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Harlow

Wednesday Morning

Dark Haven Library

I t was quiet as the sun crept above the horizon. The dingy light streamed in through the large windows in the library, but I felt like I hadn’t been able to move in hours.

Even as the sounds of the battle faded, I couldn’t shake the gargoyle who’d claimed me as his mate.

A dark figure moved in and I glanced to the side, gasping as it split into two.

Great. The hallucinations were coming to join the party.

My head was already hurting, so I simply ignored the dark being for now. For once I had bigger problems than the shadows in my head.

“What’s wrong?” Hiro whispered as he stirred on the floor next to me. He groaned as he shifted and I didn’t feel much better after a night on the hardwood.

What we needed was a bed, supplies, and some furniture. Drake had rejoined the fight despite my protests, so it was just us, Layne, and Crew here.

A loud smack and splinter of wood had me jumping to my feet. I lunged for my dagger and gripped it, waiting to see who’d broken through our seal.

“Harlow!” Kol’s voice was harsh, and I grimaced as it made my head hurt more fiercely.

“What do you want?” I bit out, clutching my dagger like it might save me from the monstrous man in front of me.

Though, man was hardly the right term. He was a beast through and through. Claws, wings, stone-like skin, there was nothing human about him.

He didn’t answer the question. No one wanted to give me straight answers around here and I was getting really fucking tired of it.

“You,” he said simply before calling out behind him. “Stravos.”

A second gargoyle followed him in, standing at attention before my supposed mate.

“Yes?” the gargoyle asked. He was smaller than Kol, with short, silver hair and gentler features. He was more human than his counterpart but only in his face, his body was the same dark stone, wings, and dangerous claws.

“Your new command is to oversee this library and follow my mate wherever she goes. Keep them safe at all costs. If she’s with me, protect the others. They’re, apparently, important to her.”

The words shocked me. Apparently, the tin man had a heart after all. Or stone man, I guess.

“Why would I go anywhere with you?” I crossed my arms and stared off with him. If he thought he was going to fly in and demand things of me he was insane.

More insane than all of us.

He blinked down at me without a hint of emotion. “You’re my mate. If I want you by my side, you will join me.”

It was said like this was a fact, something I had no say in. Oh hell no. I’d been through enough, dealt with enough assholes in my time. I refused to be pushed around.

If Hel was going to rely on me then I wouldn’t be bending to anyone else. I needed to find my confidence.

“You don’t get to just call me a mate and tell me where to go,” I challenged him. “That’s not how this world works, plus I have plenty of ‘mates’ already.”

His eyes narrowed and when he spoke his voice was so low it was distorted.

“Other... Mates?” Clearly hearing wasn’t his best quality. This wasn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation. Maybe he was too preoccupied with the battle to listen before.

Also not a good sign for this partnership.

I gestured to Hiro who was already by my side. “Hiro and his alter are mine, as is Drake, the half demon with me before, and I’m sure you’re familiar with the demon commander.”

The final nail in the coffin of his composure was mentioning Monty.

“I tried to tell him,” Monty said with amusement as he popped in behind me. “You’re quickly ruining any chance you had. How sad.”

The sarcasm was strong enough that Layne was cracking up behind us. She was perched on the edge of a couch, eyes pinging back and forth between us all like this was some amazing show just for her.

“We don’t have time for this mate shit,” I said with a sigh, glancing around at the library. “There are no beds here, barely any supplies—outside of what Drake found us—and we’ll need our medicine to survive this shit.”

“Drake said he was handling our meds,” Layne chimed in.

Good. I’d hate to send a demon for them. That sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.

“Then I’ll leave your winged friends to be your errand boys,” Monty said as he brushed his lips over my ear. I shivered as he shocked my skin, a reminder of the night we spent together. “I’ll be back for you later.”

With that he was gone. I hated the chill his absence brought. What I wanted was some normalcy but I doubted that was happening.

Wanting to see Kol’s reaction, I simply stayed quiet, crossing my arms and staring him down.

He glared at the space Monty had taken up for several beats before he pulled out a horn and blew.

I slammed my hands over my ears as the loud sound reverberated through the room.

In moments he had a small troop of gargoyles at the ready, barking out orders and fulfilling our requests.

“You three, find food for the humans here,” he started before moving to another group. “Beds, one for each of them.” It continued on, Kol ensuring everything we mentioned was covered, then some things I hadn’t considered like cleaning supplies.

Even gargoyles noted the dust filling this space.

It may have been a small, stupid thing for them, however, I was genuinely grateful for a bed. The gesture didn’t mean I would fall at his feet.

But maybe I’d at least hear him out now.

Harlow

Friday Evening

Dark Haven Library

“Having gargoyles do the heavy lifting sure does come in handy,” Hiro said. His voice sounded off and had been ever since we’d settled in here for good.

I couldn’t blame him; our lives were utter chaos and the isolation sucked. It did worry me, though. We were mates, but we didn’t know the ins and outs of the other’s mental health. That left far too much gray area to navigate.

“It does,” I agreed.

Drake had snagged us clothes and a few days’ worth of medicine, but our food ran out yesterday and he was nowhere to be found.

Anytime I asked where he was disappearing to, he was short with me, stating he was keeping us safe.

I didn’t miss the hint of ash on his clothes, meaning he was joining every fight he could while telling us to stay safe here. My eyes shifted to the dagger I always kept near and I fought the urge to walk out and find him myself.

I wasn’t useless. Yet here I was, locked away like the others.

Monty and Kol were both in and out and very insistent that we didn’t step foot outside of the library. I was quickly growing tired of my own compliance. I didn’t answer to any of them and from the reports and snippets of conversation we heard, the demons were no longer walking the hallways in hordes.

“I’m starving,” Layne whined. “Can we have tall, dark, and handsome lead us down to the cafeteria? It’s almost dinner.”

Crew puffed out his chest. “You mean me?” He flexed a few times and Layne let out a laugh.

“I meant our gargoyle bodyguard, but you’re adorable,” she reassured him, patting his cheek like she didn’t emasculate the poor guy.

Crew deflated at that and glared at Stravos as he put his arm possessively around her.

Layne was glowing now, loving every minute of his jealousy. Most couples, I’d say that was a red flag, but for Layne and Crew it was progress.

“Staff are still cooking?” I questioned. The prospect of a hot meal had my stomach growling angrily.

Every meal so far had been brought in by either Drake or a random gargoyle. I hadn’t left this library or its adjoined bathroom in days.

“Apparently, the humans are oblivious. Everything is supposedly running as normal,” the gargoyle answered for us. We all startled at his rumbling voice. Sometimes I forgot Stravos wasn’t stone, he stood and watched over us in silence constantly.

This was the first time I’d even heard him since Kol left.

“They do speak,” Layne deadpanned.

“We do,” he confirmed, sounding confused. I didn’t point out that Kol and Stravos both talked when they burst in on Wednesday morning.

“What’s your name?” Crew asked dismissively, like he forgot. Our friend had one-sided beef with an oblivious gargoyle.

“Stravos.” The one-word answer was said with enough pride I had to bite back a laugh.

“Then can you escort us to get food or not?” I asked quickly. “Because I’m not hiding here anymore.”

“Drake hasn’t been back in two days,” Layne agreed. “If he can go, we can.”

“Agreed,” I said in a barely audible voice. Hiro took my hand and gave it a squeeze.

We both were confused and worried about Drake’s absence. Between that and his sharp words it was taking a toll.

I knew he had more at stake in Dark Haven than just us. Not only was his mother here, but he had spent most of his life in these halls. This was more his home than any of ours.

“This way,” he relented when we all filed to the door.

He’d observed me fighting with Monty over my orders to stay here and my equally as heated conversations with Kol. I assumed he’d protest further but I wasn’t about to question a good thing.

“Where are you going?” I smacked right into the stone-hard chest the moment I tried to step into the hall. “You were told to stay here.”

I rubbed my face as I glared up at the infuriating gargoyle.

Where the fuck had he even come from?

“Fuck off, Kol. I’m not a dog to be ordered around,” I said as I slipped my arm through Hiro’s. It wasn’t just a show that I had other mates, it was a need for comfort. My life was chaos and I needed a reminder that I had mates by my side who cared what I had to say.

“It’s for your safety. You are important,” he countered. Every time I argued, he seemed confused by it. He’d learn quick enough I wasn’t the submissive type. He didn’t get to bark orders and I simply followed. That wasn’t my style, demon war or not. “Stravos, she’s your charge when I’m not here.”

“My orders come from Hel,” Stravos said with his head bowed in a show of either regret or respect. “If she leaves, I’ll still follow. But our lady wants someone with her at all times when she leaves the room.”

“Well, as lovely as this little lovers’ quarrel is,” Layne said loud enough to cut off our conversation. “I’m starving. So, either fuck off or follow because I am getting food that’s not cold and soggy for once this fucking week.”

Her voice rose several octaves. We were all on edge. I’d asked for our medication, but Drake had only brought a few days’ supply.

We’d all skipped our morning dose, and I was already feeling the effects.

Shadows lurked at the edges of my vision and as I grew even more hangry, it was getting worse.

“Fine,” Kol bit out. Stravos took the lead in front of Layne and Crew while Hiro and I were followed by the gargoyle leader. I felt his eyes on me the entire time and it was raising my stress levels even further than before. Even if I found him hot as fuck and intriguing, he was also overbearing, and I knew next to nothing about him.

We barely fit in the elevator, but Stravos and Kol somehow tucked their wings into the small space long enough to reach the basement.

The proximity left my hands shaking and Hiro gave me a squeeze of reassurance. I was kind of surprised he was hanging out more and more. Had Roman not shared the information? Hiro hadn’t mentioned it yet and I didn’t want to send him into a spiral.

The cafeteria was only half full and the energy level was lower than I’d ever seen it. Gargoyles and demons lurked between the tables. It felt like a tense standoff, but for some reason, the gargoyles weren’t fighting the demons. Maybe because the demons weren’t feeding, and were just observing.

More of Hel’s servants watching over us?

I had a feeling if there was even an ounce of emotion they’d throw caution to the wind.

“What the fuck is going on?” I demanded, rounding on Kol who smirked down at me like I was an adorable feisty puppy. “Why are your men allowing this?” I gestured at the room.

“Orders.” That was all he gave me, and I let out a growl.

“Not an answer. Tell me, now,” I demanded again, poking him in the chest to punctuate every fucking word.

“Hel ordered us to not kill any more of her demons unless they break the rules,” he said as he looked around the room. “At this point, they aren’t feeding, and the humans can’t see either of us so they’re none the wiser.”

“And what are your rules?” I gritted out through clenched teeth. “Other than being a towering pain in my ass?”

“If they try to feed outside of sleeping hours, leave the grounds, or kill a patient, we act,” he answered before leaning down and brushing his lips over mine. A spark of electricity thrummed through me and went straight to my pussy.

I hated that he caused any kind of reaction in me at all.

The more he was around the more he made me want him... and it was infuriating because he pushed every button I had.

“That mouth of yours is full of venom, isn’t it, mate?”

“For you, yes,” I seethed. “I don’t need another big and bad asshole trying to fuck their way onto my good side. If you don’t stop, I’ll pull out that stone dick of yours and cut it right off with Hel’s dagger.”

His laughter made me so mad I cocked my fist back, but Hiro was pulling me away before I could follow through, using my elbow to guide me to the food line.

“Food first, maiming your hand later,” he said with a shake of his head. “There’s enough chaos without broken knuckles. He’s made of literal stone, Harlow.”

“No he’s not, he’s just hard,” I said before we both burst out into laughter at what I said.

“Do you think he has a normal dick?” Layne teased. “I bet it’s huge.”

“Why are you thinking about another man’s dick?” Crew huffed. I swear they fought as much as they loved each other.

“Harlow set the bar high, look at all her men. Plus, I have more than one hole, babe,” Layne said, giving Stravos a look that had the gargoyle choking on the fry he just put in his mouth. It was the first time I’d even seen one of Hel’s creatures eat, and it made him seem even more human. Part of me wondered if he was half human or once human. But that wasn’t the kind of question you blurted out at dinner. Though, Layne had no such boundaries.

“Are you different than other gargoyles, Stravos?” Layne asked. He froze, making him look more like a statue than ever before. His gaze was a mix of hard and conflicted.

“I’m a gargoyle,” he said simply.

“But you seem more human somehow,” she argued. Layne wasn’t so good at picking up on subtle cues in conversation.

“We’re all the same,” Stravos said with finality that had her swallowing hard. I guess he wasn’t giving this particular bit of information. At least not yet.

We ate our food in silence after that. My eyes flickered around the room, waiting for something to happen.

Nothing did, but having the demons and gargoyles just pace between tables was not the relaxing lunch I’d hoped for.

The cold brush of demons walking by us continued throughout the meal until I was ready to throw in the towel and eat upstairs.

Things at Dark Haven have changed. And I had a strong feeling that they would only get worse.