8. Guruk

8

Guruk

The minutes ticked by as the council recounted Sammy's story for the florin. My gut twisted. I wanted my little human to have everything she desired, but much to my shame, I also secretly wished that the florin wouldn't be able to help her. If she couldn't return to her world, then she would stay in Havenlore…with me.

When the council's explanation ended, the florin sat on their tails in silent contemplation.

Sammy held her breath, and I tugged her impossibly closer to my side. "No matter what," I said, nuzzling her hair, "we're in this together."

She shot me a grateful smile that both set fire to my heart and increased my guilt. I'd grant her anything she wanted, everything within my power, if only she'd stay with me.

A hush fell over the room. Then, as if called to the stage, the florin hopped up on the dais and twittered its reply. Councilor Saraeda translated for us.

"I am sorry to say that I cannot return the human to her world," the siren began, and a gasp broke from my poor Sammy. "But," the councilor continued as the florin kept up its tweaks, "although the human cannot travel between dimensions as my kind do, I can deliver a message to her family and let her loved ones know she is safe."

I exhaled roughly, gravel caught in my throat. I had gotten my wish to the detriment of hers. What kind of fiend was I?

I didn't have long to contemplate as Sammy's shuddering sob broke me. "Thank you," my little human said with tears in her voice, "I don't have any family, but if you would tell my friends?"

No family? Maybe, I wasn't such a monster after all. If Sammy had no one to return to, no true home, then I would do everything to make her happy here. Havenlore, and hopefully I, would be her family, her home.

The florin's twittering answer was an obvious yes, even without the councilor's translation.

Sammy let go of me and crouched in front of the florin. Whatever message she had for her friends was the florin's secret to keep. When at last she rose, seeking my side once more, her tears had been spent. I wiped the last remnants of them from her cheeks with my thumbs.

I hugged her close. "You'll always have a home here, and with me, if you want it, Sammy."

She didn't respond, just nodded into my chest as she held me tight.

"We welcome you to Havenlore, Samantha Riley," Councilor Fizzle proclaimed. "Should you have need of anything, do not hesitate to ask." With that, the councilors each gave a short bow and headed off toward the room where they had contemplated in private earlier. Likely done to give us some privacy and time for Sammy to come to terms with her situation, I appreciated their kind gesture. The florin too twittered one last time, before popping between the dimensions, off to deliver my little human's message.

We stayed there in a silent embrace for awhile. Her hair tickled my nose, her natural flowery scent filling me with longing. Water pooled around my tusks, the desire for her rising hot as flames. My heart cried that I had found a fated bond. And I never wanted to let her go.

Even as I thought this, she pulled back "I'm okay, Guruk," she assured me. Her facial expression and tension in her body said otherwise, but I wouldn't push her to talk until she was ready. If I had my way, we'd have forever. "Let's get out of here."

"As you wish, little one." I let my hand stray to the small of her back, a spot that was fast becoming my favorite and steered her toward the door.

Stepping outside the town hall into the fresh afternoon air aided in turning the events of the morning into a fading memory. A flush rose on Sammy's neck and a hint of a smile grazed her lips.

"It is beautiful here," she said more to herself than to me it seemed. Still it gave me hope for a future together.

We walked back along the main path, the villagers going about their chores as the day waned. As much as I dreaded it, we had to stop by the sheriff's station before heading home.

Leading us in that unwanted direction, it wasn't long before the building's stone facade came into view. A heavy mahogany door, iron-bolted and slightly ajar, invited visitors inside, while a small, barred window offered a glimpse of the dim interior. I spotted the deputy, who had first found Sammy, on the slanted and shingled roof, a dark crimson nightmare among the patches of moss. And not the male I wanted to see. He leapt from his perch when he caught sight of us, leaving little space between us and him upon his landing.

"The guardian and thief," he snarled, not retracting his wings as was polite amongst his kind. "How interesting to see you here."

"She is no thief!" I shouted, using my bulk to force him a pace back. "And you'd do well to note that the council has declared her a citizen of Havenlore."

"That's right." Sammy stepped to my side as a crowd began to form around us. "I'm one of you now."

"One of us?" The skul-gargoyle had the audacity to laugh, a condescending sneer that turned my vision red. "Hardly."

The affront to my little human boiled my blood. I grabbed the deputy around the throat as a booming voice echoed from above.

"What's all this now?" Sheriff Rokhan Stonelcaw descended into the fray, skattering our audience further back. His gray skin glistened in the afternoon light as his midnight blue wings extended to their impressive span, leaving no doubt to the male's power. He landed to the side of our scuffle, pulling in his wings and stomping forward. "Why do you have my deputy in hand, Guruk?"

The sheriff and I had always had a friendly acquaintance and a mutual respect for our roles in the village. He was known for fair dealings, having been elected three times now to office. I had no hesitation in telling him the truth of the situation. "Your deputy keeps disparaging and wrongfully accusing my human of crimes she has not committed."

"Oh?" The sheriff eyed the skul-gargoyle with a curious stare, then turned to me. "Would you release him, so that he might speak?"

"Guruk," a gentle pull tugged at my pants' pocket, Sammy's hand wrapped around the fabric, "do as the sheriff says, okay?"

I had no thoughts of disobeying. Yet, I wanted the deputy properly reprimanded for his actions. I peeled my hand from his throat, one intentional finger at a time.

"Now, then," the sheriff yanked his deputy forward from the collar of the smaller male's shirt, "what's this I hear about you causing trouble?"

"Sheriff," the deputy gasped, a rough claw massaging his throat, "the human was found reaching for the alicorn."

A collective gasp rose among the onlookers. I speared the crowd with a scowl.

"That's not true," Sammy cried. Her spine stiffened under the accusation, straightening her to her full height. "I mean not exactly. It was in the game."

"Game?" the thick, black eyebrows above the sheriff's crystal blue eyes rose toward his hairline.

"Perhaps, we'd better explain inside, Sheriff," I offered, not wanting to rehash Sammy's story outside for all the village to hear.

The sheriff nodded and led us through the heavy exterior door, down a hallway, and through another door to his office. We spent the next half hour recounting Sammy's arrival, the meeting with the council, and the real poacher who had threatened the alicorn.

"Inara is currently being protected in the grazing fields, but we have to get back to her soon." I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned forward in the chair. It had already been a long day, and not the manner in which I wanted to show Sammy the village.

"Of course," the sheriff replied neutrally. He'd made copious notes on a pad of paper as Sammy and I spoke. Yet, he remained frustratingly absent of opinion about it all. "Did you get a look at the trespasser?"

"No. He seemed on the small side, but popped through the veil before I could get a good look." I ground my back teeth together.

"And you?" he turned his sights on Sammy.

She shook her head, and I had to fight the instinct to block her from his penetrating stare. After another agonizing moment, he sighed. "Well, all right then, Guruk, Samantha," he inclined his head at us, "thank you for coming in today. I'll be overseeing the case from here on in, and my deputy will not be bothering you anymore."

Said deputy grumbled in the corner where he'd spent the majority of the meeting stewing in silence.

"Will he?" Sheriff Rokhan didn't bother glancing over his shoulder. His presence was enough to force a "No, Sir," from his deputy.

"Thank you, Sheriff," I rose, inclining my head at the gargoyle. While I didn't relish the minor interrogation, I respected that the male had a job to do.

"We appreciate your help." Sammy half-grinned at the sheriff and tucked stray strands of hair behind her ear.

Crystal blue eyes tracked the movement and his answering smile turned my heated blood to ice. I'd never been the jealous type, but even this innocent interaction had me wanting to challenge the sheriff to combat.

"Let's go, Sammy," I said on the harsher side.

She shot me a glare, then spun around and out of the office, knocking the chair as she went.

The damnable sheriff had the gall to laugh. "Looks like you might have your hands full, Guruk."

I hissed through my teeth, showing him my tusks. He only laughed harder. "Damn gargoyle," I muttered as I followed my little human down the hall and busted free of the station.

Sammy rounded on me the second I landed on the main path. "What was that about?" Her adorable brown brows were drawn toward her nose, and her pursed lips was downright sexy. I had no right to find her so attractive when she was obviously mad, but damn, she was hot when she was angry.

I cleared my throat to hide my amusement. Aiming for proper chagrin, I hung my head. "I apologize."

"Don't give me that." She swatted my arm, her forehead wrinkling. "I can tell you're not sorry at all."

"You're right," I picked her up and spun her around, "I'm not."

Sammy squealed, unable to stay mad at me for too long as we circled around and around. "Put me down," she said breathlessly laughing. "Down, Guruk."

I placed her on her feet, holding her steady while she regained her balance.

"That was underhanded, Mr. Orc." She reached up and tweaked the bulbous part of my nose. "You aren't getting out of this scot-free."

"I don't know who Scot is or why I need him to set me free, but if it means being away from you, then I want no part of it." I claimed her hand, and she didn't pull away, as we headed toward the village's perimeter to find Inara.

"Very underhanded," she mumbled.