Page 46 of Protected By the Gargoyle
A bleak outlook took form. The monster could take Janie somewhere—somewhere where Arto could never find her.
Never. He’d follow her until the last beat of his wings.
JANIE
It happened again. Janie was once more in a demon’s clutches, the horrible red skin unleashing a thousand dark memories of being held captive.
The wind and snow battered her face. Every bleak and twisted nightmare she had since returning from the demon’s realm now played out in vivid reality. This wasn’t a bad dream she could wake from and find refuge in Arto’s arms. It was terrifyingly real.
Where was the demon taking her? Back to the demonic realm? She pictured that stark landscape where she’d been restrained inside a cave. Where an incubus promised to breed her. She shuddered. She’d rather die than live that life.
She scratched his arms and thrashed about. “Take me back.”
“Careful, or I’ll drop you,” the demon threatened in a low, chilling tone.
She stopped flailing but refused to look down and cower to the fear. If she fell into Boston Harbor from this level, it would be like crashing a car into concrete. She’d shatter.
“Where are you taking me?” she demanded.
“Where we can be alone.” The smarmy, sinister tone sent a shiver along her flesh.
“So you can drain my life-force?”
“No, you’re too valuable for that.”
“How?”
“You’re marked. I confirmed it when I came by your office.”
The strange, hot guy with the blue eyes and dark hair that came by her work flashed in her brain. Her stomach lurched. She knew something was off about him. Damn, she should have known someone that hot wasn’t human. After all, it wasn’t the first time she’d been tricked by an incubus.
“Lucky me.” She never wanted to be an average human more than now. “You had that fake baby story?”
After several heart-pounding seconds, it said, “We’ll make a real one.”
Bile rose in her throat. She guessed he wanted to make vile demon spawn with her. “I’d rather die.”
“That’s another option.” His tone was laced with a threat.
Fear swelled within, clamping around her lungs. She gasped for breath.
“Why are you here?”
He laughed, and it was totally without mirth. “You already know the answer. You brought me.”
She scowled. Summoning him was not intentional.
“I’m coming for you,” Arto hollered from behind her.
Arto. Her heart swelled. She glanced over her shoulder. He soared with magnificent gray wings as he chased her in his gargoyle form. He’d be intimidating to most, but to her, he was a brave and noble warrior.
He was coming for her. Of course he was. He’d do anything for her, even risk his life when she did something stupid like rushing out onto a rooftop, leaving herself exposed.
No wonder Arto and Larissa and all the sentries insisted they take care of her. She was a weak, vulnerable human whom they had to protect.
She glanced behind her. Arto’s winged form appeared smaller. The distance was increasing. This demon was taking her away from him.
No. Hell fuckin’ no. She wasn’t going to let that happen. She wouldn’t let this demon win. She wouldn’t go with him and be forced to live a nightmare where she bore its devilish creatures. She wouldn’t let any of her loved ones fight demons or have to travel into dark, dangerous realms again, risking their lives because of her. No one was going to have to save her this time—she would fight. And if she didn’t make it…
