“Leaving so soon, Dominik?” the great creature rumbles.
But his attention isn’t on Dominik, it’s on me. He’s studying me like a sci-fi romance novel, with interest but also wondering which bit is likely to be spicy. I lift my chin and stare back.
“I heard rumors,” he says. “It would appear they are untrue.”
“Whatever you have heard is mere gossip,” Dominik says evenly.
“I heard you took a consort,” Viktor intones.
“And as you can see, she is perfectly well.”
“I can see,” the great gargoyle says. “And the rogue?”
“Under control.”
“It had better be,” Viktor says, his wings opening slightly with the sound of rock over rock. “Because you really don’t want me to visit you again.”
“But how will I get by without your sparkling wit and repartee?” Dominik says evenly.
“You’ll manage,” Viktor growls and turns his huge form towards the doors, lumbering out like the great granite statue he is.
“Gargoyles,” Dominik rumbles. “Always meddling.”
“Why does he want to know?” I ask as the Rolls draws up outside.
“He has his reasons,” Dominik says as he ushers me into the car and follows me inside. “He’s the protector for the Kobór pack, but his security interests go further.”
“How much further?”
“He was there when the vault was sealed,” Dominik says quietly as the vehicle slips away from the curb. “He is one of those who advocated for us to reveal ourselves to the world, despite what he is.”
“What is he?”
“Gargoyles are one of the oldest of all the creatures humans knew existed but refused to believe in. They were there at the start. Viktor knows what the vault means. He knows what would happen if it was opened again because he’s seen it before.”
“It’s been opened before?” I say, attempting to keep the wobble from my voice.
“I believe historians refer to it as the ‘Dark Ages,’” Dominik says. “Although the creatures which it let free might have called it the ‘Age of Enlightenment.’” He turns his gaze on me. “But it was not a good time for humans and monsters alike. The vault will not open while I am here to stop it.”
Lucy
Dominikand I take the separate entrance to his nest. He has taken quarters in a separate part of the building. They’re still hopelessly gothic, but it’s growing on me.
“So, why did we have to leave in such a hurry?” I ask as we enter the living area.
I find myself pinned against the wall by a very big, very aroused vampire.
“Because if I didn’t get you out of there, I would have mated you on the spot, audience or no audience, my dove.”
“We left becauseyou’re horny?” I put as much mock pearl-clutching into my words as I can manage. “And here I am, all dressed up to put on a good show for you.”
“You put on a tremendous show for me.” Dominik hitches up my skirt with his claws, sliding his hand up my thigh until, before I can stop him, he has the ankh in his hand, holding it up between us. “I didn’t take you for a thief, Lucy Cushing.”
“I’m not…” I say, in direct contradiction to the contraband he holds in his claws. “But that…it belongs to me.”
“It belongs to you? It has to be three thousand years old.”
“I can’t explain.” I shake my head. “But it’s mine.”
