Page 10 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Eight

Ryktus

T he bastard brought her to my room. Well, the one I keep at The Den. He could've taken her to his, but he brought her to mine. I spent the last hour watching them fuck.

I can't decide how I feel about that. If I took the time to ask why he did it, that would indicate I care. Which I absolutely do not. I'm only curious.

If I care, then Laithe will have something to use against me.

In all the years that we've spent as co-owners of The Den, I've learned that you don't give Laithe ammunition to use against you. The fucker can be ridiculously vindictive.

“You were a total fucking dick,” I growl. My wings flutter as they transition from pure stone to their natural, more leathery state.

Lai shoots me an unimpressed look and swirls his hand through the air like he's saying, get on with it. Say what you need to say so we can move on . He pushes himself off the bed, unconcerned with his nudity, and walks to the bar in the corner.

“She was getting roughed up by two shifter thugs when I came upon her,” I say, studying his posture. He goes rigid with my words, but within a microsecond, he relaxes. He gives a shrug, pouring himself a drink.

I open the terrace door, scanning for Emerson. There's no way she could have made it out of the building yet, but I won't miss her when she does.

“I'm sure you handled the problem,” Laithe says, tossing himself down on the couch. He's pulled on a pair of jeans but hasn't bothered to zip or button them.

“I told them to get fucked. They're the type to come back. Muscle just doing what they're told.”

“What the hell? What could that little human possibly be tangled up in with shifters?” he asks, frowning at the door Emerson left out of.

“An alpha,” I clarify. Not just any shifter, but a pack leader. “Someone with enough power to throw around his weight.”

“Fucking hell,” Laithe says, swiping a hand over his face. “That makes no sense. You seriously don't know any details?”

He's really starting to annoy me with his repetitive questions.

“I haven't a clue,” I say, carefully scanning the exit, “but I am going to find out.”

“We both know she’s Dread’s,” he says, like he’s justifying his bad behavior.

“How do you think he would’ve handled it if I passed her?

” He snorts. “He would’ve rampaged his way through every single client she tried to see.

I did them both a favor. I bought him enough time to make her trust him.

Then he can demolish whatever problem is chasing the curvy little human and she’ll never truly have to see clients. ”

In his demented brain I actually think he believes he did them both a favor just now. I sigh. It’s tedious to try to explain morals to a vampire, or maybe that only applies to Laithe.

My wings pull close to my back as I step up onto the windowsill. I jump and immediately extend my wings to fly to the top of the building next door.

Emerson exits the back door of The Den. It's after midnight. She shouldn't be walking home alone with no one to protect her. Fury pounds through my system. My wings flutter as I perch on the edge of the roof. My eyesight is far superior to that of a human, as is my hearing.

I easily pick up the sound as Emerson sniffles. She wipes at her nose with the back of her arm. I cross my arms over my chest. There's a strange, unsettling feeling in my gut as I watch her. Her long hair whips around her in the night air, and she shakes her head, muttering to herself.

I scan the surrounding streets for the miscreants from earlier. I should have killed them immediately. Then they wouldn't be a concern at all. Well, not until their alpha realized they hadn't returned and came searching for answers.

If I thought the fucker was likely to come looking himself, then I'd have done it. That type rarely feels the need to get their hands dirty, outside of an alpha challenge.

Emerson stumbles, and I nearly leave my perch. But she eventually rights her footing and continues grumbling under her breath.

She gets a bit too far for me to feel comfortable, and I take flight. I stay far enough away that I feel confident she won't spot me.

I watch her carefully until she makes it down a side street with small houses.

She enters the house through the back door, and I let out a breath of relief.

I'm aware Nadia walks home on a regular basis, and I've never given it much thought.

Then again, Nadia isn't a human. She has magic and the ability to protect herself, at least to some extent.

Emerson is like a kitten among wolves. Quite fucking literally. A tiny slip of a human woman has an issue with an alpha wolf.

It's been a long time since I felt the draw to honor my kind. Gargoyles are, first and foremost protectors. We watch and evaluate all threats before acting. However, I'm essentially immortal. The stakes are much less dire for myself.

Emerson is exceptionally breakable. The waiting game isn't one I’m comfortable playing with her safety at risk. I circle the house, checking for any possible threats, and once I’m convinced she’s as safe as she can be, I take off toward downtown.

I need to speak to my flight. Gargoyles aren’t social creatures, but we aren’t solitary by nature, either. My brethren won’t turn me away. Many sets of eyes are better than one, and most people don't even notice us. I'll ensure they know to keep an eye out for Emerson.

Or any danger that might be coming her way.