Page 15 of The Last Gargoyle's Christmas Wish
His heartbeat raced as panic flooded his body. The muscle beneath his eye fluttered rapidly. Grady had seen Briar set off from the bakery with two crates.
So where was he now? Had he been hurt en route? Had he been set upon and attacked like Grady had been a few nights ago?
Grady quickened his pace before breaking into a run as he made his way through the streets in the direction of the bakery.
Forest spirits, please let him be there! Please let him be safe.
Despite the frosty air, sweat clung to his skin. Grady didn’t know why Briar would be at the bakery. But he prayed he was. Or maybe he was back in the forest with the dog. Who knew?
This was just like when Briar had been fourteen, when Grady hadn’t been paying enough attention and Briar had gone missing for a week.
What if something happened to Briar?
The metallic scent of blood tingled in his nose and throat. A crunching sound resonated in his ears.
No. Grady shook his head. Briar would be fine. Grady just needed to find him. Then everything would be fine.
But where the fuck was he?
When Grady reached the bakery, the door swung open for him, sensing his urgency. But the bakery remained dark; no one was inside at this time of day.
“Briar!” Grady yelled, running around. “Briar!” But he saw no one.
Panting, he ran out the back and almost straight into Uzoth, who had just landed in the alley.
“What is wrong?” Uzoth tucked his wings behind himself and stepped towards him.
“Briar is missing.” Grady strode towards the stairs to the apartment. Then he spun towards Uzoth. “Did you see him? Did you see what happened to him after he left?”
Uzoth’s brows furrowed. “I did not. I was overlooking your sister’s home earlier. I have been trying to keep an eye on all your siblings. I apologise that I did not see him.”
Grady had turned before Uzoth finished speaking and sprinted up the stairs. Uzoth followed. The apartment door flung open. When he reached Briar’s door, he opened it.
Despite the darkness of the room, he could see movement in the bed.
He’s here. He’s safe. He’s not lying dead in the street in a pool of blood and broken bones.
He sagged with relief. But a moment later, his fists clenched as anger roared inside him.
“Briar, where the fuck were you tonight?”
The shadow in the bed stirred. “Ummm,” Briar said sleepily.
“I saw you leave the bakery with the crates. What happened?” Grady couldn’t hold in his annoyance. “And now I find out you’ve just been lying in bed whilst we’ve all been worried and looking for you? What is wrong with you, Briar?”
Suddenly, a figure that was not Briar rose from the bed and strode towards Grady. “Don’t you talk to my mate like that!” the figure snarled.
Grady stumbled back.
What the fuck?
“Wulfric!” Briar called out. “It’s all right. It’s just?—”
Uzoth stepped in front of Grady, wings unfurling, blocking Grady’s view of the room.
“Stand down, puppy,” Uzoth said. “I have fought far greater enemies than you.”
Stumbling, Grady rushed to grab and light a lantern from the main room. Then he raced back into the bedroom, holding up the lantern.
