"I'm sorry if I've been sending you mixed signals," he said quietly.
"That's…okay," I replied, not knowing what else to say.
"I just didn't want to feel this way about you," he murmured, which kinda confirmed what Dare had suggested in the car.
I held my breath and waited for his next words.
"But I don't think I can fight it anymore." He blew out a rough sigh. "I'm not sure why I started fighting in the first place."
"Dare told me about the witch who betrayed him," I said softly. "I'm not a witch, Valor."
He rolled his shoulders like it didn't matter but it was hard to miss the flicker of regret in his eyes. "All redheads are witches," he said in a low voice.
"Well, I don't have any powers," I pointed out. "So that makes me not-a-witch."
"When you were trapped beneath that red box, I was able to wake up without the sun's help," he argued quietly. "You must have spelled me out of my stone form—maybe without even realizing it—because you needed help."
"It must have been something else," I countered right away. "Or maybe you were mistaken. Maybe the sun did reach you."
"I wasn't mistaken," he said seriously. He stopped in the road and I had to tilt my head back to look up at his face, my hood falling down onto my shoulders. His gaze lingered on my hair, and there was a small crease between his dark brows. "I'm pretty sure it was you. I'm just not certain how you did it without any wood."
"What does wood have to do with anything?" I exclaimed.
"Ultimately, witches derive their power from the wood in trees. That's why Reason was so surprised that you hadn't done anything to stop your neighbor. A witch has an obligation to watch out for the source of her power."
"I hate what my neighbor's doing," I muttered, forgetting that I was supposed to be convincing him I wasn't a witch.
"I'm not surprised," he answered with a quiet smile.
"But I'm not a witch." I shoved my hands deeper in my pockets and started walking again. I wasn't a witch and I didn't want to be one. So, I didn't tell Valor that I was holding a hammer with a wooden handle when I'd prayed for help in the garage. The handle was painted red so you couldn't tell it was wood.
The wind tossed Valor's dark hair around his face as we scuffed down the road and he flicked it out of his eyes. "It doesn't matter if you are," he said as solemn as a vow.
We made the rest of the trip back home in silence. As we climbed the long driveway up to the house, Valor opened his mouth several times as if he had something to important to tell me but was having trouble getting the words out. Finally, he said, "The other day, you asked me what it was like back in my time."
"That's right."
"And I wanted to tell you the girls are prettier now," he confessed with a lopsided smile.
I was pretty charmed by what appeared to be an indirect compliment although it was hard to believe the girls weren't prettier back in the day since the guys were definitely better looking—at least the gargoyles were. 'Course, I wasn't sure how many girls he'd seen since he'd landed in my century. "How many girls have you seen, so far?"
"Just one," he murmured, and stopped me with his hand wrapped around mine.
His gaze locked on my face and the husky tone of his voice sent a thrill of warmth through my nerve endings, making my knees weak. I realized I needed to find a safer topic of conversation before I fell flat on my face but I just stood there, trapped in the intensity of his gaze, powerless to move.
Reaching for my face, he tucked a thick curl of my hair behind my ear. "I wouldn't let anyone harm you, MacKenzie. I hope you know that."
Speechless, I nodded up at him.
"After all," he continued like he was reasoning out his position. "It's my fault that you're in this situation. I put you in jeopardy when I revealed I was a gargoyle. So, I couldn't let anything happen to you."
It took a little reading between the lines but I understood what he was trying to say. Although Reason wouldn't want me to know it, none of the gargoyles would resort to violence against me. On the other hand, they weren't willing to let me out of their sight, either.
"I know," I admitted seriously as I searched his eyes. "And I understand why you guys need to be careful. But I have to go to school tomorrow. If I don't turn up, the administration will start asking questions."
He pulled a hand back through his hair and nodded.
"And I'm going to the Pearl Street Mall on Halloween night," I told him with a determined smile. "I've been planning it with my friends for ages."
He didn't seem too happy about that little announcement.
"But there's no reason you guys can't come along," I added swiftly.
He seemed to consider this possibility for a few moments as we walked to the front door. "I need to talk to the others," he said as he pulled me behind him and I enjoyed his warm grip on my hand. "We need to have a pack meeting."
As soon as we walked through the front door, Valor took his knife from his sheath. He leaned into the living room, where the rest of his family was sprawled around the television, and lifted his blade up to the level of his eyes. Then he turned into the dining room and tossed it on the table. One by one, his brothers and cousins joined him, placing their knives with his.
Thanks to all the historical fiction I've read, the whole throwing-down-the-knife business didn't seem all that weird to me. I knew when the ancient clans got together, it was customary for them to lay down their weapons before talks began. I figured the gargoyles were just following custom. Since they were having a meeting, tradition required them to lay down their arms before they got started.
"What is this about?" Victor asked when the six gargoyles were seated around the table.
Reason snorted. "I'm guessing it's about the girl."
Valor lifted a hand and motioned me to join them. "We need to talk about MacKenzie," he admitted. "As well as other matters."
I pulled a chair up next to Valor at the end of the table and sat with my hands pressed between my knees.
Valor's elbows rested on the table with his fingers laced loosely together in front of his face. "Chaos, Courage and Force are still in England. MacKenzie's stepfather hasn't sent them yet. We have no choice but to stay here and wait for them. Unfortunately, our presence here creates problems for our hostess."
I opened my mouth to argue this point. I wanted to say that the gargoyles really weren't too much trouble but Valor sent me a quelling look.
"Normally, we wouldn't allow a human who knew about us out of our sight," he said.
"Not until we could leave," Defiance confirmed.
"That's just common sense," Reason drawled.
Valor continued determinedly. "Unless we knew the human and trusted them."
Everyone looked at me as I buried my teeth in my bottom lip, feeling totally self-conscious.
"This is a problem for MacKenzie," Valor pointed out. "Since she's expected to attend school tomorrow."
Victor leaned forward in his chair and flicked his gaze at me. "Could one of us go to her school with her?"
"It might be possible for one or two of you to shadow me," I offered tentatively. "I could say you were relatives from England."
"Not relatives," Valor cut in quickly. Evidently, he didn't like the idea of being related to me. I couldn't help but smile. I didn't want him to be a relative either.
"I'd like to suggest that we put our confidence in MacKenzie," Valor suggested. "The world is a much more complicated place than it was in our time. Our coins aren't the accepted form of money anymore. Instead a plastic card is required."
"I can get cash for you, too," I pointed out, trying to be helpful. "I can get you paper money. A card isn't absolutely necessary."
Valor gazed at me, a soft smile lighting the back of his eyes. "MacKenzie's offer just confirms the fact that we need an ally. We can't go it alone in the twenty-first century. Even after the rest of the pack gets here, we're going to need somebody's help. Since MacKenzie alrea
dy knows about us, it might as well be her. I vote that we give her our complete trust."
At those words, Defiance leaned forward in his seat as his eyes widened with surprise. "What are you suggesting?"
"I'm proposing we invite MacKenzie to join the pack," Valor said.
Chapter Eleven
Valor's announcement took me by surprise. It was way more than I expected. I'd have been happy just to upgrade my status from hostage to trusted friend.
I was gobsmacked and I wasn't the only one. A harsh laugh broke from Reason's chest, although he didn't sound the least bit amused. And Defiance was so stunned his mouth hung open for like two seconds.
"You're asking a lot," Defiance muttered after he'd recovered from the initial shock. "We've only just arrived and we don't know MacKenzie well enough to make that kind of decision."
"I know what I'm asking," Valor admitted. "But MacKenzie has looked out for us since we landed in her garage and invaded her home. We all know she's a good person."
"There's a difference between good and trustworthy," Defiance argued, his gray eyes fierce with emotion. "There's a difference between kindness and wisdom."
"I'm hoping my opinion will carry a lot of weight," Valor conceded. "I've been here longer than you have and I feel confident we can rely on MacKenzie to keep our secret."
"But not all of you who've been here longer are convinced she can be trusted," Defiance pointed out as his gaze slid toward Reason.
Reason lifted two fingers from the table, arrogantly acknowledging that Defiance was talking about him.
"I'm convinced," Havoc offered seriously.
I sent Havoc a small, cautious smile and tried to look like a quiet, reasonable, trustworthy person. I'm not normally much of a joiner. I don't quite fit in with most people my age. But this was something I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to belong to this beautiful wild, extraordinary family.
But Reason argued it was too soon to admit me into the pack. Unfortunately, Defiance seemed to agree with him. I sneaked a look at Victor who tapped his fingers on the table and listened without commenting.
"Then there's the matter of her hair," Reason continued. "She's very red. She might have bewitched you into trusting her, Valor."
"That's ridiculous," I snapped, forgetting to look quiet and reasonable. "Even if I was a witch—which I'm not—I wouldn't begin to know how to bewitch someone."
Reason ignored me and talked directly to Valor. "She might have done it without realizing it, if she wanted you to like her."
I leaned forward and put myself in Reason's line of sight to get his attention. "And why would I want to do that?"
"Human females generally think we're attractive," he said, his eyes mocking me.
I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. "Don't flatter yourself, gargoyle. You're not that irresistible."
Reason's eyes flashed. "Maybe I'm not, human. But what about Valor?"
I set my mouth in a mulish expression. I couldn't answer that one without incriminating myself. Remembering my grandfather's advice that a good offense is the always the best defense, I went on the attack. "If I were a witch, Reason, you'd be the first to know it."
He laughed with irritating insolence. "I know what you're suggesting, Mac. But perhaps I should let you know that a good witch can do no evil."
I narrowed my gaze on him. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Witches are either good or bad," Reason explained. "A good witch can cast no harmful spells. So you couldn't cast a spell that would hurt me or anyone else…just in case you were contemplating something dark and painful."
"You must have read my mind," I snarked without removing my gaze from his face.
Valor interrupted in a growl. "My brothers and I have more reason to distrust the red than you," he argued. "If we're comfortable putting our trust in MacKenzie, then it should mean something to the rest of you."
"Valor's right," Dare volunteered firmly.
"Agreed," Havoc spoke up in a strong tone.
Victor shifted in his chair and everyone's eyes turned toward him. "It's time to vote," he said.
Each of the gargoyles took a coin from his pouch or pocket that was similar to the one I'd sold online. One side had a cross stamped into its center. The other side was embossed with what appeared to be a cart.
Valor placed his silver coin on the table. "I vote to admit MacKenzie into the pack."
I studied the coin lying in front of Valor with the cross facing upward. I assumed that if the gargoyles put their coins on the table with the cross showing, it meant they agreed with Valor. If they placed the coin with the cart facing up, it was a vote against me.
Havoc voted next and he sided with Valor.
I was winning. Sorta.
Reason voted after that, slapping his coin down with the cart facing upward. It was the first vote against me. It was Defiance's turn to vote next and he announced that he was undecided. I thought that meant he would forfeit his vote but I was wrong. When one of the pack is undecided, they leave the decision to chance. Defiance flipped the coin and it landed on the table with a dull ring. I stared down at the coin's cart and fleur-de-lis. It was another vote against me.
The vote was tied as I turned my gaze on Dare. I was pretty sure he'd vote for me and he did. Only Victor was left. If he voted against me, it would be a tie. I didn't know for sure but I guessed that meant the decision would go against me. Victor took his time, turning the coin between his fingers. The tension stretched thin as I waited for Victor to cast his vote. My future rested in his hands. My stomach turned like the coin between his fingers.
Victor looked at me for a long moment then placed his coin on the table. When he moved his hand, I saw the cross stamped into the silver coin. "I'll go with your judgment," he said as he pinned Valor with a sharp look.
I glanced around the table at the rest of the gargoyles and most of them seemed satisfied with the decision. Even Defiance was smiling. I let out a deep sigh of relief but it was short-lived.
"Just a minute," Reason spoke up. "What about Chaos, Force and Courage?"
"What about them?" Valor asked cautiously.
"Their votes need to be counted," Reason insisted.
Valor sent a troubled look toward Victor.
The golden gargoyle sighed and said, "My brother's right. Their votes need to be counted." He transferred his gaze to me and explained. "Since they're not here, their votes will be left to chance."
"I'll flip for Chaos," Reason offered without wasting any time. "Since he's my brother."
"He's my brother, too," Victor countered. The look on his face suggested he wasn't too happy with Reason for questioning the vote. "I'm the oldest, so I claim the right to toss the coin for him. Defiance can flip for his brothers, Courage and Force."
With three more votes to be counted, there was no possibility of a tie. At the end of all the coin tossing, I would either be in…or out. I couldn't help but feel resentful toward Reason. I couldn't understand what I'd done to earn his unrelenting scorn.
The first two coins landed with their crosses facing downward which meant the vote was tied up again. I tried to tell myself that the odds were against the third coin landing cross-down but I felt like things were going against me and I was so discouraged I couldn't watch the last coin fall. Instead, I fixed my gaze on Valor's face while the silver disk spun in the air and landed with a clank on the tabletop.
Valor leaned forward to see the coin.
When I saw him smile, I let out a second sigh of relief. Valor's hand slid across my knee beneath the table and squeezed my fingers, sending hot flashes of emotion up my legs into my heart. I looked around the table again and was surprised to find that most of the gargoyles actually looked relieved. Only Reason stared at the ceiling like he was bored with the whole situation.
Victor grinned as he turned his gaze on me. "Welcome to the pack, m'dear."
I was so thrilled I could hardly speak. "Thank you," I said. "
I won't let you down." It probably sounded lame but what's a sixteen-year-old supposed to do when she's admitted into the gargoyle pack? It felt like the most special thing that had ever happened to me.
With my acceptance into the pack sorted out, Victor and Defiance changed into some old jeans and we all piled into the car so we could drive to the city to shop for clothes. I only had seatbelts for five passengers so Havoc and Defiance sat behind the seats in the back with instructions to duck down if we spotted any police cars.
We went to the Cherry Creek mall in downtown Denver and picked up T-shirts first. Havoc chose bright colors while the others stuck with black and dark gray. We managed to find belts for everyone although I could tell that all the guys envied Valor's white emo belt. We stocked up on jeans then looked at jackets and coats, most of the guys selecting either black or brown leather. I suppose the animal skins felt familiar to them.
Only Dare couldn't find a coat he liked. He wanted something longer so we stopped by a thrift store on the way home where he picked out a vintage, black trench coat. With the collar turned up, I had to admit he looked cute. Tall, dark and vigilante-angel cute.
After we picked up some fast food at a drive-thru restaurant, we headed back toward the foothills and home.
"Thanks for all the help, today," Victor said after the gargoyles had finished their hamburgers and were comfortably sprawled across the living room. "Is there something we can do for you in return, m'dear?"
I decided Victor's offer was my chance to test the gargoyles. They'd said I was part of the pack but I wanted to find out if they actually trusted me enough to leave me on my own. "I'd like to watch you guys fly if you think it would be safe. It'll be dark soon and I don't think anyone would see you if you flew out over the park next door."
They seemed happy to grant my wish. We waited until dusk then hiked over to the park. Just inside the park's boundary, there's a huge granite outcrop with a drop-off of like a hundred feet and that's where the pack took off from. Each gargoyle strode out to the edge of the cliff, opened his wings and glided away to the southwest, high above the trees. They were beautiful in flight. For several moments I forgot my ulterior motive and just enjoyed watching their graceful forms hanging in the air.
The Greystone Bundle (Books 1-4) Page 9