Chapter 14 – Xander
I scoop Evangeline into my arms and run through the abandoned Brooklyn warehouse where my brother brought her.
Magnus is long gone, making his exit the moment I collapsed to my knees next to my mate after killing the asshole who stabbed her.
“We knew this could happen,” Locheran says, running behind me. “We know how to fix it.”
“I know,” I growl.
Blood is everywhere, Evangeline’s blood and the blood of her ex-husband. I didn’t hesitate to kill him. The man had it coming, not only for how he treated Evangeline, but for all the crimes he’s committed as a sleazy lawyer .
I’ve had a private investigator following the fucker since the moment Evangeline told me about him. I needed surveillance on him to make sure he didn’t try to come back for my kitten. The investigator has also been compiling evidence of Brandon’s infractions: jury and witness tampering to win cases, bribery, and money laundering. I’d planned on turning everything over to the police but killing him was far more satisfying.
The building’s exit comes into view, and I extend my wings to prepare for takeoff.
“Call a cleanup crew and have them get rid of that lowlife ex, then meet me back at the penthouse,” I tell Locheran and launch myself into the sky. “Stay with me, Kitten.”
The flight takes less than ten minutes and when I walk through the door, Evangeline’s mother is standing next to the kitchen island.
“Set her down.”
I do, and Mira gets right to work.
“Your hand, gargoyle king.”
I hold out the hand Mira marked after Locheran broke her out of the hospital and brought her to my penthouse. The sigil resembles an ‘s’ with a vertical line through the middle and a burst of light behind it.
“You live a life of darkness, but she is your light. She is the sun you will worship from now until death. Her mark will bring her back to life. Your mark will save her soul.”
I am the night, and Evangeline is my sun.
Mira places Evangeline’s hand on top of mine, lining up our marks. Light explodes from our embrace, similar to what happened at the warehouse with my brother.
After finding out Evangeline had been kidnapped, Thorne had stumbled upon my human assistants, left for dead near the dumpsters behind the hospital. Gary, who was barely conscious, managed to tell us they were attacked after dropping off Evangeline for her shift. They caught Elara and a gargoyle who looked a lot like me putting her inside the back of a van in an alleyway behind the hospital.
A gargoyle who looked like me? It had to be Magnus.
When Mira arrived, she used the tracking spell she laced throughout Evangeline’s hexafoil to pinpoint her location inside a warehouse in Red Hook.
Then she gave me my own mark, which was supposed to incapacitate Magnus so I could save Evangeline. Once she was safe and my brother captured, I had planned to hold him in a jail cell in the basement of Saint Basilica’s and let the Council of Gargoyle Elders decide what to do with him .
Magnus was stronger than we anticipated. Now he believes I’ve given him my royal powers over New York City. He’ll be furious once he finds out he doesn’t have the throne. He will fight to the death to claim it.
“You are giving her part of your life. You are the reason she will live,” Mira says, pulling me from my thoughts.
I can feel the energy coursing through my body and pouring into my mate.
“Speak to her. Convince her to come back.”
I palm her cheek with my free hand.
“Kitten, please,” I begin, tears claiming my voice. “You are the best thing to happen to me in all of my 999 years. You are the sun that doesn’t turn me to stone. You own my heart. You’ve had it since the first message on that damn dating app. Come back and let me cherish you the way you deserve. I love you.”
Evangeline gasps, and her body arches off the countertop. Her eyes pop open, and I release her hand.
“Kitten,” I whisper, lifting her off the island and cradling her in my arms. “Are you okay? How do you feel?”
“Like I was stabbed in the heart,” she mumbles, and I let out a bark of laughter.
She nearly dies, and she’s telling jokes? God, she’s perfect.
“I need water,” she croaks .
“I’ll get it,” Mira says, and Evangeline jerks her head to the sound of her mother’s voice.
“Mom?”
“Yes, Brownie, I’m here.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I broke her out of the hospital,” Locheran says, entering the penthouse with Thorne behind him.
“How?” Evangeline asks.
Locheran shrugs. “Easy. I showed them some fake credentials and told them we were moving her to a hospital here in Manhattan. I also forged your father’s signature to name you as your mother’s proxy. That way, you can release her to herself if you want.”
“And you just happen to have fake credentials lying around?” Evangeline asks with a snort.
“Of course.” Locheran shrugs. “Most supernaturals have many fake credentials and documents.”
Evangeline squirms in my arms, and I reluctantly let her down. She hugs Locheran first, and he stills because I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone hug the gargoyle before. At least, not in a friendly sense.
I don’t think I’ve ever hugged my best friend.
“Thank you, Commander,” Evangeline whispers .
She turns to her mother once she releases Locheran. Mira hands her the glass of water, but Evangeline sets it on the counter to embrace the woman.
“I’m never letting you go back to that place. I should have fought Dad to have you released sooner. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Brownie,” her mother says, rubbing her back. “You were not in a place to worry about my troubles. I’m just happy you finally got out of that abusive relationship.”
Evangeline pulls away, her face scrunched in confusion. “Did you know about Brandon? I mean, did you have a vision that I’d be with him?”
“No, dear,” the witch says, pushing back a piece of her daughter’s hair. “I cannot control my visions. The ones concerning you have always been about the supernatural evil threatening your life. Unfortunately, that did not include evil humans.”
Evangeline gasps. “Oh, Xander. You transferred your royal power to Magnus.”
She has yet to take a drink of water so I place the glass in her hand. While she rehydrates, I explain the decoy mark her mother gave me to trick Magnus into believing he’s now the king of New York City .
“Once he discovers the truth, which he might already have, he will seek me out to challenge me. He will fight for the throne.”
“Do you really have a throne?” Evangeline asks, her eyes lighting up.
“No, but if you want one, I shall buy it for you.”
She giggles. “Always spoiling me.”
“And you should let me.”
Her smile drops, and she sits down on a stool.
“You killed my ex. I saw you rip his head off,” she whispers, more so in awe than fear or anger. “Brandon wasn’t himself. He seemed out of it.”
“A compulsion spell,” Mira explains. “Magnus might have found a witch to help him.”
“He promised Brandon power,” Evangeline continues. “His own law firm and money. Could he do all that?”
“He could have,” I begin, “but knowing Magnus, he would have killed Brandon after he was done using him.”
Evangeline nods blankly. After the night she’s had, I expect her body will soon be claimed by exhaustion.
I turn to Thorne, who’s been leaning against the door, arms crossed. “Please take Mira to a guest apartment. Make sure she has everything she needs for the night. Clean clothes, toiletries and such.”
He nods, and I turn to Mira .
“Thank you for everything tonight. My soldier, Thorne, will take care of you.”
Mira places her palm on my forearm, and I suck in a sharp breath. Whatever spell she just zapped into my body instantly calmed my frayed nerves.
“Sleep well, king. Tomorrow, my daughter will be ready to hand over her soul to you.”
My eyes widen.
Evangeline will want to complete the bonding ritual tomorrow? It’s a day I’ve been waiting for since we met.
Mira gives me two reassuring pats, then walks to Thorne. He opens the door and holds out his arm for the witch to take.
Once they’re gone, Locheran turns to me.
“Guess that’s my cue to leave too.” He slaps a clawed hand on my shoulder. “You and your kitten take a few days off. I got things handled. I’ll form a battle plan. If anything dire arises, I’ll come find you.”
I bring my best friend and commander into a hug, something I vow to do more. All my life, he was a better brother than Magnus. Locheran’s unsure what to do at first before his body relaxes, and he accepts the embrace.
“I owe you, brother.”
Locheran clears his throat. “I’ll take you up on that someday,” he says, and we part .
The moment he leaves, I pick Evangeline up to carry her into the bedroom.
“How many apartments do you own in this building?”
“I own all the units on the two floors below the penthouse,” I explain while stripping her out of her bloodied scrubs. “A few of my soldiers stay in some of them to be near me. I always keep a few apartments vacant in case of emergencies like tonight. Your mother will be staying in one.”
“It’ll be safe, right?”
“I have no doubt your mother will add her own wards, but yes, it will be safe.”
I lead her to the bathroom where I wash her body and hair then dry her off with a towel. I dress her in a pair of her pajamas and lead her back into the bedroom where I tuck her in.
Birdie jumps on the bed and curls up by her side.
“My kitten and her cat,” I say.
Evangeline hums. “Thank you for bringing me back to life. Dying wasn’t fun. It was like I was stuck in a dark room, yelling loud enough that I lost my voice. No one could hear me. Then I saw a light, and I heard your voice.”
I settle in behind her, draping my arm over her stomach and kissing her neck.
“Xander? ”
“Yes, Kitten?”
“You also own my heart,” she says.
“I do?”
“Always,” she whispers and just before she falls asleep, she adds, “I love you.”