“No, I think the little monster and I know where we stand,” he said.
“Yeah, I need to get way faster. Next time I’ll get you, pretty boy.” She waggled her finger at him before putting the crossbow back. “Now that I have you”—she pointed at Tristan—“c’mere and taste this.”
“You haven’t had me.” His voice was whiskey and fire. “I’m eager to rectify that.”
“Heh. Nice volley.” She motioned him on.
“Brochan and the second wave are en route,” Tristan said as he passed me. “Alpha Steele requests that you meet him dressed exactly as you are. I’ll escort you there. Natasha, we don’t have much time,” he called as he followed her.
Tristan wore trendy jeans and a T-shirt that had been specially made for gargoyles to account for the wings. And, for him, the shoulders.
“What happened to dressing nicely?” I asked as I followed them into the kitchen.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask,” Tristan replied, stopping at the island and looking down at the lasagna Nessa had made. “Where’s the weird mage?”
“He’s out in the backyard working on a particularly nasty spell,” Nessa said, scooping some of the lasagna onto a plate. “You look like a guy who eats a lot. What do you think of this?” She handed the plate to Tristan before turning for a fork. “Austin seems to think he’s the best cook in the world, so before I challenge him, I want to make sure this lasagna is up to snuff.”
“All the things you could be doing and you’re challenging the alpha to a cookoff?” Tristan said, before taking the fork and dutifully sampling a bite.
“I need to take breaks, and what better way to enjoy myself than rubbing the alpha’s face in my superiority?” She smiled at him, watching his mouth as he chewed.
“And you didn’t have Jessie taste it because…” Tristan glanced at me before taking another bite.
“She doesn’t have a refined palate.”
“Dude.” I spread my arms wide. “I can hear you.”
“Jessie, my love, that shouldn’t come as a shock.” Nessa laughed as Tristan went for yet another bite, eating faster now. “Well?” she asked.
“You and the weird mage are supposed to stay in tonight,” he said, continuing to eat. “You’ll have gargoyles watching the house in case something should happen.”
“Fine, fine, but how is it?” She leaned closer to him, her eyebrows raised.
He finished the plate in record time, now eyeing the dish that contained the rest.
“I’ll be back for more after I take Jessie into town,” he said. “I’d prefer it if you served it to me wearing a lacy teddy, but I’ll take it however you want to dish it.” He set the plate down and
motioned me out of the kitchen. “After you, alpha.”
“It’s good, right?” Nessa followed us toward the door. “Think it’ll wow Austin?”
When we got to the door, he reached up and yanked the arrow out of the ceiling. “It’s the best lasagna I have ever tasted, and yes, I’m a man who likes to eat. As far as wowing him, I couldn’t say.
He seems confident in his cooking, and he’s not known for his false bravado.”
“Huh.” Nessa cocked a hip, chewing her lip. “Yeah, good point. I better get him to cook something similar before I offer mine up. I haven’t really analyzed the stuff I’ve tasted that he’s made.”
She closed the door behind us, nearly bumping me with it as she did so.
“Nothing seems to rattle that woman,” I said as I glanced around the front yard, looking for his ride. “She’s been in touch with their underground network off and on all day, and even though she swore a couple times, I’ve noticed no other signs of stress. Did you come by car?”
“I flew. What’d she swear about?” He bent to grab a satchel he’d stowed just behind a decorative rock.
“She didn’t say. I guess she and Sebastian are planning to share some information with us at the meeting tomorrow morning.”
Tristan stopped at the mouth of the garage. “What is this?”
“Kingsley’s prank on his brother.”
“I’ll say,” he muttered, heading to the passenger seat and opening the door. I started toward the driver’s side. “No, Jessie,” he said, still standing beside the door. “I’m opening the door for you. I know where we’re going. I’ll drive.”
I shrugged and changed direction.
“Are you being a gentleman or a bodyguard?” I asked as I sat in the passenger seat.
He closed the door and crossed to his side, adjusting his wings so he could sit more comfortably.
“Both. You probably don’t need a bodyguard around here, but Alpha Steele feels better if someone is watching your six, and I enjoy doing nice things for ladies. It makes them glow most of the time. Except for you, because you’re used to it with your mate.”
“So why keep it up?”
“Because I like when ladies do what I tell them.” His grin was wicked, but his eyes sparkled with mischief.
I couldn’t help smiling as I shook my head. This gargoyle was dark and complex, and I had a feeling he did like telling ladies what to do, behind closed doors, in sheets of satin. Nessa had better be careful with this one. His was the sort of passion you probably had to be prepared for, or at least compliant with. He battled in life, and he battled in the sheets. I knew something about that. I was a gargoyle, too.
Speaking of…
I leaned forward so I could look up through the windshield. None of the gargoyles dotted the sky, not that I was surprised—I’d felt them all land at about noon. I hadn’t called Austin to ask about it, not wanting to bug him. I asked Tristan now.
“Kingsley requested it,” Tristan said, no emotion in his voice. “It was upsetting some of the locals, I guess.”
“Those guys from earlier?”
“Probably. Might have been other people too.”
“I don’t understand what’s happening in this town. Kingsley asked for our help, but now they’re fighting us. Or they’re threatening me, of all things. It’s like they don’t understand the seriousness of the situation.”
“Honestly, they might not. While Momar’s taken out plenty of packs, none of them have been this big. They might not realize how far up shit creek they are. Maybe they don’t want to know. Ignorance can be a crutch. We’ll have to convince them of the gravity of the situation tomorrow morning when we go over everything.”
“Okay, sure, I can understand that. But why is Kingsley allowing his pack to threaten Austin through me? Or challenge our people or just be genuinely crappy? It’s counterproductive.”
Tristan let out a breath. “I doubt Kingsley knows how deep the animosity runs. His people have a lot of respect for him, so they’re not going to treat his brother like that in front of him. Even if they are jealous.”