at her knees, and started scratching at a grass stain.  “What happens now?  Now that I know about you.”

“Nothing,” said Kylie firmly.

Luc sucked in a breath as if he was about to object, but Kylie shot him a look, and he merely grunted.

She beamed at Brenda.  “Honey, I’m sure this is all a shock to you.  You should go home and just let it all sink in.”

“But you must not tell anyone of us,” said Luc, sternly.

Kylie pursed her lips.  “Yes, I was getting to that.  Please don’t say anything.  It could be dangerous for all of us.”

Brenda chewed on her cheek for a few moments, watching as Bob licked Annis’ ankles.  Ric rolled his eyes as Annis cooed at the wretched animal.

“Okay,” Brenda agreed.

Kylie smiled in relief and squeezed her hand.

Brenda jumped as her phone started buzzing.  Music Ric later learned to be a new popular music song called, ‘I fought the law’.  He found it much more interesting than the classical music that Bea tried to force on all of them.  But to be fair, any music was more interesting than the paltry offerings of his day.  He would be happy never to hear a lute again.

She grimaced.  “It’s my uncle.”

“You better answer it,” said Maggie.

Brenda did.  “Hey, Uncle Chris.”

His voice was so loud with worry they didn’t need enhanced gargoyle hearing.  “Brenda, where the hell are you?  You took Bob out two hours ago!”

“I… ah…”

Maggie took the phone.  “Hey, Chris, it’s Maggie.  Sorry, she’s been with me, and we lost track of time.”

“Oh, doing what?”

“Talking about girl stuff.”  She emphasized the last two words and they appeared to have a magic effect as he immediately quieted.

“Oh I, ah, okay, sure.  Tell Brenda dinner’s in half an hour.”

“Will do, Chief Tight Pants.”

Maggie hung up, and Andrew frowned at her.  “Chief Tight Pants?”

Kylie raised an eyebrow.  “Girl stuff?”

Maggie shrugged.  “I was willing to go all the way up to tampon to freak him out.”

It was Ric’s turn to frown.  “Tampon?”

He bristled as Brenda gave him a look of disdain.  Double humph.

“I better go,” said Brenda.  “C’mon Bob.”

Annis smiled and then dipped her gaze shyly.  “I was pleased to meet you, Brenda.”  Bob nuzzled her hand.  “And of course, you too, Bob.”

“He likes you,” said Brenda.

Pleasure bloomed over Annis’ bashful face.  “The feeling is mutual.”

Luc did not make a move toward her.  He nodded a goodbye while standing painfully still.  She was scared of Luc, and he was trying not to exacerbate those feelings.  He supposed Luc was quite imposing.  Although, the bloody female didn’t appear to be frightened of him in the least.  If anything, he suspected she was laughing at him.  He looked down at the bite mark on his arm again.  Grrr.

Kylie and Ric walked her out of the house.  Ric gave the hell dog a wide berth.

“I could drive you home,” offered Kylie.

“It’s not far; I think Bob could use the exercise.”  She patted his portly stomach and Ric sneered at the beast, who barked at him in return.

“Will you come back and see us tomorrow night?”

Brenda hesitated, before looking at Ric.  “Maybe.  I need…”

“Time,” said Kylie and then chuckled.  “I know how you feel.  Just don’t do anything hasty.”

Brenda nodded, and Kylie retreated into the house.  She cocked her head at Ric, but he didn’t follow.  He was making sure the hell dog was off the property.  No one was safe until the animal was gone.  Or his owner for that matter.

“I will walk you to the gate,” he said gruffly.

“You sure it’s safe?”

“I will not hurt you,” he grouched, angry that she thought he would.

But no, that wasn’t what the blasted female meant at all.  She flicked her hair over her shoulder.  The fact that she had twigs in her glossy mane didn’t really detract from the effect.

“I meant for you.  I can’t protect myself and you at the same time.”

She smirked and hurried away with Ric gaping after her.

The nerve of the female speaking to him that way!  A hundred retorts leapt to mind, but they leapt too slowly, and she was already out of sight.  He was left looking like a fool standing in the driveway, his mouth hanging open and staring at her.

How dare she question his abilities as a warrior?  She just got lucky earlier.  That’s all it was.

Ric balled up his fists.  She was by far the most infuriating female in the entire world!

*

“Hey!” called Uncle Chris as she closed the front door behind her.

Bob skidded into the kitchen.

“Ugh, Bob!” yelled Chris.

She decided to bring Bob home with her, thinking he might be a familiar comfort after all the revelations she’d heard that night.  Her first instinct was to tell her uncle; he’d know what to do.  He was always calm and collected.  But she’d promised Kylie she wouldn’t say anything.  And her uncle, as kindhearted as he was - wouldn’t he feel the need to report this to the authorities?  Although, who it would be reported to, she wasn’t sure

Chris, with splotches of red sauce on his shirt – courtesy of Bob, no doubt - found her standing by the door.

“You okay?”

“Umm hmmm.”

“You ah, get all your girl stuff out of the way?”

Brenda pressed her lips together to stop herself from bursting into laughter at the distasteful expression on her uncle’s face.  He apparently wasn’t brought up to believe that PMS and menstrual cycle were words that should be mentioned above a whisper.

“Yeah.”

He looked pained.  “You know if you need to talk to anyone about…”

“I know where to find you, but I also know where to find Maggie or Kylie.”

He nodded, looking relieved.  “Yes, good.”

“Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner.”

“Smells yummy.”

Chris gave her a look of concern.  “You sure you’re okay?  You look a little pale.”

“Yep, just tired.  You’d be surprised at the amount of energy Bob has.”

“Tell me about it.  How one dog can get so much exercise and never lose weight is beyond me.”

“I might just wash up before dinner.”

“Sure.”  He paused.  “As much as it pains me to admit it, Kevin called while you were out.”

“Really?  Maybe I’ll call him back tomorrow.”

Chris’ eyebrows almost shot off his head.  He looked like he was about to comment and then shook his head.  “Dinner in five.”

“Sure.”

Brenda sat on the edge of her bed.  Gargoyles.  That was something she’d never have guessed.  Sure there were books and stories about gargoyles coming to life, but there were also books and stories about invisible men and vampires and aliens and werewolves… the list went on and on.

It was all unreal.  She was having a hard time believing it was even true.  Part of her considered that maybe she was dreaming.  Although her imagination had never been quite so inventive before.  She struggled to believe it was true even as she sat and talked to the gargoyles, as she watched Bob licking Annis’ hand, as Luc touched Kylie’s shoulder, as Ric glowered at her…  Yes, she couldn’t deny some amusement about that.

When he’d caught her in the garden, she’d reacted instinctively to defend herself, but the look of surprise on his face when she’d kicked him in the unmentionables had been priceless.  Shame she didn’t have a camera to catch that look.  The same could be said for his sulky scowl afterwards.

It was strange, but he didn’t scare her.  Neither did Annis, but then she’d never met a human who emitted such a strong sense of harmlessness as that female.  On the other hand, Luc terrified her.  She had the feeling from him that if their secret weren’t safe with her, she would be in real danger.

But Ric amused her.  She didn’t feel like he would really hurt her.  She wasn’t sure if that was a feeling she should rely on, but it was there.  The pout he had given her over the bite mark on his arm was too much.

She wondered how old he was.  He was large and well muscled.  She’d guess fully grown, but he seemed younger than the other males she saw.  And he could certainly sulk as well as any teenager.

Brenda recalled the way Kylie had looked up at Luc.  It was with adoration.  And what had he said?  That he had taken her as his mate.

They had sex!  They must do.  Tiny, curvy Kylie was having sex with that huge creature.  Brenda blushed at her thoughts and considered that maybe her times with Kevin and being raised by a strict, prudish grandmother hadn’t really given her the imagination for things like this.  But surely Kylie would be too small for him.  Surely he would hurt her…