Jill woke to the sight of a rock ceiling. It took her a few seconds for memory to slam home. She’d been kidnapped and flown to some Gargoyle cave.
She sat up, peering around the bedroom.
She had to admit, it was extremely elegant for a cave. The furnishings appeared antique and high end. She shoved off the covers and her bare feet touched thick carpeting. It turned out to be a large area rug. She stood, taking in the entire room. The tops of the walls weren’t exactly even, seemingly built to fit the rock ceilings. The floors were smooth though. Flat.
Where’s the hot dude with wings?
She listened but the silence didn’t clue her in. She rounded the bed, stepped off the large area rug and onto cool stone flooring. She stopped, staring down at the polished stone. Impressive. She had to give them credit for craftsmanship. They took cave dwelling to an unthinkable level of class. She found her shoes and put them on.
Jill left the bedroom and entered a bathroom. It seemed to be surprisingly modern, with a toilet, shower, and tub. She quickly peed and washed her hands. One toothbrush was in a glass cup on the counter. She figured that belonged to Aveoth. She used his toothpaste and her finger to deal with her morning breath. Her hair was a mess but most of it remained trapped in the braid. She left it alone.
There was another door out of the bathroom, and she carefully opened it, trying to be very quiet. The sight of another, larger bedroom surprised her. Sunlight filled the room from a large opening in the wall. A warm breeze fanned across her skin. She crept inside and her gaze landed on the massive bed.
The sight there made her freeze, lips parting.
Aveoth lay sprawled in the center of the mattress and black bedding, face up. His eyes were closed.
His chest rose and fell but he didn’t snore. He wore a pair of black, silky pajama pants without a shirt. She took in the sight of his flat stomach and beefy arms, one of them stretched out across the bed. He took up a lot of space because he was a big man. She crept closer, wondering if he really slept or if it was some kind of ruse. He didn’t stir.
She hugged her waist and swallowed hard, unsure what to do.
He shifted his leg, bending a knee and arching his hips a little. Her gaze lowered down his body. His stomach tightened, revealing a lot of muscles. His wings were gone. She wasn’t about to forget he could grow them, though.
She spotted something on his nightstand—and hope flared when she realized he had a cell phone. She could call for help.
She tiptoed forward—but froze when he suddenly rolled onto his stomach. He spread out his limbs and she was left staring at his broad back.
There was no sign of where his wings had been the night before. Smooth, unmarred skin stretched across his shoulder blades. She lifted a foot to inch closer to the nightstand, and that phone, but he made a low grunt.
Jill backed away. It might be possible that he could sense her as she got near him. There was no telling what kind of other freaky things he could do. Though he didn’t move or make another sound.
Her gaze remained fixed on the phone but she didn’t dare go for it. He’d probably wake and catch her red-handed. She turned toward the opening in the wall instead, quietly crossed the room and stepped out onto a flat ledge. The sight that met her as she stared out at the world left her breathless.
The view from that height revealed what appeared to be endless wilderness. She didn’t spot any signs of a city, buildings, or even homes. Just trees, and a jagged line through them revealing a river in the distance.
She turned her head, spotting another ledge some distance away. She also saw cuts in the rock, perhaps handholds, that led to a third ledge much farther below, probably twenty or thirty feet.
She backed up and returned to the bedroom she’d woken in, exiting to enter the room Aveoth had brought her in through the night before. The wall remained sealed. She walked down a hallway and found another door. A large piece of furniture blocked it. More exploration took her to another large room, with a living space and kitchen.
Son of a bitch. There seemed to be no escape with that doorway blocked. She returned to that spot and studied it. Aveoth had done blocked it. She felt certain of that. She tried to lift the heavy armoire but it had to weigh hundreds of pounds. She tried to tug and pull but the wood scraped the floor a mere inch, the sound loud. She stopped and listened, fearing it might have woken him.
Damn it!
She needed to escape. The only way out had been that open ledge inside his bedroom. She chewed on her bottom lip, debating it. She turned, retracing her steps, searching for another phone. She found none. Finally, she returned to Aveoth’s bedroom. He still lay on his stomach, in the same position she’d left him. She tiptoed toward the phone but when she got close to it, he rolled onto his side.
Her heart pounded as she backed up, glancing over her shoulder to make certain she didn’t bump into anything or trip. Aveoth grunted in his sleep, and as she watched him, he reached up and rubbed his cheek. He appeared to be dreaming, possibly having a nightmare.
Fear struck that he was about to wake. She turned and rushed as quietly as possible to the ledge. Heights had never been her thing but she feared them less than the man on the bed. She needed to get away from him. He was a Gargoyle or a GarLycan or whatever. He had wings and an association with her sperm donor’s fucked-up family. That was more than enough to tell her he was bad news. She couldn’t forget his clawed fingers either, or the sight of them buried in Boon’s head.
It was a beautiful, sunny day. The breeze felt good on her skin as she eased onto the side of the ledge. She faced the rock wall and put the view at her back. It helped not looking down or seeing how far she’d fall to her death that way. She scanned the rock and found places to grip with her fingers and where she could put her feet.
“Damn.” She turned her head, seeing the cuts in the rock to the ledge below. It seemed like a really long way to climb down, but she didn’t have a choice. It was possible there might be a way out if she entered through another ledge. Aveoth had mentioned caves the night before. If there were a lot of them, maybe he’d only used some of them as his living space.
“I want the hell out of here,” she muttered and shoved back her fear. “I can do this, even if I have to climb all the way to the bottom of this damn cliff. I’m going home. Fuck this messed-up shit.”
* * * * *
Galihia gripped Aveoth’s arm, preventing him from stepping into the moonlit courtyard. He paused, turning his head to stare into her cobalt-blue eyes. They were the same ones he saw every time he looked at his reflection. Her silky black hair was piled in an elegant braided bun.
She’d given birth to him but he never called her mother. It wasn’t allowed.
“Do not show emotion regardless of what he says. He’ll test you. Don’t fail. I realize the sixteen years you’ve lived are too few to learn control, but your life is at stake.”
The warning stiffened his spine. She took a risk even speaking those words. He resisted the urge to ask questions. They didn’t have time. Lord Abotorus waited.
Galihia released him and stepped back, waiting for him to exit. He inhaled slowly and held the air in his lungs as he faced the event he dreaded.
The full moon mocked him. Aveoth kept his attention on the silent forms waiting to witness the moment when two clans sealed an agreement for continued peace. He wasn’t happy with the way it had come about, but he hadn’t been asked. His father never took his wishes into consideration.
Three tall figures stood unhooded near Abotorus, but it was the smallest one, still completely shrouded, who deflated his lungs. He didn’t know her name, nor anything about her personal life. To ask questions would have been an offense. It was his duty to heed his lord’s demands. Any show of hesitation would be viewed as defiance.
He couldn’t even look directly at her, instead staring at the altar. He did use his peripheral vision to gather every detail he could about the young woman. The hood hid a lot but not all of her. She kept her chin down and her black hair hung to her waist down the front of her cloak. Delicate shoulders, and her slight height deeply disturbed him. She was either a very dainty teenager or hadn’t even hit puberty yet.
His hatred for his father, Abotorus, grew stronger.
“We gather here today to deepen the links to our clans.” Abotorus paused. “Let us hope we are more successful than the last time we attempted this.”
Aveoth allowed the insult to roll off him. He knew he’d been a disappointment since birth. He’d never been allowed to forget it. Memories of being punished flashed through his mind but he kept his emotions masked. He could feel his father watching him for a reaction, so he gave none.
“Let us begin, Lord Abotorus. This shall permanently cement our clan bonds.” The VampLycan allowed his impatience to sound in his voice.
“Doubtful, Decker. I don’t see any of my kind living with your clan, yet I keep being expected to take yours into mine.”
The VampLycan clan leader softly growled. “We’ve offered, but your clan members have refused to leave the cliffs.”
“That’s because we’re not heathens.”
Aveoth focused on his heartbeat, keeping it steady. Lord Abotorus seemed determined to insult their guests. It was one time he didn’t feel embarrassed by the rudeness. The VampLycans might take the girl away and cancel the agreement.
His luck wasn’t that good, because no one moved.
“Do you concede to our agreement, Decker? I grow bored. What is her name?”
“Margola. She is the younger sister of my own mate.” The leader of the VampLycan clan reached out an arm and steered her closer to the altar.
“Wait.” Abotorus grumbled. “Didn’t your mate come from another clan? Does this girl belong to your clan or another?”
“Mine,” Decker stated clearly. “She wanted to live with her sister and I accepted her. Let’s get on with this.” Decker motioned to the girl. “Give your agreement to accept Lord Abotorus’s son as your lover to unite our clans.”
Aveoth silently urged her to decline. It would be best for both of them if she did. She raised her chin, not that it helped make out her features without looking directly at her. He didn’t dare.
“I do,” she whispered.
“Aveoth agrees as well,” Abotorus muttered.
“That’s not how it should be,” Decker protested. “He must speak the words.”
“I accept her as my lover,” Aveoth stated loud and clear.
The small female shivered. He didn’t blame her if she felt fear. It was an indication of intelligence. He also pondered why she’d agreed to allow him to house her inside his new home. It had been his gift months before on his sixteenth year. He’d been kicked out of father’s dwelling. He figured his father didn’t want him underfoot any longer. That had been fine with him.
Aveoth had been assured the VampLycan he was to take as a lover was mostly Lycan, but even a drop of Vampire blood made it impossible for him to ever accept her as a mate or allow her to birth his children. Did the VampLycan clans fear a war between their people so deeply that they’d encourage one of their women to agree to this madness?
His hatred for his father notched a little higher. The bastard had probably enjoyed concocting the hellish deal. Lord Abotorus felt the VampLycans were beneath them, and asking for one of their women to offer her body for sex with his son until Aveoth found a mate was insulting to all concerned. He didn’t have fond thoughts toward the VampLycan Decker, either, for basically whoring out one of the women under his protection.
Pity surfaced next. He might have no choice but to agree to take her as a lover. But he silently swore to never visit her bed. What happened behind the closed doors of his home would be no one’s concern. He only wished he could tell her of his decision. She wouldn’t be afraid of the future.
Aveoth steeled himself for what would come next. He couldn’t show any compassion. That would come much later, when they weren’t under the steady watch of his father.
“I hereby decree that the alliance has been reset, and grant the date five years from this night when Aveoth fully claims her,” Abotorus announced.
Decker hissed his displeasure. “I believed you’d take her now and our alliance would be immediate.”
“She’ll be of legal age at that time. My son doesn’t want a child in his bed.”
Aveoth did the math and hid a cringe. The girl was only thirteen. He was surprised his father had enough compassion to not force her to his home at her current age. His fingers stiffened but he forced them to relax. He wanted to hit Abotorus for forcing a mere child into that kind of promise in the first place. He wasn’t much older than her, but he’d had a harsh life. He’d aged beyond his years.
“I’ll give you an older woman,” Decker offered. “You’re the one who chose this one.”
“I did it for a reason. You’re too eager, and I don’t trust you. This will give me time to watch you.”
Aveoth glanced up at the VampLycan leader to see the effect of his father’s words, not liking him much, either. What kind of man would offer up a young girl from his own clan and try to trade away her childhood innocence for an alliance? Not much of one. Decker Filmore had made himself an enemy today.
“It’s time to seal this bargain with a blood oath.” Abotorus motioned with his finger for Aveoth to approach the altar. “Take her wrist and bleed her. The heathens insisted.”
Aveoth’s stomach heaved but he moved into place and finally lifted his gaze to stare into her delicate features. Pure fear showed in her pale blue eyes. It proved she knew of the danger he represented. Her pending beauty couldn’t be denied, even at that tender age. He felt monstrous as he held out a steady hand with his palm open. It would infuriate his father, but he refused to brutalize her further by making her put her skin against cold stone.
She trembled when she placed her wrist over his hand. He reminded himself that Abotorus would be studying him carefully, and parted his lips, forcing his fangs to slide down. He bent without pause, sealing his lips to her skin. He didn’t sink his fangs into her, but instead licked over a vein with his tongue to give her warning. Her gasp of surprise could be taken for pain. He hoped that’s what his father believed. He waited a second to allow her to prepare before he pierced her flesh. He did so gently.
Warm blood flowed and he drank slowly. He didn’t want to take too much and leave her weakened. She wasn’t fully grown. He took his time to give the impression he held no regard to her health by being greedy. When he finally pulled away, he released her and spun around, holding Abotorus’s cold gaze.
“It’s done.” He made sure not to lick his lips to clean them. That way there could be no doubt he’d actually taken some of her blood.
A muscle in his father’s jaw twitched and his mouth compressed into a tight line. “You didn’t make her thank you.”
Aveoth didn’t want to do that to her. It would humiliate her in front of everyone present in the courtyard. He spared her that by uttering harsh words instead. “I will when she’s of age and I get to fuck her. That’s when she’ll kneel before me.”
The girl whimpered behind him. Aveoth knew she’d fear their future, but it was best to save her from being forced to her knees to grovel in public.
Approval curved Abotorus’s lips into a hideous smile. “We are of the same bloodline.”
Aveoth inclined his head, saying nothing. He really hated the man who’d fathered him.
“You’re dismissed.” Lord Abotorus directed his attention to the VampLycan clan leader. “In five years, the girl will belong to my son.”
“You can have her now,” Decker offered again.
“No. My men will fly you home. Leave my cliffs,” his father thundered.
Aveoth never glanced back but he could hear their words. He entered the doorway and met Galihia’s tearful eyes. He hated to see the moisture there. He kept walking until he reached the lower corridors, her soft footsteps behind him. He paused, allowing her to stop at his side. She glanced around before stepping closer to him, making sure they were out of hearing of anyone else.
“Please tell me you didn’t mean that.”
“She’s a child. Would you have preferred I say obscene words or actually hurt her? My lord would have expected me to grab her by the neck, lower her to her knees, and make her praise me for being a bastard. He made his wishes clear before the allegiance ceremony. He wanted it blatantly shown that they are not our equals.”
Galihia paled and raised her hand, gently resting it on his forearm. “Don’t become anything like him.”
“Did he humiliate you when you mated to him? Did he make it clear he thought your Lycan blood made you lesser than him?”
Her gaze lowered. “Never ask. You’d kill him.”
His gums throbbed, his fangs trying to extend. It happened when he was really angry. He placed his hand over hers. They didn’t show affection often anymore but there were stolen moments when they did. Abotorus would punish them both if he ever found out.
“I’m nothing like my father. The day will come when I challenge him. I already plan to take him out.”
“Good,” she encouraged. “Practice your sword skills often and grow stronger. He’s an excellent fighter. But you will be able to beat him within a few years.”
Footsteps sounded and she sprang away, taking off quickly in the opposite direction. He turned, waiting. Abotorus appeared. He came to a halt.
“What are you doing standing there?”
“Waiting for you,” Aveoth lied. He wanted to stall him to make certain Galihia got away without being caught. “Couldn’t you have given me a woman I could take to my bed now?”
Abotorus smirked. “You’re not of age yet.”
“Years mean nothing.”
“You are of my bloodline. I felt the same urge to have a woman trapped under me. I know why you refused to make her grovel. It’s already sickening enough to have to deal with those lower breeds, but they do serve their purpose. Decker is too eager to form an alliance. I don’t trust the bastard. It’s why I chose the girl.”
Aveoth really detested his father but he masked his features, hiding his feelings.
“The biggest flaw with them is they’re emotional.” His father appeared disgusted. “That’s why they insist you drink her blood every month. They think it will help you develop some kind of attachment to her.”
It was the first Aveoth had heard of it. “What do you mean?”
“She is to be returned here the night after the first full moon every month, weather permitting, until the five years pass. Those imbeciles think it will make you learn to care for her and form an attachment. I only agreed because she was the best of what they offered in that age range. She has very minimal Vampire blood, but those idiots actually think you might mate her one day.” Lord Abotorus snorted. “As if I would allow that kind of abomination at the cliffs. We’ll have her sterilized once she’s brought to us for good. It’s best not to take any risks, and you shouldn’t be limited as to what you can do to her once she belongs to you.”
Aveoth hid his horror. The girl would never be able to give birth to a child, even after she was freed from living in his home and able to search for her true mate.
It was too cruel. He wouldn’t allow it to happen.
“I hope for your sake that she’s not a whiner.” His father sneered. “I made that mistake with Galihia. Tears are a disgusting thing to see.”
Rage boiled deep inside Aveoth. He hid it from the man regarding him coldly. He’d never treat any woman with the cruelty that his father did his mother.
Abotorus dismissed him, walking away.
Aveoth watched him go and allowed his fists to curl. One day he’d kill him. Rage built just thinking about how much he wished to spill his father’s blood.
* * * * *
Aveoth jerked awake and opened his eyes, relieved the memory from his past had ended. He was out of bed in a heartbeat, striding to the wardrobe and donning a shirt. It was tempting to go check on Jill. He’d slept longer than he thought but he wasn’t ready to face her yet after dreaming of the past. He moved to the ledge instead, staring out over his territory. He breathed in the fresh scent of the woods from far below.
Memories rarely haunted his sleep, but Jill linked him to that moment in time. Her relative had escaped her fate by dying before reaching the age when she’d have been sent to live with him. Aveoth had taken control of the clan by then, but he would have been forced to honor the deal his father had made by accepting Margola into his home. He just wouldn’t have sterilized her or forced her to suffer his touch. After a short amount of time, he’d planned to announce they weren’t a good match and have her returned to her clan.
Margola’s face had faded from his mind but he could remember how timid she’d been when she was brought to him every month. Not once had she held his gaze or stood before him without trembling.
Jill was drastically different. Amusement struck him. He liked her spirit. She didn’t back down from him or cower. The feisty woman had even pitched a glass at his chest.
That amusement quickly faded when a slight, odd noise sounded from below. He stepped to the edge of the ledge, peering down. “Son of a bitch.”
The object of his thoughts stood on a thin line of rock twenty-some feet below. She faced the cliffs as she inched sideways, clinging to the uneven rock.
He judged the distance between them. Rocks crumbled under her right foot as he watched, and she froze.
He reached up and ripped off his shirt. The material tore easily in his hands.
Is Jill trying to get herself killed? It pissed him off. The fall to the ravine below would definitely kill her. She’d hit trees before a mass of jagged boulders at the base of the cliffs. There would be no soft cushion. Her bones would shatter on impact.
He studied the face of the cliff. He could climb down to her but debris might strike her off her precarious perch. He couldn’t risk it.
More tiny rocks tumbled away below, bouncing off the cliff. She would fall if he didn’t do something fast. Pain ripped through his back from the force of the quick change. He dove forward into the air and let himself fall a good hundred feet below her.
A rush of adrenaline always hit when he spread his wings. He didn’t want to startle her, but she must have heard his wings flap even from that distance when he turned, circling back, and began to gain height to reach her. He was usually silent for a predator but speed had become his priority.
Jill turned her head, and he saw her features pale. Her eyes widened and she wavered, about to fall back. One of her feet slipped and she gasped. He flapped his wings hard, closing the distance.
Aveoth wasn’t gentle when he grabbed her around the waist. He was too angry over her recklessness. He got a good hold on her and glanced up. He hadn’t sealed the wall to his lower living space, since he’d blocked the door to it. He adjusted her in his arms and backed away from the cliff sharply, turning toward the ledge to his right. His legs absorbed the impact to prevent her from being hurt when he landed on the ledge.
His anger exploded once he had her safe. “What the hell did you think you were going to do?”
He eased her down until she stood and lessened his tight hold. She trembled against him. He paused and drew in his wings. His shoulder blades throbbed a little as the skin started to mend around the damaged flesh.
She tried to wiggle away, and he allowed it. He stayed between her and the edge. She spun, her eyes still wide and her lips parted.
“You could have fallen to your death. You don’t have wings!”
“I know that.” She took a step backward, then another.
“Watch it. There’s a planter behind you. Don’t trip.”
“I want to leave here.” Her voice sounded stronger but she still looked unsteady on her feet.
“That was your great escape plan? To plunge to your death? Do you know how easy it is to fall? You don’t even have climbing equipment. You’re damn lucky I happened to wake and see you. Otherwise I might have heard your death scream on the way down.”
Jill glanced back, spotted the tall round planter, and surprised him by taking a seat on the edge of it. Her knuckles whitened from the grip she kept on the rim. “You can’t keep me here forever.”
Some of his temper cooled. He didn’t blame Jill for attempting escape. “I can. You’re not safe anywhere else, Jill.”
“You’re wrong.”
He strode forward but she jerked back, landing on her butt in the dirt-filled planter. He crouched down in front of her. “Take a deep breath.”
She blinked a few times and sucked in air to her lungs. It would have amused him at any other time, seeing her in that position, sitting on a large pot resembling some ancient toilet. He reached out to touch her but she flinched away. He withdrew.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I just saved your life.” He didn’t want to lose another woman to death. “Let’s go inside and get you fed.”
She shook her head. “I’m good where I am.”
“I didn’t mean to frighten you but those holes you were using to cling to aren’t stable. Do you understand that? Never do that again. It’s safe for us since falling isn’t an issue. You can’t fly, Jill.”
“I just wanted to leave.”
“By killing yourself?” His anger returned. “How far do you think you’d have gotten?”
“There were other ledges but they were all blocked by rock. I couldn’t see that until I got lower. This one didn’t have any holds to reach it.”
“Those are homes of other members of my clan. Be happy they were sealed. Otherwise you’d have invaded their space and they would have attacked you, believing you were an enemy.”
She paled.
“Let’s assume you managed to climb all the way down. You wouldn’t have stood a chance, but what then? Do you know where you are? How far you are from one of your cities? Would you like to talk about the kind of wildlife you may have run into if you’d managed to sneak out of my home undetected or get past my clan members? There’s nowhere for you to run.”
“I don’t belong here.”
Regret surfaced. He didn’t blame her for desiring her old life. “You know about us now, and I can’t protect you if you go home. Don’t you think those two men I beat the living shit out of might want to seek revenge if they’re ever given the chance?”
“They won’t come after me again. They’ll think I’m here with you.”
“Are you certain they won’t keep checking?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’ll be prepared for them.”
“They are VampLycans. Do you know what that means?”
“I can’t forget. Half Vampire, half Werewolf.”
“How will you prepare? You shoot one and they get up. You’re lucky they wanted you alive and unharmed. They are stronger and faster than anything you’ve ever faced before.”
“I’ll buy silver bullets. Those kill Werewolves, right? I could soak them in holy water and have a priest bless them. That way I’m covering both my bases for those half-breed freaks.”
He grinned. She did amuse him.
She suddenly appeared annoyed. “What is so funny?”
“That’s in movies and books. It’s not reality. Crosses and holy water don’t work on Vampires, and silver bullets don’t hold any special qualities besides being harder to come by. You’ll only injure a Lycan with bullets but they won’t stop coming.”
“What does kill them?”
He considered it. “I could.”
“I mean stuff that I could get where I’m from.”
“Do you have grenades? Blowing one up would work. Of course, they’re fast. They’d just see it coming and jump out of the blast range. At best, you’d end up with a slightly injured one who’s super pissed off.”
She seemed to be considering it, and he bit back a laugh. He loved her spunk. He moved closer to her again and extended his hand. “Come inside. You’re shaken up.” He could see her trembling.
“I’m fine here.”
“Do you really want to learn how to kill other races?”
“Yes.”
“Then come inside.”
She seemed to debate it for a few seconds but refused his hand. She got up on her own and brushed off the back of her pants. “Just stay back.”
He retreated a few steps but kept between her and the edge of his balcony, not willing to risk her doing something else that could endanger her life. He made a mental note to seal every opening inside his home immediately. He wouldn’t give her the opportunity to climb outside again.
“How do you kill them?”
“Inside,” he reminded her. “I’ll make you breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry.”
He didn’t believe that. He could hear her stomach grumbling. Her tactics made no sense. He’d fill up on food, making him as strong as possible, and plot his escape if he were in her place. She seemed to be on a hunger strike. Women. I’ll never understand them no matter how long I live.
She entered his lower secondary living room and glanced around. She didn’t like it, from her frown. He studied the room for the first time, trying to imagine what she might be thinking. It was masculine and dark. The fireplace probably needed to be cleaned. He had stacks of books on a few tables from his library. The smaller kitchen he’d had put in for Lane’s use was across the open space. Down the hall were two bathrooms and bedrooms.
Jill walked to the table and fingered the cover of a book.
“You like to read?”
“Yes.” She turned and faced him. “Some of these look really old.”
“They probably are. You won’t find a bookstore out here.”
“You have internet, don’t you?”
“No.”
She glanced around. “No TV, either?”
“Not in my home. Some of the others have satellite dishes.”
“Oh my God.” She strode over to his couch and sat down hard. Both of her hands rose and she covered her face. “It’s like hell.”
“It’s not that bad.”
She lowered her hands to her lap and glared at him. “What do you do all day?”
“I rule my people and keep them safe.”
“I mean in your off time?”
“I read. I take walks in the woods or go for a fly. Train for battle.”
“Stop.” She glanced away, staring at the fireplace.
He didn’t like to see her unhappy. “I could get a television for you.”
“How nice.”
He identified her sarcasm. “I want you to be happy here.”
“That’s never going to happen.”
He strode over to the fireplace and leaned his arm against the mantel. “Do you understand that you can’t go back?”
“Why?”
“You’re being stubborn. I already told you of the danger you’d be in.”
“I wouldn’t be if you killed those two men who kidnapped me. Situation handled.” She stood up. “What would that cost me?”
“I’m not…” He paused, unable to tell her he wasn’t a killer. He’d done a lot of that in his lifetime and would again. “Your grandfather would just send more of his enforcers after you if I let you go…or worse.”
“What does that mean?”
“He could have Vampires, Lycans, and everything in between hunting for you. He’s done that before to another like you.”
“What other kind of supernatural beings are out there?”
“You want a list?”
She nodded.
He really liked her. “Lycans aren’t the only kind of shifters. There’s bear shifters, large cats, and a few other breeds. Full-blooded Gargoyles. Vampires. Ghouls. Halflings—think humans with unnatural abilities like you see in movies. Humans used to mistake them for witches and warlocks. Heard enough?”
She chewed on her bottom lip.
“They’d all go after you if your grandfather put a bounty on your head.”
“So kill him. Problem solved. Also, don’t call him my grandfather. He’s an asshole.”
“I concur, but I gave him my word that I wouldn’t hunt him down if he obeyed my demands. I have honor.”
“He doesn’t have any.”
“I’m aware, but I do.”
“So you’re a nice kidnapper?”
“I didn’t take you from your world. I just accepted you into mine.” He tried to calm his temper.
“I don’t want to stay here!”
“You made that clear. But I wouldn’t ever hurt you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Sarcasm. He began to detest that tone in her voice. “We can make the best of this situation. You’re safe here under my protection.”
“Great. I’m a princess in a tower now. I’ll let my hair grow and hope my prince comes to rescue me one day.”
He laughed.
Her eyes narrowed as they gazed at each other. “You can’t keep me here. I’m not like you. I don’t have wings.” She glanced at his bare chest, then back up at his face. “We’re not even the same species, are we?”
“You’re part VampLycan. Your father—”
“Sperm donor,” she corrected.
“He was VampLycan. That makes us compatible, and humans have bred with my kind.”
“Bred? Oh, hell no!” She backed up and her knees hit the couch, sending her to her ass to sit again. She remained there. “Stay back, Wings.”
“My name is Aveoth.”
“I’m not having your bat babies. Ever.”
He grinned, not insulted. She was refreshing, even if she didn’t mean to be. “They wouldn’t have wings at birth.”
“They won’t have anything because it’s never going to happen. I’m not going to bed with you!”
He was disappointed by her words, but an idea came to him. “I’ll make a deal with you.”
“You already did. I came inside. Tell me how to kill those jerks who came after me.”
“I’ll teach you how to fight with a sword. Beheading them always works.”
“You know it’s not like seventeen hundred and something, right?” She waved a hand around the lower living space of his home. “Even if it looks like your decorator came from that era.” She suddenly paled. “How old are you?”
“I don’t keep track. Time has no meaning here.”
“Shit. Give me a ballpark figure. Just toss out a rounded number.”
“I don’t think you’re prepared for that yet.”
“Hit me with it anyway. I’m sitting down. I want to know.”
He took a breath, slowly blowing it out. “I haven’t bypassed one of your human life cycles yet, but close.”
“What do you consider a cycle?”
“Don’t humans live to be about a hundred years old? I’m younger than that, and considered very youthful for someone ruling a clan. Lord Abotorus ruled before I did. Now he was ancient.”
“Give me a number on him.”
“A few thousand years.”
“You live that long?” Her eyebrows shot up.
“Gargoyles do, and he was a full-blood.”
“But you’re not?”
“No. My mother is a GarLycan.”
“How long do they live?”
He shrugged. “No one has any idea.”
“How does someone not know something like that?”
“They were only created about two hundred years ago. Some of the firstborn are still alive and going strong. None have died of old age that I’m aware of.”
“Fuck me.”
His dick stirred, more than willing to do that. He knew she didn’t mean it but decided to tease her a little into hopefully getting into a better mood. “My bedroom is upstairs. Would you prefer my bed or on the couch?”
“You wish.”
“I do.”
Her lips parted but she closed them. She shook her head, giving him an angry look again. The silence stretched between them. She refused to speak.
He stepped away from the fireplace. “I’m going to make you breakfast.” He strode across the room.
Her gasp stopped him and he swung around. She’d risen to her feet. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re bleeding.”
He’d forgotten about his back. “It will heal. It happens when I don’t prepare myself for the change. Reaching you before you plunged to your death was more important than taking the time to allow my body to shift slowly. I’ll go take care of it if you swear on your honor that you won’t leave this room while I do.”