Page 31 of Witch Unexpected
“That,” Elijah said tightly. “Is a gargoyle. They guard the grounds, and they guard the witches.”
“Gargoyles are alive?”
Bramble snorted. “If you can call it that.”
The gargoyle stepped into the light, and its body rippled and morphed into a human shape. Gray, stone skin was eaten away to be replaced by smooth, dark skin before a man stood in the light watching us—tall, broad, and lethal-looking in a fitted polo-shirt and dark jeans. His eyes were silver pennies that flashed as if taking a snapshot of the scene. But the eeriest thing was how still he was. Like, not a twitch, not a breath. Nothing.
It was creepy as fuck. “Why is he just standing there?”
“Bador likes to stand about and look intimidating,” Bramble said. “Truth is, he has a metal pole lodged so far up his ass that—”
“Bramble…” Elijah warned. “You know he can hear you, right?”
She grinned, flashing neat white teeth. “You bet I do.”
She popped open her door and stepped out. “Hey, Bador. How’s it hanging?”
“Is that her?” Bador asked, his voice a gravelly rumble. “Is that the potential?”
“Yeah, I got this,” Bramble said. “I can take her—”
“No.” Bador cut her off. “Anna has asked me to escort the potential.”
“But Charlotte—”
“Enough.” Bador turned his silver penny gaze to Bramble. “Know your place, pixie.”
Bramble stepped away from the car, hands balled into fists. “Yeah, and how about you learn yours, you overgrown porch ornament.”
“Oh, fuck.” Elijah stepped out of the car. “One moment, Bador. Please.”
Bador made a low grumbling sound like the purr of an engine, then stepped back into the shadows.
“Bramble, we had a deal,” Elijah said with a sigh that sounded suspiciously like the exasperation sigh he reserved for me.
Bramble glared defiantly at him. “I’m not leaving her side. I promised Charlotte.”
“Charlotte will be fine. Cora will be fine. Bador is a guardian.”
Bramble’s shoulders sagged. “Fine.” She ducked her head into the car to look at me. “I’ll find you later.”
I was sure it was meant to be comforting, but the snarl in her tone made it sound like more of a threat.
And who was Charlotte?
Elijah opened my door and leaned down so he was eye level with me. “You need to go with Bador now.”
Wren clung to me, and his disconcertion was contagious, forcing my stomach into knots.
I hugged the mogwai to me and focused on Elijah. “What about you?”
“I have things I need to do,” Elijah said. His gaze tracked across my face and a slight frown marred his forehead. “You’re in safe hands now.”
Wait a second. “You’re going to dump me here and piss off?”
His expression hardened. “If I could stay, I would, but—”
“There are bodies to take care of, okay,” Bramble snapped. “Dead potentials. We didn’t have time to clean up before coming for you.”
