“I never said how hard she’d be hit. I’ll leave that to you…but at least touch her skin.” He held it out. “Fifty, Creed. Not one less. I’m going to trust you to do as I have decreed.” He paused. “Once you are done here, there is clothing inside the wardrobe. Fly her down to your lair. Avoid the internal tunnels. I don’t want any of the unmated to get a whiff of her. You’d have to fight your way home. The calling scent has been masked but it’s still faintly there. Shell be confined to your lair, and you’re to make certain she remains there until her sentence is served. You’re her guard.”
Creed was too stunned to move.
Aveoth smiled. “Do me one favor?”
“Anything.” Creed accepted the paddle. It sank in that Aveoth was going to allow him to be the one to use it.
“Pretend to be miserable until you leave the cliffs. Grumble if anyone asks and tell them I felt being mated to a human would be punishment enough.” He winked. “A lot of our people think Jill is pure hell for me. They have no idea how wrong they are. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Thank you.” Emotion choked him. Lord Aveoth had done him the greatest kindness of all. “I swear.”
Aveoth spun on his heel and walked away.
Creed closed his eyes and gripped the paddle with both of his hands. He had come home expecting the worst, possibly even death for him and Angel.
They were going to live, and not be parted. It was even a gift to be kept at his current assignment once the six months of confinement were over. Angel would get to remain with her pack, close to her parents.
Chapter Twelve
The door creaked open and Angel bit her lip. It was time to face the pain. She decided she wouldn’t cry out no matter how much it hurt. GarLycans weren’t the most emotional people. They probably suffered everything in silence. She would be brave for Creed. It might reflect badly on him if her screams were heard echoing down the tunnels.
The door slammed and she shifted her hands, wrapping her fingers around the chains attached to the leather restraints. It would give her something to concentrate on during the worst of it. Heavy-booted steps came closer and then stopped right behind her. She kept silent. It was probably best or she’d start babbling, maybe even crying.
She startled when wood barely bumped against her ass. She forced her body to relax as she took deep breaths. That was probably a practice swing to ensure so he wouldn’t miss.
The second tap to her bottom was feather-light. Same for the third and fourth. Angel frowned. By the tenth, she understood that whoever held it was purposely not hurting her. He probably couldn’t have stunned a fly with those taps. She relaxed more. He was mated. It was possible he couldn’t bring himself to hurt a woman.
It was her lucky day. She refrained from saying words of gratitude. It might piss him off and make him hit her hard.
It ended on fifty, each tap as soft as the last. Wood hit the floor, and then she gasped when someone bent over her. The guy leaned against her back. There was no denying he had a hard-on when it pressed against her ass.
She struggled. “No!”
“Easy, Angel. I’m just releasing you.”
It was Creed!
She threw her head forward, rubbing on the bed to get rid of the cloth over her face. Then she stared into his eyes, since he was right there next to her.
“Creed! That was you?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “Lord Aveoth allowed me to be the one to spank you.” He turned his head, using his outstretched arms to fumble with the buckles on each of her wrists. He got the right one free first.
“Why would he do that?”
He got her second arm free and straightened. He backed away and she stood, turning around. He’d changed his clothes, now sporting leather pants and a black long-sleeve shirt. She wanted to throw her arms around him, so she did, hugging him around his waist and burying her face against his chest. He held her back, hugging her tight.
“He had mercy.”
“I only have to serve six months in jail.”
“Inside my home with me.”
She lifted her chin, stunned again.
“Lord Aveoth has been very generous. We need to go. I want to take you there now.”
She hated to release him. The dress she’d discarded was on the floor and she bent to pick it up, but Creed gripped her arm, shaking his head. “No.” He let her go and strode to the wardrobe. He pulled out a red cape and opened it. “Come here.”
He wrapped it around her like a blanket and scooped her into his arms. He hesitated and then shifted her, positioning her over his shoulder. “Stay still and be quiet.”
“Okay.” She didn’t mind hanging from him. Creed had her.
He opened the door and quickly took them up a flight of stairs. They didn’t pass anyone, that she could see, and then she knew they were close to an opening to the outside. It grew a bit colder and she could smell fresh air.
Creed bent and placed her on her feet, helping her keep the material together to protect her modesty. He stripped off his shirt next, tucking part of it into his pants. He scooped her up again to cradle in his arms. He closed his eyes while he allowed his wings to slide out. He opened them and rushed forward, jumping into the darkness.
Angel gasped. The sun had gone down outside and she couldn’t see a thing. Creed halted their decent within seconds and continued flying downward in what seemed like a big circle. He landed somewhere but she still couldn’t see a thing. He put her on her feet.
“Do not move. It’s a small ledge and I have to open the door. You back up two feet and it’s a fall. Step right and it’s a fall.”
“My feet are glued to this spot,” she promised.
He no longer touched her and she heard what sounded like rock being shoved against rock. Creed returned to her fast and took her hand. He led her forward and she felt solid rock brush her side. The passage seemed tight for a short distance but then opened up. He stopped her.
“Stay.”
“Okay.”
“This is my home. I took us through the exterior door. I wasn’t planning on returning so I didn’t leave any lights on.” His voice grew a little distant.
There was a click, and then blinding light came on from above.
Angel blinked, adjusting to being able to see again. It looked like a real home inside, with wood-paneled walls. She stood in the living room and there was a kitchen to her right. A long island separated the space.
Creed strode to her. “It will be more comfortable for you here than at the lair that overlooks your pack. I never spent much time updating it. I’ll do that when we return.” His wings were gone.
She didn’t care where they were living. She did glance at how they’d gotten in. There was a big rock and it had been shoved away from the wall. Cool air came in. Creed followed her gaze and walked over to it, pressing a shoulder against the solid surface. He shoved, closing the space until the walls met.
“We seal them off when we aren’t home. It makes it harder for anyone to find our lairs. It also keeps out the snow and cold in the winter.”
“That looks heavy.”
He shrugged. “It’s only about six hundred pounds but it’s on a track.”
“Oh. Only.”
He grinned. “Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“I don’t have much here but I’ll get you something.” He held out his hand. “Come. I’ll run you a bath.”
“No thanks.”
He arched his eyebrows.
“I already took one.”
“Relax then. I’ll go find you food. I’ll be back.”
She wanted to stop him but he moved too fast, walking across the room to a big door. “This is our home,” he called out. “Be comfortable.”
Then he was gone and she stood there, taking in the rooms. Creed had books on shelves on one wall. She walked toward them, staring at the ancient-looking volumes. She was afraid to touch them. She turned, following
a hallway. The light switch was easy to locate and she flipped it on.
The first door opened into a small bedroom. It looked unused and smelled a little stale, as if the air hadn’t been disturbed in a long time. She moved on, opening the door farther down. It was a bathroom. It wasn’t large the way Gali’s had been but it contained a shower and another claw-foot tub. The plumbing was almost modern, about thirty years out of date. She closed that door and opened the last one.
It was a bigger bedroom, and Creed’s pants from earlier in the day were right inside the door on the floor. She found the light and entered.
He had a big bed, and there was a couch by a fireplace in the corner. She went to sit on it, just needing to take everything in. The cloak was big enough to use like a blanket as she adjusted it, wrapping it under her arms. Lord Aveoth had really been nice, if he was going to allow her to stay with Creed for her imprisonment. She smiled.
A door slammed, and she got up, hurrying out of the bedroom. “That was fast.”
The man who stood in the living room brought her to a jarring halt.
It wasn’t Creed. She knew who he was though, or at least who she guessed he had to be. They looked a lot alike.
She cleared her throat, not sure what to say to Creed’s father. He said nothing, but he didn’t have to. His lips pressed firmly together and he made a loud grumbling noise of disapproval. She backed up.
“Where is my son?”
She winced as his voice rose to a yell. “He went to get me something to eat.”
His nostrils flared. “You dare speak to me?”
“You asked a question. I answered.”
“Insolence!”
She backed up a little more.
He pointed at her. “You have ruined my plans for my son. He threw everything away for you!”
Well, she wasn’t going to get along with her new father-in-law. It didn’t exactly break her up. He seemed like an asshole.
“In forty years, he would have taken his place as one of the palace enforcers. Now he’ll be demoted and shamed. For what?” He glared at her body. “A puny human breeder. It’s an insult to our line!”
She took another step back, moving slow when he began to pace, breaking eye contact with her.
“I will not allow it to happen. I can salvage this… He went to get her food! He’s become an errand runner for a human.” He threw back his head and bellowed.
She was tempted to run but there was nowhere to go. He could break through the doors. He was a full-blooded Gargoyle. She just held still, hoping he’d forget she was even there, or that Creed would return.
The man resumed pacing, his hands locked together behind his back. He shot her a furious look. “My mating with a Lycan was a mistake. His mate will be a pure-blood like myself. It will wean out the weakness in his children that became known in my own. My second mate will be one as well, so my future sons shall be born strong.”
Oh shit. That didn’t sound good. She glanced at the door Creed had left through, starting to pray he’d come back before his old man decided to kill her. It looked as if it was heading that way.
“I knew it was a mistake to make an alliance with those Lycans.” He spun her way. “Even humans were better than them. Do you know why?”
She shook her head, afraid he’d go off if she spoke or didn’t respond at all.
“Their bloodlines are weaker and our traits come through cleaner.” He scanned her from head to foot again. “Perhaps my son isn’t dense after all. I never told him I planned to find him a pure-blood mate. He may have seen the same problem with Lycans that I did.” He stormed toward her, and she pressed tight against the wall.
He passed her, stomping down the hallway. She debated on following him but didn’t. She watched him enter Creed’s bedroom. He wasn’t in there long. He came toward her again and she bolted to the only place she could go. She put the kitchen island between them and turned, hoping he wasn’t going to lunge across it to do something bad. It also gave her time to tighten the cape around her body.
He paced in the living room. Angel glanced around, looking for a weapon, but then discarded the idea. He could shell out his skin and it would just break the knife if she stabbed him. He’d kill her for sure. She held still, watching him.
The door opened and Creed entered, carrying a bag. Once glimpse at them both and he dropped it, hurrying forward.
“Father. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see if it was true. You mated a human.”
Creed put his body between her and his father from the other side of the island. “I did.”
“You have not chained her. You don’t even have them readily available. I looked.”
“She’s my mate.”
“They are unstable creatures. You must chain her when you leave. She could attempt to escape.”
“Angel isn’t going to do that. I didn’t force the mating. She is with me of her own free will.”
His father snorted. “It’s what they do. Their feeble minds can’t withstand what we are. She’ll go insane and try to hurt herself or your child when you get her pregnant.”
“I didn’t invite you here and I want you to leave. You aren’t to enter my lair without prior permission—and never when I am not here.”
“You dare speak to me that way?”
Creed advanced until they were almost chest to chest. They were the same size in bulk and height. “I dare.”
“Back down!” his father thundered.
Angel grabbed for her ears, covering them. She glanced around, expecting to see cracks in the walls or something. Nothing happened. She watched the pair of men glaring at each other, now that she felt secure the roof wouldn’t come down on top of them. Creed’s lair at the cliffs seemed stronger than the one that rested above her village.
“Get out,” Creed demanded. “I will not take orders from you.”
“You are my son. You will obey me!”
“I won’t.” Creed softened his tone to almost a whisper. “Mother isn’t here to stop me anymore from fighting you. You allowed her to wither and die. How could you?”
The elder man turned a little gray-skinned. So did Creed. Angel wondered if the living room was about to become a battleground. She worried about Creed but they looked evenly matched. Creed was younger though, possibly giving him the advantage. Neither of them spoke for a long time.
“I didn’t wish for that to happen,” the elder finally admitted. “I think of her often. Her death wasn’t foreseen.”
“Don’t pretend you care. I’m not fooled by your act. I will always put my mate first. I won’t allow you to come in here. Do you understand? You are misery that walks. I won’t have you tainting my Angel.”
“Chain her then. Keep the rock in place so she doesn’t plunge to her death the first time you decide to breed her for a youngling, after revealing what you are to her.”
“She’s seen me. Angel knows exactly what I am. Now get out.”
The father turned his head, studying Angel. “You don’t believe he’s a demon?”
“Am I allowed to speak now?” She wasn’t about to forget the last time she’d answered him.
“I give my permission.”
Creed growled.
“Thanks.” Angel didn’t want them to fight. “Yes, I know what Creed is, and I’m never going to leap to my death. Count on that. If I ever go off a ledge, it’s because I was pushed or thrown.”
“He can change forms and fly. Were you aware of that, human? I am betting he made sure you couldn’t see him when he mated you.”
“Actually, you are wrong. I think he’s sexy when he’s gray and has wings.” She even reached up to shove the cape away and reveal skin, tapping the healing wound from where he’d bitten her to make a point. “We mated facing each other. The fangs are hot too.”
His father grimaced and glared at Creed. “She’s already not of sound mind.”
“She is.”
“I was raised in a Ly
can pack,” she added. “Biting is normal. So is partially shifting when in heat. It happens sometimes. I’m not afraid of Creed. I love him.”
“Love?” the elder spat and his eyes turned black. “That’s why you mated her? She has feelings for you? It mattered?”
“It always matters,” Creed grumbled. “Get out. I won’t say it again. You do not have permission to come into my lair or be anywhere near my mate. I’ll fight you if you do.”
“You’re flawed.” Creed’s father backed away from him, stepped to the side and stormed out. He slammed the door when he left.
Creed lowered his head and Angel moved around the island. “It’s okay.” She stopped in front of him, staring into his eyes. He looked miserable. She put her hands on his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“Did he frighten you? Threaten you? Touch you? I’ll kill him if he laid a finger on you.”
“I’m good. He kept his distance and just yelled a lot.” She wasn’t about to repeat anything his father had said. It might hurt him more.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
“You saw where I came from before you took me to the village. I was the poster child for fucked-up parenting and bad beginnings. He’s no reflection on you. It doesn’t matter what he thinks.”
“I’m a disappointment to him.”
“Who cares? He’s an asshole.” She softened her tone. “I love you.” She slid her hands up his chest and gripped his shoulders. “Take me to bed. I can make you forget all about him.”
The silver in his eyes flared to life, shining. “Is that your solution? I nearly challenged my father to fight to the death and you wish to lure me to bed?”
“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”
His lips twitched, almost a smile. “No.”
“Good. I’m in the mood to celebrate, and that means getting you naked. I can’t think of a better way.”
“Celebrate?”
“My ass isn’t burning from pain and I’m not locked up in some black hole. The only marks that’re going to be on your back will be from my nails if you’re really good in bed.” She smiled. “Don’t disappoint me. That’s all you have to worry about. Otherwise, I’ll have meant it when I said I’d have to train you.”