Stone Guardian (8 page)

Ember sat straight up in bed, panting.

Confusion muddled her thinking and she couldn’t remember where she was for a few seconds. She placed a hand over her heart and kept telling herself it was a nightmare. A quick look around and she was flooded with memories of the night before. She smoothed the sheets around her and noted that the other side of the bed had been untouched. “Take care of a few things, my ass.”

She eased her calves over the edge of the mattress and stood. Walking to the bathroom she stared at the wall of bookshelves. Something was off. She’d figure it out after she found a toothbrush and some clothes. He had to be in the apartment somewhere. After all, he turned into a statue during the day. Was it daytime? She searched the walls for a clock. It was too much to think about when a person first woke up. Aww, hell, maybe he got stuck somewhere. Ember stopped and chewed the inside of her cheek. Naw, he would know better, she’d have to go find him. This was exactly why she needed to stick close to Timur, that shifter needed a keeper in the worst way. She sighed as she stepped into the bathroom.

Chapter Seven

Drago paced the empty antechamber. The hard soles of his designer shoes beat a tattoo on the cement floors that echoed through the room. The dirty vaulted windows muted the sunlight, shrouding the area in semi-darkness. Nicolette was on her way to Qui-Ra, her coven, giving him a reprieve from her constant barrage of neediness. He hooked his thumbs in his pockets. Lately, she’d been hinting at a mating. No way in hell was he going to force himself into an unnatural attachment. There was a female dragon out there with his name somewhere on her body. They only had to meet. In the meantime, he still needed his witch, so there had to be some way to distance himself without her guessing that he was slowly maneuvering her out of his life.

He wiped a palm down his face. This was not the time for these problems to rise. Kirill was up to something and he was using that ignorant gargoyle as his smoke screen. The Russian must think he’s stupid. No way would he trust a non-dragon to help him locate the
Y Ddraig Goch
. Perhaps it was a tactical ploy. By splitting with his cohort, Kirill was probably trying to force him to divide his sentries in order to maintain surveillance. He was the King, there was no way in hell that traitorous Russian would be able to keep any secrets from him. He’d have to push harder for information. There was also the issue with his newest clansman, Jax. He grunted, sinking his fingers into his locks, tugging at the roots. Drago stopped when he realized he was no longer alone. He searched the deeper shadows and crossed his arms when he realized who was watching him.

“Something I can do for you,
wurm
?” Drago rocked on the balls of his feet.

“I heard a noise and came to investigate.” Jax stepped into the watery sunbeam. “I didn’t know you used this space to converse with yourself. I’ll leave you to it.” He slid back, disappearing into the darker edges of the vestibule.

“No, now that I think about it, you’re exactly who I need to manage a problematic situation.” Drago smiled shark-like, exposing his elongated incisors.

“And here I thought you didn’t like me.” Curiosity colored Jax’s voice. He stepped back into the light and looked at Drago through narrowed eyes.

Drago held his stare. “I don’t, which makes you perfect for this job. I couldn’t care less if you come back.”

“Boss,” Jax chuckled as he shook his head. “I hate to piss in your punch, but I won’t die easy. What will you do when I return?”

“Kill you myself.”

Jax moved closer to Drago. “Is that a challenge?” The scales shimmered beneath Jax’s skin.

“No, of course not, I would make you my second in command. Unfortunately, my previous lieutenant met with an untimely death during a battle not too long ago.”

“I’m thinking it’s much healthier to stay a foot soldier. What do you want me to do?”

Drago stared at the young dragon. Jax had the attitude of a warrior, he held himself aloof, with his feet slightly apart and his hands clasped behind his back. Drago cleared his throat and circled Jax. If his plan worked he would essentially be killing two birds with one stone. The ass with rebellion burning in his eyes would die, and the gargoyle would cease to exist because they would most likely kill each other.

“I want you to locate Kirill’s henchman and follow him. Report back to me exactly what he does.”

“You already have men watching him.”

“I do, and I’m pulling them out. I need them to protect Nicolette’s coven. She’s going to be conducting some business for me.”
The lies, they come so easy now
, Drago thought.

Jax pursed his lips. Time moved with an excruciating slowness as he willed the blue dragon to accept his offer. He needed Jax gone. His insubordination was rubbing off on some of his other men. Word had gotten back to him via some of his more loyal clan members that Jax was riling up the younger dragons. In a matter of a few days, the little shit would turn them against each other. He stared at Jax and raised a brow. Even if Jax did manage to exterminate the gargoyle he’d bet even money that the beast would hurt him enough to make Jax an easy kill in a Malice Challenge.

Politics, it was all about how you spin the facts. Drago tapped his lips with a finger before speaking. “If you’re scared, well, then I guess you’re not half the dragon you thought you were.”

“I’ll go.”

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”

“I said I’ll call you when I have something.” Jax’s voice was as cold as an arctic gale.

“No, I want a report as soon as you’re in place. Don’t fuck this up.” Drago brushed past Jax and walked out of the small chamber. Some shifters could be so predictable.

* * * *

Ember hitched the sweat pants up over her hips and rolled the waist band. She’d searched all three bedrooms and bathrooms and hadn’t found one stitch of women’s clothing. Timur’s oversized T-shirt hung off one shoulder, and that was after she’d tied the ends together. She needed to get back to the hotel to put on her own clothes, but first she needed to write a note and find a hammer so she could nail it to his chest.

She rolled her head on her neck. He was probably on the roof. She walked to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator. Cold air drifted past her, empty and pristine, as if it had never been used. She opened the cupboard next to the appliance and stared at a pile of dishes. There had to be food somewhere in the apartment. She slammed that door and opened another. More plates? Really, he was one man, how much damn tableware did he need? She turned around and looked at the other side of the room. The cold tile chilled her bare feet, making her shiver. She stomped to the other cabinets and yanked them open. Canned goods stacked three high lined the shelves.

Her stomach grumbled and she looked down, talking to it as if it was a separate entity. “I’m working on a meal. It’s not my fault he’s better prepared for a disaster than an actual guest.” She lifted her head, read the labels, and chose a tin of soup. Leaving it on the counter she went on the hunt for a can opener.

Several searched drawers later, the kitchen looked as if it had been ransacked. The growls her belly emitted were louder. She sighed. Who the hell has canned foods and no tool to open them? Ember rubbed her temple. Her shoes were on the roof. She’d have to get those. Catch a cab to the hotel and order room service to soothe her hunger pains. Decision made, she nodded, pushed off the counter she was leaning on, and walked to the elevator. Maybe she could find a chisel with that hammer somewhere in the garden’s tool shed. Then she could leave a note in his facade. Ember thought about it as she stabbed the up button. Was there a tool shed up there? Good gracious, she couldn’t focus on an empty stomach. The tones chimed but the cab never came. Ember stared up at the numbers above the doors and noticed the L kept flashing every time she pressed on the console.

If Timur locked her in the basement, she’d break off one of his appendages. She bumped her forehead against the steel door. He had to have some sort way to get the hell up out of there in an emergency. Grunting, she looked one way down the hall then turned her head and searched the other direction. She trotted along the passage, running her hand along the wall. It seemed Timur liked to hide things in plain sight. She detected an indentation in the surface of the wall and skimmed her fingers up and down the faint gap. No knob. When she got a hold of him they were going to have a long talk about his paranoia. Ember went up on her toes when she felt the small ridge above her head. Dropping down to her feet she went on her toes and tried again. And felt the latch square in the middle of the protrusion.

She curled her fingers and her nails scraped the metal. Twisting her hand she heard the snick and felt the waft of stale air across her face. She leaned forward and the hidden door moved forward easily on its hinges. Ember poked her head into the space. Bare concrete walls and steps with a black railing that went up as high as she could see. She eased into the space and allowed the door to swing shut behind her. When she glanced behind her it had melded seamlessly into the wall, giving the appearance of a dead end. With no other option than to go up she started trudging the stairs. Her belly grumbled and she let out a slew of curse words that would make any sailor proud.

The first door she came to at least had a handle. She glanced at the plaque embedded in the wall. ‘Lobby.’ She sighed. Six flights of stairs and she’d found an exit. Beads of sweat dotted her upper lip and she swiped her palm over her mouth and wiped the moisture off by sliding her hand down her pants leg.

Ember wrapped her fingers around the metal knob and pulled. Compared to the dimness of the corridor the foyer was blindingly bright and busy with people going about their business. She smiled when some of them glanced curiously her way. Once she had her bearings she strolled over to the elevator bank. Self-conscious, with folks closing in around her, she hummed and said a silent prayer the doors would open quickly. She breathed a sigh of relief when they did.

Crossing the threshold she pressed the button with the R and hoped the letter stood for roof. Folks filed in behind her, filling the small area and crowding her. Ember pressed closer to the wall. The elevator jerked and groaned as it started its upward motion. She kept her eyes on the numbers rolling across the console above her. Ember chewed the inside of her cheek and ignored the conversation going on around her.

Someone tapped her bare shoulder.

“It’s nice to see you again.”

She glanced around and met the rheumy eyes of the elderly gentleman from the night before. “Sorry, hi.”

“Surely Mr. Fortescue hasn’t left you to your own devices?”

Ember noticed the way some of the others perked up at the mention of Timur’s name. “No, he’s resting.”

A warning bell chimed before the doors opened and a few folks walked off. Then they were moving again. The old man continued their conversation. “I can imagine, considering what I witnessed last night when I came in from walking Reginald.”

She tried to change the subject. “Reginald?”

“My Yorkie, Lord Reginald the Third.” He beamed up at her.

Ember nodded her head in understanding. “I love animals. I enjoy the company of exotic creatures. Matter of fact, I’m hoping to get my hands on a rare breed this evening.”

“Do tell, I adore unusual pets.” The elevator chimed again and the elderly man stepped off and looked back at her. “Enjoy your stay. Speaking of beasts, you really don’t have to look far. You’d be surprised to find out what could be standing right next to you…sometimes.”

The couple in the cab with her snickered.

Ember narrowed her eyes and stared after the guy until the doors closed. The last folks hopped off on the next floor, leaving her to ride the rest of the way in silence. She had more questions than answers, and as for Timur, he had a lot of explaining to do.

Flowers were in full bloom, their colors vivid against dark green leaves. The garden stretched across the wide expanse of the roof. She fingered the petals as she passed, pushing back the stems to get a better view of the ground. Pebbles crunched under her feet and she stepped gingerly as she moved deeper into the shrubbery. He was around there somewhere, she could feel it. Tingles spread along her nerve endings. She passed a thicket of bushes and looked around, sure she’d heard her name. A sliver of pale gray caught her eye in the brush. She stuck her hand through the branches, touching smooth cold granite.

Briefly, she was transported back to her nightmare and her heart rate picked up. All around her she could feel things watching her. A blur of memories filled her mind, all of Timur making love to her. The images moved like a movie on fast forward and ripped her from the dreadful daydream that had gripped her. Ember inhaled deeply and pushed the branches aside.

She came face to face with a statue she knew was Timur. A grotesque caricature of what he actually looked like. The sharp features which made him attractive were exaggerated to make him horrendous. His ears were horns and his eyes were slanted to a ninety degree angle. Fangs the length of daggers cut across both his top and bottom lip, and his hair was carved out wide around his head like a lion’s mane. He was crouched low, his knuckles pushed into the peat and mulch covering the ground. Timur gave the appearance that he would leap out at any minute.