Creed

“Get hard for me, baby,” she teased. “Bring on the gray and the wings.”

He hesitated. “No.”

That stabbing sensation to her heart wasn’t expected. So much for her thinking he wouldn’t be able to reject her in any way, now that they’d mated.

“Don’t look at me that way. I plan to strengthen our bond, but not until after this is over.”

“Why? We’re mated. We might as well make it a strong bond.” She tried not to feel hurt.

“Gargoyles can sense and track their mates for long distances. Our bond isn’t strong. It means you’d have an easier time going out range and making it very difficult for me to find you.”

“You’re saying that like it’s a good thing.”

“It would be tragic if Lord Aveoth decides to use me to hunt for you. It’s called the glooming. It’s when a mate is critically or fatally wounded, and he automatically tries to reach his mate. They used to do it the old days in Europe, when some of the clans fought amongst themselves. It’s how they located their enemies’ fortresses. They would seize a mated male and wound him so badly that he couldn’t think through the pain. It was instinct to go to his mate. They’d just follow him and attack.”

“That’s really messed up.”

“Yes. It’s also why I’m waiting to strengthen our bond.”

“What’s your range now?”

He rolled away from her and climbed off the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“A test. I need to know. Don’t move.” He left the room.

She sat up and crossed her legs, her attention fixated on the doorway. He was gone for several long minutes. He didn’t look happy when he returned. He’d also put on jeans.

“Well?”

“It’s stronger than I thought. I went to the mouth of my home and could tell exactly where you were. I would say a hundred miles right now. Maybe two. Not more than that.”

“That’s a lot of miles.”

“Once our bond is strong, I could track you across a few states. See why I consider it short range?”

“I do.” She reached out to him. “Come here. I’m not done with you.”

He didn’t come closer. “It’s time, Angel. We don’t have any more of it left.”

“You said you’d go tonight. We still have today.”

“That was before I checked my voicemail. It seems the elders were worried when you weren’t returned to your parents by morning, the way I’d indicated you would be. They left messages on my phone that I didn’t hear, since I’d left it outside. The elders must have called my people. I have a message from Lord Aveoth to call him immediately or he’s sending scouts this way. It seems your pack believes I may have accidently killed you.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Give me your phone.”

“I left it outside and away from the entrance. I rarely bring it in. Signals can be tracked.”

“I didn’t see it out there when I was looking for it when I thought you were hurt.”

“It’s about a hundred yards to the right and a hundred feet up a crevice, near my outdoor shower. You wouldn’t have. I don’t keep it where it will lead someone right to my door.”

She eyed his jeans. “And those? Where were those hiding?”

“Under the couch cushions. It works well to store clothing out of sight so I’m not staring at them in a pile on the floor. I don’t have a closet or a lot of drawer space.”

It hit her then. She wouldn’t see him for a long time. Ten years.

She scrambled off the bed and threw her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his chest. He seemed stu

“This is so unfair. I know life isn’t but this really sucks.” She wanted to cry.

“The time will pass and I will find you. Don’t go where you’ve been. It will be the first place they look. I have something for you.”

She lifted her chin. “What?”

“First, you need to get dressed.”

“Can we shower together?”

“No. I want them to smell sex on you. It will fool your pack into thinking that’s why they might pick up my scent. The Lycan elders seem to have Lord Aveoth on speed dial,” he grimly stated. “They can’t figure out we’ve mated or they’ll call him right away.”

He eased his hold and backed away, leaving her no choice but to let him go. He motioned her to follow him into the bathroom, where he reached up to a crevice she hadn’t seen before. He brought down a first-aid kit. He withdrew gauze and a cream, then medical tape. “This will hide your blood scent. They can’t suspect I bit you. Leave immediately, Angel. Lord Aveoth might have already ordered scouts this way. They could arrive as early as tonight. I will refuse to speak until I’m brought before him. That will give you time to get to the airport and take the first flight out. Don’t tell me where. Don’t tell anyone. I’ll be fine as long as I know you’re safe. Know that, my heart.”

He called her his heart. She fought tears. He was being so sweet. His hands were gentle as he cleaned away all the blood from her skin and lathered on the thick, goopy cream over her bite marks, then bandaged it. She noticed that the marks she’d given him were completely gone. He’d healed.

She followed him into his bedroom again, and he withdrew a large T-shirt. She took it, putting it on. It fell to her thighs. He was much taller. She knew she’d keep it with her until they met again, just to have something of his. He bent, pulling out a pair of his boxer briefs. They were black with a quality name brand.

“I don’t need anything with a flap.”

He smiled. “Wear them anyway. I have to visit the elders and your alpha, so I’m going to drop you off at your home. I won’t allow anyone to see that lovely ass of yours except me.”

She put them on. They were more comfortable than she’d thought they’d be, and looked like long shorts since the bottoms showed about an inch below where the shirt fell. He took her hand and she followed him into the living room.

He picked up a small black backpack off the couch. It hadn’t been there before. He released her hand. “Turn.”

“What is that?”

“It’s for emergencies. Every guardian keeps one stashed when they’re assigned to protect a Lycan pack, in case we have to leave in a hurry. We’ve been attacked before, and it’s standard to keep a bag if we need to blend with humans.”

It was heavy. “Don’t you need it?”

“Not where I’m going. It’s money and some spare clothes. I want you to have them with you. The money will help you survive and my scent is on the clothing, so a part of me will remain with you.”

She was going to bawl. She fought it. He was being brave but then again, he was a pro at hiding his feelings. The fact that he was being sweet made it worse, as if he were intentionally trying to show her that he had a tender side. She’d fair better if he barked orders at her and was his normally chilly self.

“Let’s go.”

“No shirt?”

“They’ll only destroy it when I take the lashes.”

She closed her eyes and turned her head, fighting tears.

“Shush.” He pulled her into his arms. “This is temporary. It’s only ten years. We’ll have a future to look forward to together.”

She clung to him. “I love you.”

“You are my only weakness, Angel.”

That was as good as saying he loved her.

He pulled away. “We must go. Our time is shorter by the second to make your plan work. I was informed when I checked in last that some of my clan would be not too far from this area for a few days. It won’t take them that long to reach us if they plan to come.”

She wiped her eyes, then lowered her hands. A sniffle wasn’t bad, considering she was heading toward a full-on breakdown as soon as she crossed the Alaska state line. She stared into his eyes.