When A Gargoyle Flies (Gargoyles Book 3) by E A Price Read Free Book Online Page A

grimaced.
    “This isn’t working,” grumbled Chris, “where’s your nearest shower?”
    “This way,” said Kylie.
    Annis tried to stand but within seconds she found herself swept into a pair of surprisingly strong arms and being carried as if she weighed nothing.  Chris didn’t buckle at all, didn’t falter in his steps.  One arm was around her waist, while the other was under her knees, carefully making sure he did not touch her injured leg.
    He followed Kylie down the hallway, storming past Ric and Brenda who gave them inquisitive looks.
    “This is not necessary,” she whispered, feeling more than a little like a nuisance.  Chris should not be put out because of her clumsiness.
    “Gargoyles have stronger healing abilities than humans,” grumbled Luc who was following them.
    Annis looked down in embarrassment.  Most gargoyles did.  Her own left a lot to be desired.  It was much better than a human’s, but not nearly as fast as a normal gargoyle’s.  Judging by the way Chris moved a little faster, he had perhaps seen the expression on her face.
    He deposited her onto the toilet and started fussing over the shower, trying to get the water right.  Luc huffed and puffed until Kylie led him away.
    Annis grimaced at her blotchy leg.
    Chris caught the look.  “Are you in a lot of pain?”
    “Not really.  Mostly, my leg feels numb.”
    She was used to pain.  Growing up with her mother, she had to be.  Gargoyle younglings were mostly raised by other members of the clan – the older members no longer able to fight, or pregnant females.  But her mother made her presence and disappointment known constantly.
    “I can get you some ibuprofen or something.”  Chris rubbed the back of his head at her quizzical expression.  “Guess they didn’t have that back in your day.  What did you use to dull pain?”
    Annis shrugged.  “We didn’t.  Even if we had anything, I doubt a gargoyle would use it.  With pain there is honor.”
    “Bullshit,” he snapped.
    “It was my clan’s creed.”
    “Maybe it should have been, with pain there is stupidity.”
    “It was a different time,” she said with a slight edge to her voice.  Annis had no great love for her old clan, but loyalty was important.  What was a clan without loyalty?
    Chris gazed at her until she blushed and looked away.  Humans should not be that dominant.  Or perhaps she looked away because of the worrying feelings he incited in her. 
    Annis fiddled with the hem of her skirt.  “Every clan used to have a healer, one blessed with enough magic to heal their clan mates,” she babbled, needing to fill up the silence.  “I was the assistant of our clan’s healer.”
    “So why don’t you become your new clan’s healer?”
    “I don’t have the magic.  The older healer has to die, and there has to be a ritual.  I suppose technically, as it is a new clan, Luc could perform the ritual himself and ask that he be given a healer.”
    Chris raised an eyebrow.
    “It is to do with magic,” she muttered, knowing he would not understand.
    “Sure,” he scoffed.
    “You do not believe in magic?”
    “I believe in things you can touch and see.”
    “Yet you have a rational explanation for a race of creatures who turn to stone every day?”
    Gently, he lifted her to her feet and slipping an arm around her waist, led her over to the shower.
    “The water should be okay now, but it might sting a little.”
    He held her hand, his flesh soft and his grip hard.  As she gazed into his eyes, she barely even noticed the bite of the water.

Chapter Five
    In spite of Annis’ fluttering and Luc’s objections, Chris had managed to get her to down a couple of ibuprofen along with some crackers to save her stomach lining.  Luc did not trust human medicine and was extremely skeptical of painkillers that could potentially be harmful.  That declaration earned him a sour look from his mate. Chris had covered Annis’ leg in plastic wrap and told her