Destroy seemed to grow three inches taller, and his chest puffed out, “I’d be honored.”
“Good, now go show your mate her new home. Looks like you did a great job on it,” Enthrall said.
Destroy, with Rowan still in his arms, turned and walked away, calling over his shoulder to Enthrall, “I’ll show it to you later.”
Rowan didn’t even tell Enthrall goodbye. She was staring up into the face of the male that had declared himself her mate — she was completely lost in his smile, his eyes, his scent.
Chapter 31
Enthrall watched as Destroy went up the front steps to his and Rowan’s home, went inside and closed the door.
He smiled. He really liked this new Destroy. He was a very capable male, a fun male, and a dependable one. He was proud to call Destroy friend. He made a short trip through his house, making sure all was in order. And to his surprise not only was it in order, but Destroy had cleaned his house for him.
He walked outside again and into his yard. He glanced at the house across the way and smiled as he ghosted away to visit the first of his people and make sure all was well. He wanted to personally speak with each one before he returned to Philadelphia, so he only had a few hours to fit all the visits in, but he knew he could do it if he hurried.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Destroy set Rowan on her feet in their living room. “Welcome home, Row,” he said to her again.
Rowan looked around their living room, overwhelmed that Destroy did all this for her. “I’d have been happy wherever you are, you didn’t have to do this for me.”
“Yes, I did. You deserve the best of everything. A home to be proud of, be safe in,” he said these words as he slowly leaned down to press his lips to hers. He kissed her sweetly, then took her hand, “Let me show you!”
“Where we are standing right now, this is our living room, and over there,” he turned and pointed to the other side of the house, “that’s our dining room, and if you come over here,” he took her by the hand and pulled her through the dining room, “that’s our kitchen. I wanted it connected but a little bit apart, so I put a half wall in to separate the kitchen from the dining area.”
“It’s perfect, Destroy,” Rowan said, looking up at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
“I’ve already filled the icebox, and I have everything we may need already put away in the pantry.”
“Wow, you’ve been busy!” she said.
“Yes! I made Carnage let me walk around his whole house to see what all Carolena needed, and then I bought all the same stuff,” he said proudly. He thought about the words coming out of his mouth and thought better of them, “But if you want something changed or something different, just tell me, and I’ll get new stuff.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Rowan answered sincerely.
“Come look,” he said, pulling her back into the living room, “If you go down this hall, the first room is a bedroom, and the next one is too.” He opened each door, showing her the beds and dressers, and curtains hanging in each huge picture window. “I hope you don’t mind the windows, I wanted lots of sunshine in the rooms.”
“Not at all, I love windows!” she said excitedly, looking around.
“Now this door, this is our bathroom. It’s got hot and cold water just like Enthrall’s. Simon gave us a cistern and even helped me place it on the roof. Carnage ran all the plumbing lines for it and for the toilet system,” Destroy explained. “Now, the last door,” he said, coming to a stop in front of it, “this door is very special.”
“It is?” she asked teasing him.
“It is,” he answered.
“Why would it be so special? It’s another room, right?”
“Yes. But it’s our bedroom,” he said huskily.
Rowan immediately caught the tone change in his voice. She didn’t answer, but her heart did a little flutter. She looked up at him and nodded, giving him permission to go on.
“This is where we’ll sleep, and rest, and play,” he said.
Rowan nodded again, “Okay.”
“But first, this is where I’m going to take all your clothes off, lay you on that bed, and memorize every single inch of skin on your body. It’s where I’m going to love you for the first time. It’s where I’m going to claim you, bond you to me, make sure that you feel everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
Rowan’s heart was pounding, her breath hitched, “You are?”
Destroy nodded, “I am. Then I’m going to do it all again, and again, and again until neither of us can move.”
“And when are you planning to do this?” she asked, trying to sound disinterested as she glanced around the room — their room.
Her world turned upside down when he swept her off her feet and with a low, deep growl, said, “Now. Right now!”
Destroy plastered his mouth against hers and swiped her upper lip with his tongue, “Let me in,” he commanded softly.
She did, she opened, and he invaded her mouth, tasting and nipping, suckling her lips and tongue.
And just when he moved to lay her down on their bed, her stomach growled. He stopped, held her out from him to be able to see her face and said, “Are you hungry?”
Rowan, embarrassed that her stomach had interrupted them said, “A little. I didn’t eat this morning.”
“Why not?” Destroy asked, “Hasn’t Enthrall been feeding you?”
“Yes, he’s tried. I’ve just not been very hungry, and I’ve not been sleeping well either… I missed you, so no appetite and I’ve not been able to rest much.”
Destroy looked at his woman, really looked at her. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her stomach growled again. This would not do, not at all. “Well, now you’re home so no more missing me. Here, lie down and rest while I make you something to eat.”
Rowan raised her eyebrows, “You’re going to cook for me?”
“I am! What kind of male would I be if I didn’t make sure you were fed and rested before I ravaged you?” he teased.
Destroy sat her on the bed, removed her shoes, then laid her back on top of the covers. “It’s getting dark out, so I’ll make us dinner. I’ll be right back, just rest a little ‘til I bring you food.” He kissed her lips again and smiled at her as he turned to leave the room.
Just before he walked through the door, she called, “Destroy?”
He paused in the doorway, looking back at her expectantly.
“I love you, Ribbons,” she said softly.
Destroy beamed at her, his entire face lighting up, “I love you, too, Row. I’ll be right back.”
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
The frogs were singing their evening songs, the cicada’s keeping rhythm with them. The wetlands were alive with creatures big and small as the Windigo wandered this way and that searching for his Witch. He’d felt her return earlier while the sun still shone, and waiting for the darkness to fall had almost been more than he could bear. But now, he could move about in the shadows undetected as he searched. He’d been almost frightened when he first noticed her gone, but then he’d watched all the places she’d been and seen that the Gargoyle’s wife was gone, as well as Enthrall. Then he’d seen the other Gargoyle building a home for the Witch and knew they’d be back. So he’d bided his time, and this night had finally come. His night to make away with his Witch. Most everyone was in their homes, so he repeated his nightly path, here and there, back and forth, searching the places he’d known her to be. Then… suddenly there she was. Her magic prickled his skin. She was even more powerful than she’d been the last time he was near her. He zeroed in on the home she was in and approached it quietly. There was noise coming from inside, but he approached anyway.
The Windigo stood back and watched from the shadows. The Gargoyle was in the kitchen, preparing food. Oh, how he missed the feeling of a satisfying meal. The Windigo walked around the outside of the house, looking into each of the windows. Finally he found her. She lay in a bed, sleeping as the Gargoyle
made her a meal.
Perfect. The Goyle in a different room, his Witch sleeping. Nothing to stop him. He stepped into the shadows and emerged in the Witch’s bedroom. He very, very slowly reached out his hand expecting to be slammed backward as he had been before, but nothing stopped him. The skeletal remains of his hand touched her skin. Her eyes opened, locked on his, and before she could react, he whisked her away to his secret retreat.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Destroy wasn’t great in the kitchen, but he’d been learning so that he could cook for his woman when she didn’t feel like cooking for him.
He’d chopped potatoes and onions and cooked them down in oil. When they were done, he scrambled some eggs and poured them over the potatoes and onions, tossing them to cook them evenly. He plated it, grabbed some forks, and took it back to the bedroom to feed his Rowan. He planned to love her all night and most of the next day — she’d need her strength.
Destroy held the tray with one hand and reached for the oil lamp with the other to turn it on. “Wake up, Row. You hungry?” he asked, turning around to smile at her.
Only she wasn’t there. His brow furrowed — maybe she was in the bathroom. Destroy put the food tray on the dresser and went to the bathroom, lamp in hand. He held the lamp aloft, moving it this way then that. No, she wasn’t in the bathroom.
Destroy’s heart dropped. He hurried to the living room, stopping to check each bedroom on the way. No. She wasn’t in the house. He ran out onto the porch, “Rowan!” he screamed.
There was no reply.
He screamed even louder, “Rowaaaannnn!”
Still no answer. Then it hit him, the Windigo. The Windigo had taken his woman.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Rowan opened her mouth to scream, but it was too late. She was already tumbling through the air and landing on her bottom on the wet, muddy ground.
Rowan scooted back, crab walking on her feet and hands to escape the Windigo. Once she was a good twenty feet from him, she glanced quickly around herself. A cave, she was in a cave.
“Where am I? Take me home now!” she demanded.
The Windigo just regarded her calmly, then slowly shook his head, no.
“They’ll come for me; they’ll make you sorry you ever touched me,” she threatened.
“Why?” he hissed at her.
“Why what?” she asked.
“Why will they come?” he hissed again.
“To save me!” she shouted.
The Windigo’s head quirked slightly to one side, “Can you not save yourself, Witch?” he hissed, turning his head side to side as he tried to figure out why she’d need to be saved.
“I…” she stuttered. Well, yes, as a matter of fact, she could. She was so used to living her life as a human that she didn’t think to call upon her newly released gifts. “Yes, I can!” she shouted at him, jumping to her feet, all traces of fear now gone.
The Windigo raised his head in the air, scenting her. “Gargoyle,” he hissed.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m a Gargoyle’s wife, er, or I will be. I’d bet you’re rethinking taking me now!” she snapped at him.
The Windigo stared at her, trying to see into her eyes. And she looked right back. Her heart hurt. Not because he was hurting her, but because of the depth of sadness she saw there. The loneliness, the ache.
“Why are you sad?” she asked, taking notice for the first time of his appearance. He was skeletal almost, but covered in flesh. There was a hollow emptiness about him.
He didn’t speak, but held his arms out from his body as though to say, look.
She knew only a little about Windigos, only a bit more than she’d overheard at Carolena’s home at breakfast. But this one didn’t seem that frightening anymore. Just painfully lonely and empty.
“I’m going home, now,” she said. And started to walk toward the entrance to the cave.
The Windigo reached out to stop her by grabbing her arm.
Rowan stopped walking and glanced down at his hand on her arm. An orange pulse of light threw his hand from her.
The Windigo looked down at his now smoking hand. A wisp of smoke rose through the air from his burnt flesh.
“Do not touch me,” Rowan said calmly. She looked toward the mouth of the cave and could see the trees in the distance swaying, the winds picking up at her call.
The Windigo realized that there would be no forcing her to do anything she didn’t want to do. The only way she’d help him ever was if she chose to. He raised his eyes from his scorched hand to her eyes, he swallowed, then hissed, “Help me.”
That stopped Rowan in her tracks. “What?”
The Windigo held up his hands and showed them to her, as though to say, look at me, “Free me,” he begged.
“Why would I free you? You’d just end up back here again. Isn’t it jealousy, greed, covetous behavior that made you like this to begin with?”
The Windigo shook his head, he swallowed again, “No,” he hissed. “Tricked,” he said.
“By whom?” Rowan asked.
The Windigo’s face crumpled, his eyes filled with tears, “Love,” he hissed at her.
Rowan’s romantic heart couldn’t stand it. She walked back over to him, took his hands in hers. “Oh! I’m so sorry.”
The Windigo watched Rowan’s hands holding his for a moment before slowly pulling his away, “No touch,” he said in his hissing rasp.
“Why? I won’t burn you again,” she assured him.
The Windigo moved his hands behind his own back, “Hurt you?” he said, but as a question, not a statement.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she answered, “but thank you for thinking of it. How can I possibly help you?” she asked.
The Windigo hurried to the mouth of his cave and stood there looking out over the trees blowing in the wind, having been strengthened by Rowan’s use of her powers. He pointed to the clouds above and then to the trees.
“My powers?” she asked.
He shook his head, then pointed at her hands, “The light. The rain,” he hissed.
Rowan watched him, not understanding.
Then he pointed to himself, “Dark,” he hissed, just barely audible. It seemed that the hissing raspings and strain of his voice caused him pain when he used it.
Then she knew, “My light! Take away your dark with my light!”
He nodded.
“What about the rain?” she asked.
“Cleanse,” he answered.
Rowan looked out over the drop off at the very edge of the cave. She was high up on the side of a mountain. She most definitely was not in Louisiana any longer.
“How will I get home?” she asked.
The Windigo’s entire posture dropped. She wouldn’t help him. He took a deep breath, then patted his chest to indicate he’d get her there. “We go.” He reached out, clasped her arm and stepped into the shadows. Immediately they moved from one place to another, and again Rowan found herself tumbling on the ground on her bottom.
“Will you stop that?!” she shouted at him.
He inclined his head and made to step away into his shadows again.
“Wait!” she called.
The Windigo stopped and looked back at her.
“Stand over there,” she said, “away from my new house.” She glanced over her shoulder at her house. She didn’t want lightning to hit her house instead of the Windigo. “As a matter of fact, let’s go waaay over there.”
She directed him to a place halfway between her and Enthrall’s homes. “I’m not sure about this, but I’ll try. And if you’ve lied to me about how you came to be this way, I’ll make you wish you would have just stayed as you were.”
The Windigo nodded quickly and stood exactly where she told him to.
Rowan looked up at the sky, then back at him, wringing her hands, “I’m kind of new to this; what if I kill you instead of helping you?” she asked.
The Windigo shrugged, “Still free,” he answered.
Rowan n
odded, “Okay, then. Here goes.”
Chapter 32
Destroy landed on the deck of Carnage’s home, shouting for Carnage, “She’s gone! Help me find her, please, help me!” he shouted as he ran to the front door.
The door was locked. He could have broken it and gotten in, but he knew that would just make Carnage angry, and right now he needed his help. So instead, he started up a constant pounding.
Carnage was deeply asleep when he was snatched from rest by Destroy’s voice shouting that she was gone. He shot bolt upright and immediately looked next to him. She was not gone. Carolena was lying right beside him. He jumped out of bed and ran to Lily’s room. She was there, too. Then the pounding started.
Carnage rushed to the front door, unlocked it, and threw it open, “No!” he whisper-screamed at Destroy. “Leenah s’eep!” he snarled.
“Rowan’s gone! She was in our bed, and now she’s gone. The Windigo has her. Help me!” he snarled.
“‘Es!” Carnage growled. “‘Ere?” he asked.
“I don’t know where! I need you to tell me where, then I’m going to tear that worthless male limb from limb. If he’s hurt my Row, I’m gonna put him back together and rip him apart all over again!” the last words of his sentence completely garbled as his snarls and growls grew louder and louder.
Carolena, woken by their snarling and Destroy’s shouting and pounding, came rushing down the hallway, “What is the problem?”
“Rowan, the Windigo took Rowan, and I don’t know where to find him! Carnage is going to help me, but where?”
Carolena’s face went from horrified to one of realization. Then she pointed behind Destroy.
Destroy spun and looked in the direction she pointed.
Carolena said, “Isn’t that her handiwork? I think she’s got it under control,” as she pointed to what appeared to be a very violent thunderstorm concentrated over only a very small area of their community.
Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Page 25