A glance in Ethan’s direction didn’t help Nathan. Either the Shadow knew what to expect, or he was good at hiding his feelings about being useless. If Nathan felt useless to help his friend, Ethan, her Shadow, had to feel it at least as strongly.
Lucien stroked Nathan’s hand, and Nathan smiled at him to let him know that he certainly was a huge support and help. But Lucien also knew that the close bond between Jenny and Nathan was not one Lucien could help ease when Jenny pulled away.
They drove on in almost complete silence. Only Ethan and Lucien chatted about mundane stuff.
Lucien pointed out the window. “Look.”
A huge castle emerged behind a hill.
“Is that where we’re going?” Nathan asked.
Jenny smiled and nodded, but her eyes gave away the emotional distance.
Nathan decided to give her the space she needed and turned his attention toward the castle again. As the car turned toward it, he lost the view and leaned against Lucien’s shoulder instead. Lucien kissed the top of his head and leaned his cheek against the spot.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the foot of a huge set of stairs with a Gargoyle a lot bigger than Burkhart perching on a platform in the middle of them.
Nathan took a few steps up the stairs to put his hand on its massive arm. “I thought they always sat up high.”
“He was too heavy for any crane to lift up there,” a woman said, and Nathan spun in surprise. He recognized her, but no name offered itself up in his memory. “Hello again, Nathan. Welcome to my home.”
“Thank you...”
“Ms. Theresa.”
“Ms. Theresa, I’m so sorry.” Nathan took her hand, feeling a sheepish grin spread on his face as his cheeks warmed.
“No need, Nathan. We met on a night where so many things were revealed to you.” The woman tucked her arm under Nathan’s and led him down the stairs to join the others by the car. “To be honest, I forgot the names of almost everyone there the night I was initiated.”
Nathan felt better and once again marveled at how Order members could be so at ease around each other even when not managing to remember each other’s names.
A truck rumbled up the long driveway, and Meino ran to the back of it to open as soon as it stopped. Nathan peered into the back and saw a huge icebox. Once Meino opened the door, Nathan saw sigils on the inside of the door, and his curiosity made him jump up into the back to have a closer look.
Burkhart emerged from the box and smiled at his human. Nathan found the endearment sweet and wondered what Meino called Burkhart.
“It hides all your magic?” Nathan asked, pointing at the box.
“Yes,” Burkhart said. “The fire breathers cannot sense me on hallowed ground or in that box. We tried to hide me, too.” Burkhart stretched a wing, and Nathan saw even more sigils painted onto the inside of his wing. “But they can sense my soul moving as long as I can sense the world around me. In there, I am blind.”
“We use it to move the Order’s magic,” someone behind Nathan said. He spun and found David.
“Hi, David.”
“Hi, sport. Steph isn’t here. She’s helping with the cleanup in Philadelphia.”
Nathan sighed heavily and put his hand on David’s shoulder. “I figured as much. I have to call Mr. Severin.”
“Ms. Theresa has a secured line.” David held out his arm toward the back of the truck, but Nathan’s curiosity still pulled him toward the box. David apparently noticed, because he smiled. “We’re not leaving until tomorrow, so you have time to inspect it in daylight.”
“Thanks,” Nathan said, thinking it would be easier than with a flashlight.
They all left the truck and headed into the castle.
“I will show you to the secure phone,” Ms. Theresa said.
“Be right back.” Nathan squeezed Lucien’s hand before following Ms. Theresa through the castle. “Which parts are off limit to Lucien?”
“The office, only. The vault is secured, so he can’t enter with or without permission.”
They entered a tastefully decorated office, and Nathan almost felt at home from the familiar feel of the chosen style. The window even held the Order’s logo.
“Here you go. Can you find your way back, or would you like for me to wait?”
“I can find my way back to the hall. From there, I don’t know where you are.”
“Down the left corridor. You will be able to hear us, I’m sure.”
“Okay. Thank you.” And if not, he could just summon Lucien and have him help.
Ms. Theresa smiled and left the office.
Nathan dialed the number, hoping Severin would answer it outside his rhythm. He did after only a few rings. “Hi, Severin. Were you expecting my call?”
“Hello, dear boy. No, I wasn’t, but I’m very pleased to hear from you. I trust you are safe?”
“Yeah, I got picked up by a Gargoyle and flown from school.”
“Oh, how exciting! But... I thought the spell died with Mr. Sellman and the destruction of his Gargoyle.”
“We got it back, it seems. But I understand that we have more pressing matters to take care of in the Order than rejoicing the retrieval of a lost spell?”
“Yes.” Sadness was evident in the old voice, and Nathan could almost picture the heartbroken expression on the otherwise cheerful old face. “Did you get to know Alex well?”
“No, we stayed clear because of the Demon stuff, but I did get a good idea of what kind of man he is... was. Was it the Demon?”
“No. Another magic was there. Mr. Henry is on top of it, personally. If anyone can find connections to anything, it is him.”
“But I was in danger, too?”
“We are afraid so. Operatives were stationed close by, and they noticed new people with odd moving patterns around the school. I would like for you and Lucien to come home. I... I’m afraid.”
“We will, then. And Jenny and Ethan?”
“They have promised to assist a new asset. I don’t know more than that at the moment.”
“Probably the Gargoyle,” Nathan said.
“Oh, it is exciting. I do so hope I will get to meet him.”
“Yeah, he’s—”
A ghost rushed through the door and to the window. Then it screamed, but without any sound, and disappeared.
“—something all right.”
“Is something the matter, my boy?”
“No, Ms. Theresa just neglected to tell me her office is the end of ghost’s trail, and it just ran past me in the office,” Nathan informed him offhandedly. “Have my travel arrangements been handled, or is that why David is still here?”
“I have taken the liberty to make arrangements for you.”
“Thank you. How are you holding up with the news?”
Severin sighed deeply, and Nathan knew the old man needed to chat. He dragged the landline to the fireplace and took a seat in an armchair. He put a log on and poured himself a brandy, settling in to be there for his mentor.
Chapter Thirty
Lucien couldn’t stop glancing the way of the huge stone creature crouching next to Meino. Watchman, yeah—Lucien wouldn’t want to cross blades with him, because he looked powerful, but when the Gargoyle looked at Meino it was with such softness. It made Lucien smile. Whatever he’d heard of the Gargoyles, what he met was not what he’d expected one to be like once animated.
Jenny and Ethan came to sit with Lucien, and Jenny handed him a deck of cards.
Lucien stared at the deck. “Really?”
“Yeah, Nathan and Mr. Severin probably have a lot to discuss, so I figured we could play a game of something,” Jenny said. “What about you two, you wanna join us?”
Meino and Burkhart looked up from their book. “Sure, what’s the game?” Meino closed the book and put it on the sofa seat behind him.
“Poker?”
“I don’t know how to play poker,” Meino sa
id.
“That can be taught.” Jenny reached down next to the sofa, pulled out a small case, and opened it. “Do you know how to play it, Burk?”
“No, and I don’t think it’s fair that I play along.”
Jenny stopped pulling out the chips. “Why not?”
“Because I can see your cards.”
Meino laughed loudly. “And he can telepathically communicate them to me.”
Jenny deadpanned him. “Cheating is not allowed in this game.”
“I never cheat!” Meino pouted theatrically. “Only when caught.”
Ethan scoffed. “Yeah, I bet.”
“No, no, Burk won’t tell me, so teach me.”
Jenny finished dealing the chips and finally dealt the cards. After a few rounds of open cards and explanations, they were ready to play. Meino lost his pot pretty quickly, and to keep him in the game, Ethan, Jenny, and Lucien did all-in-games until one sat with it all. They then distributed the chips again.
Nathan came in and kissed Lucien in the neck before sitting next to Meino. “Who’s winning?”
“Not me,” Meino said. “Are you good at it?”
“No,” Jenny said, shuffling the deck.
Nathan glared at her. “Deal me in, and I’ll rip you.”
Jenny grinned and handed him the box of chips. “Get them yourself.”
“And now that you’re all here,” Nathan said while counting out the chips, but his tone made sure he had all of Lucien’s attention. And Jenny’s. “I won’t be going back to school, it seems. The assassination of Alex and Pritchard means we’re doubling security and collecting all assets. Lucien and I will be going back to Maine, and my studies will be at home.”
“Ethan and I will be going tomorrow. We’re going to attend the funeral, and we’re going to catch those bastards.”
“I’m sorry for the loss of your friends,” Meino said.
Silence followed.
Movement out the corner of Lucien’s eye made him look up to find a man standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame and with his hands in his pockets.
“Good evening. I’m Mr. Talbot, a wizard in the Order.”
“Oh, wow.” Nathan got up to shake the man’s hand, and Lucien followed. The game was ruined because of the change in the mood, and Lucien didn’t really know how to feel about Nathan stopping his studies. It was much easier when Nathan didn’t have to plan his day around school, but Lucien didn’t want to think himself so selfish that he’d want Nathan to fit everything around the curse. They were lovers too, yes, but Lucien was also his watchman.
“Ms. Theresa asked me to make sure that all of you young people of the Order know the summoning spell by heart.”
“I do,” Nathan said.
“Me, too,” Jenny said.
Meino on the other hand blinked and looked around like it was the first he’d ever heard of it.
“Meino, you’ll learn a different one. I’ll teach it to all of you, though, because if you’re near a nexus or—should I fear—bottled witch, then you can summon help at a much stronger rate and maybe even forego blocking-magic. Meino will be able to use this spell without the ring of initiation.”
“Please explain what that is, too,” Meino said.
“It’s a... it’s known only to the initiated. I’m sorry, I must ask that the Shadows don’t listen in on the next part.”
“Ethan, please go to the kitchen and don’t listen in. I will command your presence when it’s over.”
“As you wish.” Ethan stood.
Lucien stood likewise, knowing full well he’d be given a command, too, even with the pout on his boyfriend’s face. “It’s okay, mon coeur, I get it.”
“Please follow Ethan to the kitchen and don’t listen in. I’ll command your presence when you can come back.”
“As you wish.” Lucien stole a quick kiss before the chain would drag him to follow Ethan.
“There’s a screaming ghost in here,” Ethan announced as they reached the kitchen.
“Oh, God!”
“Don’t worry. Apparently, only the wizard, Meino, can hear it all the time.”
Lucien looked around the place, not at all envying the young man. “Should we gather some midnight snacks now that we’re here?”
Ethan nodded with a grin on his face. “I’d expect that to be the reason Jenny chose the kitchen.”
A woman came in with her arms full of neatly folded dishcloths. She stopped and blinked at Lucien.
“Hey, Coira. This is Lucien—he’s a Shadow, too. We’re banished to the kitchen while they talk about stuff we’re not allowed to know about.”
“I got cold beers.” The woman continued through the kitchen and into another room.
“Oh, I love that dialect,” Lucien said.
“Yeah, and she’s a peach.” Ethan opened the fridge. “One for you too, my dear?” Ethan shouted.
“Please!” she hollered back.
Ethan brought three beers to the counter and opened them, handing one to Lucien. “Oh, yeah, something for you to tell Nathan. That Gargoyle, Burkhart. He and I talked the first night we were here. He’s a watchman, and he feels Meino’s fear—or fear of the Order members—the same way we sense fear in our masters. I was just thinking maybe our spell has something to do with the animation spell. We were made after the Sellman Gargoyle was destroyed, and we know for sure that Thule has their claws out for anything magical. The timing and geographic location can’t be a coincidence.”
Lucien felt excited about the prospect that Nathan could get a breakthrough. “Great. I’ll be sure to tell him.” Lucien then wondered about the Sellman Gargoyle, because he hadn’t heard about it.
The chains around Lucien pulled at him, and from the look on Ethan’s face, he was being summoned back, too. They grabbed their beers and left the kitchen, Ethan hollering to Coira that they had to go.
Lucien plopped down on the seat he had vacated earlier and offered Nathan a sip of his beer. Nathan took the beer and offered up a smile, but he was clearly lost in thought. So was Meino. “Okay?” Lucien asked, reaching across to scratch at Nathan’s thigh.
That brought a smile to Nathan’s face. “Yes, I am. I just learned something new.”
“Good. So did I.”
Nathan perked up and took another swig of Lucien’s beer.
Lucien looked at Burkhart. “Gargoyles feel fear the same way the Shadows do, right?”
“Before the spell, no. Now I feel Meino’s fear the way Ethan described the displacement of air.”
Nathan gaped. “I need to see that spell,” he said almost breathlessly.
“What would it help you with?”
“I’m trying to break the curse on the Shadows, but they’ve used so many different languages, and I’m not even close. If I have something to hold against these ancient languages and codes, then maybe it would become easier.”
“I’ll get it.” Meino left the room along with Nathan.
“Lucien, you do know that you’ve just set Nathan up for book time instead of sexy times with you, right?” Jenny asked.
Lucien smiled. “You do know that I’m French and know a thing or two about how to distract even Nathan from a book with my tongue, right?”
Her expression was worth it. Kinky woman.
“I need a mentor in that kind of magic,” Jenny stated.
“Tongue,” Burkhart said, looking speculative. “Can it be used to have the sex?”
Jenny and Ethan laughed so hard they almost slid off the sofa, while Lucien was at a loss for words.
“Yes,” Lucien finally said. “Oral... the oral sex.”
Jenny howled louder as Lucien’s choice of words set off another fit of laughter.
“Ah.” Burkhart studied the book he and Meino had been looking in earlier, while Jenny wiped at her cheeks, hitching.
Nathan and Meino returned, stopping short at the sight of Jenny and Ethan, whose faces w
ere beet red from laughing. “Spill!” Nathan said, pointing at Jenny.
“We were just talking about the sex and different kinds of the sex. Like the oral sex.”
“Oral?” Nathan asked and glanced at Meino, who blushed. “Jenny.”
“Talk to Mr. French Tongue over there.” Jenny pointed at Lucien.
Nathan bit his lower lip before he cleared his throat and took a seat with the book. Lucien glanced at Jenny, whose focus was glued to Nathan. Once Nathan glanced up at Lucien, that sexy glint in his eye, Jenny threw her arms in the air.
“I surrender!” she shouted.
Lucien settled against the thin decorative pillow on the expensive and stiff sofa and watched Nathan and Meino work together on translating the spell in the book. As promised, Lucien had taught Nathan some German, too, but not enough for him to read that book on his own.
A smile settled on Lucien’s face at the thought of the last time Nathan had needed to study the chain. The sweet torture Lucien had undergone while lying naked on the bed, holding a book, and suffering the slow rhythm of Nathan’s hand on his cock. Maybe it was time to turn that around, and Jenny’s challenge seemed worthy.
Chapter Thirty-one
Meino felt better the more people he got to know from the Order. Jenny’s friend Nathan was as nice as Jenny, yet a lot less perverse and coarse. His boyfriend was hot, and Meino had stolen glances whenever the two shared affection—which they did with no second thought as to who might be looking. No hiding, no looking over their shoulder to see if someone wouldn’t approve of two men kissing. They just hugged and kissed and held hands. And the way they looked at each other. Meino’s gut clenched every time, and he had to admit that a few of the times had sent some signals south of the belt, making him excuse himself to aimlessly rummage through the books in the dining hall.
But it warmed Meino to the Order, because that level of acceptance was not one he was used to witnessing nor one he had expected. Okay, witnessing homosexual love displayed so freely was never something he’d witnessed in great length, which was mostly because he was a stay-at-home guy with no TV. But it still left him a bit hollow. One thing was the Order thinking homosexuality was normal, another was someone falling in love with a Gargoyle.
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