Read Online Sorceress Rising (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 2) by Lisa Blackwood - Free Book Online Page A

hoax.”
    Lillian’s
stomach dropped and a cold wave of fear slid across her skin, followed by a
swift blanket of gooseflesh.
    “We need to
get out of here.” The pooka’s voice in her mind was
calm, though he had started to jerk on his lead rope, likely as fearful of a
trap as she herself was. “These humans know more than the other Fae
believed. The soldier wouldn’t otherwise mention any details about an ongoing
investigation. He’s fishing. We need to retreat and regroup before your
gargoyle comes crashing through the forest to rescue you. I can’t stress how
unfortunate such an event would be.”
    Lillian
swallowed as she met the soldier’s gaze. “You mean it wasn’t a cult
murder-suicide like the media believes?” She cast a nervous glance over her
shoulder purely for show. “Are you saying there is something or someone hunting
in the forest—and it killed those people?”
    “The
investigation is ongoing—we’re still analyzing evidence.”
    “Is that code to
say you’re hunting for some kind of urban legend like the rumors suggest? Sir…”
Lillian gave his fatigues a once over, looking for a name or something with his
rank, but realized she still would not have known what the bars and badges met
anyways.
    “Major Resnick,
of the 48 th Highlanders of Canada,” he supplied. “4 th Division, Joint Task Force Central. And no, I’m not hunting for a yeti.”
    Lillian started
to laugh. “Glad to hear it. I wouldn’t like to think I’ve been exploring the
forest for all these years when there might have been something else studying
me in return.”
    “However, while
I have you here. Have you ever seen or heard something out of the ordinary in
all your exploring? Anything at all. It might not have seemed like much at the
time, but anything you remember might have importance. We’ve been interviewing
many of the locals.”
    While he used
the word ‘interviewed’ Lillian imagined ‘interrogated’ would have been a more
accurate one. She frowned, and pretended to think for several moments. “My
family runs a spa, and we’ve had some unusual patrons from time to time, but I
can’t think of having seen anything out of the ordinary.” If you
don’t count a gargoyle, and numerous Clan and Coven members.
    The pooka
nickered.
    “However,”
Lillian continued with more authority. “I saw some signs of bear, a mother and
cub by the tracks—the bears might have been what spooked the horses in the
first place. And I certainly don’t want to lose the one I just found…so if you
don’t have any more questions…”
    A rustling in
the underbrush along the path saved Lillian from having to continue. The small,
wiry haired terrier burst out from behind cover and bolted between Lillian and
Major Resnick and then continued to run full out, all four legs churning at
maximum speed. Two seconds later, the dog was well up the path and out of
sight.
    Everyone stared
after the dog for a few seconds more than turned to look the way it had come.
Lillian turned too, fervently hoping not to see Gregory pursuing it. He wasn’t
and she released the breath she’d been holding. All her plausible lies would
have been for nothing if there had been a gargoyle galloping up the trail in
pursuit of the dog.
    The terrier’s
handler jogged up the path, cursing as he came. He stumbled into their midst
holding his side and sucking back deep breaths. “Something big spooked
Socrates. Didn’t get a good look, but it was a damned big son of a bitch.”
    “Bear,” Lillian
commented nervously, but for different reasons than the handler. Gregory must
have finished with his spell.
    “Gregory,” Lillian sent, “I assume you just scared a year off that man’s
life on purpose.”
    He sent a
grumbling huff in answer. All the humans twitched and their hands darted to
their weapons in a way that made Lillian genuinely nervous.
    “Don’t come
any closer. The humans are twitchy enough as it is. Let me handle