Myths and Gargoyles by Jamie Hawke (interesting books to read in english txt) 📕

chuckled, but shook her head. “No, I’m not playing that game. But… but you should know, I ran with a pack for a while.”

“Other werewolves?”

She laughed. “I’m not exactly a werewolf. I’m something more… but yeah. They looked up to me, and sure, I was under the influence of the shadow, but at times I have to admit, it wasn’t like I was fighting to break free. Fighting to say forget that, to go good.”

I nodded, knowing she was opening up, and that there wasn’t anything I could say that would make her past go away.

“We were tearing up this neighborhood, trying to teach them a lesson.” She breathed deep, eyes distant as she remembered it. “Then we get to this one house, almost a shack, really. And I’d just torn off the door, when I turned to see this little boy there, staring at me with wide eyes. Then his mom runs up, grabbing him, holding him tight… whimpering. She actually whimpered at the sight of me, frightened for the life of her little boy.”

“You… didn’t?”

She shook her head, to my relief. “I was their leader, or so I thought. When I refused to hurt that family? They all turned on me. The family got away, but I paid for it… took a beating that, if I couldn’t self-heal, would’ve likely left me dead.”

“That’s… horrible.”

“Now, here with you?” She hesitated, breathed, and then spoke real fast. “I don’t ever feel like I’ll have to worry about that again.”

I pulled her close and kissed her cheek. “You’re one of us. We won’t ever let anyone hurt you. Ever.”

“Nor I you,” she replied, letting an elongated fingernail grow into a claw that she ran down my leg, just enough for me to feel it without it actually hurting. A reminder that she was powerful in her own right.

“I wasn’t always perfect you know.”

She eyed me, then shook her head. “Yes, you were. Compared to what I’ve been, you’ve always been a perfect angel.”

Truth.

I kissed her, feeling the way her lips were rougher than Red’s, but in a way that made me feel an excitement for life, a sense of adventure. That kiss sent images through my mind of running through fields with her, chasing down prey and devouring it raw.

When she looked at me again, her eyes showed passion and affection. She stood, reaching for her clothes, and said, “Let’s go, join the others. It’s time we figured out what our next steps should be in this fight.”

We returned to the fire to find Elisa and her brothers were gone, I imagined walking the perimeter, catching up while also keeping watch. Nivian had her arms around Arthur’s waist, though he still glowed a light blue and looked like she’d slip right through him. He kissed her on the forehead and said, “Someday, my dear,” in a way that made me feel like I’d walked in on something.

I nudged Sharon and took a step back. Arthur must have sensed me though, because his head moved slightly, but he didn’t say anything.

I kept going, guiding Sharon back.

“What was that about?” Sharon asked when we stopped a few paces off.

“They seemed… seemed like they could use some alone time.”

She nodded, then looked at me. “You’re shivering?”

“Am I?” I truly hadn’t noticed.

“Come on.” She moved the red robe aside, eyes on mine, and moved in, then made me wrap the robe around both of us. It was like we were wrapped up in a large blanket, me completely nude in there, she less so, her hands roaming over me, moving to create friction.

I moaned, whispering, “Damn, that feels good.”

“Better?” she asked.

With a nod, I held her tight, slipping my hands into the back of her pants to grab her ass. She laughed, shaking it slightly for emphasis. For the longest time, we stood there, her head on my shoulder, our hands appreciating each other’s bodies. Finally, Arthur appeared, nodded, and motioned that we could go away if we wanted.

“Oh, no,” Sharon said, seeing this. She helped me keep the robe closed as she stepped away, grinning and motioning me to go on. “You two talk if you need to, I’ve taken more than my fair share of Jack, here. already.”

Arthur chuckled, surely getting the joke. “Thanks, Sharon. We’ll be along shortly.”

“Nivian?” I asked.

“The others returned,” Arthur explained. “She’s in good company.”

Arthur watched Sharon go, then turned to me. I was struck by his regal posture, the look of confidence in his eyes I wondered if I’d ever project like that.

“You’re a lucky man, you know that?” he said.

I laughed. “More than I deserve, for sure.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. What you’re putting yourself through, the risks and all that. While you could make a point that nobody deserves so many beautiful, amazing women—if anyone does, I’d say it’s you.” Before I could argue, he held up a hand. “And I’m not only saying that based on what you’ve done in the past, but what you’ll do in the future. You’re going to really have to push yourself going forward, but I see something in you, a burning fire behind those eyes. As long as you stay true, we have no worries.”

Taking a moment to process this, I nodded, then said, “Thank you.”

He nodded, gesturing me to walk, and we started off together. “All that said, it’s a good a time as any to tell you.”

“Yes?”

“Weird things are afoot,” Arthur said. “Sekhmet sent a message through Nivian, a vision of sorts, of what I can only describe as energy leaving this world, when it shouldn’t. Keep an eye open, and be wary.”

“I will,” I promised. It took me a moment, but I decided being open with him was necessary. “There was someone out there…”

“Someone?”

“A fairy. A queen.”

“The fairy queen, you mean?” Arthur considered this, then shook his head. “Impossible.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, she was banished from this world. Exiled. I don’t… no, there’s no way it was her. Find out more, would you?”

I nodded, following him.

“You