Creed

Chapter Ten

Angel wasn’t certain what to expect of the place Creed called home when he wasn’t living in his cave perched high above her village. She’d never seen another GarLycan until that airport hangar, and then the third one who’d arrived with Creed to meet her alongside the road.

So far, her impression of his people didn’t bode well for her future.

All three men were a bit intimidating. They showed no emotion when they climbed out of their vehicles in an out-of-the-way spot off a dirt road. She stood in official GarLycan territory. They’d passed an electronic security gate that had closed off the road a mile before they’d parked.

Kelzeb addressed Creed, not sparing her a glance. “I’ll take her up. She needs to be presentable before meeting with Lord Aveoth. You need to change clothes.”

Creed stepped in front of her, putting his body between Angel and the enforcer. “I’ll fly her to my lair and see to it.”

“No.” Kelzeb softened his voice. “She’ll be taken to Galihia. You know the rules. She’ll be safe. I give you my word. You wouldn’t have anything appropriate for her to wear. You’re already in deep shit. Do you want to make things worse? Don’t fight me, Creed. The last thing you need is to appear in court wearing chains.”

Angel could feel the tension and she reached out, placing her hand on Creed’s broad back. “It’s okay.”

He turned his head, staring down at her. His eyes had gone black. She was starting to guess they did that when he was angry or his emotions were in serious turmoil.

“It’s okay,” she repeated. It horrified her to think of him being put in chains. She even managed to force a smile to hide her uneasiness. “I’ll be fine.”

He said nothing, just stared down at her.

“Don’t get into more trouble over me,” she whispered. “Please?”

That seemed to sway him. “Do everything you are told.” He turned and reached up, grabbing a thick lock of her hair with his fingers. “Rein in your attitude for me. I find it amusing but they won’t. Do you understand?”

It was a clear warning. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

“Treat everyone as if you are in the presence of a visiting elder.”

In other words, his people were formal and would take any lip as a sign of great disrespect. “I understand.”

“It’s important, Angel. It would be bad otherwise.”

She wanted to hug him but refrained. Her fear notched a little higher but she tried to hide it from him. She had no idea what the laws of his people were with regards to etiquette or how harsh their reprimands would be, but his grim tone implied a lot. It would be really severe. She nodded.

“You won’t like the clothing but don’t refuse.” He paused. “Try not to speak at all unless they ask you a direct question.”

She really wanted him to explain more but Kelzeb cleared his throat.

“The scouts would have notified Lord Aveoth that we’ve arrived. Making him wait will irritate him. We need to go.”

Creed took a step back from her and nodded. “How long until I’m expected in court?”

“Give it an hour. I want to speak to him first.” Kelzeb removed his shirt and tossed it inside his Jeep. He slowly approached. “I’m going to take her. Leash yourself.”

Creed grew totally still. “Do it.”

The big GarLycan stepped behind Angel. One of his arms looped her hips, the other locked around her just above her breasts. He pulled her tight against his body and she didn’t protest. He lowered his head a little. “Just be still. I won’t drop you.”

That’s all the warning he gave. He lifted her off her feet, bent his knees a little, and then jumped. His wings thumped hard, taking them into the sky.

She grabbed at his arms just for something to cling to. Creed had never flown with her that way. He cradled her in his arms but this GarLycan just kept her locked in front of him. It was more frightening, knowing she could plummet to her death if she slipped from his hold as they rose higher, the ground getting farther way.

He banked to the right sharply, and she gasped and drew her knees up.

“You won’t fall.”

They flew between a pair of mountains. There were woods as far as the eye could see, with no signs of houses or roads below. She twisted her head, staring behind them. Three figures were back there, one of them Creed. It made her feel a little better, knowing he remained close. He’d catch her if Kelzeb dropped her. She’d seen how fast he could move when he dove as he flew.

“Your mate is on the edge. Don’t scream,” Kelzeb warned. “He’d attack me in flight. That would mean you might slip from my hold. Am I clear?”

“Yes.” She wasn’t liking him much at that moment.

“We’re almost there.”

“Couldn’t we just drive?”

“We purposely make it very difficult for anyone to reach our cliffs by foot or vehicle. There is very rough terrain, and we bring in a lot of territorial animals to help us defend the land against intruders.”

They cleared the two mountains and turned left. That’s when she first spotted the cliffs. It was a massive mountain with a sheer side. It split in a few places, showing off some vegetation where trees had grown, but most of it was a flat face of sharp-looking rock. She looked up, realizing it extended high into the air.

“That’s it?”

“Yes. Let me give you some advice.”

She turned her head, looking up at him. “What?”

“Do everything Galihia says. She’s Lord Aveoth’s mother. She’s a GarLycan with a heart, so her advice will be given in your best interest. Listen to her.”

“Thank you.”

He flew them higher. She examined the area of cliff they flew toward. It surprised her when she saw a bunch of open ledges and openings. “How many people live here?”

“Dozens. We live a little spaced apart for privacy. Stay away from the ledges. You wouldn’t survive if you slipped. I hope you’re not afraid of being inside caves, because this might be the last time you’re allowed outside for a while.”

He banked his wings and they dropped. It made Angel feel a little sick. Then he landed, and it knocked the air out of her lungs, but she wasn’t hurt. She turned her head, searching for any sign of Creed. Kelzeb blocked her view though when he marched her forward into a dark hole in the cliff.

She couldn’t see anything until he turned. Faint lights showed that she was inside a tu

“Stay at my side.”

“As if I want to get lost. Not.”

He shook his head. “That’s the kind of talk you don’t want to do here. Just agree. Our women were born in another time. Do you understand?”

“No.”

He blew out his breath. “My mother is two hundred and twenty-six years old. I would guess that Galihia is about a hundred and twenty, give or take some years. They are from a time when women were more submissive to men. A lot of them never leave the cliffs. No man wants his mate at risk. Just be quiet and try to learn our ways. Watch every word you say. Creed and I are considered young, but so is anyone under a hundred. We’ve also spent a lot of our lives away from here. We’re more modern. Most of the people here aren’t. Is that clear enough?”

“Yes.”

“You shouldn’t stare into a man’s eyes when you’re speaking to them. Dip your chin and only give them glances if they speak directly to you.”

“Are you serious?”