“No way,” Rolf called in a loud voice, though he now stood only a few feet away. “That eagle is yanking your chain, bro. You can’t let him get away with that.”
“Shut up, Rolf,” Val said with a frown. “This isn’t your business.”
Next to him, Kraft and Riley watched, clearly entertained.
“Did she say not his business?” Riley mock-whispered.
“She totally did.” Kraft’s wide grin made Val distinctly uneasy.
And then Rolf was there, right in front of her, his smile showcasing sharp white teeth. He had his mouth on her neck before she could blink.
Khent ripped him away without a sound.
She knew for a fact Rolf could have torn out her throat. He hadn’t. Instead, he whipped his head around to wink at her before facing off with Khent.
Unlike Khent’s battle with Grizz, his fight with Rolf was silent. And deadly serious.
Grizz landed between her and the others, now watching the reaper and draugr move across the grass in a blur of speed, bloode flying as they ripped into each other.
Kraft frowned. “You know, this isn’t so fun anymore. Where’s all the trash talk and swearing?”
Riley sighed. “Yeah. They got serious. Should I…?”
“Go get her. I’ll monitor the human.”
“Valentine,” Val said, annoyed. She was more than just “the human.” Wondering whether or not she should keep Grizz around for protection, she hadn’t decided when Kraft shook his head.
“Might want to lose the gray guy. With him gone, Khent will want to end the fight to protect you. Especially if he knows you’re at our mercy.”
“Our?”
“Well, I’d saymymercy,” he confided in a lower voice. “But Riley likes to be included with all our dangerous escapades. And your buddy did try to kill us, so…”
She sighed. “Fine. Just forget about the poisoning already, would you?”
“Maybe. I’ll see.” He grinned.
She found herself liking him when she should be wary around all the vampires. Those Of the Bloode had earned their reputations as fierce, merciless killing machines. She wasn’t used to them having senses of humor. Winking, mating.
Kraft stared after Riley as if he loved her. How odd.
Val patted Grizz on the arm. “Go home and protect the house, Grizz. Talon especially, okay?”Make sure he doesn’t hurt himself,she added mentally.
Grizz nodded shot into the air, vanishing in a blink.
Kraft watched in awe, his gaze wistful. “I had one tiny fight with a few gargoyles once. It wasn’t serious though. I never got to battle a warrior suited up for war. They really are super strong and magic resistant, eh?”
“Yes.”
“How’d you get him?”
She didn’t mind answering, since Kraft had been right. Khent glanced her way several times now that Grizz had gone. The intensity of the fight visibly waned.
“I flew over to Romania and talked to him when he was still alive. He was a solitary guard and having problems with the strigoi over there. It was only a matter of time before they killed him, and he knew it. But with me, he could retain his power, most of his personality, and continue his mission in life into death.”
“Mission?”
“All gargoyles are different. Grizz was born to defend. The strigoi steadily conquered the magir settlements around them for decades. The newest master is throwing his all into rebuilding his empire. The strigoi want everyone dead ASAP. The magir Grizz were defending moved out. Grizz had been tasked with protecting their village, unfortunately. So he couldn’t leave.”
