Page 2 of Her Gargoyle Captor

"Please," I beg, voice cracking. "Let me go. I won't tell anyone, I swear."

One of the elves laughs, a cruel sound that sends shivers down my spine. "Oh, we're not letting you go anywhere. The fun's just getting started."

They stalk towards me, weapons glinting in the moonlight. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable. But instead of pain, I hear a thunderous roar.

My eyes snap open just in time to see the statue - no, the creature - leap into the air. It crashes down on the nearest elf with devastating force. There's a sickening crunch, and the elf goes still.

"What in the Abyss?!" another elf shouts, his voice cracking with fear.

The beast's massive head swivels, those piercing blue eyes now fixed on the remaining elves. I watch, frozen in place, as they stumble back, their weapons raised in shaking hands. The moonlight glints off their blades, but the trembling metal offers little comfort against this monstrous creature.

"Kill it!" one of them yells, his voice a desperate, shrill command that echoes through the clearing.

But it's too late. Oh gods, it's far too late for them. The creature moves with impossible speed, a blur of stone and fury. It tears through the elves like they're made of paper, ripping and crushing with terrifying ease.

Screams of terror turn to gurgling gasps, a horrifying symphony that makes my stomach churn. Blood splatters across the moonlit grass, staining the silvery blades crimson.

In mere moments, it's over. The clearing falls silent save for my ragged breathing. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, feel it threatening to burst from my chest. Slowly, those glowing eyes turn back to me.

"P- Please," I stutter. My entire body shakes, trembling in shock and terror.

If I could escape the elves this monster swatted like bugs, there's no way I can escape it, either.

2

KAEL

Chapter 2 - Rodeo

Kael

The scent hits me first - sweat, fear, and the intoxicating aroma of fresh blood. My stone eyes, dormant for centuries, spark to life. A figure bursts into my clearing, her ragged breaths piercing the silence.

She's a vision of primal beauty. Tattered scraps of fabric cling to her curves, leaving little to the imagination. Her breasts, full and heaving, threaten to spill free with each desperate stride. Long, chestnut hair whips behind her as she stumbles towards me.

Hm. What is a pretty little thing like her doing out here?

The woman collapses at my feet, her sobs muffled against the cool stone. That's when I feel it. A trickle of warmth seeping into the intricate patterns carved into my base. Her blood, rich and potent, flows through ancient channels. The curse that's held me captive for eons begins to crack.

Power surges through my limbs. Stone gives way to flesh, hard angles softening into corded muscle. With a roar that shakes the very earth, I burst free of my prison.

Her pursuers burst into the clearing, dark elves with hunger in their eyes. They never stood a chance. My claws tear through them like parchment, their screams cut short by my fury. When the carnage ends, I turn back to my unexpected savior.

She stares up at me, eyes wide with a mix of awe and lingering fear. I drink in the sight of her. Sweat glistens on bronzed skin, highlighting the swell of her breasts and the curve of her hips. The remnants of her clothes leave little to the imagination, revealing long, shapely legs and a taut stomach.

A gash on her arm still bleeds sluggishly. The scent makes my newly awakened senses reel. I take a step closer, nostrils flaring. "I saved you, little one," I growl, voice rough from disuse. "I shall take my reward."

Her eyes flash with defiance. "I never asked for your help, you overgrown statue!"

The words hit me like a slap. Centuries of slumber, and this is the thanks I get? I cock my head, studying her. Fiery little thing. My blood - no, her blood in my veins - sings at the challenge.

"Didn't ask to be bothered," I snarl back. "Yet here we are, sweetheart."

She scrambles to her feet, chin jutting out. "I had it under control."

A bark of laughter escapes me. "Sure you did. Running half-naked through a forest, bleeding like a stuck pig. Real control there."

"Better than being some glorified garden ornament!"

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