Page 16 of The Last Gargoyle's Christmas Wish
“Cauldrons and cockmonkeys! What the fuck is going on in here, Briar?” He stared at Briar, who stood naked except for a sheet he held over his dick. He had a hand placed on a tall naked man’s chest, holding the man back from Uzoth.
But if Grady were a gambling man, he’d put his money on Uzoth to win a fight between the two of them.
Grady stared at Briar. It didn’t take a genius to work out what Briar had been up to when he had been meant to be working at the Christmas markets.
Grady set the lantern down on a side table. “Briar, who is this man and why is he in your room?” Then he saw the bite marks on Briar’s neck. He froze, playing through what had been said.
Mate. Puppy.
Grady groaned. “Briar, did you fucking mate a werewolf?”
A short while later, Grady left his younger brother with his werewolf mate, Wulfric, in his room. Grady dropped onto the chair by the cold fireplace.
“Fuck me.” Grady rubbed his temples. Then he gave an exhausted laugh. “Fucking Briar and his fucking large sick dog that turns out to be a werewolf. And hepromisedme just a couple of days ago that he’d try and be less reckless and more responsible. And now he’s mated. My little brother is mated to a werewolf.”
Closing his eyes, Grady dropped his head back against the chair. “Maybe it is a good thing. I’ve always worried a lot about Briar. He can be absent-minded. He forgets the time and where he is meant to be. He gets lost in a book or just gets lost. Now he has a werewolf looking after him, so I can worry less.” Although, he doubted it.
Then he thought of what Briar and Wulfric had told him. Briar had been attacked earlier by Isaac and Kevin, the men who worked at the butcher not far from them. Grady gripped the armrests. Thankfully, Wulfric had saved Briar. He’d scared those arseholes off and seemed certain they would not trouble Briar again.
Still, he wanted to go around and thrash the shit out of those bastards.
“I am sorry,” Uzoth said. “I failed you.”
Frowning, Grady looked at him. “What?”
“I believe I have seen these…butcher boys,” Uzoth said. “They speak to Briar sometimes. He does not stop to speak with them.” Uzoth paused. “I considered they bothered him. But I do not understand human body language so well, so I was uncertain.”
Uzoth lowered his gaze. “I should have put a stop to it. I should have told you. I should have ensured your brother wassafe.” His hand clenched. “I should have protected him. I should have been watching out for him.”
Grady leaned forward and gripped Uzoth’s arm. “Hey. You can’t be everywhere at once. You were watching over Ordelia’s place, right?”
Uzoth nodded. His gaze was on Grady’s hand. “I have been trying to look out for you and your kin.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. But I have nine siblings. You can’t look after all of them.” Grady gave a harsh laugh. “Trust me, I’ve tried.”
“It used to be easier,” Uzoth said. “When I protected alongside my brethren, we could keep watch over larger spaces. Now it is just me. It is not so easy.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself.” Grady’s tan skin contrasted with the grey of Uzoth’s. “And thank you for defending me against the werewolf.”
Uzoth raised his gaze. “I would not have let him harm you. I pledge that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Grady’s throat tightened. Grady always looked after others. And here Uzoth was, looking out for him. His gaze focused on Uzoth’s lips with the fangs peeking out. What would it be like to lean forward and kiss those dark-grey lips?
CHAPTER 10
Grady couldn’t draw breath. He couldn’t move. He felt held in place. All he could think of was kissing the gargoyle. Grady’s heart hammered in his chest.
“You are exhausted and perhaps hungry. And it is cold in here.” Uzoth rose.
Grady dropped his hand.
“I will light a fire.” Uzoth moved to the fireplace.
For a second, Grady considered going back to the Christmas markets. But they’d be almost closed by the time he got there. Normally, that would not stop him, but Grady wanted to stay with Uzoth.
Grady watched the gargoyle. He’d wanted to kiss Uzoth. He’d not wanted to kiss anyone in a long time. Recently, he’d spent all his time and energy watching his siblings. He’d fucked a few people in the years after his parents died when the opportunity arose. But over time, he’d felt his libido and any attraction he’d felt to others go into a deep hibernation.
Did he want Uzoth now? He stared at Uzoth’s features in profile. He knew Uzoth thought himself to be terrifying and monstrous. But Grady didn’t think he was. He liked his chiselledfeatures and horns. Even his fangs intrigued Grady. And his wings and tail—he felt a definite curiosity to touch them.
