Mandy finished her hair, staring in the dingy mirror and tilting her head from side to side, hoping she’d covered every inch of blonde with black. The smell of the spray had her wrinkling her nose. It wasn’t the greatest odor. It worked though.
She put the bottle down and ripped open the makeup. They were the wrong colors for her very pale skin but it didn’t matter. Any color would be good. She worked fast, spreading the foundation from the roots at her forehead, all the way down her neck, including any spots that wouldn’t be covered by a shirt. She even used some on her hands and arms up to her shoulders. Lastly, she used a towel to gently pat and remove any excess, to keep it from staining her clothes when she got dressed.
It was a shit makeup job, she thought, as she dabbed on mascara, a little blush, and an ugly shade of pink lipstick. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t planning on getting close to anyone once Glacier was able to free her from whatever he wrapped her inside to protect her from the sun. Being transported during the day would be dangerous, but she had faith in Glacier to keep her safe.
The bathroom door opened and Glacier slid in. He closed the door behind him. She turned, staring into his eyes.
“We don’t have a lot of time.”
“What’s going on? Fast version.”
“Kevin had his pack plant bombs on the outside of this building. He gave me one hour to leave. He blows us up if I don’t. I’m also supposed to leave you behind. He threatened to have his enforcers shoot big holes in whatever I carry you out in, to expose you to sun. He won’t let any large vehicles get near the building, either. Pest and I have our motorcycles parked outside the back door. It means we have to drive out on them.”
Her heart sank. “Shit. Why are you having me change how I look, then? You need to leave me behind.”
“That’s never going to happen.” He stepped forward and gripped her hips, his thumbs brushing her bare skin since she hadn’t gotten dressed yet or even looked in the bag of clothes Pest had shoved at her.
“I spoke to Lord Aveoth. He gave me permission to save you. There are conditions…we have to mate.”
She reached out and gripped his arms. “Mate?”
“And we don’t have much time. Mate. It’s forever. You and me. I can’t force you, but please say yes. We can make it work.”
Tears filled her eyes. She would love to spend the rest of her life with Glacier. To never be alone, to have him at her side, and to experience what she had earlier, sleeping curled in front of him every time they rested. He felt like home, something she hadn’t had since her human life had been taken from her.
“Answer me, Mandy. Yes? Will you be my mate?”
“They’re going to kill you if you try to take me out of here. There’s no way to do it. We’re in a city. It’s daylight. Humans can’t see you go gray, Glacier. Every race would put a price on your head. I care too much about you to allow you to do that for me.”
“Do you trust me, baby?”
She didn’t have to think about it. “Yes.”
“Good enough. Once a Gargoyle mates, within hours, his woman experiences the calling. It’s complicated, but we can’t risk that. I don’t think Lord Aveoth considered that when he ordered me to mate you first. I trust you too. Say yes to mating me, and then we’re going to walk the fuck out of here—together. Tonight though, I’m sealing the bond between us.”
“What are you talking about? I can’t walk out of here. It’s broad daylight.”
He pulled her closer. “Say yes, you’ll mate me. Do it. Promise to be mine. Trust me.”
She swallowed. “I promise to be yours. Yes, I’ll be your mate.”
He lowered his head and put his lips next to her ear. “The reason Vampires and Gargoyles have battled for thousands of years…is because really old masters knew that drinking our blood allows them to walk in the sun without burning.”
Her knees almost gave out on her and she clutched him tighter. It shocked the hell out of her. Could that be true?
“It’s why it’s against the law to feed you. I got permission from Lord Aveoth, but only if you’re my mate. Get your fangs out, baby. Bite and drink as much from me as you can. You need to do it now.” He cocked his head and bent his knees a little. “Bite. Now. Drink.”
She was too stunned.
He gently shook her. “Do it.”
“How? I mean…”
“The sun won’t burn you if you drink my blood. No more time to discuss it. Bite me, baby. Drink as much as you can hold.”
“I’ll weaken you.”
He snorted. “I’m twice your size and I’ve lost more blood in a training fight with one of my brothers than you could take from me, even if you’re starved. Do it. We don’t have time to waste.”
She had to concentrate to get her fangs to come down. He slid his hands to her ass, massaging her. It helped a lot, her body responding. Everything about Glacier turned her on. She licked her lips, staring at his throat, which he kept exposed. She leaned in and went to her tiptoes. She ran the tip of her tongue over his skin—and sank her fangs in.
He stiffened against her and tightened his hold. “Damn. I’m so hard. I wish I could fuck you right now.”
She did too. He tasted incredible.
Her body ached as she drank from him, sexual need and bloodlust rising. She caressed his arms, trying to keep her sanity. She couldn’t get lost or they’d end up on the floor. The building was rigged to blow; no way did she want to lose the chance at a future with Glacier.
She drank until she couldn’t anymore before gently easing her fangs from him, licking at his skin.
His grip on her ass would leave bruises and his hard-on pressed firmly against her pelvis. His cock felt rock hard. She could relate, since she was so wet it dampened her inner thighs. He backed off and leaned against the door. His eyes blazed with arousal and his own fangs were out as they stared at each other.
“Do some jumping jacks and get dressed. Use that Vamp speed of yours.”
“Jumping jacks?”
“To circulate my blood through your system. I promise, it’ll keep you from burning when you walk out of here at my side.” He slid away from the door, opened it, and stepped out. Before closing the door, leaving her alone, he looked back. “Hurry.”
She was so aroused it literally hurt. It wasn’t the best time for it. Glacier’s life was on the line. Yes, he was a GarLycan, and she’d seen what his body could do when he turned all gray. The thing she wasn’t sure of was whether he’d survive a bomb going off.
She threw up her arms and did what he said, feeling ridiculous while she flapped around. But it did get her heart beating fast.
She was out of breath by the time she’d finished and quickly dressed. Pest had bought her the right size bra. It wasn’t one she’d have chosen but it didn’t matter. The underwear were thongs. She rolled her eyes, putting them on. The shirt was a bit tight but fell long, almost like a mini dress. Black stretch jeans came next. Again, something she wouldn’t have picked but they fit well, hugging her body. They’d be comfortable on a motorcycle. He’d bought her slip-on canvas shoes she found at the bottom of the bag. They were a tiny bit large but she could walk in them.
One glance around the bathroom, then she grabbed the makeup and dye spray, shoving it back in the bag. She didn’t want to leave it behind in case the Werewolves came in, searching for her.
She left the bathroom and rushed downstairs. Pest and Glacier waited, holding their backpacks. Both looked grim. Pest sniffed.
“You don’t smell like Vamp right now. New clothes and that damn hair stuff is all I’m picking up.” He glanced at his brother. “You?”
“Same.” Glacier held out his hand and she passed him the bag. He shoved it into his backpack, zipping it up and handing it to her. “Sorry, but you need to wear this. We’re walking out, putting on our helmets, and you climb on behind me. Hold on tight.”
Terror hit as she shouldered his pack. “Are you sure about this?” It hurt to burn. There were some things so horrible a person never forgot. The sensation of sunlight touching her skin could be compared to being doused in gasoline and set on fire. It had left her screaming in agony. Healing from it, even given blood right after, hurt almost as much while her skin regrew.
Glacier nodded. “Trust me.”
“I do.”
“Act like it’s nighttime,” Pest added softly. “Don’t move fast to reveal what you are. Blurring your speed is a sure giveaway, short stack. Or looking panicked as shit. Own that sunlight like it’s your bitch. It is, with my bro’s blood inside you. You won’t burn.”
She nodded. “How long does it last?”
Pest reached inside his backpack and withdrew sunglasses. “You’ll be fine. You drank a lot?”
She nodded. “About two pints. I didn’t want to take more than that.”
“I’m fine.” Glacier smiled. “I feel great. Not lightheaded at all. I told you that you wouldn’t hurt me. I’m not human.”
Pest passed her the sunglasses. They were ugly, the kind that looked more like tinted goggles with curved earpieces to hook around the back of the ears. “The sun might hurt your eyes. Wear these. The face shield on the helmet is tinted but double protection is best. It’s possible that you might be temporarily blinded otherwise. Your eyes won’t be used to that kind of light, and I read some ancient texts that mentioned it can happen the first time a Vampire feeds from a Gargoyle. Just be cool. Your eyes won’t be damaged but it may feel that way at first.”
“I’m scared.” She stared up at Glacier.
“I’d never let anything happen to you.”
She believed him. “Okay.”
“Let’s leave this dump.” Pest unlocked the door. “Glasses on, short stack. Move slow and act normal. Think back to when you were human. Pretend you are. This pack was made aware that Glacier isn’t here alone. They might believe you’re another GarLycan.”
She put on the glasses, her hands shaking. Glacier came to her, gripping her bare arm in a good hold. Probably in case she freaked or chickened out.
Pest swung the door open and the bright light did blind her. She blinked a few times. She could see, but everything was blurry and hazy. Pest strode out first, putting on his backpack. He lifted his head.
“We’re leaving. What you demanded is in the basement. You guys are going to pay for this bullshit. Oh, and she’s not restrained. I hope she eats some of you fuckers when you go in there after her. She’s strong enough to be awake right now.”
“I’m with you, baby,” Glacier whispered. He walked forward, pulling her along.
She stepped willingly into direct sunlight for the first time in almost thirty years, more than aware that her arms were bare from the elbows down, her face and neck too.
Her skin tingled…but there was no pain. After a few steps, she also realized she had been holding her breathe. She breathed in and relaxed.
Glacier released her arm, seeming to understand that she was okay.
She couldn’t see well so she focused on him, following as he walked to one of the motorcycles. He removed two helmets, passing her one. She shoved it over her head. He put his own on, straddled the bike, and started it. He jerked his covered head and she took the hint, climbing on behind him.
“Don’t ever return to our territory!” some guy shouted.
“Fuck you,” Glacier yelled back. He lowered his voice. “Hold on tight to me.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and found the pegs for her feet. His bike didn’t have a bar at her back. Pest started his own bike and that’s when Glacier took off. Pest drove behind them down the alley.
Warm sun caressed her skin. It still tingled a little but there was no pain. The sheer shock of being out in daylight made the experience feel surreal. It was something she never would have expected to happen again in her life after being turned into a Vampire. They stopped for traffic and merged when they could leave the alley. She squinted a little, but her eyesight improved after they’d made it a few blocks. Humans were out and about, walking around, living their lives in the daylight.
She looked up to glance at the sun but it instantly blinded her. She lowered her chin, seeing spots. It didn’t hurt, but she wasn’t ready to do that again anytime soon. She tightened her arms around Glacier.
He released the hand grip and gently cupped her hand over his waist at a red light. “It’s going to be fine. How are you doing?”
She realized since she could hear him so well that there must be a speaker inside the helmet. She hadn’t noticed when she’d first climbed on the bike. “I’m good.”
“Can you see anything?”
“Things are a bit blurry but it’s getting better. It’s so…bright.”
He chuckled. “Get used to it. You’re my mate. This is how it will be from now on.”
He’d stunned her again.
“Did you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“I won’t risk losing you. Now let’s have this conversation later, in more detail. I don’t know if these headsets are secure.”
“I had no idea this was possible.”
“That’s the point. The highway is coming up.”
They merged with traffic and Pest drove up beside them, both bikes sharing the lane. Mandy just enjoyed the view. Her vision became clearer, helping her make out every detail around her. She couldn’t see as far as usual but it was beautiful and breathtaking to see sunlight glinting off all the vehicles.
She glanced down at the part of her arm that was exposed. Her flesh wasn’t blackened, or even red. It still tingled from time to time but the sensation was so faint it wasn’t alarming. She adjusted her hold on Glacier, using his body and clothes to help her shield some of her skin from the sun.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m tingling a bit where the sun is on me. Is that normal?”
“I don’t know. No pain though?”
“No.”
“Slide your hands under my shirt.”
She did it, enjoying feeling his bare skin under her palms.
“Better? You tell me if something starts to go wrong. It shouldn’t though.”
That didn’t reassure her. He seemed to read her mind, or guess what she was thinking about, considering his next words.
“I’ll tell you why that law was made. I have to put this carefully, remember.” He paused. “I know that once, both of them got along. They didn’t always hate each other. Then the ones like you wanted what my kind had. They called it a cure. Which is pretty fucking dumb, because it’s not like you take it once and it lasts forever.”
She nodded against him. “But it will last for the day?”
“It should. That’s what the historical accounts we have say. Sometimes a few days with regular, um, doses.”
Feedings, she supplemented silently.
“They wanted to use us.”
Again, she could translate. Vampires had wanted to enslave Gargoyles, in order to drink their blood. But she’d seen Glacier shell. She’d probably break her fangs if she attempted to bite him when he became dark gray. “I bet that didn’t go over well.”
“No, it didn’t. Anyone who came after us died. And it lasted for a long damn time.”
“You said that.” Thousands of years.
“Eventually, anyone who had known and tried to get what they called the cure just wasn’t around anymore. The battles stopped. Laws were made to keep it from restarting.”
“But you broke that law today.”
“I got permission. We’re also here, and nowhere near where those battles took place. It would still be a disaster if anyone found out. Do you understand?”
She could just imagine. If the council found out drinking Gargoyle blood could give them the ability to walk in the sun, to not burn. They’d do anything to obtain a Gargoyle. Every nest might join together to start a new war. Rumor had it that there weren’t all that many GarLycans and Gargoyles in the United States. The Vampires would attempt it. They might lose thousands of lives in the process, but it would be worth it if they caught anyone with Gargoyle blood to feed from.
“Shit. It would be horrible.”
“Yeah, baby.”
“They can never find out.” She held him a little tighter. Glacier would be in danger.
“They won’t.”
“What about when the ones we just left enter the shop? They’re expecting to find something that isn’t there.”
“Took care of that. I had Pest burn something.”
She closed her eyes and snuggled into his back, hoping the Werewolves bought that the ashes they found used to be her.
“Why’d he tell them that you left me unchained?”
He chuckled. “To stall for time. They’re a bunch of pussies. I want us long gone before they work up the nerve to go in and find what we really left behind.”
* * * * *
Glacier didn’t like how quiet Mandy had become after their talk. He knew she wasn’t in pain though, since she occasionally rubbed his stomach with her hand. It was a form of torture, since he’d had a constant hard-on after she’d bitten him.
They had left the Lycan territory hours ago. He drew his brother’s attention and motioned at his tank. Pest gave him a hand signal to indicate he understood. They changed lanes, getting off the highway at the next gas station.
“We’re pulling off for a bit. I need to refill the tank and eat something.”
“Okay.”
“How are you doing?”
“I’m great.”
“Is your skin hurting at all?”
“No.”
“Talk to me. I’m starting to worry.”
Mandy hesitated. “I just keep thinking about how much you’ve risked for me. Why did you do this?”
“Because you’re mine.”
He pulled into the gas station and parked in front of a pump. Pest took the spot on the other side. Glacier tapped her hand as he put the kickstand down and killed the engine. “You might feel stiff from riding for hours. Stand up and stretch.”
“I’ll keep the helmet on.”
“Is your skin okay? Don’t hide anything from me.”
She released him and climbed off. He missed the slight weight of her pressed against his back. She did as he asked, lifting her arms above her head. His gaze locked on her breasts, which were pushed out in the process, and he wished she weren’t wearing clothes.
“Enough of that shit,” Pest chuckled. “I can’t see your face but there’s nothing wrong with my sense of smell. Think about sex later. Public bathrooms are nasty. No family of mine is going to lower themselves to screw in one. In a few more hours, we’ll settle in before dark at some hotel.”
“Motel,” Glacier corrected.
“Hotel. They have cameras and better security. We want to keep short stack completely off the supernatural radar. Motels are buffets to her kind. Plus, while I don’t think we’re being followed, that was a crowded highway. We also didn’t have time to look over our bikes when we left. Which I plan to do now, to see if they’re tracking us. I’ll fill the tanks. You go inside to grab us grub and something to drink. Short stack will be in my company, since we want to keep her helmet on. It would look weird if she walked inside with it on; someone might think she’s about to rob the place. Humans are too uptight.”
Glacier removed his helmet. “Be back. Stick with Pest, Mandy.”
“Like glue,” she promised.
Glacier strode inside the mini-mart part of the gas station, grabbing some premade sandwiches and water for him and his brother. He waited in line and then paid. His continually scanned the area, breathing through his nose. Only humans were inside the store. He liked it better that way. He exited, dropping off the bag on his bike seat.
“I’m going to take a leak.”
“I’ll go after you get back.” Pest had finished filling Glacier’s motorcycle and moved around the pump to his own bike.
“Are you doing okay, Mandy?”
She nodded at him. “Yes.”
“Be right back.”
Glacier entered the bathroom and used it fast, washed his hands, and took a minute to check his phone. He had a few missed calls from that asshole Kevin, one from Neb, and another from Creed. He texted both of his brothers, letting them know they were on the road and he’d speak to them when they settled for the night.
He and Pest ate fast, standing near the pumps since the station wasn’t busy. Then while Pest inspected the bikes, Glacier checked over Mandy’s exposed skin. It had become a little pink but not enough to alarm him. Otherwise, he’d have dragged her into the bathroom to make her feed from him again.
Pest nudged him. His brother frowned and flashed open his palm.
Glacier identified what he was being shown. “Yours or mine?”
“Yours, under the edge of the seat.”
“What’s going on?” Mandy inched closer.
Pest dumped the device into the trash with the food wrappers. “We were tracked.”
Glacier climbed on the bike, putting on his helmet. “Kevin isn’t done with us yet, or he wanted to make damn sure we left his territory. The idiot is probably planning something. We’re definitely staying in a high-end hotel tonight, something with at least eight floors. Lycans don’t fly. We can.”
“Penthouse suite it is, and hopefully they have balconies.” Pest started his bike.
“But we’re out of his territory.” Mandy sounded dismayed.
“I think that’s the point. He probably believes he can come after me tonight and not get blamed if I die. He doesn’t really want a war with GarLycans. Just me. He’s too much of a pussy for that.”
“Fucking moron,” Pest muttered.
“That’s Kevin.”
Then they were on the road again. They could leave the main highway, but the smaller ones led to out-of-the-way spots, which would make for an attack easier. Every mile they drove without someone seemingly following them had Glacier relaxing a little more. Still, he kept his attention on his mirrors. He had a mate to protect. He’d allow nothing to happen to Mandy.