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

124

The next day was nothing but relaxing and recuperating. D.C. was in turmoil, the news station saying it had been a terrorist attack. The Order, led by Galahad—who apparently never needed rest—would watch the senator’s place, or what was now our place, while we explored. Riland had been buddying up with the man and a couple ladies, and when we found them, they were sitting in a reception room around a white couch-thing, the ladies laughing, one with a hand on Riland’s leg.

I nodded to him, and he came over to where Megha and Steph stood with me.

“What’s the deal?” I asked.

He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Seeing if we can trust them. I think we can.”

“And the lady?” Megha asked, eyebrow raised.

Riland glanced back and chuckled. “Let’s be honest, the princess and me? Never was going to happen.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Go on, enjoy your day.” Riland indicated the door. “I’ll be here.”

I raised an eyebrow, but said, “I could use a coffee. Maybe a scone?”

“Sounds great to me,” Steph replied, and Megha nodded enthusiastically. Shisa moseyed out and looked up at us, then kept going. Apparently, he was fine with staying with Riland, which was best anyway since he would draw attention out there.

Speaking of drawing attention. I licked my lips, eyes going to Megha. Her black ‘dress’ was damn revealing. Maybe not too much for somewhere like California, but in D.C. it was bound to stick out.

“Maybe one of the ladies has something you could wear?” I offered.

Her eyes narrowed, but she shrugged, then pulled off her dress and tossed it at me before turning to the ladies nearby. “Excuse me, but do you have anything more D.C.-appropriate for me to wear?”

“I’ll get right on it,” the one who had been touching Riland’s leg said and bounded up to go off and find something. Riland shot me a glare, but then his eyes joined the rest of ours, staring at Megha’s nude form.

She wasn’t bad to look at, that was for damn sure. Small in stature, but with a round ass and wide hips. The curve of her breasts pulled my attention, driving me to want to stand behind her and run my hands along the edges, cupping them, pinching those cute, perky nipples between my thumb and forefinger.

Her eyes met mine, a half-smile on her lips, and then she waited. The lady returned with a purple skirt and white blouse. Very not Megha, but the outfit would do for walking around outside.

When she was ready, the three of us headed out. Nowhere in mind, exactly, but we meandered around, and found a sunny spot with outdoor seating at a park. While Steph went to the bathroom, Megha had me get a couple of popsicles.

“Back in the old days of Avalon, I always felt like an outsider,” Megha admitted, eyeing her popsicle and then giving it a very lovely, seductive lick. “It was a different time. A time when the type of actions you and the others are so open with was… frowned upon.”

“It still is, by some,” I admitted.

“Let’s not meet them.”

“Agreed.” I took a lick of my popsicle, loving the sour strawberry lemonade, so refreshing. Not just in the heat, but with all the chaos lately, it was a cool reminder of simpler times, of a summer in the rose garden overlooking Portland. Of times with my mom, when she had still been passionate for the future, back when she still believed she and my dad were going places in life.

It hadn’t lasted long, and by the time I was twelve I was able to smell the bullshit, able to notice the empty bottles and all that.

At least there had been a time when it was all good. Then again, with a glance at Megha smiling so cutely in my direction, there was no doubt this was a great time—better, in many ways. I could create my future, a new kind of life.

For me and my team, there was a bright future. Maybe, when I was in the right place to do so, I would be able to help my parents do something more, too.

“How do you feel now?” I asked.

She laughed. “Like you got distracted. But that… I like you anyway.”

“Thanks.”

She laughed again, and I loved that laugh. Fuck, how was it I could be so into each of these ladies, and it not feel the slightest bit weird? I leaned over and kissed her. She smiled, licked her popsicle, and shrugged.

“The thing is, we’re all together in this.” She turned, eyes roaming over the architecture of D.C. “It’s a lovely world, and more lovely with us all together. We need to get back, figure out how this will all work… how to find Yenifer. To be together.” Her eyes took on a spark of mischief as she looked me up and down. “Think… I mean, do you think you can handle her?”

“In a fight?”

“In the sheets.” She winked. “I think she’d totally destroy you, but that you’d love every second of it.”

“Ebrill could heal me during, so… you know.”

Another laugh. “True!” She tossed the rest of her popsicle into the nearby trash, took my hand, and said, “Let’s go.”

I frowned, but then saw Steph walking back from the bathroom, and nodded. Steph wrapped my arm in hers, and the three of us took off. We walked around a bit more, stopped at a falafel cart to grab something to eat, and eventually headed back. We had a role to play in all this, and it was time.

“I’ll be honest,” I told Megha as we made our way back to the senator’s house, “I woke up today and thought you’d be gone.”

“Why’d you think that?” Steph asked.

“Because he’s smart,” Megha replied. “I was considering it. Maybe I’ll leave tomorrow, I don’t know.”

“Excuse me?”

“This is a weird time. We don’t know where Yenifer is and I don’t know, I’m not the type to be tied down. Never was.”

“Well, we’re glad you stayed,” Steph told