Page 21 of Gaga for the Gargoyle
“What?”
“I’m afraid I can’t go with you then. As king, I’m tethered to this city. I can only fly a mile or two outside of the limits. I’ll send Locheran in my place.”
The thought of not having her near me already sparks a ball of panic deep within my soul. However, I trust my commander.
She opens her mouth to argue, but I hold up my finger.
“You need to go, and I must stay and protect this city. Locheran is my most trusted soldier. He will keep you safe. I’ll send a team of soldiers with you two as well. Monday at sunset, he’ll fly you up there.”
She considers my words and eventually relents. Still, her eyebrows pinch together.
“Do we have to fly? Won’t it be weird if Locheran and I show up without a car? And I’m not about to walk in with wind-whipped hair. I’d rather drive or take the train.”
Right. She’s ‘not a fan’ of heights. I suppose they should go the boring human route. While no one would notice if they showed up without a car, she might be right on the wind-whipped hair. I like to keep mine braided when flying.
“I’ll hire a car for you two. I don’t trust trains. Too public. I’ll have a few soldiers fly up there to scope out the place, make sure there’s no danger before you arrive. The rest will escort the car.”
“You’re wasting too many resources on me.”
I tsk at her.
“Oh, Kitten. You are not, and never will be, a waste. And if you keep doubting yourself around me, I will have my soldiers find the fucker who convinced you that you’re not worthy. I’ll rip their spine out of their body and feed their flesh to the hellhounds that prowl at the gate between Hell and Earth’s realm.”
Her mouth hangs open, her eyes wide. “Jesus, Xander.”
“I apologize if that was too detailed and violent for you—”
“Um, no. That was...hot.”
She giggles, and the sound warms my chestwith pride.
“I know that’s not a normal reaction, but I’ve never had anyone offer to murder someone for me. I’m...flattered. Does that make me weird?”
I brush a piece of her hair behind her ear, and she blushes at the move. “No. But even if it did, I like weird.”
She yawns, her eyes struggling to stay open. Despite how badly I want to hear more about how me violently killing someone in her honor pleases her, she needs sleep.
“Let me prepare the guest room for you.”
“I can go home.”
“No. Not if something is targeting you.”
“I have my cat at my apartment. I need clothes, personal items...”
“I’ll send someone to get your belongings and the cat.”
“Her name is Birdie.”
“I’ll send someone to get Birdie then.”
Locheran is going to kill me. He’s scared of cats. I remind him he’s a six-foot three, three-hundred-pound gargoyle, but I can never convince him he’s safe from being killed by a cat.
The odds are low, but never zero,he’d say.
I fire off a text to him and ask Evangeline for her keys. While waiting for Locheran to arrive, I lead my tired kitten to the room where she’ll be staying. She pauses at the door.
“What if I want to stay in your room with you? So you can protect me.”
