Page 28 of Gargoyle Vigilante

Amir frantically searched for a place to hide. He remembered how he and his uncle had concealed the ring by using the decoy of a worthless box, the last place someone would expect to find a priceless artifact. But as he searched the room, checked for someplace no Rogue would ever consider, he recognized the futility. If one of those creatures were determined to find him, nothing in the library would keep him safe.

He crept to the door, placing his ear to the surface. The fighting didn’t sound as if it was any closer, so maybe he could make a run for it, find somewhere better to hide. He bit his knuckle. What if Mal, Ezekiel, or even Caleb came back for him, and he wasn’t there?

Amir stamped his foot. If only he were strong enough to fight. He had no other choice but to heed Mal's instructions and find a hiding place, even though every potential spot in the library seemed too obvious.

After deciding that the best option was to hide behind a tall marble statue of a nude Greek figure, he waited, desperate to know what was going on. The only reason he’d chosen the well-endowed, headless man to hide behind was its nearness to thedoor. If Rogues burst into the room, he might be able to rush out and make a break for it. He’d certainly been down that road before.

Each minute was like an hour, and his heart ached for Dante. Was he okay? Did he know the lair had been breached? Caleb said Ezekiel was sending out a distress call. He grabbed his belly as a rigorous round of kicking started up. He couldn’t stand to think that his fear might be upsetting the baby.

The door slammed open, ricocheting off the wall, and Amir slapped a hand to his mouth to hold in the scream that had almost broken free. He let loose a relieved sigh when he realized that the intruder was Caleb.

“Amir?” He whispered. “Are you here?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He stepped out from behind the statue. “What’s happening?”

Caleb peeked into the hall then gestured for him to follow. “Come on. Ezekiel asked me to get you and the relic, then take the escape route out of the lair.”

Amir stopped his forward motion as an icy chill slithered through him. “Wait. What? I’m not supposed to leave this room, let alone the lair. Dante would never allow that.”

Caleb grunted. “Yeah, but Dante isn’t here now, is he? Who’s going to protect you, huh?” He took a step toward Amir, and Amir moved back. “Even Mal couldn’t be bothered to take care of you.”

“But…” Amir took another step away from Caleb. “Ezekiel told you to come get him. He had to go fight.”

Caleb shrugged as he continued to advance on him. “Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t.” His lips curled up in a sickening grin. “I guess I created a bit of a problem when I let the Rogues in.” He covered his mouth in mock surprise. “Oops.”

Caleb fell into a bout of hysterical laughter, and Amir stood rooted to the spot, shock and disbelief rendering him helpless.

"You... you're one of them," he stammered, backing up further until he hit the wall behind him.

Caleb's grin stretched wider. "Not so slow after all, are we?" He took another step closer, his eyes gleaming. "Now, let's make this easy. You come with me, and your baby won’t get hurt."

Anger sliced through Amir at the threat to his unborn child. He glanced desperately around the room for something, anything that could serve as a weapon. But Caleb towered over him, a behemoth comprised of solid muscle that stood well over six feet tall. Escaping was out of the question.

Right as Caleb reached out to grab him, the room seemed to explode as Dante swooped into the library, his massive wings demolishing the walls surrounding the threshold. His eyes glowed a brilliant amber, his stone body imposing and fearsome. With a roar that shook the very ground they stood on, Dante lunged at Caleb.

The traitor barely had time to react as Dante's sharp claws shredded through his clothes, biting into flesh. Caleb screamed, shrinking back, but Dante was relentless. Again and again, he swung his talons, each hit sending Caleb reeling backward until he was pressed against the far wall.

But Caleb wasn't done yet. With a monstrous roar, he shifted to his Rogue form, pushing away from the wall and lunging at Dante. Their bodies met with a resounding crash that echoed throughout the room. Amir watched in horror as they grappled with each other, clawing and biting in a savage display of violence.

Dante’s movements were swift, his strikes brutal. But to Amir’s horror, Caleb was gaining the upper hand. With every passing second, Dante seemed to be slowing down, while Caleb appeared to be growing stronger.

"Dante!" Amir cried out as Caleb landed a solid blow on Dante's side, sending him flying into the library shelves, books haphazardly tumbling from the cases to the floor.

Caleb laughed—a repulsive sound that made Amir’s skin crawl. He lumbered toward Dante as if already victorious, his sluggish gait betraying the damage Dante’s blows had caused.

"Traitor!" Dante spat, his voice a deadly mix of gravel and thunder. "You dare to endanger my mate and our offspring? I’ll rip your heart out!"

He leaped to his feet and grabbed Caleb in one fluid move, hurling him against the wall across the room. The impact made the walls shake, dust falling from the ceiling as more books toppled over onto the floor. Caleb slumped to his knees, gasping for air.

Dante stalked toward him, every inch of his body radiating raw power. "This lair, the relic, your fellow Slayers, mymate—all were under your protection!" Dante's voice boomed. "You have betrayed us all!"

"I... I..." Caleb stuttered, shrinking away from Dante's terrifying form.

"Did the Rogues offer you something you couldn’t resist?" Dante’s voice was cold as ice, his eyes glinting with pure hatred. "Did they promise you power? Riches? Any Nephilim you desired?"

Caleb merely sputtered, blood dribbling from his lip.

With a growl, Dante seized him by the throat and lifted him off the ground with one hand. His claws dug into Caleb’s flesh, drawing even more blood. “You don’t deserve their promises,” Dante spat. “You don’t deserve anything!”

---