Beauty and the Gargoyle

by Tamsin Baker

  EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2017 Tamsin Baker

  ISBN: 978-1-77339-450-3

  Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

  Editor: Karyn White

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To my amazing street team who inspired this series. Thank you!

  BEAUTY AND THE GARGOYLE

  The Gargoyles of New York, 2

  Tamsin Baker

  Copyright © 2017

  Chapter One

  Rafael

  The mirror casts back an image that I cannot reconcile as being my face. How could this happen to me?

  I’m certain that one day, I will go to rest in my Gargoyle state, and I will wake up healed and rejuvenated. Just like every other time I’ve been injured in my human form. My shifter genes could heal everything, or that’s what I was told.

  Not this time though.

  Not since I was shot with a gun, while in Gargoyle form.

  Seems like the rules are different when that happens

  “Hey, Rafe. Want some dinner?” Christiana, my brother Roman’s new Beloved, calls out to me from the kitchen.

  Gabe and Nate, my other two brothers, have gone out on the town, partying, drinking, and screwing around like nothing has happened.

  Like my life hasn’t been turned upside down.

  Like people aren’t trying to kill us in our sleep.

  “Yes. I’m coming,” I call out, though I don’t really want to face the beautiful woman who is sizzling up some steak for me.

  Luckily, she doesn’t even blink when she sees me now, and I love her for it.

  I gather what little pride I have left and open my bedroom door, move into the kitchen, and sit down at the bench.

  “Here you go. I cooked two, but there’s more if you’re hungry.”

  She gives me a brilliant smile as she sets the T-bones in front of me, blood oozing from between the seared marks on the flesh.

  “No. That’s perfect. Thank you.”

  As Gargoyle shifters, my brothers and I have sharper than sharp teeth, and eat only red meat. Occasionally the desire stirs in me to try some fresh bread, a fragrant piece of cheese … but my body hurls it up faster than I can swallow it.

  No compromising on the rules of being a Gargoyle.

  “Is Roman here?” I ask between mouthfuls, my stomach aching with the first tastes of food since I’ve awoken.

  “No. He’s gone off to some meeting with a banker. Or something.” She shrugs as though she doesn’t know and doesn’t care. But there is more to Christiana than first appears.

  I owe my life to this petite female, and as far as I’m concerned, she’s earned the right to sit around the apartment doing nothing for the rest of her days, but it’s not Christiana’s style.

  “I was actually hoping I could ask you something,” she says, her tone a little too soft. Sly even.

  I nod, continuing to eat.

  “I want to go back to work. I know I don’t have to,” she rushes to add. “Roman keeps telling me I never have to work again, that you guys have heaps of money.”

  I keep nodding. A hundred years of investments and properties, and we’re set. Not to mention the fact that with immortality staring us all in the face, the last thing we are, is materialistic.

  “You can have anything you want, Chrissy. I mean that.”

  She screws up her face like a child tasting something new. Beautiful little human.

  “I don’t want to live like that. If Roman’s right and our union makes me immortal, too, I can’t just sit around on my ass while you guys are resting on the library.”

  “You should be sleeping so you can stay up with us all night,” I suggest.

  Chrissy still keeps relatively normal human hours, sleeping from about two AM to lunchtime. Which doesn’t please Roman. But I think a part of her is still clinging to her humanity. That will change with more time, I’m sure.

  “I’m going to start applying for some jobs. Maybe a local café.”

  That wasn’t a good idea. “No. We need you. Roman needs you.”

  I almost said, don’t be selfish, but saying that to a woman who took a bullet for us is low, even for me, and I’m in the worst state of my life.

  She pouts and flops down onto a stool opposite me.

  I grin at her dramatics. “You’ve already put our cleaner out of a job.”

  Chrissy huffs and crosses her arms. “I didn’t mean to! I just … can’t sit around while she cleans and I’ve got nothing to do. I like looking after our home.”

  “Well, after a hundred years or so, I’m sure the novelty will wear off.”

  She sticks out her tongue, and I want to tug on her ponytail.

  Chrissy pouts again. “Well, if I ever get sick of looking after the house, you can hire a cleaner again, but for now, I need something to do!”

  I can see her frustration and empathize with it. Having forever stretch out before you like a long, empty road, is an intimidating thing. “I’m sure you can do something. Maybe ask Bill or Roman about helping with the daytime security stuff? Maybe working at the library, or something? Do you like computers? I know Roman’s been upset with the defects in his current security system.”

  Why I was throwing ideas at her, I have no clue. Roman was going to have my hide.

  “No. I hate computers. But the library! Yes! Thank you, Rafe!” She bounces around the bench and kisses my cheek so quickly I don’t have the chance to flinch.

  I put my hand up to my marred flesh and watch her skip away, unaffected.

  The pain in my chest releases, and I can take a deep breath for the first time since waking.

  Chrissy gives me hope that one day I, too, will find my Beloved.

  My chest tightens again as I remember what I see when I look in the mirror. I can’t imagine anyone loving a beast like me.

  I’ve always been a monster through the day, of course. The curse of being “born” a Gargoyle shifter.

  When the sunlight hits our bodies in the morning on sunrise, my three brothers and I turn into grotesque stone statues with tails, fang-like teeth and taloned feet.

  But when dusk arrives and the darkness releases us from our curse, we are men. And I’ve always been handsome through those nights. Women fall at my feet.

  Or they did. Once upon a time.

  Now … I don’t dare leave the apartment.

  I finish my meal and go back to my bedroom. I lie down on the bed, my mind a whirling downward spiral of deep loathing and fear. In a few hours, I’ll have to step back on that library roof and transform into my Gargoyle shifter once again.

  I don’t have a choice.

  I would be frozen, defenseless and alone. Anyone could attack me like they had a month ago. A violent shudder runs through my muscles like a cold, electrical current.

  Those memories still haunt me. For every moment. Of every day. And I can’t see any way out of it.

  ****

  Isabella

  “And you’re happy to start right away?” I ask the lovely woman who’s just walked into the library this morning and asked me for a job.

  “Absolutely. I would love that.”

  “Well, to be honest, we don’t get a lot of volunteers here. But as long
as you’re happy to fall into our roster, you can start today.”

  Christiana, the red-haired girl in front of me, practically jumps up and down.

  “Oh, thank you so much. This is so perfect for me. Where would you like me to start?”

  I adjust the glasses on my nose, a list a mile long running though my head.

  “Most volunteers start with learning our filing system. If you come with me, I can show you the piles of returned books that all need to go back on the shelves.”

  “That would be great.”

  This young girl is uncharacteristically enthusiastic about the job, which makes me a little uneasy.

  “Are you a great book lover, Christiana?”

  “Oh, please call me Chrissy,” she beams. “Ah, not exactly, but I simply love this building. I live a block away, and I’m dying to get out and see people again.”

  Red flags go up in my head.

  “What do you mean, get out and meet people again?”

  Has she been locked up in a cell, or something?

  She blushes, her cherubic face pinkening. “I used to be a waitress, but then I met Roman. He’s, well … rich, and doesn’t think I need to work. But I have to have something to do during the day, and this would be just perfect.”

  Anger swirls in my belly. I don’t like the sound of that.

  “Well, I’m glad you came here. We have heaps of work for you, and if you prove to be as loyal and enthusiastic as you seem, I’ll put you on the books permanently.”

  I hope this lovely girl isn’t under the thumb of one of those tyrannical men. I don’t have a lot of experience with men, but I’ve seen the damage they could do.

  Chrissy lays a warm hand on my arm. “Oh, please don’t be worried for me. Roman is the most beautiful man in the world. He’s just … well. I’ve had a pretty rough time of it for the past few years, and he likes spoiling me. So, anyway. Let’s get going. Show me what I need to do, and I promise I’ll do the best job I can.”

  I smile and decide to let that go for now, but I make a mental note to keep an eye out for Roman.

  I bend my head to the task, showing Chrissy the filing system for the massive city library that I run. She seems to pick it up quickly and instantly goes about putting the books way.

  I go back to my desk in my office, cataloguing the new arrivals.

  The day passes quickly, and the sun starts to dip. It’s been a good day, as always. I love my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

  The library is finally empty, except for Chrissy and myself. Time to go home.

  I walk towards her as two men step out of the ancient lift in the corner of the library and move into the foyer.

  What were they doing up on the roof?

  “Christiana.” The larger man’s voice was deep, and had a threatening edge I didn’t like. Perhaps this was Roman?

  I hasten towards Chrissy, coming to a stop as the men turn to face me.

  They both have bright silver eyes that are as eerie as they are beautiful. That isn’t natural.

  The man closer to Chrissy pulls her into his side, his handsome face twisting into a look of protective annoyance.

  The man next to him, clearly his brother if the strong jaw and silver eyes were anything to go by, drags his gaze away from mine and turns his head so I can’t look at him properly.

  “Bella, this is my partner, Roman, and his brother, Rafael. Roman, this is the curator of the library, Isabella.”

  My mind goes blank, and my whole body begins to quiver with arousal and awareness. Who is this man?

  A power I cannot explain draws me closer, making me circle him until I’m standing in front of him again.

  My heart pounds so hard in my chest I can barely contain it. I’m not scared, though this man’s injuries would make me flinch on any other day.

  “What’s happened to you?” I ask Rafael, raising my hands and cupping his face so that he is forced to look at me.

  What am I doing, touching a complete stranger? The reasonable voice in my head screams at me to stop. But it’s as though a puppeteer has control of my limbs, because I cannot stop myself.

  He glares at me the best he can, steel in his eyes, his mouth turned down.

  “I was shot.”

  I take a closer look, my hands still clinging to his strong jaw. His injuries don’t look like gun wounds. His lip is torn, and one side of his face looks like it has been burned, or cut up in some way.

  It is strangely ugly, and yet my knees shake and my core melts as arousal floods me like a hot storm.

  He is still staring at me, but this time, his lips are parted, dragging in air.

  “Let go of me,” he says, though his voice is strained.

  He’s twice my weight. I’m tall, but thin, and he’s huge. Warrior size. If he wants me to stop touching him, why isn’t he stopping me himself?

  “I can’t,” I whisper, though it sounds utterly ridiculous. Every educated, independent, “strong woman” part of me screams at me to let go.

  I don’t.

  A groan rips through him, and his eyes begin to roll back in his head like he is having a seizure of some sort.

  I gasp, drop my hands and take a step back. He drops to his knees on the floor and clutches his chest.

  “Oh, my God. He’s having a heart attack. I’ve gotta call someone.”

  Panic overwhelms me in waves of cold as I turn to run. But Chrissy grabs me, holding tight.

  “No. Stop. He’s fine. Just wait.”

  I cling to her, hoping she knows best. Then I watch as Roman bends to speak to his brother and then smiles as he helps him up.

  I scowl at Roman. I’m not sure I like him.

  The scarred warrior that has me obsessed sways on his feet, but he stands, staring at me with a softened expression now.

  Chrissy’s man speaks. “As my beloved has said, I am Roman. This is my brother, Rafael.”

  Roman is trying to get my attention, yet I struggle to pull my eyes away from the man in front of me. Why do I feel like I’ve known him all of my life?

  Suddenly, Rafael turns away and says, “Tell her to stop looking at me.”

  He’s panting as though he’s run a marathon, and his brother rubs him on the back, a pitying look in his eyes.

  Chrissy taps me on the arm. “Isabella, let’s go sit in your office. Do you need to lock up? Or…”

  “Um, yeah. And it’s Bella. Please.”

  I force myself to start moving, going back to my office to remove the master keys and make my way to the front doors. I don’t really want to lock us in, but what choice do I have?

  By the time I’ve walked back to Chrissy, the men are gone.

  “Where are they?” I asked, suspicious now. There aren’t too many valuable things in the library if you were going to pawn them off, but to me, they were all priceless.

  “They’ve … um. Gone home.”

  I cock my head to the side.

  “How?”

  Chrissy rubs the bridge of her nose. “Um. They went back to the roof. It’s hard to explain.”

  “They went back to the roof? How are they getting home from there?”

  She opens her mouth to speak then slams it shut again.

  I take a step back. “Chrissy, you’re not making any sense.”

  Chrissy grimaces. “I know, and what I am about to tell you is going to make you think I am utterly mad. So how ‘bout we leave the library and I’ll explain it to you?”

  I cross my arms over my chest, anger and humiliation flooding back in. I can’t believe I practically molested a strange man a moment ago, and now they’re missing in my library.

  “No. I don’t think so. And I think you better not come back tomorrow. If I find anything has been damaged or stolen, I will be calling the police.”

  Chrissy heaves a massive sigh.

  “I know. It’s okay. They would never take anything. Don’t worry. Thank you for today. I had a wonderful time.”

  I march
back to the front door and let Chrissy out into the night.

  She leaves with a reluctant sigh and I slam the door behind her, a massive upload of belated thoughts now bombarding my brain.

  What a day! The first time I trust a complete stranger and they let in some weird creatures… I don’t even know what they were.

  Fear tingles along my spine, and I grab my bag, turn on the alarm, slip out the door, and lock everything behind me.

  The alarm is rigged to security cameras and has a direct link into the NYPD.

  Fingers crossed, if Roman or his brother try to break in, or out, they’ll be caught.

  Assuming I didn’t hallucinate the whole thing, because looking back over my behavior this evening, that is entirely possible!

  Chapter Two

  Rafael

  “What the hell was that, Roman?”

  I pace up and down our lounge room while my brother smugly sits on the couch with his Beloved in his lap like nothing has changed.

  “You know what it was, Rafe. You’re just too scared to admit it.”

  My body trembles with anger, while Roman and Chrissy snuggle like a couple of teenage humans. Fuck, they’re annoying! If that woman really is what I think she is, then I’m doomed.

  A woman like that is never going to love a beast like me, and then what hope of a future do I have?

  Roman growls at his Beloved. “And as for you, little independent thing! What were you doing in the library?”

  Chrissy grins up at him, and an arrow of envy slices through my heart.

  “Roman, I want to work. If we’ve got forever together, you need to let me do something while you guys are sleeping. The library is perfect. I can come up and see you at lunchtime, meet you at dusk. Plus, the manager is so lovely.”

  She twists to look at me, and silence falls in the room.

  I turn on them both, the heavy weight of their gazes on me. The strangest mix of anger and arousal still flows through my veins, and I don’t know whether to weep or punch a hole through a building.