Chapter 22 #2
The door knob rattled, then another loud noise shattered the silence as the door was kicked open.
Angelle pulled the trigger to release the bolt.
Boon’s hand flew out toward the bolt, snatching it out of the air before it hit him.
“It’s me!” he shouted, though there was no hint of anger in his voice, only concern.
He tossed the bolt aside and rushed to Angelle, taking her face in his hands as he examined her for injury.
“Are you safe? Are you hurt?” he asked, terror clear in his expression, as his nostrils flared, scenting the air for her blood, or any indication of pain.
“I’m fine,” she said, still holding the cross bow, but now she held it to the side, and pointed at the ground.
“Are you sure?” he asked, dropping to his knees in front of her as he ran his hands over her arms and hips before spinning her around so he could check her back, then turn her to face him again. “You’re unharmed,” he said gratefully, yanking her into his arms and holding her tight.
“Of course, I’m unharmed.”
“But Saige came back to her parents’ house bleeding!”
Angelle nodded. “I know.”
“What happened? How did she get injured?” he asked, still holding her close and kissing her head, her face, her hair.
“I shot her. She would have had two of your bolts in her body instead of just one, but I missed with the first. It only cut her arm. The second, though, right in the ass.”
Boon leaned back away from her so that he could see her face. He got to his feet and ran his fingers through her hair.
Angelle looked up at him innocently, before she smiled at him.
“Why did you shoot her?”
“She broke into our house and tried to make me leave. I came back after exploring for a little while and found her sitting at our table. She pretended she didn’t know who I was and said this was her house, hers and her mate’s.
You. I told her it was my house and she pretended to be concerned about me.
Sorry for the pain and the confusion, but now that she was home, it had been discussed.
In fact, you were out looking for me so that you could let me know that it was all just a way to pass the time until your true mate returned home.
Her. And she was here now so I had to go. ”
“Fucking bitch,” Boon growled.
“Then she gave me a few minutes to get my things and go before you came back because you’d be upset if she wasn’t naked and waiting in your bed for her as you’d requested.
So, I decided rather than me leaving, she’d be leaving.
I thanked her, went down the hallway like I was going to gather my clothes, but instead got your cross bow — I mean, she is a Gargoyle and I’m human — I’m not stupid.
I knew I had to defend myself. I changed out the bolts, because I didn’t really want her to die, I just wanted to teach her a lesson, and I came back into the kitchen and shot at her.
She moved quickly enough for me to miss the first shot.
Then she ran when I reloaded and aimed again.
I stood on the top step and shot again. That one hit her in the ass.
She fell on the ground crying and screaming.
I came back inside and got the cup she was drinking out of and threw it at her, then took aim again.
She finally got up and hobbled away, threatening she’d be back with you.
Presumably to take care of me. Can you believe she had the nerve to break into our home, make herself a cup of tea and sit waiting for me at our kitchen table?
That’s why I threw the cup at her. I didn’t want it anymore since she’d used it. ”
Boon looked down at his mate, realization finally settling in that she was truly unharmed, and that she trusted him. He grinned at her.
“What’s so funny?” Angelle asked.
“You never even once questioned that anything she said was true. You knew beyond the shadow of any doubt she tried to create that I was yours.”
“Absolutely,” Angelle said. “Did you doubt me when she showed up bleeding and undoubtedly claiming I tried to kill her?”
“That’s exactly what she claimed — and that it was unprovoked.
But I didn’t doubt you for a second. I knew she’d caused all of it.
I just prayed she hadn’t harmed you. I can overcome anything at all as long as I have you.
If she’d have hurt you, I’d have killed her, and then I’d have had to deal with her father.
But it would have been okay. Because the bitch would be dead. ”
Boon hugged her close again, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as he relived the horror of what he’d been afraid he’d find when he arrived.
Angelle leaned her head against his chest. “I missed you,” she said quietly.
“I missed you, too.”
“Is she alright?” Lily asked worriedly as she misted into their family room.
Boon turned quickly with Angelle in his arms. “She’s fine.”
Lily took in the cross bow still gripped in Angelle’s hands and smiled. “Good for you. I bet she’ll think twice before trying to confront you again.”
“She broke into our house. Told Angelle that I was out looking for her to tell her to get out of my life because my true mate was back and this was our house, not Angelle’s and she needed to go now.”
Lily smiled at Angelle. “And you didn’t believe it for a moment.”
Angelle shook her head. “It never even occurred to me that it might be true. I know Boon’s heart. And it’s with me.”
“Absolutely. And truth be told, she doesn’t want Boon anyway. She just didn’t want anyone else to have him,” Lily said.
“I would have just told her to go, except I’m human. And she’d already made it clear I was leaving. So, I decided to strike first. Always take the upper hand, make the first strike. Take the advantage for yourself. It’s what I’ve always been taught, so that’s what I went with. Am I in trouble?”
“Not at all. As you said. You’re human. She’s a Gargoyle. She could have harmed you so you took the upper hand to force her from your home. There will not be any problem with your actions at all. Saige is well known for her antics — no one will question a thing.”
Boon let out a stress filled sigh and held her close again. “I was so afraid she’d hurt you.”
“I’m okay. I promise.”
“I’ll leave you two to calm down a bit. Don’t worry about the party, I’ve canceled it,” Lily said.
“I’m sorry. I know you were looking forward to it,” Angelle said.
“And I’d just gotten Tempest to agree to a wedding, too,” Lily said. “But it’s more important that you’re safe. With everything that’s happened today, I just don’t think it’s the right atmosphere to host a party in; especially since it would take place right outside her family’s front door.”
“Why?” Angelle asked.
“Why?” Lily repeated.
“Why would the party have to take place there? Have it at your home. You’ve got a beautiful piece of land.”
Boon looked down into Angelle’s eyes, asking without asking.
Angelle nodded.
“Or have it here. But not for us — for Tempest.”
“That’s very generous of you,” Lily said thoughtfully. “Let me think about it. I’ll let you know what I decide.”
“I’m glad you’re safe, Angelle. And even more glad that you’re not afraid to protect yourself,” Lily said as her mists began swirling.
“Thank you,” Angelle said. She and Boon watched as Lily faded from view, her mists dissipating as they swirled toward the door Boon had kicked in.
Angelle smiled up at Boon as the door repaired itself and suddenly looked completely undamaged as it perfectly closed itself and they could hear the click of the lock as it settled into place.
“Thank you,” Boon called out.
Angelle leaned her head against him again, letting him see that though she’d done what needed to be done, she was still feeling a little shaky.
“You know what? It’s only a matter of time before everybody hears and they start coming by. Let’s sit for a while and relax while we can,” Boon said.
Angelle nodded, allowing him to lead her to their sofa where he took the cross bow from her and set it on the coffee table in front of them, before taking a seat and pulling her down beside him.
“I’m surprised they’re not all here already,” Angelle said.
“Well, your mother is with Tempest and Brandt at Lily’s.
Your dad is fishing with my dad. Enthrall and Destroy have been gone all day — something about checking on the borders of Whispers — but I’m pretty sure that when they figured out a party was being planned they teamed up to get out of having to participate.
Which is why Marauder and I got chosen.”
“Oh, Marauder… I hate that he’s going to be upset with me. I really liked him.”
“He’s not upset with you. In fact, he denied her being his sister before I left. Everybody knows how petty and selfish she is.”
Angelle nodded as she sat beside Boon, her head resting on his shoulder.
Boon picked her up and sat her in his lap. “This is going to cause all kinds of trouble for you, isn’t it?”
“Not at all. The only people that might take offense are Destroy and Rowan, and Rowan was already shaming Saige for causing this.”
“Saige admitted to being responsible?”
“Not at all. But Rowan knew she was anyway. She’s her daughter, but that doesn’t make Rowan blind to the way she is.
Rowan is a very fair person. I think she blames herself for the way Saige turned out.
They spoiled her, never made her have any repercussions for anything she did. And she was always doing something.”
They sat quietly for a few seconds before Angelle sat up and looked at Boon. “I noticed Lily said Tempest had just agreed to a wedding. Did she understand that we don’t want one yet?”
“She did. And it wasn’t really about us anyway. She just missed being able to have one for Tempest, so once I redirected her, it wasn’t a problem.”
Angelle nodded then leaned back in Boon’s lap again. “Do you think Saige will come back?”
“Not a chance. I told her I’d kill her. And I will. And she knows that. We won’t see her again unless we happen across her in Whispers some time, but I’m certain she won’t even glance in your direction. You don’t have to worry about her.”
“Thank you for trusting in me,” Angelle said.
“Thank you for trusting me,” Boon said. “As shaky as we started out, Saige could have really caused us some problems.”
“Not now. Not ever. When I decided to give you my trust, it was forever. Not as an experiment. I never doubted you for a moment.”
“I love you.”
Angelle smiled at him and kissed his jaw. “I’m tired,” she said as she started shivering.
“Adrenalin dump,” he said. “I’m going to sit here and hold you until it passes. And then I’m going to hold you even longer.”
“Promise?” she asked with a smile.
“Always and forever.”