“Doing okay over there, Gargoyle?” Fallon’s voice could be heard above the cacophony. Her sword clanged as metal struck metal in her own battles.
He didn’t bother to answer. Instead, he threw his head back and yelled, “Meyja!”
A blast of power hit Terak in the chest and threw him back into the wall, the stone jabbing into his body.
“Pity gargoyles are resistant to magic. That would have made a satisfying spectacle of carnage.” Garof’s voice penetrated the daze Terak was shaking off. He rose to see the damned vampire standing before him. “Originally created by necromancers, at least that is what the myths say about your kind. My brethren did perhaps too good of a job.”
“Where’s my mate?”
“You should have taken me up on my offer. It would have worked out much better for you.”
The vampire raised his hand and cast another blasting spell, but Terak rolled out of the path and only dealt with the flying debris behind him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Terak saw Fallon finish her fight and rush toward the vampire. The vampire saw it as well, for he waved in Fallon’s direction and a wall of rock shot up between them and the rest of the battle. “I’ll deal with Fallon later. I want to finish killing you first.”
Terak growled and lunged for the vampire, dropping them both to the ground. But the vampire twisted his body, using momentum and a strength Terak was not expecting to throw Terak into the opposite cave wall.
Terak regained his feet to see Garof already on his. “Don’t underestimate me, Gargoyle. You are indeed a warrior beyond compare, but I am Vampire. You are nothing to me.” The vampire stilled then, his head cocked to the side and his eyes wide in alarm.
Terak used the chance to run into the vampire again, slicing into his neck with his claws.
Flesh parted, but no blood came out. Instead in a blink the skin knitted itself together, and Garof punched Terak in the chest so hard he couldn’t breathe for a second. The vampire kicked the side of his knee, and Terak fell before him. Garof kicked Terak in the face and he crumpled into the ground. “As entertaining as this has been, Gargoyle, I believe I will finish this after the Magic Realm has been returned to us. You will be a fitting sacrifice.”
A thread of worry was buried in the vampire’s tone, and hope pulsed through Terak’s muscles, granting strength and pushing him to his feet. If the vampire was worried, it meant his little human was well and was causing problems for the damned necromancers. Of course she was. His mate was more than a match for a legion of undead.
Garof was not quick enough this time to throw Terak when the gargoyle landed on his back. They wrestled as Terak landed blow after blow.
The blows had little effect and the vampire freed himself. He grabbed Terak by the throat and repeatedly punched him in the chest. Terak’s bones fractured under the prolonged force, and his entire torso became a mass of pain.
Garof dropped him and grabbed a sword from the ground, an evil-looking blade with serrated edges. “I’ve heard of the gargoyles’ formidable healing abilities, so I best end this now.” He raised the sword high…
…and screamed.
Frantically, Garof tried to reach behind him. Terak stared as the vampire twisted, revealing an ornate dagger hilt protruding from his back. Larissa stood behind the vampire, her arm lowering from driving the blade into the undead. Terak reached for her, but his wounds were not healed enough yet that he could move much.
Larissa stepped back from the vampire as he fell to the ground. The wound was smoking, and his skin was starting to crackle and blacken.
The vampire was a repulsive sight. Larissa’s face held a sick horror as she watched the disintegration of the creature. “Larissa,” Terak called, to break through her fascination as much as for help.
It worked. The most beautiful smile lit her face and she moved toward him.
Tremors rocked the mountain, knocking her to the ground, as well as a young girl behind her that only now Terak noticed. The tremors stopped, and Laire’s voice magically echoed through the caverns the way a PA system would. “Attention, good guys. You did great because I’m getting readings the ceremony was stopped. But bad news anyway. This mountain is magically booby-trapped so if the ceremony doesn’t go through, the mountain will implode. We’re holding it together the best we can, but we suggest getting your tushies out here ASAP if not faster.”
Larissa turned to the girl behind her. “Run out now!” The girl did not have to be told twice and escaped, and though he would have told a child the same thing, a momentary shiver of loathing hit his gut on how easily the girl ran from those who had helped her and left them to their fates.
His bones were already knitting together, so he pushed himself up. Since he could yell at Larissa to run all he desired and she would never leave, he needed to push past the pain and get them out of here.
He took a step forward and hit a shimmery blue wall. A force cage. Terak punched into it, but he could not get through. Larissa stood on the other side, her eyes wide.
The vampire still lay on the ground, black smoke still rising from his all-but-decomposed corpse. A rusty laugh escaped from a now-lipless skull. “It was a good fight, Gargoyle. I think it only fitting we die together. It’s not a very strong cage. The weight of the mountain bearing down will pierce it, and you’ll be crushed to death. I’d say this battle is a draw.”
No. This couldn’t be happening, this couldn’t be real. She had been the target, and now she was safe and sound. This was supposed to be the end of it. She was not supposed to see the male she loved trapped in front of her, waiting for a mountain to crush him to death.
“Leave me!” He was bloody and bleeding in the cage, his arm hanging at an odd angle. “This place will soon be destroyed. Go!”
He was trapped. She could travel through the force field, but she could do nothing to free him. This power that had necromancers hunting her was worthless when it mattered.
“Meyja-”
“What does that mean?” she interrupted, her eyes clear on his. “You swore you would tell me once this was over. What does it mean?”
His eyes were intense on hers. “It means Beloved above all, even above the Clan.”
And if there was any question of what her choice would be – which there wasn’t – that decided her beyond any doubts. She pushed inside the force field.
His arms and wings came around her as if he could not help himself, even as he said, “Meyja, I don’t want you here. Think of your father, your brothers. They need you. I need you to live. I need you to leave.”
She snuggled into his embrace. “For once, I’m only going to think about what I want and not consider them. I’m not going to ever leave you, Terak. If this is where it ends, I’ll face the end with you.”
He sunk to the floor, keeping her in his arms, kissing her face, her hair. “Love you, Meyja. I have always loved you. Forgive me for not telling you before this day.”
She nuzzled into him. “You did. I didn’t understand.” The rumbling was louder now, the heat building. She curled into Terak’s arms. “Love you, my Gargoyle. My warrior.”
Love you.
Shadowy arms wrapped around her, and Larissa was pulled down through the floor.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Hi there, Sleeping Beauty.”
So I’ve died and gone to hell. It was unmistakably Fallon’s voice, and the swordswoman wasn’t on her favorite persons list. Considering Fallon’s general attitude, there was no way she was on anyone’s favorite persons list.
But Fallon had come to free her. And she had fought with Terak. And she did look cool carrying around such a big sword.
Okay, maybe purgatory.
“Take your time waking up. It’s fine. It’s not like we have anything else to do except sit around and stare at you.”
Awareness came in short spurts. Grass scratched her cheek and arms, and the earth was solid underneath, solid and cool, but warmer than it had been when she ha
d been forced through it like a ghost, insubstantial, weightless, wrongness. Her skin prickled at the sense memory, and she shuddered with the renewed cold. Did Terak feel…
Terak.
“Terak?”
“Here,” and strong, rough fingers grazed her chin. She forced her eyes open to see his beloved face. He was sitting to her left, looking as if had just risen from beside her.
“What happened?” Because last she checked, she and Terak were about to get crushed under a mountain.
“Shadow,” Fallon answered as Terak helped Larissa into a sitting position.
The world’s rotation was observable, but Larissa took a few deep breaths to get the dizziness under control. Once that was accomplished, she looked to the area where Fallon pointed, to see the dark warrior on the ground, a healer above him. Shadow looked greyer, like a faded copy instead of the original.
“Is he okay?”
“He will be. Mostly,” Fallon said. “Don’t overthink it. It’s what we do.”
Larissa looked at the various Guild members. No, they weren’t nice and they weren’t good, but while she would happily live her life if she never met up with them again, that didn’t mean they weren’t needed in these days. Days that would only get darker during this period that the necromancers could destroy all.
She reached for Terak, needing skin contact. He meshed his fingers with hers, his eyes dark and bright. “Thank you all for saving Terak and saving me.”
From out of a giant purse Laire pulled out a small, black velvet bag. “I’ll tell you how you can show your thanks – hand over that little bauble you’ve got with you.”
Terak’s fingers tightened on hers. At his nod Larissa fished the jewel from her pocket. “What would this have done?”
“Pray you never find out,” Laire said. She held out the opened bag. “Drop it in there, please.”
Larissa did as asked, and Laire spoke a few words in an unidentified language before tying the bag off and tucking it back in her purse. Laire looked her over, and the term X-ray vision floated through Larissa’s brain. The mage asked, “The dagger?”
“Buried in Garof’s back, if you want to go back for it.”
For one moment, fear flickered over Laire’s face, but the Asian woman closed her eyes and turned away, heading back for her companions. Fallon exhaled in an explosive blast, and Larissa decided to not ask any questions.
And now to the other problem of the night. “Taneasha?”
“We have her, and we know her part in this.”
Fallon’s tone might have warned against asking any questions, but Larissa couldn’t let it go at that, no matter what the girl did. “What’s going to happen to her?”
“We’re not going to kill her, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Never let it be said Fallon tried to soften news. “But you’re not going to see her in class again.”
Before Larissa could even begin to process her conflicted feelings about her former student, from the sky dropped several gargoyles. Terak rose but kept her in his arms, beneath his wings. She curled into him.
Terak called out, “All have survived?”
“Yes. We looked for you, but the mountain was crumbling too quickly and we had no choice except to leave.”
“I would have it no other way, Malek.”
Larissa squirmed a little. When Terak looked at her she arched her eyebrow and tilted her head a tiny amount. They really were a couple because Terak read her wants perfectly and set her down, though he kept her close. She spoke to the assembled gargoyles. “Thank you for coming to my aid. I am grateful to all of you beyond what I can say.”
Malek shook his head, his arm casting aside her words. “You are ours to protect, Meyla. It is duty and honor to come to your side when we are needed. We made that promise when we followed your mate away from the Clan.”
Away from the Clan. Larissa looked up at Terak. He stared straight ahead as if he had no idea she was looking at him, but the tick in his jaw gave him away. “What do they mean, away from the Clan?”
He took a long breath before he gazed down at her. “I made a choice.”
“No.” There was no way she was going to let this happen. Not his Clan. “I’m not worth it.”
His gaze became fierce and he brought himself to his full height. “You are worth everything,” he said, the tone brooking no argument. “I would give this realm for you, so do not talk to me of leaving the Clan. They cannot accept you, so I will have no more dealings with them.”
“Your people-”
“My Meyja.”
Before she could continue, noises above made everyone turn their attention to the sky, in time to see a contingent of gargoyles descending in front of them.
An older gargoyle stepped forward, and Terak moved to meet him while keeping her behind him. “Krikus, how did you know of this place?”
“The Guild transported us here once the danger was past. I informed them the need to see you was urgent.” The old councilor looked past Terak and straight at Larissa. When their eyes met, he gave a bow. “Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier, Meyla. I am Krikus.”
Terak went still at the title. “You call her Meyla?”
“Why would we not? She is the mate of our Mennak.”
With those words, as one, the gargoyles dropped to their knees in front of Terak. Malek smiled, and he and the warriors joined in the display.
The wondrous confusion on Terak’s face cracked Larissa’s heart. Her beloved gargoyle was so exposed for all to see – his desire for what they were offering warring with the disbelief it could be happening.
Krikus waited for Terak’s attention to return to him before he spoke again. “It will not be easy. We still have doubts, and some will never be convinced. But you are right – our Clan must be united to survive. We choose the path behind you. We will follow as you create this new place.”
Terak was still speechless, so Larissa came up and placed her hand in his. “I hope,” she began, and gave Krikus the smile she had perfected when she convinced her father to let her go on her first date, “This means you will help me in learning how to best serve my Clan.”
Surprise lit the old gargoyle’s face before a wide smile split his face. “I would be honored, Meyla.”
Terak’s eyes were soft on her, adoring, and Larissa basked in the force of that gaze. Her gargoyle, her mate, her love. Still, a little tease wouldn’t hurt. “There is one last thing to conquer.”
Terak’s visage turned wary, and he glanced around. “What is that?”
“You need to meet my family.”
Chapter Forty
He heard her coming toward him, the clack-clack of her shoes heralding her arrival on the stone embankment long before her words reached his ears. “Why are you in that form?”
Terak turned to face his mate as she approached him, wearing a long coat belted at her waist. “I thought you would prefer me to meet your family while I was in my human guise.”
Her mouth was tight, little frown lines between her eyebrows. “As you told me, no matter what you look like, you are a gargoyle. I didn’t fall in love with a human, I don’t want a human with me as I introduce the male I love to my family. I want the Clan Leader of the Gargoyles, my mate, by my side tonight.”
His heart became more hers at those words, if that were even possible. Still, he shook his head. “They will only see me as a monster and try to take you away. I do not wish to fight the family of my mate, but I will not let them keep you from me.”
“Terak,” she sighed, coming over to take his face between her hands. “That won’t happen. They already know everything and know what to expect when they meet you.”
“Are you saying your Clan is happy with your mate?”
“I’m saying they don’t have a choice in the matter.”
He brought up one hand to cover hers as it lay against his face, warm and soft. “Why would you believe that? Your father is anything but weak-willed. He will not accept so
easily any mating of yours, but especially to one who is connected to the New Realms.”
“My dad has to accept it, because I told him I love you the same way he loved my mother, and I asked him if anything in this world would have kept him from her side. When he admitted nothing would, I asked him what lengths he thought I would go or what I would give up to stay with you. I can’t say he’s completely happy, I won’t lie about that. But you left the Clan to be with me. Do you think you mated with someone who does not have the same level of commitment as you do?”
“Never, little human. You awe me with all you have given up already to be at my side.”
“Then prove your faith in me, and turn into your true form.” With a naughty smile, she started to remove the long coat. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Her reveal was a punch to his chest, stealing his breath away as he took her in. Her dress emphasized the soft swell of her breasts, the skirt was very tight and very short, and on her feet were shoes with spikes that made the lines of her legs into works of art.
He reached out to touch her, but she backed away and waggled a finger at him. “Tsk tsk, I don’t see your gargoyle form yet.”
Putting aside his own fears, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and changed into his true form.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw her gaze moving over his body, taking in every inch. “Now this is what I want.”
“Then give me my reward, mate.”
She smiled then, walking toward him with her hips swaying, the sight of it making his body hard. Once she was before him again she lifted herself onto her toes and took his bottom lip between her teeth, giving a soft bite she knew would drive him insane. “Out of the two of us, I’m the one who should be worried.”
“Oh?” he said, enjoying the feel of her.
She licked the spot she had just bitten. “After all, I’m only a puny, insubstantial human. I can’t defend myself.”
He moved his mouth to graze over hers. “A gargoyle who is not strong enough to defend his mate does not deserve to live.”
Stone Guardian (Entwined Realms) Page 27