LUCAN SOARED WITH ELISE over Salem, starting with the hotel near the harbor and then circling inland. At least, the pedestrians walked sparsely enough that he could identify a girl walking alone. Come October, the sidewalks would be clogged with people dressed up in costumes like vampires and superheroes and witches. For now, many sported Red Sox and Patriots hats and jerseys.

The morning progressed with no signs of Marguerite. They took breaks whenever he needed a moment to recover from carrying her over Salem. Although his primary concern was finding his daughter, his focus was challenged by the closeness of the beautiful woman in his arms. Her fragrance drove him to want to hole up some place alone with her for days and explore the wonders of her body. This almost overpowering yearning didn’t make sense. When he focused on a mission, he fixated on that with determination—and finding his daughter was paramount. But somehow Elise shoved his resolve off-balance. What was it about her?

When he heard her stomach growl, it was time for a break. It would help him regain his equilibrium, as well, after she’d knocked him off-kilter with her enticing feminine appeal. No wonder she was a witch, she could easily cast a spell over any man she encountered.

He landed behind a vacant building and released her. He turned away to shift and pulled out his clothes. After he dressed and faced her, she blinked several times.

“How about a bite to eat,” he suggested, aiming for some normalcy after her initial foray into flight with a gargoyle.

Her cheeks turned pink. “You heard my stomach growl?”

“It was cute. It reminded me that I need to refuel, as well. Have you eaten anything today?”

She shook her head. “No, once I woke and saw Marguerite was gone, I was too preoccupied with finding her.”

“Let’s get some food into you before we continue the search. It won’t do you much good if you are weakened by hunger, will it?” He smiled.

When she gave him a sheepish smile back, she had an appreciative glint in her eyes. “True.”

“Besides, my brothers are both out looking in the area as well. Do you think she would’ve ventured beyond it?”

She furrowed her brows. “I don’t think so.”

They walked along Washington Square, passing the Hawthorne Hotel, and then he steered her to Essex Street. The scent of food from nearby restaurants triggered his taste buds.

“This will work.” He pointed to a small café advertising baked goods and sandwiches. “Service should be quick.” He thought of Marguerite. Would she be able to take care of herself? “Does she have any money, so she can eat?”

“She has some spending money,” Elise replied. “It should last a week if she budgets well.”

After he ordered a roast beef sandwich and she a chicken Panini, they took their sandwiches and bottled lemonade and sat at the outdoor tables. They took a few bites interspersed between comments about the food and area.

He said, “You know her best. Where do you think she went?”

She pursed her lips. “I don’t know exactly. She’s in a different country. She doesn’t know anything about this area, so she likely didn’t go far. I’m guessing she just wanted to get away.”

“What does she like to do?” Lucan asked. “That might narrow down where we should search.”

“She’s a typical kid. Hangs out with friends. Practices spells. She’s particularly fond of brewing potions.”

A small sound of surprise escaped him. When Elise peered closer, he said, “It’s strange to me that I have a daughter who’s a witch.”

“And part gargoyle. Being a mix of two species is bound to be tough. Something neither of us would understand.”

Guilt gnawed at him with a deeper bite. It had been bothering him since she’d told him Marguerite had run away. “Was I that terrible to her yesterday to make her run?”

She tilted her head as she gazed at him. “I don’t think so. But, it’s a sensitive age. Things we wouldn’t notice might trigger her.”

He replayed what he’d said and done. “I don’t have a clue. It goes to show I don’t know anything about being a father, especially to a girl her age.”

“You can’t be expected to. It will be an adjustment. And one of the reasons she might have run away is to get attention.”

“From whom?”

She shrugged. “Anyone.”

He took a massive bite of his sandwich and chewed while considering what she said. Still, nothing came to him. “Why?”

Elise had taken a small bite, the way she’d been taking tiny bites all along. He tried to slow his pace before he gobbled his sandwich whole.

After she swallowed, she said, “With her mother torn from her, she was already having a hard time. And then discovering the identity of a father she never knew existed, it’s bound to have stirred some tumultuous feelings. Maybe she wanted to get away from it all—an act to see if anyone cares?”

He leaned back. “By running away? How would that accomplish anything?”

“Perhaps it doesn’t. But—it might be a cry for help.”

He peered at her as he sensed she was revealing something more personal. “Did you run away when you were her age?”

She put down her Panini. He wasn’t going to let her cryptic comment go. “Maybe once or twice.”

“What happened?”

She picked at the crumbs on her plate. “No one noticed.”

A pang of empathy struck him like a whip. “Ooh, that’s rough.”

She made a small sound of acknowledgment with a carefree wave as if it wasn’t a big deal and then sipped her lemonade. He saw through the defensive gesture. It was barely perceptible in the melancholic tinge of her voice and that haunted glint in her eye. Her pain tugged at him, like a wrenching in his gut.

Lucan leaned back in his chair. He was getting too close to her. What the hell was going on with him? He had to rein himself in to be back in control of his emotions.

But, the desire to discover more about the woman across from him was too difficult to dismiss. He had to know more about her. The more he listened to how she perceived situations as a young woman, the better he might be able to understand his daughter, right?

It was bullshit. At least, partially, since he knew his motives ran deeper. But why?

He raised his gaze to Elise. “Tell me what happened.”

***

ELISE TOOK A SIP OF her drink to buy time to formulate an answer. Why did she open her mouth? Her years of occupying the cold space cast by Veronique’s shadow were not ones she wanted to revisit.

She searched the streets for a welcome distraction. They’d passed witch museums, stores, and restaurants that morning. It seemed as if the city embraced the term ‘witch’ since she spotted it everywhere. Even the police officers sported Witch City on their badges with an image of a witch on a broom. It wasn’t an accurate depiction of a witch, but at least witches appeared to be welcome here these days. Somehow, she could shift the conversation off this topic, and steer it to questions about Salem.

But, why shield herself from the question? He didn’t necessarily want to know about her, but get insight into young women of that age since he was now the father of one. Why not opt for the truth? It might help them find Marguerite.

“It’s not easy growing up in the shadow of a talented, gifted, beautiful older sister,” she admitted. “Especially when you’re rather average in comparison.”

He cocked his head. “Average? Why would you say that?”

“I don’t have a fraction of the abilities with magic as she has. I’m not as dazzling. I’m not as—well, anything.”

“I disagree.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’ve known you for just a short time, but it’s long enough to know you’re not as you describe yourself.”

She gave him a skeptical look.

“You’re courageous,” he said. “You crossed the ocean to find me. Resourceful to have located me since our kind lives in such secrecy.”

She rolled her shoulders. “I had help. I heard of a shifter in London who was the best at tracking supes. And, oddly enough, he’d been to Vamps before.”

He made a grunt of acknowledgment. “It attracts all kinds of beings—for better or worse.”

“Without him, I doubt I ever would have found you.”

“You’re still selling yourself short. You’re kind and devoted. You’ve taken care of Marguerite.”

She groaned. “Until now.”

“Like you said, this is what girls her age do.” He peered closer. “Like you did, for instance.”

“Right,” she said, trying to convince herself as well. She couldn’t bear to picture Marguerite in danger. She was Elise’s niece, but more like a daughter to her. “She’s likely rebelling against the situation. It’s normal. If you think a situation is unfair, you have limited options to express it. Acting out or running away are a couple of ways to do so.”

Lucan eyed her with a keen gaze that penetrated her so deeply, she wondered if gargoyles had x-ray vision. Would he look at her with that same piercing gaze if they were in bed together?

Shaking her head before lurid thoughts crept in, she said, “Thank you for helping me search for her. I know this has all been sprung on you so suddenly and you’ve been handling it all quite well.”

“I should thank you,” he said. “Would I ever have known that I had a daughter if you hadn’t brought her over here? Probably not.”

True. Elise took a bite of her Panini, savoring the flavors on her tongue. She was ravenous. She gazed out at pedestrians peering into a window displaying silver jewelry, crystal balls, and Tarot cards and thought about what he’d said. She’d had to convince Marguerite to come on this trip as she had mixed feelings about meeting her father. On some occasions, she’d expressed her curiosity on meeting her father and finding out what he was like. At other times, she’d stubbornly refused—stating it was too late. He hadn’t been a part of her life and there was no point in forcing them to meet now.

Elise had encouraged her. “Just meet him. It’s the right thing to do for both of you. Even if nothing comes of it, it’s better to know than to wonder.”

Marguerite had agreed, yet had expressed her wariness on the journey over. “What if he doesn’t want to meet me?”

She’d already taken on a defensive shield, prepared to be rejected. It made sense. Her mother hadn’t shown any maternal warmth. Why would a father who’d never met her be any different?

“Have an open mind and give him the benefit of the doubt,” Elise had said. “We’ll deal with what happens when it comes.”

But, Marguerite had already expected the worse and must have perceived some slight during her first conversation with her father, convincing herself of whatever negative reaction she’d feared. Elise felt badly for her. She’d tried to provide a nurturing role in her life—something Elise had lacked from her parents’ lack of interest in her.

She took a sip of her lemonade. The refreshing mix of sweet and sour tingled her taste buds. Funny, that could also describe Marguerite these days. So sweet one minute, but then prone to bitter outbursts.

“What are you thinking?” Lucan asked. “You seem a million miles away.”

Elise shifted in her seat, not about to admit she was comparing his daughter to lemonade. “Just wondering why I told you one of my secrets.”

She’d never told anyone about the times she’d run away. Why would she? It would prove that none of them cared a fig for her.

He gave her a teasing grin. “Maybe you’re starting to like me.”

If he only knew.

Perhaps it was time to put the shield back in place. What good would come from letting an off-limits gargoyle shifter know the darkest secrets of her soul?