Page 19

I woke up to the whoosh of wings. My heavy eyelids opened just in time for me to see Samuin flying out the upper door. I tried to go back to the best sleep I’d had in months but failed. First, because Xaniban’s warm presence was missing, and second, because I smelled something delicious.

I rolled on my back and scanned the room.

There, at the lower end of the large bed, lay a glass breakfast tray.

At the sight of what was on the plate, I sped on all fours toward it.

Sitting on my heels with the bedsheet pressed to my bare chest, I eyed the two orange-red fruits without daring to touch. This had to be a dream.

Focused on the sweet treat, I nearly missed Xaniban’s entry. He came through the left wall–er, balcony door. It was transparent upon his entry but turned pale-blue again behind him, letting sunlight into the bedchamber.

He beamed at me, both fangs showing. “Morning, anima .”

I smiled back, my heart performing a little somersault at the sight of him. “Mangoes!”

My childish excitement made him chuckle. He flew to the foot of the bed and moved the tray to the side. Then wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him along the silk sheets.

Hands flat on his broad chest, I welcomed his possessive embrace and the molten-lava-hot kiss that followed. Now that was a good-morning greeting I could get used to.

When our lips reluctantly parted, Xaniban sat on the edge of the bed and positioned me, clad in the bedsheet, onto his lap with ease. He kept me balanced with his tail around my waist while he was sliding the tray closer.

“Sleep well?” he asked as he peeled one perfectly ripe mango with the claw of his index finger.

I nodded, my mouth already watering. I also couldn’t help but wonder how his claw could be as sharp as a knife and yet not cut me last night. I blushed at the memory of what he had done with those long, talented fingers.

Xaniban didn’t miss a thing. “What has you so temptingly flushed, little blessing? Name it, and you shall have it.”

“It’s stupid, forget it.” I reached for the piece of mango he had just sliced. He pulled his hand out of my reach. “Xan.”

“A mango for your naughty thoughts.”

“Oh, come on. Do you know when the last time I had a mango was? Zombies didn’t exactly have a positive effect on imports from tropical countries, you know. And I love mangoes.”

“I noticed. I didn’t even get a good-morning from you.” His broad smile indicated he wasn’t offended. And yet, his hand still held the mango away from me.

I huffed. “Fine. I was just wondering how you haven’t hurt me with these sharp claws of yours.”

“Ah.” He handed me the piece of mango, and I closed my eyes as the rich flavor hit my taste buds. So good .

“I clipped my claws before joining you in bed.”

My eyes flew open. “What?”

He rubbed my thigh through the bedsheet. “It is not painful. Unpleasant, yes, but worth it. Your luscious body should never bear a scar from me. And as you can see, the claws regenerate overnight.”

“Mhmm,” I exclaimed around the second to last bite of my mango.

I had just popped the last piece in my mouth when his lips caught mine. Next thing I knew, the piece was stolen.

“Hey!”

He smirked and handed me another slice, bringing it directly to my mouth.

I rolled my eyes but let him hand-feed me. To be honest with myself, I found that rather sweet. I also enjoyed redirecting some of the bites to him. He needed to eat, too.

“Where do you get all this food from?” I asked as we fed each other. “Do you send gargoyles to different parts of the ground to get it?”

“My homecloud is allowed to fly only over what you call Europe. This is the ground territory claimed by my ancestors. I speak English, Spanish and French, in case my curious little human is wondering.”

“Impressive.” Why did he need so many languages?

Then again, speaking French was known to do wonders with the ladies. A gargoyle probably needed to use every trick up his sleeve–loincloth to win a woman over for a quickie in the sky. The thought of Xaniban doing that made the mango in my mouth taste bitter.

“Therefore,” he went on, “our food does not come from the ground. We do import some produce from other homeclouds, but the majority is grown locally.”

“You grow fruit and veggies on a cloud?” Pinch me now. “What about farm animals?”

“My homecloud is famous for its chicken, rabbit, and goat farms.” He handed me the last slice of mango. “I can take you to an animal farm, if you wish.”

“Yes!” I didn’t know when that could happen, but the very idea of hugging a goat had me raising my hands in excitement. Sweet drops from the mango in my hand landed on the sheet I was wrapped in. “Oops, sorry.”

He said nothing. He was too busy staring hungrily at the several drops sliding down my cleavage.

“Xan?”

He was at my breasts before I could finish, licking and sucking the drops off my skin.

My breath caught and I nearly dropped my mango. By the time Xaniban was done with me, I was no longer interested in the fruit but in what he himself could offer.

I moved to capture his lips, but he pulled away with a deep sigh. “Forgive me, I started something I cannot finish.” There was longing in both his tone and gaze. “The sun is rising, and my warriors will be waiting for me.”

Fuck! I was so wrapped up in our wholesome morning that I forgot. “The attack! What happened? Did your warriors vote for plan A or B?”

His expression grew serious. “The battle awaits. Enough volunteers responded to Ris’ call last night.” Then he added with determination, “We are ready to face our flesh-eating enemy.”

“That’s great.” Hopefully. Xaniban and his soldiers would be heading into who knew what danger, all based on my info. What if it was another trap? What if Zombie 007 was there but guarded by hundreds of undead? Fear for Xaniban seized me. “How many warriors volunteered?”

He guided my hand with the mango to my lips, but I shook my head. Eating was out of the question. I had postponed my return to reality for too long, and now it was back with a vengeance.

Xaniban brought my hand to his mouth and ate the last bite of fruit, then licked my fingertips clean.

“Xan, stop trying to distract me. We have to talk about the battle and what’s next.”

“Come.” He got us to our feet and extended a hand to me.

Confused, I placed my palm in his and let him guide me further into the room, bedsheet and all. Sometime during last night’s joint bath, Samuin had taken my dirty clothes away, so it wasn’t like I had something to wear.

Wait, that hadn’t been there yesterday! No way could I have missed all those sparkles. Samuin must have brought it along with the breakfast tray.

Laid out on the chaise was a new creation of Gargoylish fashion: yet another daring two-piece outfit but in the same golden color as Xaniban’s loincloth. Countless little gems were sewn onto the fishnet, shining like diamonds in the sunlight.

Xaniban led me to the chaise. “You were right to refuse the blue robe, anima ,” he said with pride in his tone. “You were made to wear the robe of a queen.”

“I–I…” I didn’t know what to say. After a single night with me, Xaniban already expected me to be with him forever and rule at his side. Talk about a guy moving too fast.

He tail-patted my behind. “Go on. Put it on.”

“Xan, I…”

“You don’t like it. More diamonds can be added. Moon crystals, too.”

“ Diamonds? ” I took another look at the sparkly outfit. There had to be over 50 gems sewn onto it. So many, in fact, that the golden fishnet might actually provide full nipple coverage.

“You don’t want them? I shall have them replaced immediately with precious stones of your choosing. Name them, and they shall be yours.”

“Xan.” I turned to face him. “The robe is gorgeous as is, but… This is not the right time to talk about clothing. Or queen stuff.”

“I wish to see you in the robe before I leave.” His tone grew serious. “This could be my last chance to see you wearing my color. And if I fall, your queenly attire will let everyone know what you meant to me. This palace will remain your home, regardless of who takes my place.”

“You are not going to fall.” My words sounded like a threat, and maybe they were.

He should not be talking about dying. I placed my hands on his chest. “I’m sorry, but this palace is not my home.

I have a community on the ground, without whom I wouldn’t have survived.

I owe them my help, and if you return me to them or assist us–”

“No.” His entire body tensed and his tail curled then uncurled behind him.

My heart clenched, and I pulled my hands away from him. “You won’t help us?”

“I will not return you to the ground,” Xaniban said, voice low and unyielding.

His wings unfolded on either side of me, as if to shield me from an invisible threat.

“You belong here, anima . This is where your soul was born and where it lived before the Gods cast it out. You are among your kind and you shall remain one of them, with or without me in this world. Do you wish me to fall?”

“No! Of course not. But–”

“Then do not ask me to leave you on the ground while I do battle.” His eyes bore into mine, unwavering as he spoke.

“How do you expect me to focus on the fight while worrying about your safety? My focus is jeopardized as it is because of the raw mate bond. It makes it impossible for me to keep you off my thoughts and not long to be next to you every second I draw breath, now that I have just found you. Do not make my fall more certain, little blessing.”

For heaven’s sake. He wouldn’t let me off this cloud, fine; he hadn’t said no to assisting my people.

But to end up dying because of a made-up connection between us?

“Enough with this mate crap,” I snapped.

“You’ll be perfectly focused on the battlefield once you realize there is no mate bond.

Whoever made it up wanted to manipulate na?ve gargoyles like yourself to ensure the continuation of your species. ”

Chest heaving, I stared up at him. Had I gone too far? Pissed him off? How would a gargoyle act when angered?

Xaniban drew his wings away from me, lifted his tail in the air and… smiled.

Huh?

He stepped back, never breaking eye contact.

“We will see who is na?ve when I return. I, who believe in our mate bond, or you, who deny its very existence. And I promise to return to you, skeptical little human, if only to see your reaction upon our reunion. I shall not fall in wait for that exact moment.”

“Ha.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “And what reaction would that be?”

“You will see.” His smile grew smug.

I scoffed. “Whatever. You just come back in one piece, you hear me?”

“Yes, my Queen.” His smile faded while his gaze lingered on me, as if he was committing me to memory. Then he took to the air.

“Whoa, you’re leaving already?”

“My warriors await,” he said halfway to the upper door without looking back. As if having read my thoughts, he added, “No need for goodbyes, anima . I keep my promises.”

And with that, he was gone.