Page 17 of Gargoyle Reaper

“Don’t worry,” interjected Archer. “I’ll make her behave.”

Cassiel slowly rose from the pew. “I’m not into the kinky stuff, cowboy.”

Archer turned to Ezekiel. “Is this what I have to look forward to from now on?”

Ezekiel had to smile. “Pretty much.” He peered up at Cassiel. “Behave yourself. This is my cowboy’s first rodeo, got it?”

“Fine.” A light sweat decorated her brow, and her skin had paled more since her arrival. “I’ll dial it back a notch.”

Archer looked back and forth between him and Cassiel. “I’m an expert surgeon. I wouldn’t exactly call that my first rodeo.”

Cassiel looped her arm through his. She might be trying to put on a good front for Archer, but Ezekiel knew her light was seeping out quicker and quicker.

“I know, angel. But gargoyle medicine is unique.”

Archer pressed his lips together, his expression one of determination,

“Got it. I’ll do what I can.” He hesitated for a moment, eyes lingering on Ezekiel. “Be careful, okay?”

Ezekiel's heart swelled at the concern in Archer’s voice. “I will. Now go. They need you.”

As he watched Archer help Cassiel down the hall, he wondered whether his mate's innate Nephilim abilities wouldmanifest during the healing process. It wasn't unheard of for latent powers to emerge in times of great need or stress.

He returned his attention to Darius. “Come on, soldier,” Ezekiel murmured. “Fight this.”

More than anything, he hoped they could all fight against the storm of darkness he sensed was imminent.

Chapter Six

Archer pressed his lips in a grim line as he adjusted the angle of the lamp, casting a focused beam onto Cassiel's injured side. He’d already swabbed the puncture wound with antiseptic and was readying to stitch her up. She watched him work with interest, and once again, Archer marveled how all the Slayers took their pain and suffering in stride, their main concern being to eradicate evil and protect humanity - not protect themselves.

He brushed the thought aside to focus on Cassiel’s injury. Another time, he could ruminate on his shame at how selfish he'd been his whole life.

“Man,” she said, furrowing her brow. “That rebar in the alley got me good.” She chuckled. “Good thing it wasn’t Raziel’s claw. Shit’s got hellfire poison. I would’ve needed Ezekiel’s light or probably wouldn’t make it.” She jerked her head to the threshold of the room. “And he’s got his hands full with Darius.”

Archer remained focused on his task, but he had so many questions. Without looking up, he said, “Thanks for protecting us today.”

“Don’t get all teary-eyed, sweetheart. Our main concern was the relic.”

Despite their dire circumstances, the corner of his mouth tugged into a half-smile. “Fair enough. But you guys did an incredible job.”

“Ppph. You should see a full-on air-battle. Those are pretty sweet.”

Archer shook his head with a chuckle. He was immersed in a bizarre and remarkable world that he still wasn’t a hundred percent sure was real, yet he’d never felt so alive, so thrilled to be a part of something.

And maybe…

He gave himself a mental shake. Any thoughts of Ezekiel were dangerously distracting. He was still fighting the urge to jump the guy.

Cassiel flinched “Fuck! Easy there, Archer.”

“Sorry,” Archer said, unsure if he was apologizing for the pain or being so mentally absent when Cassiel needed him present.

“Hey, you're doing great. I've had worse scrapes from shaving my legs.” she joked, though the pallor of her skin suggested otherwise.

As he reached for another gauze pad, one of the other Slayers resting nearby let out a long groan as if he’d been holding it in for as long as he could, but the agony was too much. Next to him, a fellow Slayer had seemingly fallen unconscious. Archer couldn’t be sure, though. He didn’t dare leave Cassiel until he’d stitched her up.

The anxiety from having to handle all the gravely wounded gargoyles without so much as a nurse assisting was beginning to get to him. How did Ezekiel handle this by himself? What if Ezekiel hadn’t found him that morning, hadn’t brought him to the lair? Would all but one or two of the Slayers have died because Ezekiel didn’t have help?

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