Read Online Night Angel (Angel Haven) by Annette Miller - Free Book Online
Authors: Annette Miller
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I can trust you. Our telepath says we’ve got instincts for a reason. Use them.” Karen got up to sit on the rail, wanting to be closer to him. “Your turn. You got any secrets? I promise I can keep them.”
She could sense him moving to the end of the branch. “I know.” He was quiet, then a large hand reached out to her from the leaves. Her eyes widened, and she involuntarily stumbled away from him. Her back hit the house, and she stopped, staring at the hand. She stepped back to the rail and hesitantly touched a finger to his palm.
His hand dwarfed hers. His skin was purple and felt like rock, but still had some pliancy to it. His fingers looked longer due to the claws that curled from their ends. From the size of his hand and what she could see of his arm, she knew he had to top at least seven feet. “What are you?” she whispered.
“To some, a creature of dreams, to others, a nightmare come true.” He started to pull his hand away, but Karen held it. “I don’t frighten you?”
“No. Startled maybe, but not frightened.” She caressed the back of his hand, smiling when she heard him sigh. “Does Bradford know about you?”
“Yes, and he’s not happy about my presence here. He tries to keep me contained at night, but he and his men are finding out it’s easier said than done.” He squeezed her hand. “You know why Randall is treated the way he is, don’t you?”
She continued to hold his hand. “Bradford has the children, doesn’t he?” she said quietly.
“Exactly. To keep me in line, Randall can’t show any signs of resisting Troyington or his men. If he does, the children will suffer. Troyington has made that point clear on several occasions. Every night, I come up with new ways to escape whatever cell he tries to put me in.”
“But why?” Karen asked. “I don’t understand why he’d take children. What does he want with them?”
“They aren’t human. They’re werewolf.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “I’m their guardian. I’m a gargoyle. My body is closer to human than those disfigured things on the sides of churches. My race are protectors. These children were taken from the northeast pack. Guardians from across the country were sent here to find them.”
“Where are they?” she asked. “I haven’t seen any more like you. Are the rest of the guardians nearby?”
“Yes. Once I was established here, the rest pulled back to await further instructions. I told them their clan had lost enough. I thought I’d be able to handle what was going on, but I was overconfident. Troyington holds all the cards for now. After I find the children, I’ll call them in, and we’ll conclude this situation to the satisfaction of all.”
That sounded more than slightly ominous. “What could Bradford want with werewolf children?”
“Troyington wants to become a shape-shifter to acquire more power in the business world. He needs their abilities. He could only get the children. Taking on adult werewolves is beyond even his men’s powers.”
She squeezed his hand. “Let me help,” she said. “I’ve told you what I can do. I’ve got another advantage, too. Bradford likes me. I can get close to him and try to get you some information.”
He held her hand tighter, giving emphasis to his words. “I don’t want you putting yourself in danger. But anything you can learn, I would be grateful to hear.”
Karen grinned at him. “Please. I’ve fought some of the most powerful supervillains on the planet. I can handle this crowd. I’d better go inside.” She stood, slowly pulling her hand from his. “Bradford wants to show me around tomorrow. Good night, Guardian.”
“Good night, Karen.”
Her insides turned to jelly just as they had when Randall said her name. She stumbled across the threshold to her room. She flung herself on her bed, turning over to stare at the ceiling.
“This gets worse all the time,” she mumbled. “I’ve got one guy who wants to hook up with
She could sense him moving to the end of the branch. “I know.” He was quiet, then a large hand reached out to her from the leaves. Her eyes widened, and she involuntarily stumbled away from him. Her back hit the house, and she stopped, staring at the hand. She stepped back to the rail and hesitantly touched a finger to his palm.
His hand dwarfed hers. His skin was purple and felt like rock, but still had some pliancy to it. His fingers looked longer due to the claws that curled from their ends. From the size of his hand and what she could see of his arm, she knew he had to top at least seven feet. “What are you?” she whispered.
“To some, a creature of dreams, to others, a nightmare come true.” He started to pull his hand away, but Karen held it. “I don’t frighten you?”
“No. Startled maybe, but not frightened.” She caressed the back of his hand, smiling when she heard him sigh. “Does Bradford know about you?”
“Yes, and he’s not happy about my presence here. He tries to keep me contained at night, but he and his men are finding out it’s easier said than done.” He squeezed her hand. “You know why Randall is treated the way he is, don’t you?”
She continued to hold his hand. “Bradford has the children, doesn’t he?” she said quietly.
“Exactly. To keep me in line, Randall can’t show any signs of resisting Troyington or his men. If he does, the children will suffer. Troyington has made that point clear on several occasions. Every night, I come up with new ways to escape whatever cell he tries to put me in.”
“But why?” Karen asked. “I don’t understand why he’d take children. What does he want with them?”
“They aren’t human. They’re werewolf.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “I’m their guardian. I’m a gargoyle. My body is closer to human than those disfigured things on the sides of churches. My race are protectors. These children were taken from the northeast pack. Guardians from across the country were sent here to find them.”
“Where are they?” she asked. “I haven’t seen any more like you. Are the rest of the guardians nearby?”
“Yes. Once I was established here, the rest pulled back to await further instructions. I told them their clan had lost enough. I thought I’d be able to handle what was going on, but I was overconfident. Troyington holds all the cards for now. After I find the children, I’ll call them in, and we’ll conclude this situation to the satisfaction of all.”
That sounded more than slightly ominous. “What could Bradford want with werewolf children?”
“Troyington wants to become a shape-shifter to acquire more power in the business world. He needs their abilities. He could only get the children. Taking on adult werewolves is beyond even his men’s powers.”
She squeezed his hand. “Let me help,” she said. “I’ve told you what I can do. I’ve got another advantage, too. Bradford likes me. I can get close to him and try to get you some information.”
He held her hand tighter, giving emphasis to his words. “I don’t want you putting yourself in danger. But anything you can learn, I would be grateful to hear.”
Karen grinned at him. “Please. I’ve fought some of the most powerful supervillains on the planet. I can handle this crowd. I’d better go inside.” She stood, slowly pulling her hand from his. “Bradford wants to show me around tomorrow. Good night, Guardian.”
“Good night, Karen.”
Her insides turned to jelly just as they had when Randall said her name. She stumbled across the threshold to her room. She flung herself on her bed, turning over to stare at the ceiling.
“This gets worse all the time,” she mumbled. “I’ve got one guy who wants to hook up with
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