When the figures landed near her, Fiona cowered.

“Fiona, don’t be frightened. It’s me, Lachlan.”

She raised her eyes and noted the four gray figures with fantastic wings, as she’d seen Gavin earlier. They weren’t demons coming to tear her to shreds or whatever had escaped from the lab where they’d been locked up.

“Lachlan?”

“Aye. And my brothers.” The three other gargoyle shifters stood back, giving them space. They nodded at her.

“We uncloaked ourselves so as not to startle you when we landed,” Lachlan said. “Guess we need to work on that.”

“It’s—it’s—umm…” What was she going to say? She was terrified after what had happened with Angie and what she’d just escaped from with Gavin. “Never mind.”

“We’re looking for Gavin,” Lachlan said. “We can’t communicate with him. Do you know where he is?”

She blinked twice. What did he mean by communicating with Gavin? He didn’t carry a phone. Goodness, were they able to talk to each other telepathically? A burning question, but one that would have to wait for a calmer time.

If one ever followed.

“He’s back there.” She turned and pointed in the direction where she’d walked through the moors. “You’ll see a gray bunker that seems out of place with no other structures in the area.”

“Right.” Lachlan flapped his wings, appearing ready to take to the sky once more.

“Wait,” she said to warn them. “You need to be prepared as to what you’re heading into. They’re fighting in there. Gavin freed other supernatural creatures that were locked up as we were.” She quickly summed up the highlights. “His wings are injured. I don’t know how he will fare. You must be careful.”

“We will.” Lachlan nodded. “You, as well. We heard about the child.”

Her chest tightened. “Right.”

“We’ll get Gavin back as soon as we can.”

The sound of wings flapping followed as Lachlan and his brothers soared to the air.

She called after them, “Take care of him.”

If it wasn’t already too late.

As Gavin and the supes fought the humans, he worried about Fiona’s safety. He hated abandoning her to fend for herself, but he couldn't leave without ending this nightmare.

Although the humans were weak, their weapons made them a threat. The werewolf had gone down howling in a hail of silver bullets.

Gavin had his strength, and the sorcerer had his magic restored after Gavin had removed the chain mail, but they hadn’t been able to free all the supes of their restraints, so their powers were limited.

A fox shifter leaped to take out Mark, but instead took several bullets as Mark peppered the shifter’s torso with holes. Gavin rushed in, swinging the chains still dragging from his arms to whip at Mark’s legs. It knocked him to the ground with such force that Gavin thought it might have killed him. When he stepped over to examine him, the sorcerer interrupted.

“Wait. We’d all like to repay his hospitality, I’m sure.” He used magic that unlocked the chains from Gavin and they fell to the floor. The sorcerer then directed them to bind Mark’s wrists and ankles, the same way they’d restrained Gavin.

The tiger shifter and vampire were the first to pounce on Mark, yet others followed. Limbs were torn, blood splattering over the tile. Mark screeched and then fell silent.

Still, the battle wasn’t over. With more casualties on the supes’ side, it didn’t look good. It was only a matter of time before the bullets pierced them all. It might not kill every supe, but it would sure as hell slow them.

A booming sound at the exterior door caught Gavin’s attention. It had practically been yanked off its hinges. In the next flash, Lachlan, Bryce, Mason, and Calum flew into the warehouse in gargoyle form.

Gavin hooted. “Great timing. Let’s take these fuckers out.”

The gargoyles swooped in overhead. The remaining guards aimed to fire at them. With supes coming at them from the ground, the guards’ attention was diverted. The supes tackled the guards and the gargoyles dove down. Together, they’d destroyed the evil that had sought to exterminate them.

---

Gavin soared low in the skies, searching for movement. His brothers had seen her not too long before. Fiona should be out there still. His heart hammered, both from the lingering adrenaline of battle and the fear that he might not find her.

Finally, near a cluster of trees, he spotted her. He descended and removed the cloak that shielded him.

She gasped and covered her heart. “I should be getting used to this.” She grinned and then wrapped her arms around him. “Gavin, you’re all right!”

He was astonished that she embraced him in this intimidating form. That gesture, that one small movement, enclosed him in warmth. She’d accepted him for who he truly was—a gargoyle.

He held her close and inhaled her scent. She was all right. They’d survived. The danger had passed.

When she released him, he said, “Why don’t I change to a form you’re more familiar with.” He shifted to human form, keeping his wings extended.

She exhaled with awe. “It’s incredible how you do that.” Her brows tightened. “Your brothers? Did they find you? Are they safe?”

“Aye. Their arrival was what helped turn the situation to our favor. We were outnumbered by the guards and their weapons, which were designed to work against all types of supes. They had all kinds trapped there—many shifters, two vampires, a sorcerer, a witch, and a werewolf. Once you directed my brothers to where we were, they broke in and joined the fight. We lost two—a fox shifter and the werewolf, though we overcame the guards. My brothers are burning the lab to the ground.”

“Mark?” she asked.

“Dead.”

Gavin’s jaw tightened as he relived Mark’s final moments. “I assume you don’t want to hear the details.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Not today, at least. I’m just so grateful that you’re alive. And your brothers.”

“Thanks to you. If it hadn’t been for you being brave enough to venture out here on your own, and then direct them to where I was, they may have never found me.”

She smiled at him with gratitude and his heart stammered.

Her gaze scanned his body. “Your wings. They’re healed.”

“Aye. The vampire I freed repaid the favor by offering me his blood. Shifter healing is quick, but not as fast as a vampire’s. Although I never wanted to drink it, I did whatever I could to get back to you, Fiona.”

“Oh, Gavin.” She stepped forward and touched his cheek. “I’m so grateful you did.” Her hand traced down over to his shoulder, but she stopped before she reached his wing. “They’re beautiful. Wondrous. Can I touch them?”

He smirked. “You can touch any part of me in any form at any time.”

She laughed. “Good plan.”

“Now what do you say we get out of here?”

“Aye.”

He wrapped his arms around her again. “Ready?”

“For what?”

“Your first flight.”

Her eyes widened. Before she could protest, he lifted them off the ground.

“Oh my God, Gavin!” She squeezed him. “What are you doing?” Her heart pounded against his chest.

“Soaring.”

“But—but—” She squeezed her eyes shut.

“No buts. There’s nothing to fear. I have you. I’ll always protect you. Open your eyes and see the world at your feet.”

Fiona squinted with one eye and then opened it. She followed with the other. Her mouth fell open as she scanned the rolling fields and sparkling lochs that shimmered under the sunlight. “Wow, you’re right. It’s spectacular.”

“Where would you like to go?” he asked. “Your flat? I’ll go anywhere you want—Inverness, my island—it doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that I’m with you.”

She peered at him with a wondrous expression. “Gavin, I want to learn everything about you. Will you show me where you live? Take me to this mysterious isle.”

Gavin grinned as his chest swelled with a buoyancy. “No more mysteries. I’ll share everything with you, Fiona. And our child. We’re a family now.”

She smiled. “A family,” she repeated.

“I can’t wait to show you the isle.” Gavin directed their trajectory north. “Hold on. It’s a long flight.”