Page 22 of Who Owns You?

It reminds me of Atlas, and it just makes our magic glow brighter.

“You’d think, but he laughs at his own jokes far too much,” Atlas pipes in, moving from the darkened corner of the room more into the light.

He cuts a striking figure in comparison to the rest of us, all dark in ways our colors are brighter. He’s also always been a lot better with night patrols when those weren’t a thing of the past. The future is so confusing now that we’re known entities in theworld of mortals. Perhaps the witch can help us…re-assimilate in some ways.

“I see,” Charlotte says carefully. She narrows her eyes on Atlas, her proverbial hackles raised.

I try not to feel slighted, but it does ache a little. As the alpha, there’s a lot of posturing one must do to keep the others in line, but this is all out of my control. Atlas is my nest-mate, but Charlotte—this witch—is unknown to us and could be capable of magic that even any manner of magic. As the oldest of the lot, I know there should be an increased sense of caution until we can get more information on her.

“Is that right?” Atlas asks, crossing his arms tightly over his chest and turning his hard stare into a full glare.

The edge of his lips quirk up into a sneer, and that’s what snaps the tension like a taut bowstring.

“I see, you’re the full-of-yourself one, huh?”

“She’s got you pegged!” Marcus howls with laughter, and his wings beat as he leaps across the room and kneels at her side. “You’re funny, Charlotte. I like that a lot.”

She blushes a deep crimson and flicks her eyes to Marcus, taking him in now that he’s closer. He’s the best person for her to be close to at the moment. He made himself known to her before, so maybe him showing what a fucking goof he is will keep her calm.

“I’ve seen you before, haven’t I?” She lifts a hand and very gently ghosts it over his jaw.

Marcus closes his eyes, and it’s like she’s stroked his dick instead of the air in front of his face. “Yeah, I forgot my football and went to get it to keep busy. I’ve got a lot of energy.”

“I bet,” she giggles.

“Lots of energy and fuck all to do with it until now,” I say, trying to insert myself back into the conversation. “We are goingto be working out a new sort of schedule. If we are allowed to be protectors again, then we will not slack in our duty.”

“Who gave you such a duty?” Charlotte asks with a smile on her face that is nearly too big, like she’s holding back a laugh.

I roll my eyes lightly, trying to lock down the smile dying to climb onto my face. She’s beautiful, and it’s beginning to get under my skin. She looks so soft and comfortable in my chair. I want her to be well tucked and settled—but next time in my lap.

“Some gargoyles are born, and others are made. From the dawn of time itself, we’ve only ever had one real purpose: to protect those who need it. No one gave us this duty, it’s our whole reason for being,” I explain, trying not to feel like some monologuing superhero. “Other monsters have joined us, but we were the first.”

“You’re born knowing your life’s purpose?” she asks, tone becoming a little exasperated. “Lucky ducks.”

“I wouldn’t say that exactly.” Julius rubs the back of his neck and smiles lazily. “We were born to do it, we’re good at it—in my opinion—but I have a purpose outside of protecting people.”

“Me too! I love sports. I’m great at footy and all kinds of other things. I’m also the fastest,” Marcus says as he grips the arm of the chair and leans closer to Charlotte, waggling his eyebrows.

“We have other hobbies and passions, of course. We have all the free will and consciousness of any person, mortal or otherwise,” I say, giving Atlas a sharp look as he begins to open his mouth.

The young gargoyle chuffs and shakes his head, tipping his body back before slinking out into the hall.

Eloise steps back into the room with two large boxes of pizza.

“I assume this is what you were expecting when I arrived?” She keeps her words directed at Charlotte and moves past me and my nest-mates like we’re a part of the furniture. She puts theboxes onto Charlotte’s lap. “My job seems to be done. Text me if you need anything.”

Eloise leaves with a nod to each of us and an additional warning look toward Atlas.

The younger witch takes a deep breath, her eyelids fluttering closed as she takes in the smell of pizza. Her stomach gives another thunderous growl before she pops open the top box and fishes out a slice with strange meat on it.

“I can’t believe he was really able to get Canadian bacon.” She takes a big bite and moans.

The sound strikes me in the core, and I stiffen. Beside me, Julius goes rigid as well, and Marcus nearly swoons. His eyes practically form hearts as he gazes at the witch.

“How long will you be staying?” My voice is tight, her soft sounds of pleasure a siren’s song to my cock.

Charlotte swallows, dabbing her lips with a napkin that was in the box, and she shrugs. “I’m hoping to get the whole finding myself requirement done quickly. I’m hoping to keep it under a year.”

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