It was Nike.
Nike had lulled her into a daze that left her feeling euphoric, but she was afraid. She knew the Nike was dangerous. All the blood she was taking would kill her.
Where are you?
Near the water. Past the graveyard. A beach.
She wasn’t too far. I ran faster than I’d ever run before. A fleeting thought shot through me, wondering if this was adrenaline or the gargoyle blood.
The gargoyles. I need to tell them.
As I raced through the buildings down to the graveyard, I reached out to Danton, not having a clue on how exactly I was supposed to communicate to him.
They’re at the beach past the graveyard.
The scent of the ocean intensified the closer I approached. When I reached the beach area, I was dismayed to see a fence. There was a break in the fence further down, but there was no time. I leapt over a fence that was taller than me, but didn’t pause to think of how that was possible. I landed on sand and searched the shore for signs of movement.
Several hundred feet away, down near the water’s edge was a silhouette of something against the water. Focusing my vision, my eyes sharpened to distinguish the shape of figures lying down.
I soared at them, shouting, “Get off her!”
Nike reared back hissing, her face now visible under the moonlight, eyes shining far too bright and inhuman. Blood dripped from her fangs and down her chin. She jumped up into a defensive position with menacing claws. I lunged onto her to knock her down and away from Allana. We rolled down the beach, hitting and clawing each other. Sharp fangs bit into my shoulder and I bellowed from pain, throwing her off me with the strength of a lion. My voice sounded nothing like my own. I scanned for where she’d landed, focusing on her crouched form. My vision sharpened while my body vibrated with tingles. My muscles swelled under hardening skin. I strode to her and her furious eyes now widened with fear, yet she still lunged at me.
When I grabbed her by the arm, the hand was not my own. The skin was gray and appeared as tough as leather. As hard as stone.
Chapter Sixteen
Allana
With Nike off me, I tried to push away the fog in my mind. Combined with the blood loss, it took all my strength just to sit. I pulled my shirt back down and readjusted my skirt. Although I couldn’t deny I enjoyed the way she touched me, I still felt violated. The other time I wanted it, but this time I had struggled and she had overpowered me.
I glanced around but my vision was blurry. While I pushed more cobwebs from my brain, I heard the fight before I saw them. Hissing, growling, roaring. And then my eyes focused. Nike fighting a beast, a massive gray creature. A gargoyle. Yet the face was familiar. It was Mike.
He’d heard me somehow when I called to him.
“Allana,” he said through a deep voice that sounded more like a growl.
He picked up Nike and hurled her at least thirty feet into the ocean. Then he stared at his arm with amazement before he ran to me.
“Mike. Is it really you?” I asked.
“Yes. I don’t know how it happened, but it’s me.”
His attention diverted beyond me. “Hold on.” He stood up and took a defensive stance with his massive fists raised. I turned and saw a mountain lion bounding down the beach, teeth bared and ready to attack.
Oh, my God, it was Lily. Probably coming to my aid and him thinking it was an animal coming to attack me.
Although I was so woozy from the loss of blood, I pushed myself to my feet to lunge between them, arms spread wide. “No, Lily. Stop!”
The mountain lion slowed at my command and halted.
“I know you’ve lost blood, Allana,” Mike said in a tone appropriate to calm someone freaking out, “But that’s not Lily.” He faced her with clawed fists. “It’s a damn mountain lion. I don’t know what the fuck it’s doing here on the New England coast, but it’s here!”
“It’s Lily, she’s a shifter!” I protested before they tore each other apart. I turned to face Lily. “Don’t attack him. It’s Mike. He’s protecting me from her.” I pointed to the water at the woman swimming to shore with fury in her eyes.
Mike stared at Lily through stone-gray eyes, but then turned to face Nike again. She followed suit. Now that they had a shared enemy, they diverted their attention from each other and to her.
“Leave her be,” a French-accented man’s voice said from behind me. “She’s not well.”
I turned to see an attractive man with sandy-brown hair.
“Leave her be?” Mike repeated. “Are you crazy? She attacked my girl.” He gestured to me.
A warm feeling fluttered inside me even though it wasn’t technically true.
Creatures came from the sky and landed next to the Frenchman. Three more gargoyles that resembled Mike, but with enormous black wings. I must have been hallucinating and fallen into a land that fit better in one of Mike’s fantasy worlds than the one I thought I lived in, because what I witnessed was not the one I knew. Weakened and woozy, I fell to my knees. Mike ran to my side and cradled me to his hard, gray chest. “Allana.”
“They have wings,” I whispered. “You don’t?”
Through narrowing vision, I saw one of the gargoyles approach the man. “You must take her away from people, Michel. She’s becoming too dangerous.”
“We’ve searched the world for answers,” the Frenchman shouted. “There are none.”
“Keep searching,” the gargoyle commanded. “Or bring her fully over.”
“Never!”
My eyes drooped closed while I listened. “She cannot continue to exist this way, trapped between two worlds.”
“I’ve been taking care of her, Danton,” Michel said in a defensive tone. “You know that to be true.”
“I do. And you’ve done more for her than anyone could. But she no longer has control.”
I struggled to open my eyes and saw Nike had almost reached the shore. Pure venom spewed from her eyes, fixed on Mike.
I whispered, “Be careful,” and then closed my eyes again. This time I neither saw nor heard anything.
Allana
When I awoke, I recognized the distinctive features of Mike’s bedroom. I tried to piece together the events to follow what happened. A madwoman attacked me to drink my blood, Mike had changed into a gargoyle, and Lily had transformed into a mountain lion. There were other gargoyles. Things like this didn’t happen to normal people. It was enough to make me want to close my eyes and sleep for a hundred years.
The urge to go to the bathroom forced me to deal with reality. When I caught sight of my face in the mirror, I stopped. Holy shit, I was pale. I examined the piercings on my neck, bracing myself for the gruesome wounds, but they were barely visible. The raised bumps were there, but most of the redness had faded.
When I returned to the bedroom, Mike stood by the bed.
“I heard you moving around. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m having a hangover after binge drinking at a frat party,” I forced a smile. “Why am I here?”
Mike’s expression appeared sheepish. “I hope you’re not angry, but I insisted I bring you back here so I could watch over you.”
“Of course not. Thanks for taking care of me.” I shook my head, remembering last night, if it even was only last night and not months ago. “Things are kind of blurry, but let me get this straight—that Nike woman bit me and drank my blood?”
Mike’s face turned grim. “Yes,” he said through gritted teeth. “She’s been taken care of.”
“Taken care of, how? Killed?”
“No. The gargoyles subdued her and locked her away after talking some sense into her boyfriend. He fought them at first, but eventually relented, and is with her. The gargoyles are making sure she doesn’t escape.”
I snorted. “How does her boyfriend feel about a deranged girlfriend who goes around biting people?”
Mike gave me a deadpan stare. “He’s a vampire, Allana. She is not, but was bitten by one and has h
ad some complications.”
“A vampire?” Having been bitten myself, I thought of the danger that posed to everyone there and it overshadowed concern for my own well-being. “Wait.” I grabbed his arm. “Is Lily okay?” Anxiety welled as quickly as an inflating balloon. Clearly Mike and I were all right, but Lily had shifted and she appeared to be the only one of her kind among other paranormal creatures—who could be a threat to her.
“She’s fine. Back home with Nico. She’d figured out something was wrong with you last night. Who knows—animal intuition or something?” He scratched his chin. “I can’t believe she’s a shifter. Did you know?”
“Not ‘til recently.” I took a step forward and faltered.
Mike caught me around the waist. “You might feel better with some food in you.” He draped my arm across his back to hold me up. “Can I convince you to get back into bed so you can rest? I’ll bring you something.”
Once I was under the blankets and propped up by pillows, I pictured the form he had changed into. “Did you really turn into a gargoyle?”
He rubbed his chin. “Ah, yeah. Surprised me too.”
“How did that happen?” I adjusted on the bed, my muscles feeling as cramped as if I’d started a new routine.
“Danton thinks we are connected in some way, some sort of gargoyle thing about the need to protect humans.”
I blinked rapidly. “What?”
“Apparently, that’s what gargoyles do. They watch and protect humans. They have for centuries.”
I put my head in my temples. “Bear with me. I’m just human,” I grinned. “It might take me longer to follow.”
Mike sat down on the bed and moved a strand of hair off my cheek. “I’m still learning myself. This is a whole new world for me too.”
“They had wings. You didn’t. I wonder why.”
“You don’t have to rub it in.” He cocked a smile.
“Sorry, just an observation.”
“They can fly too,” he added with a wistful tone. “My skin last night, I don’t even know how to describe it. Danton explained it as a protective layer, far tougher than human skin. This whole thing blows my mind if I think about it too hard.”
“Okay, try to explain it to me. And I’ll try not to interrupt.”
Mike’s gaze drifted off as he seemed to search for words. “The more time we’ve spent together and my feelings for you have grown, the more my need to protect you has grown as well. So powerful we forged some sort of bond.” His eyes moved to my own. “Each time I’ve felt compelled to protect you, the gargoyle side, which had always been a part of me, grew stronger. That night when I leaped off the stage to stop that guy from touching you flipped a switch. I’d never felt like that before. And last night when I thought Nike was trying to kill you, it pushed me over the edge into a full gargoyle form to better protect you.”
My mind swam with what he told me. “This is because of me?” I asked in a small voice.
He ran his fingers over my shoulder. “Us.”
“Are you okay with it, this change?”
“I am.” He sat up straighter. “A part of me is freaked out, the other part far more curious. It explains things about me that always made me different from others. It feels good to know I’m not alone. Not such a weirdo. My grandfather and Danton will help me understand what this means.”
My eyes searched his, those deep, hazel eyes with the dark lashes. While my brain fizzled with questions, my heart bloomed knowing our bond. I squeezed his hand. “We’re connected in some way?”
He nodded. “I feel it. Do you?”
“Yes. But I thought it was because I love—” I cut myself off. What the hell was I saying? All these emotions were overwhelming me, threatening to spill my deep confessions.
“You love me?” His face lit up. “Even after seeing what I turned into?”
Struggling for words to take back what I’d just revealed, I realized I didn’t want to hide from my feelings anymore. “Yes. Of course I do. You took on that form to save me. I owe you my life.” My lips twitched into a grin. “Actually, you looked kind of cute in that form. Reminded me of a dog. And I love dogs.”
He swooped down and covered my face and arms in kisses. “You look nothing like a dog.” He took my hand and kissed the fingertips. “I love you, Allana. With all my being.”
I took a deep breath. “I know I’ve been aloof about my feelings, but that was because I was scared. A coward.”
“No. You told me your reasons and I understand.”
“I’m still scared. Of diving into a relationship with you at the same time as jumping in with the studio.” He watched me, still as stone. “It’s terrifying to think one of us could end up with a broken heart. But being with you is the most exhilarating experience of my life. It’s a risk, but you’re worth it.” I leaned up to kiss his cheek, the beard growth tickling my lips. “You’re the best man I’ve ever known. And I’ll regret it for every second of my life if I don’t give it a shot. If it’s not too late, I’d like to give us a try.” I pulled back and searched his eyes, waiting for his answer.
“It’s not too late.” His voice lowered to a sultry tone that melted through me. “I’ve been waiting for you. Even when I thought you wanted nothing to do with me, I waited for you still.” He ran his fingers over my cheek.
I swallowed, overwhelmed with emotions and not knowing how to respond.
“How about I make you breakfast in bed?”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
Mike returned with pancakes dripping with maple syrup and hot hazelnut coffee. He doted over me like a parent, making sure I ate enough to restore my energy. Fortified with food and caffeine, I felt well enough to get out of bed. “I have to get to the studio,” I said, dropping my feet to the floor.
“Wait,” he said. “I have to tell you something else Danton told me.”
“What?” I glanced up at him. He has such a serious expression on his face, I stayed where I was on the bed.
“He said to keep an eye on you. For anything strange.”
I cocked my head. “Like what?”
“Because Nike bit you.”
“I’ll get tested,” I said. “Don’t worry. I’m up to date on my shots,” I added wryly.
“That’s not what I mean,” he explained, running his hand over his chin. “She isn’t a vampire, not in the true sense.”
A real-life discussion about vampires was not one I ever thought I’d have, but that’s exactly the turn this one was taking. He paused, as if waiting to see how I’d handle this. “I’m listening,” I said.
“She was bitten by a vampire and has been acting more like one since it happened.” He paused again and I wondered where he was going with this. “Most humans recover fine from vampire bites—if they aren’t drained and killed—but she has had a strange reaction.”
I raised my eyebrows. “And now you think I might start acting like some crazed vampire?”
“No. I don’t,” he said.
“But—how do you feel?”
I gauged my body for any odd sensations. “Like the undead,” I said with a deadpan expression. His eyes widened in horror and I laughed. “I’m just teasing. I just feel like I had a rough night and could use a shower. That’s it.” I waved my hands around and laughed. “No urge to drink blood and become a creature of the night.”
Mike raised a finger to scold me. “Not funny.” But then he laughed along with me.
“Mind if I use your shower?”
“I’m coming in with you,” he said. When I gave him an inquisitive look, he added, “No, it’s not to make sure you don’t turn all vampy. You may still be weak and I want to be there to catch you if you fall.”
In the shower, weakness was the last thing on my mind. Mike washed my hair and conditioned it. His fingers running through it were a sensual experience on its own. The water almost scalded our skin, but it soothed my sore muscles.
Mike washed me with a loofah sponge covered with a c
lean-smelling body wash. Every nerve awoke under his silky ministrations as he trailed it over my curves. From my neck and shoulders, over my breasts, lingering on my nipples. He dropped the sponge to kiss each one, spiraling the hard bud with his warm tongue. I almost lost my footing then, but his hands clamped on my hips kept me steady. He resumed sponging me, traveling farther down my body. My breath hitched as I waited for him to reach between my thighs, but he flashed a wicked smile as he moved to wash my back instead. He sponged down my lower back and the suds rushed between my cheeks. Then he paid particular attention to my ass.
He dropped the sponge to squeeze the fleshy cheeks. “You know how much I love this, don’t you?”
“I’ve been getting the idea,” I managed through short breaths.
He picked up the sponge and resumed washing from my feet, up over my calves and shin, around my kneecap, and then behind my knee. By now my pussy was quivering with anticipation, hotter and wetter than the water pounding on my breasts and torso. At last he moved up over my legs, between my thighs, and I ceased to breathe.
“Let’s make sure you’re nice and clean,” he murmured, kneeling before my pussy. He ran the loofah over me, back and forth between the creases. “We wouldn’t want you leaving here a dirty girl.”
My voice came out ragged. “Oh, Mike, I’m feeling very dirty right now.”
Only inches away, his warm breath heated me and I grasped at the slippery wet tiles. Mike stood and I sighed in protest. He unhooked the shower nozzle and used it to wash the suds from me, beginning with my hair, running down over my breasts until my nipples were hard as quartz. He washed the suds away, leaving a fiery trail under my heated skin. When he angled the stream of water into my folds, the hot jets pulsing on my clit almost undid me alone.
“I want you.” I panted. “I need you.”
Mike hung up the nozzle and sank again before me. Gripping my hips in his large hands, he traced spirals on my inner thighs, working his way higher. By the time he reached my silky flesh, I was in a state where I could barely form words. He finally speared me with his exquisite tongue and I clung to him, digging my fingers into his back. Words burst forth. “Oh God, Mike. More.”
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