Page 57 of Fated to the Gargoyle

I do not answer him.

“My luck tripled.” Treasure hugs my arm. “I got the big sexy monster.”

Lamar wipes a counter that does not need wiping. “Mm-hmm.”

She tilts her head at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be starting at Shadow Suds soon?”

“Turned the offer down.” He shrugs. “The work’s easier here. And I don’t really have a reason to quit now, do I?”

I have had my fill of this cook.

“Well.” Treasure’s voice goes polite. “Take care, I guess. I’ll see you around town.”

Lamar hands her another empty smile. He watches his mouth while I am standing here, but not well enough. I cannot throw him through the window. The town frowns on that.

I file him under petty and harmless.

At the counter, Jenna bags Tyson’s boxed cake. It sits forgotten between them while they talk.

“Come on.” Treasure takes my hand. “Let’s go meet Lena.”

On our way out, an older man in the corner booth sits over coffee and eggs at the wrong end of the day again. He lifted that mug to me the night I woke in front of the whole diner. He lifts it now, an inch in my direction. I nod back, and he returns to his paper.

Outside, the stores have gone dark and the lot is near empty. A woman locks up the craft store with a large tote bag over her shoulder, and Treasure lights up and waves her over.

“Hey!” Treasure meets her in a hug on the sidewalk.

The woman pulls back grinning, and gives me a long look from claws to wings. “Ohhh. You bagged the gargoyle, huh?” She tips her head back to find my face. “Hi. Welcome to Shadow Wolf Creek.”

I bow my head and let my mate do the talking.

“Sorry about missing our Shadow Bar night,” Treasure says. “Things got a little… eventful.”

“Honestly? That place was never really my style.” Lena shifts her tote bag higher on her shoulder. “But I wouldn’t say no to a dinner invite.”

“I would be honored to cook for my mate’s friend,” I say.

Treasure whips her head up. “YOU cook?”

I lift my chin. “I will learn quickly.”

Wind moves over the lot, and every head goes up. Sable circles and comes down careful beside me. He finds Lena and does not look away. He is grinning. My brother does not grin.

“You must be the brother,” Lena says. “I heard there were two of y’all popping up around town.”

Sable folds one wing across his chest and bows his head over it. “Greetings, madam.”

Most humans step back from Sable. Lena smiles at him. My brother holds his bow longer than manners require, and I understand what I am looking at.

“Well, I’ve gotta get going.” Lena pats Treasure’s arm. “My feet hurt. Long day.” She heads for her car across the lot.

Sable takes one step after her.

I put a hand up against his chest. “Easy, brother. She is not going anywhere.”

“Did I miss something?” Treasure swivels between us.

“She has been reading strange to me,” Sable says. “She reads red. Every other human in this town reads gold. I did not understand it.”