Page 14 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Twelve

Ryktus

I roll my eyes as Calli spins a circle around me and Emerson. The small human leans into my form like she's looking to me for strength or possibly comfort. I'm unsure which.

My shoulders puff up with pride.

She should look to me for safety. She's Dread's obsession and he's family. Meaning, until his fascination fades, I'll protect her with my life. She also has an offspring—a wolf shifter. She has triggered my innate need to look after and protect those weaker than myself.

It's the call of my kind, and it's nearly impossible to ignore once activated.

I spent a fair amount of time following Emerson and Ember around town this morning.

It wasn't because I was intrigued to watch the small human care for the pup.

It was because my biological drive demands I keep them safe.

Obviously .

The wolf spotted me with ease, but Emerson was none the wiser. Which is extremely worrisome, because it's exactly that easy for other predators to watch her without being detected.

“Come join the group,” my brother's mate says, spinning around with a flitter of her wings.

Emerson looks to me for confirmation. I give a clipped nod. Shit, perhaps I should have warned her what to expect.

I originally intended to do that on the flight across town. Somewhere along the way, her soft curves and delicate floral scent seem to have short-circuited my brain function.

It's unsettling as hell, since I've spent the better part of fifty years in a feud with my father because of his human mate. Come to think of it, I wonder if he ever managed to convince her to be turned by a vampire or put under some type of anti-aging spell?

My distaste for the woman isn't solely because she's human. When we lost my mother, it was barely two years later that my father took a human to his bed. His loneliness got the better of him, but it's a slap in the face to our family.

Gargoyles mate for life. When we lose our bonded, we don't move on to a new partner. The honorable thing to do is suffer in silence or join the lost in whatever comes next.

Five gargoyles sit around the circular table. It's spacious, but somehow, it feels cramped with the five males spread out.

Calli climbs into my brother's lap. It's clear I didn't think this through at all.

Emerson lets out a soft gasp as we get closer, but she quickly pulls her shoulders back, pasting on a bright smile.

In our culture, the male sits at the table. He may offer his mate or partner the seat on his lap, or she may curl up at their feet. Three sit on thick cushions at the foot of whoever they came with.

Emerson's hand digs into my lower back as she rakes her gaze over the table.

I've put myself in quite a precarious situation. To ask that they look out for Emerson and Ember, which is the entire purpose of this little excursion, I can't treat her as a pet. However, everyone at this table knows how I feel about humans.

My kind doesn’t honor a pack bond like shifters do. If I suggest they look after Emerson because she's Dread's, it won’t be enough. The reasoning won’t hold for them.

“You’ll sit in my lap,” I tell her, nuzzling my cheek to the top of her head. I hope she understands this is my attempt to give her additional protection.

“Okay,” she agrees, squeezing me with the hand that’s wrapped around my back. My wings stretch out, and I cradle her closer by tucking the tip around her shoulder.

I can feel the eyes of my brethren waiting to see how this plays out. I take the open chair and gently lift Emerson into my lap. Calli claps in delight. I focus all my energy into ensuring I don’t frown. My sister-in-law is reveling in some imagined victory, and it's making me grumpy.

I glare.

Calli laughs.

Emerson's curves press enticingly against my much harder frame. I will my cock into submission. It doesn't work, but the little human doesn't complain as my rock-hard dick digs into her thigh. Christ, I swear it's not even this hard in full stone form.

Fuck. My. Life .

Emerson's head falls back against my chest as she pats the arm circling her middle.

My brother and his mate gossip and grin with their heads close together.

This is going to be lovely.

And yet, I don't put a stop to the charade. I fail to shove Emerson off my lap, consequences be damned. It's clearly because I'm a good packmate. Dread would be devastated if something happened to her.

That's definitely it. It has nothing to do with the growing obsession I have with feeling her soft skin against mine. It's not the fact her delicate floral scent makes my nose twitch.

The evening passes rather uneventfully. My brethren are intrigued by Emerson, but she plays her part well, and it's clear they aren't suspicious.

When the meal arrives, my small human watches in shock or possibly horror as the few with pets feed them by hand while their guests stay on the pillows.

I quickly flip Emerson until she faces me and feed her like a dutiful mate.

I have no other options. I've boxed myself into quite the corner.

Although, I do find I like the soft noises she makes when she particularly enjoys something.

Emerson blushes brightly while nibbling from my hand, and it increases my obsession to a concerning level. She's just so damn soft. I don't mean physically, either. The bashful smiles she shoots up at me as she drinks from the glass I hold out are dangerous for both of us.

Gargoyles have been known to fixate, and I'm clearly heading that way.

The moment lightning breaks the sky, Emerson gives a small squeak. I'm up and moving toward the doors before the others can blink. Emerson is sturdy for a human woman, but she has nothing on my kind.

I carry her through the door and into the interior waiting area as the first fat drops of rain fall from the sky, instantly knowing what's coming. I can't fly her back in this weather.

Calli appears with my brother, Ryel, at her back. “We'll get you settled in a room while you wait,” she says before heading to speak to the hostess who seats people for the outdoor restaurant and bar.

I've got Emerson cradled in my forearm, since I was up and in motion at the first crack of lightning. She smiles as I spin her to face the room. She leans her head back against my chest. I find I don't want to set her down.

Ryel grins mischievously. “I can't wait to meet the pup,” he says, bowing to Emerson. She has no idea that he's giving her an honor. It's a nod of acceptance and respect.

My shoulders pull back with pride, although I've done nothing.

Emerson blinks, giving my brother a small smile. “Ember is a bundle of pure energy, but she's also the most amazing thing I've done with my life.”

“Children are always a gift.” Ryel stretches an arm out for Calli.

“Room 2201,” she says, passing the card to Emerson. “This is an all access key. Just make sure it's the right door, or you might shock some poor guests half to death.”

I give them a nod of thanks and aim for the stairwell. We're already on the seventeenth floor, so only a handful of flights and we're on the landing for the room.

Emerson unlocks the door, blinking up at me while looking exhausted. Perhaps I should have gotten her that coffee. But I do know what I can offer.

“Are you claustrophobic?” Emerson asks. “Do elevators offend you?”

“I am very close to the weight limit,” I say, pushing open the door and heading into the room.

“That makes sense,” she says, chuckling.

The room is small. I instantly daydream of strangling my brother's mate. There's a king-size bed and a desk with a chair that has no hope of holding me. The view makes up for the small space. There's even a door to a walled patio.

I place Emerson on the edge of the bed and pull out my phone. “It's just after ten p.m. You should get a few hours of sleep, and I'll wake you when it's safe to fly back.”

“Really?” she asks, blinking up at me from under dark blonde lashes. “I can't mess this up again...” Her small, soft hand clutches at my wrist.

“I don't make those decisions,” I tell her honestly. “I needed to introduce you to my flight because we are the silent protectors of the city. In claiming you tonight, I ensured that, if they notice danger about to befall you, they will immediately intercede on your behalf.”

“So this wasn't about getting the job?” she asks in a panic-stricken tone.

“A job at The Den has many facets. You did as you were asked. Two birds, one stone. Lie down, Emerson,” I direct, nodding to the bed. “Get some rest, or you'll never be able to last with the long hours every night and days spent running after your pup.”

Shit, that was precariously close. Do not out yourself as her winged stalker.

She worries her lower lip between her teeth. Finally, she nods her agreement. “Okay, but please make sure I'm awake by six. If it's still raining, I'll need to take a cab back.”

“I'll ensure you're back at the witch's home by sunrise,” I assure her.

She leans down, unhooks the clasps on her heels, and climbs up into the bed. She tosses herself atop the blanket and collapses into the pillow. The thick puff of a pillow fluffs up around her hair, and I chuckle.

“Will it be fine if I sit here?” I ask, nodding to the edge of the bed. “The other option is turning to stone?—”

“This bed is heavenly and it's huge.” She groans, rolling over on her side to face me. A bizarre gallop occurs in my chest when she grins, patting the side of the bed closest to me.

My wings flap, and I kick off my shoes as I float over to the side. I settle on the mattress and lean back against the headboard.

“Sleep, little one,” I instruct, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Okay,” she mumbles sleepily. She shoves hair out of her face, and before five minutes have passed, her breathing evens out.

I cross and uncross my arms, then do that several more times as my eyes continue to skate to Emerson's sleeping form. She's quite luscious. The irrational urge to wrap myself around her soft body has me frowning.

Eventually, she shivers in her sleep, and I briefly consider lifting her so I can place her under the blanket.

The only thing that stops me is the fear that I might wake her.

Instead, I stretch over, grabbing the far edge of the blanket and pulling it back toward me.

It creates an Emerson burrito and I chuckle softly at the sight.

Once the blanket is over her frame, it's easier to keep my eyes off her thick hips. Since she's lying on her side, her hourglass frame appears even more pronounced.

Having it covered is a good idea , I decide.

Except, now my eyes seem to be drawn to her face. Her thick blonde lashes lie over her lightly freckled cheeks. I let out a huff. She's Dread's. That much is clear in how he's been acting recently.

I don't judge myself too harshly when I scoot down the bed a bit so I can get a strong hit of that delicate floral scent of hers.

She's the only thing in the room worth focusing on.

Of course, I also immediately disregard the fact that I could perch near the door in stone form and still keep track of the passing hours.

I frown so hard, I feel my own forehead wrinkle. Emerson is definitely trouble for more reasons than one.

Gargoyles aren't overtly sexual creatures like vampires or sex demons. We're more focused on duty than lust, but my pull to this soft bundle of human is undeniable and also totally unacceptable. I glare at the wall for hours, but the urge to study Emerson fails to lessen as time passes.

The scream that comes from Emerson's lips as she wakes up mid-flight is so loud and so unexpected that I likely leave bruises as I clutch her to my chest to keep from dropping her.

“Enough,” I snap and instantly feel like a dick for it. “You're safe. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn't have the heart to wake you.”

Her brow furrows as she glares at me. “Why can't I move my arms? Hell, even moving my neck is a challenge.”

“I didn't want you to be cold. It cooled off after the storm. I wrapped you up in the blanket in hopes you might sleep through the flight,” I say, flexing my wings.

I had mostly been coasting to avoid the noise that comes with flapping, but now that she's awake, I can quicken our pace and arrive faster to drop her off.

“Oh,” she says, giving me a chagrined smile. “Thank you. That was very thoughtful.”

I give her a nod. This human is exceptionally dangerous, indeed. I steadily ignore the slight feeling of discomfort that comes when I think about having to leave her behind.