“I’m sorry. I forgot you are human. I said it, but perhaps you didn’t catch it. We are being married tomorrow. A huge, formal ordeal with all our friends and family — the whole of Whispers actually, and it just wouldn’t do to have you attend. Especiallysince he’ll reject you the moment he sees you. It would no doubt be humiliating for you when he confesses that he was only toying with you.”
Angelle nodded slowly as she thought about Saige and every bit of manipulative drivel coming out of her mouth.
“I am very sorry that you’ve been mistreated by Boon, but it is the way of Gargoyles to find a way to occupy their time until their true love acquiesces and becomes theirs. You know what you should do? You should just return home to your human world, find yourself a human male and refuse to allow him to treat you as though you don’t matter. Demand that he gives you exactly what you deserve. In fact, I think that you should start demanding your due before you even get home. But you really need to go now before Boon gets home. He told me to be waiting in our bedroom when he returns. He’ll be quite put out if I’m not in exactly the place and condition,” she lowered her voice and whispered — “naked” before finishing her sentence in a normal voice — “when he gets home.”
“I think you’re right. It’s time that I took control and demanded my due.”
Saige clasped her hands in front of her and let out a soft, empathetic sigh. “Oh, I do so hope you’ll find a love equal to Boon’s and mine.”
“Do you mind if I gather my things quickly. It’s only a few pieces of clothing,” Angelle said.
“If you must, but please hurry. You can’t be here when he returns. He did tell me that if you returned I should refuse to allow you into our home.”
“I understand,” Angelle said. She didn’t cry. She didn’t lose control. In fact, she slipped into a calm, self-assured state of being. There was no doubt in her mind exactly what she needed to do. She walked down the hallway past the bedrooms and the bathroom, and went straight to Boon’s man cave on the oppositeend of the house. She went to the rack on the wall where Boon’s crossbow hung, fully cocked with a bolt in place, waiting to be fired.
“Human! You really must get out of my house! Please, get what you need and go!”
“Oh, I’m getting it,” Angelle called back to her. Angelle tested the crossbow in her arms, balancing it and taking aim at the wall. It was a lot like the one her father used for hunting. Thinking better of using the razor sharp bolts Boon had loaded onto it, she changed it out for a lighter practice bolt with edges that weren’t sharpened to a razor point, then slipped a handful more into the pocket of the loose dress she was still wearing. Smiling to herself, she held it at the ready as she made her way up the other hallway, past the second bathroom and the dining area back toward the kitchen. When she stepped into the kitchen, the crossbow against her shoulder, lining up her shot as she aimed it at Saige; Saige screeched and jumped up from the table she’d been sitting at. “I’ll kill you, you stupid little bitch!” Saige screamed.
Angelle didn’t answer. She pressed the trigger and let the bolt fly.
Saige turned her back just in time to save herself from being struck right in the chest, but not in enough time to prevent herself from being injured. The bolt breezed past her arm, slicing the outer edge of her bicep.
Saige screamed, grabbing at her injured arm as blood started coursing down toward her fingers, then dripped onto the floor.
As Saige screamed and tried to get away, Angelle calmly nocked another bolt in place, reloading the cross bow. She raised it and aimed it at Saige again.
“Nooooo!” Saige screamed, running for the door.
“Yes. Boon is mine. I don’t share, and I don’t scare easily. Get out of my house.”
“I’ll be back, with Boon!” Saige shrieked.
“Get out!” Angelle insisted, taking aim at Saige again.
Saige screamed again, this time just pure rage as Angelle closed in on her, the cross bow still cocked and aimed at her head.
Saige let go of her bleeding arm just long enough to turn the knob and yank the door open. She ran down the steps as Angelle stood on the top one, watching her go. “This is my house. Mine and Boon’s! I was raised by a Dragon and taught to protect what’s mine. I’m not afraid to do whatever it takes. Do not come back or I’ll kill you where you stand!” Angelle yelled, as she let the bolt fly.
Saige turned to run, screaming again as the bolt hit her, the force knocking her down the last three or four steps and throwing her to the ground. Saige lay on the ground writhing, screaming for anyone to save her as she arched her back and tried to relieve the pain in her ass.
“Oh, my! Seems I shot you in the ass rather than in the back. Lucky for you I’m a good shot, and a decent human. I could easily have killed you. Don’t come back to my house, you lying bitch.”
Angelle slammed the door and locked it. She walked over to the table where Saige’s cup still sat and picked it up, planning to wash it. She thought better of it, changed her mind and took it over to the door. She walked out onto the porch and onto the top stair where she threw it as hard as she could at Saige, who still lay screaming and crying in pain and outrage on the ground. The cup only added insult to injury as it hit Saige’s head and broke into several pieces, leaving a little gash on her forehead. “Aren’t you gone yet? I’m going to get another bolt!”
In fact, Angelle did go load another bolt onto Boon’s cross bow. She walked out onto the porch and aimed it at the spot Saige had been. But Saige wasn’t lying there. She was hobbling away, screaming and crying with every step she took.
Angelle stood for a second watching her go, giggling just a little. “Ah, well. Guess she won’t be back anytime soon.”
Chapter 22
Boon carried another stack of chairs from the storage barn and set them down near a group of tables scattered here and there. He even took the time to arrange them four or five at a time to each table Marauder was busy putting in place. He’d just finished up and was heading back to the barn to grab the last stack of chairs when a commotion behind him caught his attention. He turned in time to see several women running toward the tree line at the edge of the clearing, while yet another ran toward Destroy and Rowan’s home.
Boon took a step or two toward the individual they carried toward the rest of the people gathered to set up for the party, then stopped when he realized who the sobbing individual was. He shook his head, rolling his eyes in disbelief as he turned back toward the storage barn.
Marauder stepped out of the storage barn and hesitated for a second, taking in the chaos before him. “What’s she done now?” he asked without any emotion at all in his voice.
“Who knows? I’m sure some poor soul will be blamed for whatever it is, though,” Boon said.
