Sorceress Hunting (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 3) (18 page)

“Forgive me, beloved, for the pain and fear I caused
you. That was not well done on my part.”

She reached up and stroked his mane. “You were not
yourself. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

“I allowed the Siren to ensnare me.”

“Yes, but you said she couldn’t have held you for
long. Had I just not…”

“Shh,” he pressed a finger to her lips. “We’ve been
over this before. You did what you could to protect the humans and us from her
wrath. It was I who harmed you, not the Siren. I will do all in my power to
earn your forgiveness for that shameful act.”

“Gregory, it was consensual. You realize that, right?
You weren’t in control. You weren’t yourself, but I was willing. It wasn’t
rape…not on your part.”

He huffed softly. “Perhaps not, but neither was it the
gentle, loving act it should have been.” He sighed at length. “I rutted on you
like an animal.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

“Yes, it was.”

Lillian ran her fingers along the side of his muzzle.
“It was nice to be able to give you something you needed. I know it was wrong,
but I’d do it again.”

“You did not fear me, even a little?”

“No.” Lillian pressed little kisses along his muzzle
and one side of his face before wrapping her arms around as much of him as she
was able. “Not even a little.”

“Then when you are ready. I will endeavor to replace
the memory of that act with much more pleasant ones.”

“The thought of losing you, or you blaming yourself
for what happened—that is why I lied to you. I can’t lose you, not your respect
or your love.”

He shook out his wings and wrapped her in them. “It
will never happen. I am yours always.”

*****

To say he was shocked down to his core would have been
an understatement. Being kicked by the Divine Father wouldn’t have caused him
much more surprise. Lillian was pregnant. With his child. They were mates in
every way. Yet their vows to the Divine Ones weren’t shredded beyond repair.

They’d managed the impossible.

Giddiness swamped him—elation, nervousness,
excitement. Adrenaline pumped through his blood, urging him to run and hunt, to
build her a lair, shelter her from all danger. He wanted to provide for his
mate.

Of course, not even one of those ideas were possible
at the moment—there were too many humans out in the forest. Rescuing Goswin and
Whitethorn was bound to have stirred the humans into action.

Still, he wanted out of the house and to feel grass
under his feet, to walk on all fours. Maybe cloaked in shadow magic, with
Lillian clinging to his back?

“Nope. Running around in gargoyle form is a very bad
idea.” Lillian’s voice introduced reason back into Gregory’s thoughts.

“No doubt.” Disappointment flashed through him. There
was much he needed to do. Defensive spells were on the forefront of his mind.
While they’d rescued two of their allies, it had likely put everyone else at
risk. He’d feel better if he could start work on the protective spells sooner
rather than later.

And he also needed to return to work on the spell
weapons and continued with the preparations for an invasion. The Battle Goddess
was just as much a threat as she’d always been.

“Why don’t we go have breakfast under my hamadryad?”

He glanced down at Lillian, gazing at her still flat
stomach in mild wonder. Her requirements would increase in the coming days, and
he planned to fulfill her every need.

“I will hunt us up something to eat.”

“I was thinking of something now,” Lillian admitted.
“We could have a picnic under my hamadryad.”

Gregory merely nodded and began to gather up the items
she suggested. Besides, it was a good idea. There was still much they needed to
talk about. Lillian would know nothing about dryad pregnancy, and she must be
curious now that she could ask questions freely without betraying why she
wanted to know.

Shadowlight remained cloaked in shadows even though he
was certain no one was in the upper parts of the house. Lillian and Gregory
were off in the maze. Gran, Alan, Jason, and Greenborrow were all down in the
dungeon discussing adult things, and he hadn’t been included. Shadowlight was
actually glad. It gave him a chance to visit with Anna and bring her a
stockpile of food.

Only his parents still worried him, but he was certain
Darkness was busy keeping River from accosting Lillian about the baby. At least
that’s what his father claimed.

He didn’t know exactly how he should feel about his
sister’s pregnancy. Not that he would admit it to anyone, but secretly he felt
a little put out. Now, he doubted he’d have his mother’s or sister’s full
attention. As for his father, he didn’t doubt Darkness’ love, but his attention
was focused on outside dangers, and he had little time to lavish on
Shadowlight.

Greenborrow still made time for him and was likely
helping to distract the others so Shadowlight could bring food to his pet
human. With his sack of food tucked under one arm, he stalked up the three
flights of stairs to the attic. Maybe Anna would be pleased to see him.

He eased the attic door open and stopped short. Her
door was ajar.

A soft scraping sound came from the northwest corner
of the attic. Old furniture and boxes of assorted other items blocked his line
of sight. He eased slowly in that direction, picking his way around piles.

Anna stood in front of a window barely large enough
for her to fit through. She already had the window glass out of its casement.
It sat propped next to her feet. On her other side was a long coil of rope
she’d already tied knots into for ease of climbing. Where had she gotten the
rope? Then he noticed most of the boxes were open, items scattered everywhere.

As he watched, she eased her head and shoulders
through the window. Studying the terrain? Or orientating herself?

He came up behind her and waited until she extracted
herself from the opening. While she was still straightening, he slapped a hand
over her mouth.

A second later, her elbow slammed into his abdomen,
and he realized his mistake. The back of her skull cracked against his muzzle
with a painful thump even as her one foot stomped on his unerringly.

He grunted in surprise more than pain. She grabbed his
left wrist and shoved it away and then twisted and kicked out at his knee.

Instinct and memories took over, and he jerked out of
her range before she could inflict more damage.

“Shadowlight?” she whispered and then relaxed her
battle stance.

“You were expecting someone else?”

“No,” she hissed back. “What the hell was that? Say
something next time if you don’t want me to rearrange your knee caps.”

“You’re trying to escape?” Hurt crept into his voice.

“Hell, yes. What did you expect? I’m being held
prisoner. If anyone finds me, the leshii pretty much said I’m dead.” She
stopped and looked him over. “I’m sorry kid. My chances of survival are better
if I’m on my own, and no one knows where I am.”

“That’s a half-truth.”

“Okay. We’ve been over this. I’m a soldier. I’m duty
bound to report what I’ve learned.”

“They will imprison you, too.”

She looked sad. “Only if they can catch me. I didn’t
say I’d report in person. I’m not suicidal. I know what will happen to me if
they catch me. Best case—I’m locked in a cage for life. Worse case? Well, I
don’t want to end that way. But I still have intel that could save lives.”

Ah. He’d almost forgotten. She was a protector as
well. The introduction of his gargoyle blood would only heighten those
instincts in her. Protecting those weaker than himself was something that made
sense to him. His path became clear again and with a happy wiggle he leaped at
her and planted gargoyle kisses on every bit of exposed skin he found. “I’ll
help you then.”

“Argh!” her hands slapped at his muzzle, but her blows
weren’t painful, so he knew she was holding back. “Enough. Stop. You win.”

He dropped to all fours and then padded over to the
canvas bag he’d dropped before snatching her from the window. Grabbing the
handles in his jaws, he walked into the bedroom and hopped onto the bed, pawing
and rearranging the covers into a more comfortable nest. That done, he dug
through the packages for the peanut butter cookies he could smell.

“Kid. We are not done talking yet.”

Shadowlight glanced up from his search. Anna was
standing on the threshold, her hands on her hips, looking more than a little
annoyed.

“We’re not?”

“No.” The one word was long, drawn out and made him
think of his mother when he did or said something she didn’t agree with.

He tore open the package of cookies and watched her
thoughtfully while he chewed.

“Oh…give me that,” she held out her hand for the bag.
“Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

“No, but I thought we could eat together and talk.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Just one problem. Cookies
aren’t real food.” She took the sack and pulled out a number of items. Some she
put in a pile, off to one side—fruits and other items that weren’t as tasty as
what she called cookies, landed in another pile.

To his disappointment, the cookies, rocky road bars,
and almond bark all vanished back into the bag.

That left a selection of muffins, fruits, and a
container of something called cottage cheese.

“Don’t suppose you brought cutlery?”

He shook his head. Cutlery—those things humans like to
eat with. He’d forgotten about those items.

“Hmmm. Fingers it is.” She shoved the cottage cheese
off to the side and took an orange and a banana. She peeled the orange, but her
attention was all for him. “It was noble of you to offer your aid, but I can’t
accept it. You shouldn’t be anywhere near enemy lines. It’s not your
responsibility.”

His ears twitched and his tail flicked gently in
confusion. That had to be one of the oddest things she’d said to him.

“Of course it is. I saved you and put you in your
present circumstances where you are now forced to question your loyalty and
morals.”

“That is not how it works. I’m not your
responsibility. I’m the adult. Doesn’t matter the species. Adults protect the
young.”

“I’m a gargoyle. I exist to destroy evil. My physical age
has no impact on my duty to serve the Light.”

“Screw that. I want no part in serving your ‘Light’ if
it requires children to be conscripted into its army. Having children fight
your wars for you is pure evil. I don’t condone child soldiers and I certainly
won’t allow you to put yourself in danger because you think I’m somehow your
responsibility.”

Her words were truth, he felt it resonate within him.
Yet, he was a gargoyle. His nature demanded he be a protector—a destroyer of
evil. Those two truths did not rest comfortably within his mind. Children
didn’t fight in the Divine Ones’ armies. Gargoyles did. Unable to hold her
gaze, he rubbed his muzzle against his forearm, scratching a fake itch as a
distraction.

His inability to hold her gaze didn’t stop her words.
“Your family shouldn’t have included you in the attack on the transport. It was
wrong on so many levels.”

“They didn’t want too. Nevertheless, they needed
another gargoyle to have any hope for it to be both bloodless and a success.
They knew I’d only have followed anyways.” He glanced back up hoping she’d show
even a little bit of pride in his accomplishments, but her expression wasn’t
warm or proud. “None of the humans were seriously hurt.” He ducked his head and
stared down at his talons. “I just wanted to make my parents proud.”

“Oh, kid.” She came over to him and patted his back
rather awkwardly, but he didn’t care and tucked his muzzle along her side,
being careful his horns didn’t catch her in the throat. After a moment, her
arms came around his shoulders in a comforting hug.

“Kid, you’d make any parent proud. You’re smart,
brave, noble, and have the biggest heart. You don’t need to put yourself in
danger to prove anything. You’re still a kid. Promise me you will work on just
being a kid. No more of this warrior stuff, no more live-fire missions, hand-to-hand
combat, or infiltrating behind enemy lines. There will be lots of time for that
when you’re older.”

Shadowlight sighed. She’d basically just told him not
to be a gargoyle. However, it was nice to be hugged, he decided as he snuggled
closer. He would try to do as she asked.

“I won’t seek out trouble.” He agreed at last.

“Good.” She patted his back and then straightened. “If
your mother is half the battleaxe I sense she is, I’ll deal with her if it
becomes a problem. No more of this child soldier crap.”

He frowned. “What if danger comes hunting me?”

She gave him a grin, flashing her new fangs. “Then
I’ll kill it.”

“And if you can’t?” he asked in the most reasonable
voice he could manage.

“If it gets past me, you’re free to do what comes
naturally. We’ll worry about morals later.”

Relief flooded his body. At least he’d tied himself to
a malleable human. They were such a backward species in some ways, but he had
hopes for this one’s trainability.

“Ha! Trainability! I’m not a dog. Nor am I the
unreasonable one, my friend.”

He decided it was time to change the subject. “I’m
going to be an uncle.” The word still tasted strange on his tongue, but he was
excited all the same. Then something occurred to him. “What does an uncle do?”

“Uncle? Wow.” The human’s expression turned
judgmental. “Your sister’s younger than me and she’s having a kid? She’s, what,
all of nineteen or twenty?”

Shadowlight tilted his head, wondering what had caused
the new round of questions tinted with displeasure.

“She’s twenty.”

“Kid’s having kids, great.”

This time, Shadowlight laughed. “She may only be
twenty years old in this lifetime, but the Avatars are much, much older.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and then ran her
fingers through her hair. “Thanks for the reminder that I’m now housemates with
billion-year-old-demigods. That’ll be fun to explain in the report.” Sitting
heavily in the chair across from the bed, she gave him a bemused look. “So the
demigods are having a baby.”

“Yes. I’m going to be an uncle.” Shadowlight wiggled
happily. “Do you think it will be a dryad or a gargoyle?”

Anna’s laugh sounded a tad bit hysterical.