Trill to Me Sweetly Paranormal love 1

by Charlie Richards

  When Damune released Forest, the human crumpled to the ground. Damune brought an arm up and slowly swiped the back of his hand across his mouth, smearing blood across his face. “Mmm, O positive. Tasty. Any of you A-B negative? It’s my favorite.”

  That seemed to break Grant and Mark out of their shocked states, for Grant yelled, “Get him!” Mark screamed and rushed with Grant toward the vampire, whose laugh sounded disturbingly gleeful.

  Bobby nearly jumped out of his skin when someone else latched onto his arm. “Let’s get out of here!” Seth hissed.

  The idea that he’d ever be happy to see his ex-boyfriend again never before entered his mind, but at that moment, he was. Seth tugged, and Bobby went willingly. Yelling, screaming, and even roaring—although that could have been the sound of Bobby’s blood rushing in his ears— erupted behind him.

  Seth led the way down the alley toward the street and a vehicle Bobby recognized as the man’s truck. Once reaching it, Seth tossed his bat into it and climbed in. Bobby didn’t hesitate to join him.

  “What the hell was that?” Seth snapped as he put the truck in gear and gunned it.

  “A vampire.”

  “Right,” Seth muttered, taking a corner on two wheels.

  Bobby grabbed onto the oh shit handle and hung on for dear life. What the hell Seth was doing in the area crossed his mind, but the thump of something hitting the bed of the truck distracted him. Craning his neck, he looked out the rear window. His heart thudded wildly in his chest. Somehow, Damune had caught up with them.

  “Hang on!” Seth called before swerving wildly.

  Bobby’s shoulder slammed into the passenger window, sending spikes of pain through his arm. Spots danced behind his eyes, and he really wished he’d remembered to put on his seatbelt.

  Chapter Twelve

  Maelgwn threw his head back and roared, the sound equal parts anger and anguish. He had just enough self-control to keep from smashing his phone in his grip. Tobias and Adalric joined him in the hallway.

  “Maelgwn?” Tobias called. “What is it?”

  “Bobby’s been taken,” he snapped, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Striding toward the door, he almost ignored Tobias’s question.

  “What? How?”

  “I don’t know. He called from Pub and Grub.” He yanked the front door open and stalked onto the veranda. “Call Sapian. He’d better be injured or so help me he will be when I get done with him,” he snarled.

  “I’ll come with you,” Adalric offered, pulling his trench coat on over slender shoulders. “If this has anything to do with Damune, you’ll need me.”

  Einan appeared next to Maelgwn, a nod from the grayhided gargoyle telling him he’d follow wherever his leader led. Mealgwn assessed the vampire’s lean form. Humans would call it a runner’s build, and Adalric would need every bit of speed he possessed to keep up with a flying gargoyle. “If you can keep up.”

  With those words, Maelgwn bent his knees then leaped into the air. He spread his wings and flapped, angling them to propel him forward as well as up. His heightened hearing caught Adalric’s muttered, “Bloody gargoyles.”

  Then he was winging his way over trees, careful to keep parallel with the road that would take him into town. A look right showed him Einan’s reassuring presence. He glanced down and behind him and was surprised to see Adalric’s speeding form. The fucker was fast. Yes, he and Einan were pulling away from the vampire, but with the coven leader’s enhanced night-vision, he’d have no trouble following them at least a mile out.

  What would have been a thirty-minute drive was a tenminute flight. Maelgwn weaved and bobbed, his wings pumping and twisting as he avoided street lamps and kept close to shadows.

  He landed on the roof of the Pub and Grub and looked down at the chaos below him. “Holy shit,” he growled.

  Sapian, Tible, and Gus fought back to back against a ring of at least a dozen vampires. He saw several bodies sprawled broken and bleeding along one side of the alley, and for a split second, his heart seemed to stop in his chest. Then he realized none of them were Bobby.

  Wasting no more time gaping, Maelgwn leaped off the building. His wings tucked against his back, his full weight landed on the two vampires he’d targeted, driving them into the concrete. A slash from each hand sliced open their throats. There was a possibility they’d live, but for now they were incapacitated.

  Einan took out the vampire next to him. Three vampires broke off from the main mass and advanced on them. Maelgwn settled most his weight on his back leg and when a pair charged at him, he turned and swung his wing out. The edge caught the torso of one vampire, slicing into his chest.

  The vampire hissed and leaped back, his red eyes flashing as he pressed both hands—currently sporting impressive claws instead of nails—against the gaping wound. The second attacker, a nimble female, took that opportunity to dive forward and sweep a leg under him, trying to knock Maelgwn off his feet.

  If he hadn’t had wings, the move might have worked. Maelgwn flapped once and floated over her leg. Shifting his wing position, he launched in mid-air at her and took her down. The fact that the vampire was a woman didn’t matter to Mealgwn. He had a mate to find and she was in his way, clearly intending harm. He grabbed her head and with a quick twist and a pop, she lay still.

  When he looked up, Sapian was five feet away facing off against two vampires. He was about to help when another woman launched herself at him, distracting him. He lifted an arm and blocked her slashing strike, gaining a nice gash in the thick hide of his forearm for his trouble.

  From the corner of his eyes, he saw Adalric streak up the alley, grab one of the vampires attacking Einan, pick him up and toss him at the three going after Gus and Tible. That caught every vampire’s attention and several hissed at him.

  Adalric hissed right back, showing off his own fangs. His blood-red eyes conveying his power—Maelgwn had heard once that the darker red a vampire’s eyes, the older and more powerful they were. Adalric certainly confirmed that theory. “I am Adalric Bachmeier, Leader of Esson Coven and Emissary of the Vampire Council. You will cease this behavior at once. No war is sanctioned here.”

  A broad-shouldered, behemoth of a vampire shoved past several others and faced off against Adalric. “Who’s gonna make us?”

  The smile on Adalric’s face appeared almost reptilian. “With the aid of these honorable gargoyles, it’d be easy to subdue you. However, since you asked so nicely…” Adalric looked over his shoulder and from the darkness strode half a dozen men Maelgwn didn’t know. He gave Adalric a questioning look. The vampire smirked at him and lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “You didn’t really think I’d go anywhere without my own backup, did you?”

  Grunting, Maelgwn ignored whatever else was going on in favor of asking Sapian, “Where’s Bobby? Is he hiding inside?”

  Sapian held one arm against his chest and lines around his eyes and mouth told of the pain he was in. Almost cringing, Sapian answered, “I don’t know, Maelgwn. He ran off just as the fighting started with some human.”

  “He went off with Seth,” Tible said, stepping up next to Sapian. “I recognize one of those humans.” He shuddered as he pointed at the crumpled forms not too far away. “Those were Seth’s friends. Damune killed them, then took off after Bobby.”

  Maelgwn growled low in his throat, anger and fear coursing through him. He jogged several paces down the alley then inhaled deeply. It was faint, but there—the scent of his mate mingled with others. Sucking in a deep breath through his nose, it took a second to calm down enough to shift to human form, but he got it done.

  “You gonna run down the street like that?” Adalric asked mildly.

  Growling, he glared at the vampire. Adalric just smirked. Rolling his eyes, Maelgwn dismissed the vampire and started moving. Opening his mouth, he let the air caress his tongue. A gargoyle’s sense of smell combined with tasting the air on his tongue, allowed him to track his mate, even when he was in a vehicle.<
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  Running down the street, Maelgwn wished he could be in gargoyle form, but a massive winged creature swooping down the road wasn’t conducive to keeping his clutch hidden and safe. He knew his people and Adalric’s vampires would have their hands full keeping this battle quiet as it was.

  He rounded a bend in the road and paused, suddenly grateful he’d remained responsible. If he hadn’t, he might have missed the broken twigs and underbrush, as well as the snapped branches and tire tracks in the grass. He’d have wasted valuable time heading the wrong way.

  The screech of bending metal sent Maelgwn sprinting through the town park. The tire tracks in the snow and mud were easy to follow, as were the sounds of breaking glass and shouting voices.

  “Bobby!” he hollered. His anxiety got the better of him and he returned to gargoyle form. Under the cover of darkness and trees, he didn’t worry about maintaining control. The only thing that mattered was saving his mate.

  “Maelgwn!”

  Bobby’s fearful call spurred Maelgwn faster. He finally caught sight of a truck, the front end crumpled against a tree. It appeared to have hit with such force that the rear end spun around, pinning the passenger side against a second tree. Bobby was trapped inside the cab.

  One vampire was standing in the bed, attempting to peel the hood off the cab. A second vampire held a broken door handle in one hand and swung it at the rolled up window of the cab. The glass broke, eliciting shouts from Bobby and Seth. The vampire grabbed Seth and yanked him through the broken window.

  Adalric streaked past Maelgwn and attacked the man holding Seth, yanking the human free of the other vampire’s grip. Seth whimpered and cringed away from Adalric, who sported red eyes and extended claws. That didn’t stop Adalric from keeping himself between Seth and the other vampire. With a quick side step, a hook-kick to knock the vampire sideways, a strong grip on his head, and a twist to his neck, Adalric ended the vampire’s life.

  Damune strode from the trees, a maniacal smile curving his lips. “Hello, Maelgwn. I’m so pleased you’re able to join us.” With a flick of his fingers, the vampire still on the truck leaped down.

  A glance over his shoulder at Einan—who like a perfect enforcer had never left his side—had the gargoyle attacking the second vampire. Maelgwn prowled toward Damune. His claws flexed in anticipation of shredding the creature.

  “You’ve gone too far this time, vampire,” he snarled. “I will kill you for your crimes.”

  “Crimes?” Damune cackled. “I’ve committed no crime. I saved your lover from vengeful humans. When he ran, I tried to catch him, so I could return him to you.”

  “Bobby, babe,” Maelgwn called without allowing his gaze to flicker from Damune. “Is that true?”

  “From a certain point of view.” Bobby’s admission caused a snarl to erupt from Maelgwn’s throat.

  “But he also attacked and killed an unsuspecting human, Forest, and revealed vampires to two others. I don’t know what happened to Grant and Mark,” Bobby told him.

  The images of three dead humans, one he recognized as Forest, flashed through his mind. He growled, showing off pointed teeth. “Damune, I place you under arrest for going feral, and attacking and killing unsuspecting humans. Will you come quietly?”

  Damune, hands on his hips, tossed his head back and laughed. “You don’t have the authority to do that,” he crowed.

  “But I do,” Adalric growled. His tone turned frigid as he narrowed red eyes on Damune. “What Maelgwn said and add in instructing vampires to start an unapproved war and the crime of actions paranormals at stake.”

  Damune glared at that could put the safety of all

  Adalric for several seconds, and something in his eyes must have alerted him to the truth of his words. He hissed in anger, then leaped toward Maelgwn, his red eyes blazing with hatred, and his claws extended.

  Maelgwn met him mid-leap. Larger and heavier, he easily slammed the other man to the ground. Damune rolled sideways. Maelgwn lunged after him. Grabbing the twisting vampire’s shoulders, Maelgwn roared as he tossed Damune to the side. His enemy slammed into a tree trunk, then the ground.

  Damune’s head lifted and he hissed at Maelgwn. Seconds later, the vampire was on his feet again and charged toward him. Changing tactics, Maelgwn opened his arms and accepted the attack. Damune hit him full force. He flapped his wings and dug his toe claws into the ground to stay upright.

  Pain sliced through his lower back as Damune sank his elongated nails in. Before Damune could wrap his jaws around Maelgwn’s throat and bite, he twisted his torso as if he were going to dip a dance partner. Damune stumbled backward.

  Maelgwn grabbed Damune’s head in both hands and twisted. The sick sound of popping tendons and cracking bones sounded through the clearing as Maelgwn snapped Damune’s neck.

  Damune’s eyes widened, his jaw sagged open, then the red faded from his irises. Releasing the vampire, Maelgwn allowed the dead to crumple to the ground. Damune lay still.

  Ignoring his own pain, Maelgwn turned and strode toward the crippled truck. He looked at Einan and noted the dead vampire at his feet. A glance toward Adalric showed the vampire was still trying to get Seth to relax. Reaching the truck, Maelgwn saw why Bobby hadn’t come out. The passenger door had crumpled, pinning his lover in the cab.

  “Ah, sweet,” he crooned. He tucked his wings around him and climbed behind the wheel. “Just hang on. We’ll have you out of here in no time.”

  Bobby smiled up at him. His pupils were wide, tears stained his cheeks, and his nose was red. “Are you okay?”

  “Just fine,” Maelgwn promised, touched that even though Bobby was pinned in a truck, he still worried about him.

  “Don’t leave me,” Bobby whispered, reaching for him with his near hand.

  Maelgwn noticed the right hand was tucked against his chest, making him worry about breaks or sprains. Ignoring those thoughts for now, Maelgwn nodded. “Relax, little one. I’m not going anywhere.” To confirm that, he slid closer on the bench seat and wrapped his arms around his lover. “You’re safe now.”

  “Get away from him, freak!”

  Seth’s screams jarred them both from their cuddling. Bobby lifted a hand. “No, Seth, wait. These are the good guys,” he said. “These guys are our friends.”

  Seth actually wielded a bat. Where the hell he’d gotten it, Maelgwn didn’t know. Adalric had his hands lifted in front of him, a gesture of peace. Seth glanced between Adalric, who murmured reassuring platitudes and Bobby tucked in Maelgwn’s arms. “Friends?” he whispered, his body weaving almost drunkenly. The human was clearly in shock.

  Bobby nodded. “Yeah. Friends. The good guys. We’re safe now.”

  Seth’s head bobbed as he nodded jerkily. “Okay.” Then his eyes rolled back into his head and the human dropped.

  Adalric caught him before he hit the ground.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Leaning heavily on one crutch, Bobby used his free hand to push open the door. It had taken him a while, but he’d figured out how to maneuver on the wooden support. Maelgwn and Perseus, the clutch’s doctor, had reminded him that since he was mated to a gargoyle, the healing time would only be a matter of weeks instead of months. Unfortunately, that also meant more intensive physical therapy to get the faster healing muscles in shape properly. At least the mild sprain to his wrist already felt good as new. Bobby stopped a few steps inside the room, letting the door swing almost closed behind him. He looked around, at first pleased to see the bed empty and made, then he noted the figure huddled on the window seat, a throw blanket wrapped tightly around him. Sighing, Bobby eyed his exboyfriend sadly. The man wasn’t taking the changes in his reality well.

  “Hey, Seth,” he called, purposefully cheerful. “Is there anything to see out that window?” Bobby hobbled forward, pasting a smile on his face.

  Seth turned to look at him, his eyes widening slightly. Immediately the bigger man leaped up. “Bobby! Hey! Let me help you. Are you okay? They wouldn’t l
et me see you! Did they hurt you? How do we get out of here?”

  Waving away Seth’s attempts to help, Bobby took the offered seat Seth had vacated next to the window. He looked to his side and admired the snow-covered fir trees. The icicles hanging from their branches reflected the afternoon sun, making them appear to shimmer. Bobby understood why Seth would sit and stare. A person could get lost in the beauty and forget about their problems.

  Except Bobby couldn’t do that right now. He was here to help. Turning to Seth, he tried to remember Seth’s flood of questions. “I’m doing okay, all things considered. When the truck hit the tree, the door bent in and pinned my knee. The force stretched a couple ligaments and tendons in my knee, and there’ll be some physical therapy involved, but it’ll heal,” he told him, downplaying the injury a bit.

  Seth gasped. “Shit. I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful.”

  Bobby’s brows shot up. It was the first time Seth had apologized for anything without prompting. And it wasn’t even his fault. Bobby was quick to tell him that. “Stop, stop. It’s not your fault. You did everything you could to help. It’s that damn Damune’s fault. Fucker,” he added under his breath.

  “The v-vampire?” Seth whispered, his voice cracking.

  Nodding, Bobby murmured, “Yeah. Damune was a vampire. But he’s dead now, so he can’t bother any of us anymore.” He paused for just a second, then added, “I’m sorry about your friends, Seth. I might not have liked them, but I never wanted them dead.” He grimaced, knowing how inadequate that sounded.

  Seth settled on the corner of his bed, let his head loll on his shoulders and closed his eyes. “I knew them since gradeschool. They never understood why I liked men instead of women, but they seemed accepting of it.” He shook his head. “Until you.” Lifting his head, he opened his eyes and gave Bobby a sad look. “I guess, they couldn’t handle it after all. I’d never brought dates around them before. There’d never been anyone important enough.” He paused and sighed, his gaze sliding to the scene beyond the window and whispered, “I should have stopped their asshole antics. Then maybe—then maybe I wouldn’t have lost you.”