Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
She thought about wrapping her arms and legs around him in a death grip. That would give her some assurance of safety. Instead, she relaxed into his arms and let him have control, like she had that other night.
He cradled her against his chest, one massive arm around her shoulders and the other at the back of her legs. His hold was firm and strong, and the last of her worry bled away.
“Goo-od,” he said, and she smiled with the praise, then laughed. But it was a fun game. One she would be the victor of. She did love to win. Self-discovery could wait.
Peter
“Pete, you hurt?”
Peter shook uncontrollably as he crouched behind a stone outcropping at the base of the fortress. This area badly needed to be refurbished, but fifteen minutes ago, he’d been glad for it. It had given him something to hide behind when that monstrous beast descended on him and something sharp and painful smacked him sideways.
He looked up at his friend John, the other senior guard selected to monitor the cairn’s most prestigious collection of wealth—mostly jewels and gold, in this case. Any textiles would be ruined in the dank surroundings of this area, a place no one really wanted to guard for long.
“I…I don’t know,” he answered, patting himself. No blood, no holes in his uniform. No evidence of what had caused the pain. He said as much.
“Magic, bro.” John hoisted him up with rounded eyes in a somewhat comical expression. He didn’t take much seriously. It’s why he’d failed to become a guardian. “She zapped me good. I went ass over end. Badass, though, right?” He tsked. “That female gargoyle is something. All that magic, bro?” He nodded. “Badass. I wish we had one.”
Peter wasn’t sure he did. Training with her would hurt more.
“I was more worried about that…bear thing,” Peter admitted as he gave himself another once-over. “What was that? A polar bear, right? One of those shifters? It happened so fast, I didn’t get a good look.”
“A polar bear, yeah.” John passed Peter by, aiming for the entrance of the small room at the back. “Pretty hardcore. If I hadn’t been flung, I might’ve pissed myself, yeah?” He chuckled. “Ah, they weren’t trying to hurt us. They never do in these things. Just scare us.”
“It w-worked,” Peter stammered.
“Nah.” John let out his breath in a whoosh as he entered the room. “Nelson is going to be pissed they got through, though.”
“It’s not like we c-could stop them,” Peter said, following.
“True enough—” John tensed and leaned forward in a rush. “What in the hell?”
The glass case had been left atop the stone pedestal in the center of the room. Instead of it being empty or broken, it actually had more in it than when the day started. The dangly earrings, the newest addition from their production cairn, had been pushed to the corner. In the middle…
Peter rubbed his eyes and looked again as John grinned and said, “No way, bro!”
Their bracelet was back! The bracelet from their production cairn that the female gargoyle had unlawfully taken, and that Tristan hadn’t forced her to give back, was returned to the case!
That wasn’t all. Displayed beside it were two new pieces: a large and intricate necklace with a bunch of fat and well-cut gems and a pair of earrings that put their latest creation to absolute shame. In fact, they put the bracelet to shame too.
“Bro…” John whispered, snapping photos with his phone. He wasn’t supposed to have that when he was on duty for one of these things—he was supposed to use the landlines. Not that he ever cared. He opened his text app and entered in a bunch of people.
“Wait, maybe we should wait for Nelson,” Peter said hesitantly.
“Why?” John loaded up the pictures and hit send before showing Peter his widened eyes in that comical expression. “She busted in here, beat all our people to do it, and put the bracelet back!” He hopped up and down, pointing at the additional pieces. “And those? Are you kidding me right now?” He bent with his fist to his mouth. “She didn’t need our bracelet at all. I heard she just left it on the table near the couch, out for anyone to take. She just left it there. I didn’t believe it, but if she’s got this kinda stuff floatin’ around…and she breaks in here to hand it back?” He laughed with glee. “Maybe we need a job with her. How much money do you think she has? I mean…she picked up Tristan, right? He was Nelson’s pride and—”
“What’s going on in here?” Nelson demanded as he strode in.
With a sleight of hand that really should’ve landed John with a thief job, he tucked his phone into his pocket as he and Peter quickly backed out of the way.