Chapter Four

 

Tamian opened his senses to Harlow, but he still couldn’t get into her mind. It had taken every bit of strength he could muster to remain in the tree where he was hiding out and not go to her in her bedroom. The female had been easy to follow from the airport. From as far away as he’d been, Tamian could feel the weariness she experienced. After she disappeared through the large, iron gate protecting what he assumed was her home, Tessa and he drove around looking for a way in. After a half hour of recon, Tamian decided his best course of infiltration would be to swim across the lake and watch her from the woods surrounding her home.

There were security cameras located around the perimeter, but he counted on hiding well enough Harlow wouldn’t detect his presence. Tessa dropped him off before going to find a hotel where she could set up the computer equipment Julian had sent with them. Once they had an address, it had only taken Julian less than a minute to garner Harlow’s true identity – Lucia Harlow Ball. At least he’d been calling her by her real name.

Movement in the tree caused Tamian to twist around. A squirrel perched on the branch above the one he was using and chattered at him. Tamian whispered to the little rodent, “Hello, little fella.” The squirrel responded with something Tamian smiled at before it scampered off to a different tree. After turning his attention back to Harlow, he remained unmoving. Her hand paused as she raised her wine glass to her mouth, looking in his direction. Her eyes locked onto his. But how? Shit. After a few seconds, Harlow took a sip of wine, but instead of remaining where she was, she rose and went into the house, taking the wine bottle with her.

Godsdamnit. He didn’t know how, but she spotted him. She might not have known it was him, but he had no doubt she saw movement when he had spoken to the tree rat. He couldn’t risk staying where he was, so he climbed higher into the tree before crossing over several branches that leaned over the water. When he felt he was out of sight from the house, Tamian shimmied down the backside of the tree and crawled across the ground until he reached the water’s edge where he dove into the lake and swam the distance across underwater.

The water was murky at best during the day, but with it being night, it was all but pitch. His shifter vision allowed him to see enough to navigate to the other side. When he reached the opposite shore, Tamian turned on his back and stuck his mouth out long enough to drag in a breath. With his lungs filled with oxygen, he turned over and propelled himself underwater, swimming along the bank until he had passed the bend in the shoreline. Only then did he dare to stick his head above the water. Tamian didn’t understand how Harlow could’ve spotted him. She wasn’t a Gargoyle that any of the Clan knew of. Nikolas had checked the archives. He said it was possible a half-blood had slipped through the cracks considering the Clan had only known of their existence for about a year.

Tamian asked Tessa on the flight if she was aware of any undocumented half-bloods, but she said all her family was now accounted for. That didn’t mean other Gargoyles across the globe hadn’t mated with humans. If his mate was part shifter, she would know he had been the one watching her house. Or maybe you’re just paranoid. Either way, Tamian made his way back through the woods on the opposite side of the lake from Harlow’s home. When he got close to the spot where Tessa dropped him off, he reached out to her. “Tessa?”

“I’m here.”

“You can pick me up now.”

“Already?”

“Yes. I think she saw me.”

“How is that possible?”

“No idea. Well, I have an idea, but until I get closer to her, I won’t know for sure.”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

When Tessa arrived, she tossed a towel and a T-shirt to her brother. “Thanks,” he said, drying off.

“So, spill. What happened?”

“I turned to talk to a squirrel, and I think she tracked my movement.”

“What did the two of you talk about? Your nuts?”

“Very funny. I think Harlow might be a Gargoyle. There’s no other way she would have picked up my movement from that far away.”

“That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. As a matter of fact, it would be better if she were. That way you wouldn’t have to explain what you are.”

“Then why can’t I sense her like I can other Gargoyles? That’s the part that I can’t figure out. Whenever I’m close to her, I feel the need to claim her, but it’s the other part that’s missing.”

“You mean being able to detect her emotions?”

No. “Yes. It’s like she has an invisible barrier shielding her from me.” Tamian could feel the female’s emotions, so lying to Tessa felt all kinds of wrong. It was Harlow’s thoughts he still couldn’t get a lock on.

“Are you certain she saw you?”

“Yes. She looked right at me. Fuck!”

“Hey, cool your jets. It’s going to be okay.”

Tamian sighed. “How do you know that?”

“If Stone and I can be mates without killing each other, you should have nothing to worry about. Instead of lurking in the trees playing squirrel whisperer, why don’t you go up to the door and introduce yourself.”

“And say what? ‘Hello, Harlow. I’m Tamian St. Claire, and you are my mate’?”

“You might leave out that last part, but yeah, why not?”

“Is that what you did? Walk up to Gregor and introduce yourself?” Tamian had never heard Tessa mention exactly how she and Gregor met initially.”

“Nah, we ran into each other in a gas station. Literally. I hid from him for three years because Jonas was hell-bent on us staying away from the full-bloods.”

“Wow, that’s—”

“Pathetic. I know, but that’s in the past. Now that we know whoever the fates put us with is meant to be our true mate, I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about, especially if you feel the pull to her.”

“But what if it’s a fluke? I mean, I’m not exactly the poster boy for normal when it comes to being a Gargoyle.”

“Nope. You’re the poster boy for being a special Gargoyle. Since that’s true, I can’t wait to meet this chick.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because she has to be extraordinary to be paired with you. Just wait; Harlow Ball’s gonna knock your socks off.”

“I’m not wearing socks,” Tamian deadpanned, but he hoped what his sister was saying was the truth. And maybe it was that simple. Maybe he should just knock on the door and ask her out on a date. Hello. I’ve been stalking you, and I’m here to take you out.

“You can be such a goober,” Tessa said with a grin. “Don’t tell her you’ve been stalking her or you’re fated mates.”

“You heard that?” Tamian frowned.

“Yeah, you were thinking pretty loud over there. Seriously, just be yourself and let everything fall into place after the introduction. Tell her you saw her in Norway and thought she was the most beautiful woman you’d ever seen, and you felt a deep connection. You had to find out if she felt it as well.”

“I’ll think about it.” Tamian wasn’t necessarily shy, but he wasn’t nearly as outgoing as his sister. Tessa would talk to the devil himself if she believed he was real. Then again, Satan would hide from Tessa, afraid she’d want to take over Hell. Sometimes she was like a whirlwind. Most of the time. Okay, all the time.

It was too late to go back to Harlow’s home, so they headed to the hotel where Tamian attempted to get some sleep. After tossing and turning for a couple hours, he got out of bed and went downstairs to the swimming pool. It was the middle of the night, so he had the area to himself. Technically, he wasn’t supposed to use the pool that late, but he took a chance no one from the hotel would see him. If they did, he’d get out and go for a run. He lost count of the number of laps he swam. It wasn’t until Tessa called out in his head that he stopped.

“Where’d you run off to?”

“I’m in the pool. I’ll be back up in a few minutes.”

Tamian climbed from the water and dried off with one of the complimentary towels the hotel stacked on shelves for their guests. He wrapped it around his waist while tossing another about his shoulders so he wouldn’t be nearly naked while making his way back upstairs. When he got to the suite he and Tessa were sharing, she was already dressed.

“I ordered room service.” Tessa never skimped when it came to eating. Her shifter metabolism allowed her to eat anything and everything she wanted, and she didn’t hold back. Stacks of pancakes, mounds of bacon, and fruit filled the table along with a pot of coffee and a pitcher of juice. She shoved a bite of syrup-smothered pancakes in her mouth while he filled his own plate. “Did all that swimming give you any answers?”

“Not really, but I am going to take a chance and go see her. If Harlow is my mate, I need to know.”

 

 

“What the hell?” It took Lucy a few seconds to realize what woke her. Someone was shooting pool. Closing her eyes, Lucy groaned into the pillow. She was worn out from both her long flight as well as lack of sleep. After she identified Tamian St. Claire, she snuck through the woods hoping to… She still didn’t know what she hoped to accomplish when they came face to face. This cat and mouse game St. Claire was playing had her on edge. Why would a Gargoyle be sneaking around following her? First Norway, now home in New York. Lucy called her grandmother, asking her to come over later that morning. When she looked out the window, she realized it was later.

Lucy slipped her terrycloth robe over her short nightgown and padded downstairs. Stopping off in the billiards room, she rolled her eyes and let out a sigh at the sight of Hayden and Kyllian shooting pool at nine a.m. At least someone was using the game room, even if it was way too early. Until Lucy met her uncles and grandparents, she’d never shot pool. Rarely did she bother even going into the billiards room. Both her uncles were dressed in faded jeans and pristine white T-shirts that stretched across wide chests underneath their MC cuts. Worn, black leather boots finished out their biker ensemble. She’d never seen her uncles wearing anything else. “Why didn’t I hear your bikes?” she asked, walking over to peer out the window that overlooked the driveway.

“I drove the truck,” Hayden said with no further explanation. The youngest Lazlo brother lined up another shot, and Lucy left them to their game. The scent of coffee wafted through the house, and Lucy followed her nose. Rory was at the stove making a huge breakfast.

“What’s going on?” Lucy asked her grandmother.

“You called me, remember?”

“I did, but not for you to come cook breakfast and definitely not this early.”

“You sounded like you could use some comfort food.”

Lucy poured her coffee then took one of the stools at the island. When she didn’t respond, Rory turned to look at her. “I think you need to tell War about the Gargoyle.”

Lucy disagreed. Her father wasn’t part of the MC. Rory and Warryck had finally buried the hatchet regarding how he handled Lucy’s upbringing, and that was only because Lucy insisted on it. When Lucy was born, her mother made Warryck promise not to raise her in the MC. War agreed, thus handing the baby over to Harlow’s aunt and uncle. Rory had been hurt, to say the least, and her relationship with her son deteriorated to the point of nonexistent. It took Lucy a while to forgive her father, too, but eventually he convinced her he was granting her mother’s dying wish. When Lucy had a long talk with her grandmother, Rory came around, and she and War put their twenty-one-year feud to rest.

 “And tell him what?”

“You have a Gargoyle spying on you, following you around the globe.”

“Dad’s busy with the end of semester. He doesn’t need me to interrupt the last few days of school.”

“At least you’ve talked to him. I’ve been trying to call, but it keeps going to voicemail,” Rory grumbled. Lucy’s grandmother hadn’t given up hope her wayward son would finally join the family in the MC. If Lucy’s instincts were correct, Rory hoped by telling War about the Gargoyle it would entice him to come home. “If you don’t want to bother War, then at least tell Mav or Ryker. Let your uncles do their job and protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting. Is that why you brought backup?”

Rory shook her head. “No, they’re watching my back. Your grandfather has his feathers in a twist because I think someone’s been following me. Now I can’t go anywhere without a couple Hounds along for the ride.”

“Do you have any idea who it is?”

“No. If I did, you think they’d still be breathing?” Lucy had no doubt if someone was bothering Rory, Sutton Lazlo would take care of them. Her grandparents had been together over eighty years, and the bond they shared was stronger now than it had ever been.

“I’m not worried about the Gargoyle. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact. I feel this pull when I’m around him. Like he’s drawing me to him, and not in a way that’s meant to hurt me.”

“We don’t know everything Gargoyles are capable of. From what we’ve seen, most of them are good, but you know as well as I do, there are good and bad in every species. What if he isn’t one of the good guys? What if he’s fallen in with the Ministry and is following you at their behest?”

“I didn’t get that vibe from him. I didn’t get anything from him, actually, except for that invisible tether pulling me toward him. It was like that the first time I noticed him in Norway. I wanted nothing more than to go to him and crawl onto his lap and wrap him in my arms.”

“That sounds like a mate pull, but we don’t have those.”

“What if they do? Do you think…?” Lucy trailed off, thinking about the gorgeous Gargoyle and what it would mean if they were destined to be together. She’d never thought she’d find someone who could possibly understand what it was like to be a shifter. It was one reason she never let herself date anyone seriously. Sure, plenty of Gryphons fell in love with and married humans. Her parents – Lucius and Vera – were prime examples. But explaining about the animal side of your nature to a human didn’t appeal to Lucy.

“What I think is you need to be careful. At least mention him to your uncle so Mav can back you up. Just in case. I know you can handle yourself; you’re a Lazlo. But Gargoyles are creatures the same as we are, and from everything we know, they’re practically immortal. You might be able to defend yourself against one, but when it comes down to it, you can’t kill one.”

“From living with Lucius, I probably know more about Gargoyles than most of their own kind do. He was driven to find out the differences in our DNA. He never said it aloud, but I think he wanted to figure out what made them immortal and try to come up with a way to introduce that into the Gryphons so we, too, could live longer lives.”

“In other words, he was playing god.”

“If you believe in that sort of thing, but yeah, I guess he was.” The Lazlos, along with most other Gryphons, were followers of the old ways. The Hounds of Zeus wasn’t only the name of their motorcycle club; it was the name attributed to their species going back hundreds of thousands of years. “That’s not why I called you.”

“Then why did you?” Rory pulled a pan of biscuits out of the oven and placed them on the stove next to the skillet of gravy. Lucy never had good Southern cooking, having grown up with Vera whose family migrated down from Canada. Since Rory had lived in Texas for years, she brought all sorts of recipes with her Lucy couldn’t get enough of.

“I think someone in my agency is trying to set me up.”

“Set you up for what?”

“Failure?” Lucy slid off the stool and went to the stove. While she smothered a couple biscuits in gravy then crumbled several pieces of bacon on top, she admitted, “That’s the problem; I don’t honestly know. The last couple of cases I was given were pointless. A waste of the government’s money. I could have easily tapped into the computers of the ones I was sent to spy on. Instead, I was sent across the world, twice, for trips that were pointless.”

“And you have no idea who could be behind it?”

“Not really. I’ve been doing a little tracking inside the system, but I’m not the best hacker we have. There are several within the department who could easily manipulate documents and system information to make it look like anyone was doing something they aren’t. Or aren’t doing something they are. I have a feeling the Ministry has a mole on the inside.”

“Then you should retire.”

“You know I can’t. I had to sign my life away to the GIA in lieu of a jail sentence.”

“But you’ve paid your dues. They can’t hold you accountable forever.”

“Sure they can. They’re the government, and they can basically do whatever they want.”

“Then they’re no better than the factions they spy on. Do you have any information you could use against the higher ups? You need leverage so you can get out of there.”

“That goes back to what I was saying about the tracking. If someone figures out I’m spying on the spies, I’m done for. They’ll toss me in prison or worse.”

“You need to tell the family this.”

“So they can hop on their iron horses and storm the castle? Rory, you know as well as I do that’s only going to bring unwanted attention to the Hounds. What they’re doing is more important than saving my ass.”

“Says you.” Her grandmother scowled, but she knew it was the truth.

Lucy set her fork down and placed both hands on the edge of the table. “You can’t sit there and tell me if the roles were reversed you wouldn’t feel the same way. The Hounds are bigger than any one of us, and you know I’m right.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it. You’re not just some random Gryphon running around taking chances with her life; you’re my granddaughter.”

“And you’ve taught me well over the last few years. I’m not taking chances without thinking about the consequences. I’m cautious, and I’m trained.”

Rory leaned over and pushed a strand of hair off Lucy’s face. “I know you are, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying about you. I missed out on so much time with you. I could kick myself in the ass for not walking into Lucius’s house demanding equal time.”

“But we’re together now, and you more than make up for what we missed out on. I love you, Rory.”

“I love you too, Little Dove.”