Author's Note:
Sorry for the delay, guys, but my college finals are coming up so I've been writing in between studying. (I know, shame on me, but I positively revel in procrastination...) Chapter Five will be delayed a bit to accommodate this future three week Hell I will be living through, so check my Twitter updates to see when I'll get around to posting again.
I appreciate all the votes, but guys, c'mon, I don't bite. You can leave me comments too. Even if it's something silly and completely irrelevant to the story i.e. like how your Grandmother passed gas during Easter service or whatnot, I'd like to read it.
Anyway, like always, this chapter is a work of fiction and the events, incidents, and characters are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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"Talon, there's something you need to know..."
His rumbling chuckle shook the both of us by its strength, but the action still somehow soothed me. I reminded myself of what had to be done; I had promised that I wouldn't wimp out.
I pulled away and leaned back my head, ignoring the uncomfortable twinge at the base of my skull as I did so. Talon put a claw over my lips.
"We'll speak in the kitchen. Are you hungry?"
Not waiting for my response, Talon led me into the kitchen and picked me up by the waist to set me onto a bar stool at the kitchen island before turning his back to me to scrounge for food in the fridge. The last time anyone had picked me up I had been four feet tall, ten years younger, and sixty pounds lighter. I was reminded in that moment that if this conversation went badly, I could seriously get hurt.
Shaking those thoughts from my head, I steeled myself.
"Fruit?" Talon interrupted me, his back and wings still to me as he held up a bowl of covered fruit for me to look at.
"Sure, Talon." I then hesitated, a chuckle beginning to build up in my chest. Talon turned to me, prepared to ask another question, but stopped when he saw my expression. A smile played on his lips.
"What?" he asked.
Unable to keep it in any longer, I giggled. "You're turning domestic," I chuckled, clamping my hands over my mouth to stop the giggles. I pulled away only when I felt like I could talk to him without laughing. No dice. "I should get you a 'Kiss the cook' apron to wear when I get back from—WHOA!"
I found myself staring up at the ceiling of the kitchen, my laughter replaced by wheezing thanks to Talon's tackle.
Talon lifted up his head from my neck, his dusky grey eyes now charcoal and glinting mischievously. "A Gargoyle
female
is docile...domestic. Not the male."
I wriggled under his grip, not surprised when he tightened his hold on my wrists or when his tail snapped my ankles together. "Look," I began in my best lecturing voice, "since you've been sleeping, women have gained a bit more respect -- domesticity isn't just for those of us who have uteruses," I told his chest as I flailed beneath him with all my might. Soon I broke out into a sweat and collapsed onto the floor with a huff, meeting his triumphant smile with a scowl. "You're an ass," I snorted.
Talon lowered his head and pressed his nose to my throat. "Occasionally," he murmured, the smile evident in his voice.
I sighed. "Talon, you're being distracting. I'm trying to tell you something."
"What could be worse than telling a warrior he's suited for nothing more than housework?"
I opened my mouth to respond when I felt every muscle in Talon's body tense, and the bond between us blossomed with rage and disbelief.
"What is this smell?" he grumbled, the anger swelling up so quickly from the bond that it took my breath away. "You have another male's scent on you, Tempest," he said, not waiting for my answer.
I swallowed at the dark tone in his voice, breaking out into a sweat again when Talon took an eerily similar stance like when he first tackled me: his wings arched, his tail rose as to strike, and his grip grew so tight that I knew I would have bruises. At least he didn't bring out the dagger...
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," I said slowly, hearing my voice tremble. "I met another Gargoyle today."
Talon lifted his head just enough so his black eyes could look into mine. "And?" he growled.
"He wants to meet you," I answered, my heart fluttering in my chest as his features darkened into pure rage. "He mentioned the Elders did too. His name is Connor...that's all I know."
"How do you know he is a Gargoyle?" Talon demanded, pulling both of us up suddenly, my shoulders still in his grip.
"He s-showed me," I stammered, twisting uncomfortably under his gaze. His black eyes were judging my every movement, as though if I spoke one fib, that'd be the end of me.
Talon suddenly relaxed, letting out a breath. "Tempest, breathe," he murmured, relaxing his hold on me some. I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath, willing my heart to stop beating so fast.
Talon drew me up off the floor and set me on the stool again, though he didn't move away. "Show me," he said quietly.
I opened my eyes and stared up at him in confusion. "Huh?" I asked intelligently.
Talon gently ran a claw down the center of my throat. "Think about the moment he revealed himself to you." He leaned forward, pulling apart his lips to expose the sharp points of his fangs.
"Talon!" I squeaked, pressing my hands against his chest to stop him. "I-I don't think..."
"Trust me, Tempest," he said gently, stroking the back of my head. The rage between our bond had definitely quieted now, but I could still feel the undercurrent of the dark emotions as Talon stroked my head, waiting patiently for me to relax.
Inhaling deeply, I nodded, closing my eyes and tilting back my head for him. Talon chuckled and muttered something that sounded a lot like "Docile" under his breath. My breath caught in my throat when Talon tugged aside my shirt, his claws gently scraping my skin with the gesture. I bit down on my bottom lip in concentration, forcing myself to focus on Connor's face during Mr. Dean's class and not Talon's teasing nibbles he placed along my neck as he waited for me to fully submit.
"Trust me," Talon repeated in a soft whisper against my skin before slowly his fangs pricked my neck and with the softest tug, pierced the flesh. The sting at first had me gritting my teeth, but as the Gargoyle sifted through my blood for memories, the sting was soon forgotten.
My head swam as Talon drank from me, and soon it was only by his arms that I remained upright. The unfamiliar tensing in my lower body grew the longer he embraced me, until finally, I was so deep in the tide I couldn't escape. With a sharp cry, everything went out of focus, including the day's events, and Talon's fangs released me with a deep rumble that had the windows shaking.
Clasping Talon around the neck tightly, another wave rolled through me and the world around me exploded in white light and I passed out.
"Tempest?"
A soft brush over my cheek sent a pleasant shiver down my spine, my toes curling at the touch. Lazily I opened my eyes, stretching out my stiff limbs before settling back against—
I blinked in surprise and looked up over my shoulder. "Talon?" I demanded.
