Present Day
Beaumont Laroche wiped the blood from his trusty blade onto his jeans. With a quick flick of his finger, he slid the weapon into its sheath. Three fae dead by his hands. Not bad for a night’s work. The problem—there were always more of the evil bastards.
He curled his fingers around the fire escape’s grimy black iron and peered into the alley.
Dilapidated buildings with their rusted dumpsters lined the passageway, leaving a path down the middle. Like many of the ill-forgotten back streets of Chicago, evidence of human activity—a few broken beer bottles, ripped boxes, and a pile of crushed cigarette butts—littered the pavement, yet, no human graced this particular lane, not at least, at the moment. That was good. The less the humans knew about the evil that threatened to destroy them, the better.
Beaumont turned and scowled at his two companions.
Seth, his fellow night guardian and constant jab in Beaumont’s side, raised a dark eyebrow. With his brown hair, blue eyes, and devilish smile, the guy could charm a rattle off a snake. “Laroche, I bagged two fae that time. What’s your tally?”
A familiar, competitive urge bubbled in Beaumont’s veins. After a childhood of constant challenges from his younger brother, he couldn’t resist the subtle taunt.
He plastered on a smile. “Three.”
“Damn. If you keep it up, I’ll never match your kill record.” Seth scoffed and swiped his finger along the brim of his cowboy hat.
Although Seth was a couple inches shorter, he had a strong build and could take an enemy down with a single crack of his wicked whip.
When push came to shove, Seth was as good as they came and was as close to a friend as Beaumont would allow. He never let anyone get too close. Better for them that way. But, then again, they were all here for one reason or another. You didn’t become a gargoyle by being a Goody Two-shoes.
Finn, his other partner in his squad, crossed his arms, but his green Irish eyes sparked with mirth. “Stop messin’ around. We’ve got work ta do.”
Beaumont uncurled his fingers from the fire escape and pushed away from the building’s brick wall. The rod iron shook from the force. Situated on the landing several feet up, a large ceramic flower pot with the straggling remains of someone’s birthday or Mother’s Day gift teetered on the edge before righting itself. A few brown, crusty leaves escaped and drifted toward the street as if trying to escape.
A slight, warm breeze picked up. The slap of high-heeled shoes on pavement carried along in its wake, then a man’s chuckle, and a soft feminine giggle.
The hairs on the back of Beaumont’s neck rose.
Two humans, a man and a woman arm in arm, staggered down the alley. The scent of booze along with the putrid stink of body odor permeated Beaumont’s nose. He wanted to gag. Instead, he held his breath and leaned against the building’s brick exterior. His skin rippled, assuming the same context and reddish hue as his surroundings.
Like him, Seth and Finn camouflaged themselves, one against the building, the other taking on the grayish tone of an old dumpster. None moved. Their slow, controlled breaths and the clack of the woman’s pumps were the only sounds.
The couple passed, unaware of the night guardians mere feet away. As the man wrapped his arm around the woman’s shoulder, the tenderness between the two didn’t escape Beaumont’s notice. Bitterness tightened the protective layers around his heart. Never again would anyone become that close to him. Gender and age didn’t matter. He’d given up trust long ago.
The faint click of a door latch a few buildings away grabbed his attention.
At the end of the alley, the muted glow from the street lamp provided enough illumination to catch a glimpse of a young woman. The light played along her short, silken strands, the color of the midnight sky without stars, painting them with a touch of fire. His hand twitched with the sudden desire to run his fingers through the soft tresses, feel the silkiness between his fingertips.
The woman dashed after the couple, her lithe body covered in dark clothing, moving with quick and purposeful strides.
She bumped into the man, slipped her hand into his back pocket, and withdrew his wallet with ease. “Oh, excuse me.”
Drunk as he was, the man didn’t seem to notice she’d absconded with his billfold. He stumbled forward, and his lady friend laughed. The couple rounded the corner while the young pickpocket examined her loot.
Seth let out a slow breath and reemerged from his camouflage. “Nice. That one’s got some spunk.”
Indeed, she did. Attitude had radiated from her stiff posture, raised chin, and quick, skillful process. Beaumont couldn’t help but take notice. She’d struck her target with an efficiency he admired.
On an intake of breath, a bitter metallic tang coated the back of his throat, as if he’d licked a steel pipe. He clenched his jaw. Fae… The evil creatures came in all shapes and sizes, but hid behind handsome, alluring features and an irresistible charm to lure in human prey.
“Targets manifesting. Opposite end of the alley.” Seth spoke along the mind-link connection to Beaumont and Finn and unhooked his whip from a clip at his belt. “Damn their evil, noxious blood. Even the stench could gel a bullet into mush. Christ, I miss my six-shooter.”
In the dim glow of the street lamp wind swirled debris into three small piles, reminiscent of dust devils and aptly named. Bits of paper, dirt, and even an empty paper cup, the plastic lid still attached, caught in the undertow and whirled in the churn.
From the sheath at his right hip, Beaumont withdrew his dagger. His other hand palmed the one nestled on his left hip. A backup or two was a necessity in this war. He had three. The Hail Mary blade was sheathed at his ankle.
With a quick mental snap, he turned off his concealment and spoke to his teammates through their silent link. “Merde. They never let up, do they? One fae a piece, ladies. Easy pickings.”
Finn’s skin flickered then returned to his normal light coloring. He pursed his lips, but his green eyes gleamed. “Lasses, you mean? If it weren’t for yer sense of humor, I wouldn’t like ya, and I ken always tell when yer mad. Ya cuss in French. Bet I can kill mine before ya kill yers.”
A shot of adrenaline spiked in Beaumont’s veins, as much from the reminder of his French heritage as the challenge. After the goddess Rhiannon transferred him here from France more than a century ago to assist in the “New World,” he’d worked hard to lose his accent. He couldn’t quite let go of his twelfth-century warrior upbringing despite his desire to bury his past.
He met Finn’s gaze and nodded. “You’re on.”
Seth and Finn dematerialized, their molecules scattering through the air and heading toward the enemy.
At the end of the alley, the whirlwind ceased. Three fae, human in appearance except for the yellow glow around their eyes, approached at a fast clip. One wore a familiar brown overcoat that billowed around his knees with each advancing step. With his blond hair, high and mighty attitude, and the long black cane nestled in the crook of his elbow, there was no mistaking his identity—Marco Valentelli.
A coldness hit Beaumont in the chest, fueled by his anger. How many humans and gargoyles had this particular fae killed? More than Beaumont could count. The slain included two of his partners, guys he missed despite his arm’s-length relationship.
Rhiannon hadn’t replaced his lost teammates, leaving him, Finn, and Seth to cover their territory. Drake, his team leader, managed other squads in the city and couldn’t join them often. If Beaumont didn’t believe in their cause to protect the humans, he’d curse Rhiannon for the extra workload.
Innocent or not, human or gargoyle, no one deserved a cruel, torturous death at the hands of one of these evil creatures. Elusive and cunning, this particular fae had evaded his grasp, and Beaumont wanted nothing more than to take him down. The scar at the edge of his eyelid twitched. He clenched his fist and inhaled a long breath, his muscles tensing in preparation for his attack.
Over his shoulder, movement caught his attention. Merde, the pickpocket strode toward them, her pace all too fast for Beaumont’s liking.
Rule number one—protect the humans. Rhiannon’s decree, forever ingrained in his mind, rang in his ears.
Tension heightened his senses, and the animalistic side of him, the one Rhiannon instilled in all her warriors to match their hardened, daytime gargoyle forms, growled his discontent. The urge to battle his enemy warred with the need to protect the young woman, but in the end, his protective instincts ruled.
With a quickness born from his wolf-like gargoyle, Beaumont sheathed his dagger and launched himself toward her, his boots crunching along a years’ worth of grit and grime coating the narrow passage.
He caught up with the thief under the fire escape. Mere inches away, he stilled and glanced at her features. His breath caught in his throat. The short, silky strands of her dark hair caressed her chin. At the base of her neck, the ends flared like a bird’s wings in flight, the tips tinged in pink. With a pert button nose and full lips that begged for a man’s kiss, she met his gaze. Her eyes widened in surprise, but not before he’d caught the deep sadness etched within.
“Mon Dieu,” he muttered.
He couldn’t let Marco find her. The salaud would destroy her in an instant. With nearly a millennium’s worth of experience under his belt, he grasped her by the wrist and pinned her against the brick wall. A cry exploded from her lungs at the impact, and he covered her mouth with his hand.
“Silence, unless you have a death wish.”
Her eyes darted back and forth as she studied him, fear and surprise chasing away the profound sadness he’d seen. Warm and soft, her body conformed to his as if she were made for him. She inhaled and pressed her firm breasts against his chest. Even through the material of their shirts, he felt the nubs of her nipples harden.
Sexual energy jolted between them, teasing him beyond measure. A low growl of confusion and frustration erupted in his chest.
Grunts, groans, and the sounds of a scuffle echoed from the far end of the alley. He drew his gaze to the fight.
Finn, dumpster raised above his head, threw the large trash can at one of Marco’s minions, pinning the creature against the wall.
Seth snapped his whip, twining the ends around the other fae’s wrist.
Marco strode down the alley toward Beaumont and the woman. With each step, light glinted off the tip of the exposed blade cradled in his palm.
“Naturally.” Beaumont returned his attention to the pretty woman. He leaned closer, and the fresh scent of lemons eased into his senses. “I’m not going to hurt you, but this…man…coming down the alley will. At all costs, stay silent. I’ll protect you. Trust me.”
He choked on the last two words. What a crock of shit. He’d asked her to trust him when he himself would never trust another.
She nodded, and he removed his hand from her mouth. Before he could stop himself, his gaze flicked to her lips. They were full and inviting, slightly parted with her panting. He wanted to lean forward, press his mouth against hers, and find out if her lips were as soft as they appeared.
The sharp click of a blade extending from a pocketknife rang in the space between them. Smooth steel pressed against his thigh.
“Your, uh, gun is digging into my hip. Shall I remove it for you?” As she whispered the words, her cool, minty breath caressed his cheek.
The urge to laugh bubbled just below the surface. This young woman did, indeed, have spunk, he’d give her that.
Before she could react, he intertwined his fingers with hers, the pocketknife grasped between them, and raised her arms above her head. With a quick depression on the button, he retracted the blade then placed his forehead against hers. “Hush, and, by the way, I don’t own a gun.”
She audibly inhaled. “Well, then, are you trying to seduce me?”
“Would you like me to?” he blurted out before he could stop himself. Mere inches from her lips, it took all his willpower not to silence her with a kiss.
She jutted her chin, courage and toughness sparking in those beautiful green eyes. “I don’t think you can.”
He smiled and set his jaw. “Challenge accepted.”
Marco’s heavy footsteps from down the alley brought back the reality of their situation and the danger she was in. At the moment, Beaumont’s best line of defense was to camouflage himself and blend them both into their surroundings. Barring that, he’d have to resort to his gargoyle’s hardened exterior. It wasn’t his first choice. He only used that as a defensive method while under attack.
He rippled his skin, taking on the deep rustic colors of the surrounding brick. Between his pulse beating loud in his ears, the woman’s wonderful fragrance, and her soft curves scrambling his mind with suggestive thoughts, the camouflage shimmered, but it held.
He forced himself to concentrate. Her life depended on him. As if she understood, she lay still against him.
Marco stopped a few feet away, next to a beat-up gray garbage can. He stepped on a piece of broken glass, and the shard cracked and popped beneath his heel. “You’re here somewhere, Laroche. I sense your spark stone. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
The taunt slid through Beaumont, boiling his blood. He hated that Marco could sense his spark stone.
When Rhiannon had recruited him into her army and threw his spirit into a gargoyle, she’d kept all of his tormented soul except one very small piece. His spark stone held that fractured bit and rested within a circular depression over his heart.
His anger heated the mood-changing piece of granite. It was his biggest weakness in more ways than one. Even when his skin hardened to stone, the vulnerable spot could be pierced, shattering the gem and releasing his soul to the ether, the space between space. The rest of his soul, the part Rhiannon kept, would follow and he’d cease to exist. That was a fate far worse than death.
Marco’s loud exhale echoed off the walls. “Come on, now. I grow tired of waiting.”
This close to his enemy, the one he’d tracked and fought numerous times only to have the guy slip through his fingers, burned hot and fevered in Beaumont’s gut. If not for the woman, he’d draw his dagger and bury it in the fae’s eyeball, or better yet, eviscerate the creature, then stab him in the eye.
One night, and soon, he’d kill the salaud or die in the process. He held the woman still, willing her to remain silent.
A loud screech echoed into the air as metal scraped against metal. Beaumont stole a glance at his enemy. Marco had lifted the lid on the adjacent dumpster and peered inside. His overcoat slid from his outstretched hand, exposing the long cane, the hooked end nestled over his forearm.
With Marco’s back turned, Beaumont took the opportunity to calm the trembling woman. Perhaps she’d realized she was in far more danger than she’d anticipated. He stroked the inside of her palm with his thumb, trying to ease her fear as best he could.
Unfortunately, she’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Neither side in the war wanted humans finding out that gargoyles and fae existed. That would defy Cernunnos’s rules, and no one wanted the Lord of the Otherworld’s wrath on their heads. Nonetheless, rumors abounded.
“Boss! We can’t hold them off much longer,” an unknown fae shouted. Sounds of scuffling feet and flesh connecting with flesh echoed down the alley.
“Well, I guess it’s your lucky night, Laroche.” Marco released the lid, and the metal crashed against the rim. “Until next time, then.”
The fae threw back his arms, flaring the coat around his thighs. A whirlwind swirled at his feet, a mini-tornado, moving faster and faster. In an instant, Marco’s molecules disappeared into the midst. The dust devil ended as quickly as it’d started.
The young woman struggled against him, tempting him with every move. “Release me, you moron!”
He blinked. “Moron? I saved your life. Why are you angry?”
“You’re holding me against my will. Let me go.”
He ended the camouflaging cloak, his skin and clothes returning to normal, and freed her, letting her retain her small pocketknife.
She blinked, as if in amazement, and brought her hand to her throat. Beneath the open collar of her light windbreaker, a golden chain trailed to a small locket nestled against her chest.
She gripped the pendant in one hand and shook her switchblade at him with the other. “You ass, I should still use this on you.”
His mouth fell open. During medieval times, he’d been taught women were chattel and didn’t dare speak their minds. He’d learned pretty quickly that wasn’t the case, and over the centuries as time and traditions changed, he’d become more accustomed to new ideas, but the women of this day and age still confused him.
He held up his hands and took a step back, giving her some space. His shoulder connected with one of the fire escape’s support beams.
A rattling sound echoed from above. The plant pot’s hard ceramic base raced toward him. He hardened his skin but wasn’t quite fast enough. The pot crashed against his head. Pain flared at his temple, and light contracted to a small pinpoint before darkness took him.