He eased her down until she stood and lessened his tight hold. She trembled against him. He paused and drew in his wings. His shoulder blades throbbed a little as the skin started to mend around the damaged flesh.
She tried to wiggle away, and he allowed it. He stayed between her and the edge. She spun, her eyes still wide and her lips parted.
“You could have fallen to your death. You don’t have wings!”
“I know that.” She took a step backward, then another.
“Watch it. There’s a planter behind you. Don’t trip.”
“I want to leave here.” Her voice sounded stronger but she still looked unsteady on her feet.
“That was your great escape plan? To plunge to your death? Do you know how easy it is to fall? You don’t even have climbing equipment. You’re damn lucky I happened to wake and see you. Otherwise I might have heard your death scream on the way down.”
Jill glanced back, spotted the tall round planter, and surprised him by taking a seat on the edge of it. Her knuckles whitened from the grip she kept on the rim. “You can’t keep me here forever.”
Some of his temper cooled. He didn’t blame Jill for attempting escape. “I can. You’re not safe anywhere else, Jill.”
“You’re wrong.”
He strode forward but she jerked back, landing on her butt in the dirt-filled planter. He crouched down in front of her. “Take a deep breath.”
She blinked a few times and sucked in air to her lungs. It would have amused him at any other time, seeing her in that position, sitting on a large pot resembling some ancient toilet. He reached out to touch her but she flinched away. He withdrew.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I just saved your life.” He didn’t want to lose another woman to death. “Let’s go inside and get you fed.”
She shook her head. “I’m good where I am.”
“I didn’t mean to frighten you but those holes you were using to cling to aren’t stable. Do you understand that? Never do that again. It’s safe for us since falling isn’t an issue. You can’t fly, Jill.”
“I just wanted to leave.”
“By killing yourself?” His anger returned. “How far do you think you’d have gotten?”
“There were other ledges but they were all blocked by rock. I couldn’t see that until I got lower. This one didn’t have any holds to reach it.”
“Those are homes of other members of my clan. Be happy they were sealed. Otherwise you’d have invaded their space and they would have attacked you, believing you were an enemy.”
She paled.
“Let’s assume you managed to climb all the way down. You wouldn’t have stood a chance, but what then? Do you know where you are? How far you are from one of your cities? Would you like to talk about the kind of wildlife you may have run into if you’d managed to sneak out of my home undetected or get past my clan members? There’s nowhere for you to run.”
“I don’t belong here.”
Regret surfaced. He didn’t blame her for desiring her old life. “You know about us now, and I can’t protect you if you go home. Don’t you think those two men I beat the living shit out of might want to seek revenge if they’re ever given the chance?”
“They won’t come after me again. They’ll think I’m here with you.”
“Are you certain they won’t keep checking?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’ll be prepared for them.”
“They are VampLycans. Do you know what that means?”
“I can’t forget. Half Vampire, half Werewolf.”
“How will you prepare? You shoot one and they get up. You’re lucky they wanted you alive and unharmed. They are stronger and faster than anything you’ve ever faced before.”
“I’ll buy silver bullets. Those kill Werewolves, right? I could soak them in holy water and have a priest bless them. That way I’m covering both my bases for those half-breed freaks.”
He grinned. She did amuse him.
She suddenly appeared annoyed. “What is so funny?”
“That’s in movies and books. It’s not reality. Crosses and holy water don’t work on Vampires, and silver bullets don’t hold any special qualities besides being harder to come by. You’ll only injure a Lycan with bullets but they won’t stop coming.”
“What does kill them?”
He considered it. “I could.”
“I mean stuff that I could get where I’m from.”
“Do you have grenades? Blowing one up would work. Of course, they’re fast. They’d just see it coming and jump out of the blast range. At best, you’d end up with a slightly injured one who’s super pissed off.”
She seemed to be considering it, and he bit back a laugh. He loved her spunk. He moved closer to her again and extended his hand. “Come inside. You’re shaken up.” He could see her trembling.
“I’m fine here.”
“Do you really want to learn how to kill other races?”
“Yes.”
“Then come inside.”
She seemed to debate it for a few seconds but refused his hand. She got up on her own and brushed off the back of her pants. “Just stay back.”
He retreated a few steps but kept between her and the edge of his balcony, not willing to risk her doing something else that could endanger her life. He made a mental note to seal every opening inside his home immediately. He wouldn’t give her the opportunity to climb outside again.
“How do you kill them?”
“Inside,” he reminded her. “I’ll make you breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry.”
He didn’t believe that. He could hear her stomach grumbling. Her tactics made no sense. He’d fill up on food, making him as strong as possible, and plot his escape if he were in her place. She seemed to be on a hunger strike. Women. I’ll never understand them no matter how long I live.
She entered his lower secondary living room and glanced around. She didn’t like it, from her frown. He studied the room for the first time, trying to imagine what she might be thinking. It was masculine and dark. The fireplace probably needed to be cleaned. He had stacks of books on a few tables from his library. The smaller kitchen he’d had put in for Lane’s use was across the open space. Down the hall were two bathrooms and bedrooms.
Jill walked to the table and fingered the cover of a book.
“You like to read?”
“Yes.” She turned and faced him. “Some of these look really old.”
“They probably are. You won’t find a bookstore out here.”
“You have internet, don’t you?”
“No.”
She glanced around. “No TV, either?”
“Not in my home. Some of the others have satellite dishes.”
“Oh my God.” She strode over to his couch and sat down hard. Both of her hands rose and she covered her face. “It’s like hell.”
“It’s not that bad.”
She lowered her hands to her lap and glared at him. “What do you do all day?”
“I rule my people and keep them safe.”
“I mean in your off time?”
“I read. I take walks in the woods or go for a fly. Train for battle.”
“Stop.” She glanced away, staring at the fireplace.
He didn’t like to see her unhappy. “I could get a television for you.”
“How nice.”
He identified her sarcasm. “I want you to be happy here.”
“That’s never going to happen.”
He strode over to the fireplace and leaned his arm against the mantel. “Do you understand that you can’t go back?”
“Why?”
“You’re being stubborn. I already told you of the danger you’d be in.”
“I wouldn’t be if you killed those two men who kidnapped me. Situation handled.” She stood up. “What would that cost me?”
“I’m not…” He paused, unable to tell her he wasn’t a killer. He’d done a lot of that in his lifetime an
d would again. “Your grandfather would just send more of his enforcers after you if I let you go…or worse.”
“What does that mean?”
“He could have Vampires, Lycans, and everything in between hunting for you. He’s done that before to another like you.”
“What other kind of supernatural beings are out there?”
“You want a list?”
She nodded.
He really liked her. “Lycans aren’t the only kind of shifters. There’s bear shifters, large cats, and a few other breeds. Full-blooded Gargoyles. Vampires. Ghouls. Halflings—think humans with unnatural abilities like you see in movies. Humans used to mistake them for witches and warlocks. Heard enough?”
She chewed on her bottom lip.
“They’d all go after you if your grandfather put a bounty on your head.”
“So kill him. Problem solved. Also, don’t call him my grandfather. He’s an asshole.”
“I concur, but I gave him my word that I wouldn’t hunt him down if he obeyed my demands. I have honor.”
“He doesn’t have any.”
“I’m aware, but I do.”
“So you’re a nice kidnapper?”
“I didn’t take you from your world. I just accepted you into mine.” He tried to calm his temper.
“I don’t want to stay here!”
“You made that clear. But I wouldn’t ever hurt you.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Sarcasm. He began to detest that tone in her voice. “We can make the best of this situation. You’re safe here under my protection.”
“Great. I’m a princess in a tower now. I’ll let my hair grow and hope my prince comes to rescue me one day.”
He laughed.
Her eyes narrowed as they gazed at each other. “You can’t keep me here. I’m not like you. I don’t have wings.” She glanced at his bare chest, then back up at his face. “We’re not even the same species, are we?”
“You’re part VampLycan. Your father—”
“Sperm donor,” she corrected.
“He was VampLycan. That makes us compatible, and humans have bred with my kind.”
“Bred? Oh, hell no!” She backed up and her knees hit the couch, sending her to her ass to sit again. She remained there. “Stay back, Wings.”
“My name is Aveoth.”
“I’m not having your bat babies. Ever.”
He grinned, not insulted. She was refreshing, even if she didn’t mean to be. “They wouldn’t have wings at birth.”
“They won’t have anything because it’s never going to happen. I’m not going to bed with you!”
He was disappointed by her words, but an idea came to him. “I’ll make a deal with you.”
“You already did. I came inside. Tell me how to kill those jerks who came after me.”
“I’ll teach you how to fight with a sword. Beheading them always works.”
“You know it’s not like seventeen hundred and something, right?” She waved a hand around the lower living space of his home. “Even if it looks like your decorator came from that era.” She suddenly paled. “How old are you?”
“I don’t keep track. Time has no meaning here.”
“Shit. Give me a ballpark figure. Just toss out a rounded number.”
“I don’t think you’re prepared for that yet.”
“Hit me with it anyway. I’m sitting down. I want to know.”
He took a breath, slowly blowing it out. “I haven’t bypassed one of your human life cycles yet, but close.”
“What do you consider a cycle?”
“Don’t humans live to be about a hundred years old? I’m younger than that, and considered very youthful for someone ruling a clan. Lord Abotorus ruled before I did. Now he was ancient.”
“Give me a number on him.”
“A few thousand years.”
“You live that long?” Her eyebrows shot up.
“Gargoyles do, and he was a full-blood.”
“But you’re not?”
“No. My mother is a GarLycan.”
“How long do they live?”
He shrugged. “No one has any idea.”
“How does someone not know something like that?”
“They were only created about two hundred years ago. Some of the firstborn are still alive and going strong. None have died of old age that I’m aware of.”
“Fuck me.”
His dick stirred, more than willing to do that. He knew she didn’t mean it but decided to tease her a little into hopefully getting into a better mood. “My bedroom is upstairs. Would you prefer my bed or on the couch?”
“You wish.”
“I do.”
Her lips parted but she closed them. She shook her head, giving him an angry look again. The silence stretched between them. She refused to speak.
He stepped away from the fireplace. “I’m going to make you breakfast.” He strode across the room.
Her gasp stopped him and he swung around. She’d risen to her feet. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re bleeding.”
He’d forgotten about his back. “It will heal. It happens when I don’t prepare myself for the change. Reaching you before you plunged to your death was more important than taking the time to allow my body to shift slowly. I’ll go take care of it if you swear on your honor that you won’t leave this room while I do.”
Chapter Six
Jill felt horrified after seeing all the blood on his back. She wasn’t about to admit it to him, but climbing off that ledge hadn’t been her smartest idea. She’d thought she was a goner until Aveoth had literally swooped in to save her.
His wings looked even more intimidating during the day than they had the night before. They were big and scary looking as he’d flown at her. There had been no sign of them when he’d started to walk out of the room, but she’d seen the jagged tears in his skin from where they must have sprouted from.
Guilt came next. He had gotten hurt because of her.
“Will you remain here while I wash off my back? I need to climb up to the higher floor. I’d blocked the doorway leading down here to keep you safe upstairs.”
Those amazing blue and silver eyes regarded her, waiting for an answer. It was the second time he’d asked. She licked her dry lips and cleared her throat. “Yes.”
He arched one of his eyebrows, as if he didn’t believe her.
“I promise that I won’t try to escape for at least half an hour. I nearly fell.”
“Forgive me if I’m leery of your word.”
“What does that mean?”
“Last night you offered me sex to beat up your grandfather’s men.”
She felt heat rush to her cheeks, having forgotten about that. “That was before I knew all the facts. I thought you were a man.”
“I am a man.”
Her gaze ran over him. He sure looked like one when he wasn’t sporting wings or claws. A really attractive one. “I swear I won’t go cliff climbing again. Lesson learned. I’m also freaked out about what you said about your neighbors, so I won’t be searching for exit doors. I don’t want to meet any of them.”
“I believe you. I’ll go deal with my back.”
“Can I do anything to help?” She did have a few first-aid classes in her past.
“Do you want to join me while I shower? You could wash away the blood for me.”
“I’ll pass.”
“You’re welcome to join me at any time. Just say the word.” He turned away, striding out onto the balcony. “I’ll hurry.”
He didn’t make any bones about wanting to nail her. She had to give him credit for honesty. She waited a few minutes and followed him out the gaping hole in the room that led outside. It was easy to spot him above her. He used rocks as handholds, and he moved faster than anyone she’d ever seen climbing, disappearing over the ledge of his room.
She reentered the living space, studying it. It felt like stepping back in time. His decorator probab
ly had lived in the seventeen-hundreds.
This was so crazy. Gargoyles, Lycans, and Vampires are real. Bear shifters? Large cats? Halflings? Half of what? I don’t even want to know. Shit. She took a seat on the couch and covered her face with her hands, using her elbows to prop her arms as she leaned forward. Deep breaths helped. Last night, she’d hoped she’d been drugged, but she’d given up on that. Life sucked—and she was smack-dab in the middle of a monster’s lair, or whatever he wanted to call it.
She thought of the sperm donor, hating him even more. This was all Decon Filmore’s fault. It wasn’t bad enough, what he’d done to her mother, but now his family had pulled her into weird world. They’d never wanted anything to do with her until they’d suddenly felt the need to give her to Aveoth. It pissed her off.
Jill stood, pacing.
“Fucking asshats,” she spat. “Like I’m furniture. ‘Oh here, give her to wing guy and let them have bat babies’.” She halted, staring around the room. “Who doesn’t own a television? He reads and leads his people. What the hell does that even mean?” She began to pace again. “I don’t care. I’m going to get his phone and get out of here.”
She walked over to the wall opening and peered out at the expanse of woods far below the ledge. “Great. I can just see how that 9-1-1 call is going to go. ‘Hello, I’m trapped in a cave on the top of a huge-ass mountain, and could you please trace the call, then send a damn helicopter to save me from people who can fly? Yes, I said fly. They can grow wings out of their backs.’ Fuck! They’ll hang up on my ass and think I’m just another crazy person bugging them.”
She turned away and entered the room again. “So screwed. That’s what I am. I’m going to murder Decon Filmore with my bare hands! It wasn’t bad enough he knocked up my mother and treated us like shit. Nope! Now he drags me into this mess.”
“Who are you speaking to?”
The voice startled her so much that she screeched and jumped, spinning to face the man who had spoken. Her mouth fell open. He was tall, muscular, and wore all black leather, with some kind of body armor over his arms.
“I’m Kelzeb. My apologies for startling you, Jill.”
She recovered. “How do you know my name?”
“Lord Aveoth told it to me last evening. I called him a few minutes ago but he didn’t answer. I hope you didn’t attack him.” His voice deepened, growing a little cold. So did the look in his eyes. “I smell his blood.”