Chapter 14

After a night of no sleep, I slouched on the window with Gingernuts in my lap, staring out into the morning blue skies. The heavens had no right to gleam with such beauty when my life had come to an abrupt stop. All my escape attempts had failed, and this whole time I’d foolishly held on to false hope. Now my future lay scattered in a thousand pieces. What was the use of continuing to fight if I always ended up farther behind than I’d been when I’d started?

What about Gage, Reed, and Kahlo? Had they been caught at the mansion? Were they now slaves, wearing those fucking magic rings around their necks? I trembled, picturing them beaten into submission like the panthers had been. And what could I do? Fuck all! Sit here and cry. This was why I’d kept my distance from people and never gotten close—because I wore bad luck like skin, and it never failed to fuck me up.

Gingernuts meowed, and I scratched his head. “Sorry, I don’t think I’ll be able to give you my hair anymore.” He stared at me with wide eyes, as if he understood my words, and purred.

“It’s just the two of us now.” My throat tightened. “Like before.”

And me.

“Yep, me, my cat, and my second personality. Talk about messed up.”

Last night’s events kept leaping through my mind. Faye, the witch with the purple eyes, was a nasty piece of work. Of course if anyone I knew was involved in the abuse of shifters and kidnaping them, she’d be at its heart. She’d aided the creepy man in the cloak, but why were they stealing shifters? Those panthers had behaved so obediently and loyally after donning the electric choker. Even the eagle shifter who’d carried me home had worn one. Were they creating a group of personal servants or warriors?

A whistle came from the woods, and I scanned the area below. An owl?

Two figures emerged from within the trees and stepped into the clearing beneath the sunlight. My heart shivered. Reed stood alongside Gage. Neither of them appeared injured, but where was Kahlo? My stomach dropped at the thought of him captured.

My thoughts flew to the gargoyle, and dread rocked through me. It would tear them apart. I jumped to my feet, nudging Gingernuts off my lap, and he protested with a meow. “Don’t come here!” I called out. “Leave. Now!”

A shadow fell over the window as the stone guardian sailed overhead, its wings tucked against its body as it dove toward the newcomers.

My heart banged against my ribcage.

“Run! Get the hell out of there!” I hugged myself, unable to peel my gaze from Reed hauling Gage back into the forest.

I swallowed hard, watching the gargoyle take a tight turn away from their position. He swept across the field and circled the tower. A long exhale gushed past my lips. I paced back and forth, my mind a buzz.

What about Kahlo? I could never forgive myself if he was harmed. Grief sat on my chest like a boulder, squeezing me from the inside out. The corners of my eyes stung, and I wiped away the tears.

Would the men now realize coming near me was impossible?

I plonked down on the window’s edge and hugged my bent legs.

When a figure burst upward from within the canopy of trees in the distance, I dropped my feet to the floor. “What the hell?”

Huge wings glistened and twinkled like jewels beneath the sunlight in shades of fiery reds and oranges, supported by a normal-sized body.

“Gage!”

The gargoyle thundered after him.

I cried out. “Gage, get out of here!”

But he flew upward, beating his wings, with the monster pursuing him. My stomach locked up at the sight of him risking his life.

Below in the field, I caught more movement. Reed rushed toward me and scaled the tower. Gage was the distraction.

By the time the lion shifter reached the window, my insides grew tighter than my pants when I ate too much. Without a word, Reed rushed over my hair scattered across the floor and hauled me into an embrace. He squished me between his strong arms, and I floated on his musky scents. He kissed the top of my head, my nose, and lips. “You’re safe. We thought we’d lost you.”

“Where’s Kahlo? Why are you here?” I glanced outside to find Gage circling the air with the gargoyle on his tail. How long before exhaustion took him?

“Kahlo’s safe.” Reed’s arms wound around me like vines. “We heard your screams, but we couldn’t see you behind the barrier. We waited all night and when no one left the property, we panicked.”

“They took me into an underground tunnel, and I passed out until we reached the woods closer to my tower.”

“Yes, Kahlo insisted tunnels existed under Darkwoods and maybe there was an entrance under the house, so Reed and I have been searching for you all night, and we figured we’d try the tower.” His words softened and his mouth fell to mine, kissing me with such intensity, I sensed his trembling. I kissed him back, harder and desperate to merge with him and never resurface.

My legs wobbled from the explosive passion belonging to a man who loved hard and fierce. One touch, and I was his.

When he broke away, a chill found me. Outdoors, Gage kept the beast at bay, so I told Reed everything I’d seen and experienced in that place—about the panthers, the magic, and Faye, who’d locked me up in the tower.

His face went blank, and despair filled his hooded eyes. “It’s my fault. I should have never asked you to go to the house.” His gaze dipped, but his grip embraced me. “I was desperate and angry, but putting you in danger was me being a fucking idiot. I promise you—I will spend the rest of my life freeing you from this tower.” His eyes grew wide with terror, and I’d never wish for anyone to carry such a burden, to believe they owed me.

“I made that decision myself.” Too many emotions thrummed through me, from worry for Gage and Kahlo to affection for Reed to how they’d risked their safety for me.

“If Faye is coming back for you, we need to do something now,” he insisted, his brow pinched. “Tell me where Vanore lives, and I’ll visit her. I knew a few people in Tritonia who’ll guide me.”

“She might not be so eager, as I almost got her killed—assuming she survived that night to begin with. Plus, I still haven’t paid her for the first spell. I’d visited her twice, but she wasn’t there.”

He kissed my nose. “Just tell me where she lives and any other details about her.”

A thread of hope pulsed through me that this might work, or was I being foolish in letting myself believe again? But I didn’t waste a moment longer, not when Gage was outside keeping the gargoyle distracted. I ran to the set of drawers in the bedroom and retrieved a black pouch. “I hope she’s still alive, and maybe you can use this to pay for a new spell, since the last one didn’t work correctly.” I handed him the bag of gold coins. “Try to find a carriage with dragon horses, as that will be the quickest way to get to Tritonia.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve recently made friends with a dragon shifter.” He winked, and I smiled, surprising even myself at that one, Reed now called Gage a friend, and two, I could express joy in the face of dread.

“You sure about this?” I reiterated, still not convinced he’d find Vanore so easily, let alone persuade her to give me another spell.

“I owe you everything for risking your life for my pride. Few people would gamble their lives for someone they’ve just met.” His chest heaved, and he stared into my eyes as if he searched deep in my soul. “I meant what I said the other day about you and me.”

“I know.” No doubts existed anymore, but the problem didn’t lie with his sincerity, but my indecision about having more than one man. Damn, I wanted them, but it felt as if I dreamed the whole thing and I’d wake up alone again.

The flap of wings caught my attention, and I turned to see the gargoyle swooping past the window. “You better go,” I said. “I’m not sure how much longer Gage can outfly the creature.”

“Stay safe, my princess.” He leaned in and kissed me like he had nothing left to lose. For the first time, it didn’t bother me that he called me “princess.” I pressed myself closer, chest to chest, needing him, inhaling his scent. In his presence, my body and mind responded to him like an addiction.

In an instant, he drew away, blew me a kiss, and darted to the window. His eyes did a quick scan, and he scrambled outside. I rushed after him, my gaze shifting between him climbing down the wall and to Gage, who steered the gargoyle across the ruins with the stone creature mere inches from capturing him.

My pulse drummed in my skull.

Help them!

I darted into the kitchen, tripping over my hair. Catching myself, I snatched a bag of dried bread from the pantry and scrambled back to the window.

“Hey! Over here.” I tossed handfuls of food into the air, unable to see any birds in the vicinity. “Here birdie, birdie. I got food for you.” I threw more morsels into the air when a long-necked crane flew out from the woodland to my right.

Another followed, and I threw the remains of food onto the ground.

Below, Reed had careened around the back of the tower and vanished out of sight.

Then Gage glided back toward me, bringing the gargoyle closer. The creature’s face twisted as it eyed the birds.

“Go! Now!” I screamed.

He waved before swinging left and skimming over the tops of the trees, putting distance between him and the field. Damn, he was fast.

The birds fluttered out of reach as the gargoyle dove for them. They were well-practiced at ditching him, and I sagged against the wall. My heartbeat banged in my chest. For years, I’d wished for the universe to send someone to rescue me.

Now I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d listened and delivered Gage and Reed.