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Chapter fourteen

Ryker

The crimson glow of the Blood Moon slowly fades outside, replaced a crisp Fall morning. But inside the dim, leathery vault of my folded wings, time has stopped existing. Teagan is fast asleep against my chest. If I can keep him wrapped safely in my wings forever, I’d do it. A part of me wonders if I could be part dragon, the way I want to hoard Teagan all to myself.

He looks impossibly small, framed by my large body. His bright purple hair is damp with sweat, clinging to his forehead, and his chest rises and falls as he breathes. My long tail remains wrapped securely around his thigh, while my hand rests over his narrow waist possessively.

Warmth fills my chest. Before last night, I thought my gargoyle instincts were just a physical reaction to a threat. Some primal instinct to guard doors, scan rooftops, and protect people from harm. But as I look down at the human curled against my side, the truth settles over me.

This isn't just bodyguard duty.

I’ve claimed Teagan Dae.

My species doesn't just guard places; we guard the things we treasure above all else. And Teagan Dae, the sassy, brilliant, generous Teagan, who traced down my lost history while I was busy agonizing over professional boundaries, is my mate.

A cute, sleepy groan breaks the silence. Teagan stirs in my arms, his eyelids fluttering open. His pretty brown eyes are warm and slightly unfocused as he blinks up at me. Monster gods, he’s adorable.

"Morning, sexy," he mumbles.

"Morning," I murmur. "How are you feeling?"

Teagan shifts slightly, wincing. His breathy gasp catches my attention. Did I hurt him last night? A faint blush dusts his cheekbones, but instead of pulling away, he buries his face deeper into the nook of my neck, inhaling deeply. He reminds me of a cat.

“Are you in any pain?”

"A little sore," he admits, a small smile touching his lips. "Gods that’s hot. You utterly wrecked me."

Relief washes over me.

I carefully open my wings. Teagan glances around at the quiet room.

The erratic energy of the Blood Moon has dissipated, leaving the air clear and cool, but my protective instincts haven't faded in the slightest. If anything, they're sharper. Focused.

I reach down, grabbing the comforter, and pulling it over Teagan’s shoulders. He giggles and squirms under my touch.

"Stay still," I order gently, with a smile on my face. "I’m trying to take care of you."

Teagan glances up, an amused spark lighting up his eyes. "Oh? Is that one of the perks of being claimed?"

I blush. "Possibly," I press a lingering kiss to his forehead. "A gargoyle likes to spoil what’s his." I have no idea if that’s true, but I sure as hell want to spoil the little human next to me.

His breath hitches at the word his, his throat working as he swallows hard. The teasing smirk melts away, replaced by an open expression of affection. My heart races as he continues to stare.

I shift slowly, disentangling my body from his. My size difference is always something I have to navigate carefully, but right now, every tender movement seems to flow easily. Despite everything, it’s as if Teagan and I were made to complement each other. I step out of bed, stretch my broad wings to their full span and slide into a pair of sweatpants.

Teagan’s hungry gaze follows me as I move. Walking over to the small en-suite bathroom, I run a clean washcloth under warm water. When I return to the bed, Teagan is sitting up against the headboard.

I sit on the edge of the mattress. Without a word, I gather him into my lap. He comes willingly, resting his head against my shoulder while I use the warm cloth to gently clean his skin, wiping away the lingering traces of our night. Maybe it was a good thing I wore a condom, cause that would have been messy. I make a mental note to see if I need to prepare for other lunar events like the Blood Moon.

"Ryker," Teagan whispers.

"Yeah?"

"This is nice. I don’t think anyone has ever done anything like this for me before."

"I’ve never done anything like this before," I counter smoothly, though a faint purple blush warms my own cheeks. "I’m glad you like it, but it’s kind of just making me horny. You’re too pretty for full pampering," I joke.

Teagan lets out a quiet laugh.