7. Asher

SEVEN

Asher

M an, this sucked.

Down I went, a slab of rock watching the world rush closer. And I sparkled, covered in glitter, all gaudy on my plunge to the ground.

Come on, wings!

The ground came to meet me, my face about to give it a big messy kiss. I closed my eyes, wondering if this fall would kill me. Gargoyles were built from tough stuff, but even the strongest rocks were breakable.

I had only seconds left, the end in sight. I sent prayers to the stone gods, begging for a miracle to spare me a gory fate.

At the last moment, a gargoyle snatched me back into the air.

“Gotcha, bro.”

Dane. Thank every single god twice over.

I dangled in his arms, my head titled back to face the clouds. Only my eyes moved, the rest of me firmly out of action.

“Fuck that monster,” my buddy said. “Don’t worry. It won’t get far. Seven knights are on it.”

“Luke…” I used our connection, getting silence in response. “Luke… I’m… Oh, shit…”

Sandpaper scraped my nerves, every sense trapped in panic. He needed me and I’d failed him. I shouldn’t be this mannequin in my best friend’s arms. I’d marked Luke to protect him, not let him down.

I keep letting you down , I thought, languishing in self-pity.

And we were only at the beginning. How many more times would I fuck up? How badly was I destined to hurt him?

Gods. What was wrong with me?

Snap out of it! I gave myself several mental slaps upside the head.

“Carissa’s with them,” Dane added.

Our boss had been staying here in Brinecrest for a while to help keep an eye on things. Yeah, and how was that going? I might have messed up on my part as Luke’s protector, but what about everyone else? Where were these wonderful new security measures? How did they allow the gas mask humans to get so close to the lighthouse?

I never liked playing the blame game, but right now my anger simmered, close to boiling. And that would make me irrational.

Seeing red got me in trouble, got me sent to a labor camp for beating the shit out of Seth back in the day.

Cool it down.

Luke would be okay. Seven gargoyle knights wouldn’t let one monster and its human rider get away with him.

Cool it down.

As much as a glittery statute could calm himself, I did, bringing myself down to a more reasonable level. At one with my inner light, the core of me, the better parts of myself wreathed in peace.

For half a minute.

The shark monster roared, Dane releasing a loud, “Whoa!” to knock me out of my quasi-mediation.

“Go on!” Dane cried. “Cut that dickhead up!”

A mighty shriek of monster death followed, and my body came back online.

“Thanks, bud,” I said, breaking free from Dane’s hold, wings out again.

“Asher!”

I flew toward the melting monster, the glittery bubble tearing open. Luke fell like a rag doll. I sped up, almost on him when Carissa swooped in and grabbed him.

Slamming on my brakes, I hovered close to her, breathing on pause.

“Good evening, Asher,” she said.

I kept my eyes on Luke, itching to snatch him off her.

Mine. “Evening, boss.”

Luke smiled at me, his complexion a silky gray. “Are you okay?”

I returned a smile. “All good. Ready for bed and cuddles. You?”

“Same.” He winced, soaked through, his slender body shivering.

Gods, seeing him like this speared my heart.

“You’re very glittery,” Carissa said, cocking her head.

“Yeah. Can I?—”

“Let’s get back to the tower and warm up,” she interrupted.

Not tonight. “I’ll take Luke back to the?—”

She cut me off again. “We’re going to the tower, Asher. Seth wants to speak with you both.”

I held back a growl, my muscles tensing. What happened to my boss? Why did she have to be so friendly with the weaver? Yeah, they were working together to figure shit out, but why so pally? And why did she always take his side?

She’s also in on this Luke lie, my brain reminded me.

Knowing better than to argue with her, I agreed and followed her through the rain, keeping pace.

“You don’t need any assistance?” she asked.

“No. I’m fine. All effects gone.”

Luke kept his beautiful eyes on me.

“Good, good. I’m so glad I was still awake to help.” She sighed. “This is a terrible lapse in security.”

Tell me about it! “Is this what Seth wants to talk about?”

“Yes. Please don’t ask me any more questions about it. Wait until you see him.”

There she went again. Seth liked to draw shit out, behave like a complete knob. It must be in his DNA. Never Carissa, though. She might be scatty and have a propensity for poor timekeeping, despite owning way too many clocks, but she was always straight forward.

Not now, which didn’t help the high respect I always held for her. Especially since she let Seth get away with using Luke and his invisibility power to try and steal the ring.

I kept silent, a dutiful gargoyle under her command.

Dane flew up to flank me. “How’s Luke doing?”

“A hot bath and some sleep will help him,” Carissa spoke before I could.

Yeah, because she knew him so well.

“The tower will be the best place for him.”

“Meaning what?” I jumped in. “He’s not moving in here.”

She didn’t answer.

“Carissa? Boss? Please tell me that’s not the plan.”

“Asher…”

“He can’t?—”

“I told you not to ask questions.” The bite in her tone came with a warning.

I ignored it. “He’s my mark. I say where he stays. I serve his best interests.”

“ Sorry,” I addressed Luke with the amulet connection. “I’m talking like you’re not here and all possessive. I guess I’m a tad possessive but fuck it. Only in certain contexts.”

“Like when Seth’s in the picture,” he answered.

“Yeah.”

Unfortunately, the weaver was always in the picture. Back when he sucked off my ex-boyfriend, Billy, and now again in this situation. Always lurking, always involved, an unshakable shadow.

In a better world, I’d be free to toss him from the top of the gargoyle tower. Weavers couldn’t fly, so toodles to him while I flipped him both middle fingers.

Ah, sweet dreams.

For now, he had to be involved because he provided the potion, searched for the king, and ran this town. And he was higher ranked than me. A weaver was a gargoyle who continuously wove the magic to keep us all safe. Much more special than the likes of me.

Whatever. But he’d never have my respect, and he’d never have Luke. Their chess and BJ days were over, the human mine now.

At least, I wanted him to be mine. Completely mine.

If he’d have me.

Shame about you being a lying piece of shit, eh?

Gods, I wanted to hold him, run my fingers through his hair. But Carissa kept hold of him even when we entered the tower, leading us through large gray corridors, taking us up a long gray stairwell in a silent march.

Gargoyles loved gray, every tower having the same dull vibe. Not me. I loved me some color, a sprinkle of fairy lights, and lots of coziness.

Traces of glitter fell off my body, giving the floor some much needed sparkle.

Dane slapped my back. “Wild night, right?”

“Yeah.”

He gave me a gentler pat. “It’ll be okay, bro. It really will.”

Why did I have this anxious gnawing in my guts?

We reached a long corridor with a series of meeting rooms. All very bland and corporate looking, their vibe pissing me off.

“In here,” Carissa ordered, not putting Luke down.

He stayed silent, like me. I didn’t know what to say to him, tempted to snatch him from my boss and make a run for it.

“Seth will be along in a little while,” she said. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

In a room with a big table, plastic chairs, and no fun colors? Yeah. Alright.

“There are refreshments provided.” She nodded at another table laden with a variety of beverages. Including a bottle of scotch and a box of green tea—my favorite combination. Which also meant this whole situation was planned. We were going to be called into a meeting at this hour irrespective of the attack.

Shit.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

She glowered at me. “Be patient. Relax.”

Man, this bollocks did not help manage my anger. “How can I relax with all this hush-hush shit going on?”

Her glower darkened, the lines on her forehead creasing. “Don’t test me, Asher.”

Ditto, I wanted to throw back. But I got in line, accepted my place.

Sort of.

“Can I have my mark now?” I asked.

She shook her head, moving toward the door. “You have your orders. Wait here. Both of you.”

Dane threw me a curious look and decided to press his luck. “Asher needs his mark, boss. That’s his?—”

Her posture changed, body growing in size as the stone raced across her skin. She lashed out with her tail, the end of it coiling around my neck.

“Don’t fucking test me!” she bellowed, lifting me off my feet.

“Carissa, please!” Dane moved forward, hands in the air. “I said it. Don’t punish Asher.”

“You said it because of him,” she countered. “Because he disobeys me now. Because he thinks having a mark exempts him from following my command.” She tightened her grip, applying strain on my windpipe. My heart thundered in my chest, the ridges of her tail cutting into my flesh.

Shit.

Despite the raging urge to wrestle her tail off me, I kept my arms by my sides and let her do her scolding thing, exerting her dominance over me. She held all the cards by holding Luke, and he came first.

No more pissing on her authority. Go with the flow, listen to her and Seth waffle some bullshit, and get Luke back.

“Step back,” she warned Dane. “Or I’ll have you sent to a labor camp.”

Bit extreme.

Dane backed off, offering up a shit load of apologies.

Carissa sighed, shaking her head as her stone skin vanished. Her tail slid away, dumping me on the floor. My knees cracked on the stone with an unpleasant crunch, but I stayed on them. Ignored the pain, in full kneeling mode.

“I’m sorry for my insolence,” I said, the skin on my throat burning. “Please forgive me.”

She sighed again, her footsteps approaching. “Stand.”

I stood, a tad wobbly, knees like ‘Why the fuck do we have to move, knobhead?’

Carissa’s eyes were full of sadness. “This is new territory for us all. I’ve never needed to slap you down like this before because you’ve never given me reason to.”

“Are you okay?” Luke asked.

“I’m fine. Just go with it.”

He didn’t respond.

“I’m sorry,” I answered Carissa.

“Don’t make me be that type of boss.” She released a long breath, wincing as if it hurt. “Things are tense and complicated. I don’t want us fighting.”

I couldn’t really fight her, though. She ruled me, and I always gave in because what else could a lowly knight like me do?

“I’m taking Luke to clean up,” she added. “Then we will return for the meeting. I want you to relax, have a drink, and leave this to me.”

Put him down…

He was my responsibility, not hers.

“Yes, boss,” I replied. “I really am sorry.”

She nodded, her smile feeble. “I’m glad to hear it. Don’t make me hurt you again.”

“I won’t, boss.”

“I’m right here,” I told him. “Don’t worry.”

For a moment, I wondered if she’d remove the amulet to cut off our communication, seeing as everything else felt so pissing shady.

She didn’t.

“See you shortly.” She left the room.

As soon as the door closed, Dane sprang into action, grabbing me by my shoulders as I wavered.

“Whoa…” I breathed.

“She really did that,” he said, checking me over. “Come sit down.”

I let him guide me to a chair and play nurse. A wave of nausea hit me, the drama of the night catching up with me. Pain bloomed in my temples, growing into a full headache.

I slumped across the table, totally done in.

“Easy, bro.” Dane rubbed my back. “Let me see if there’s a medikit in here.”

“Where is she taking you?” I asked Luke.

“Not sure right now. Up some stairs.”

I wasn’t familiar with the Brinecrest tower, it being smaller than the London one, and with a different layout.

“Keep me posted, ” I added.

“Will do. Missing your face already.”

I chuckled. “Ditto.”

“I hate that you were hurt because of me.”

I hated it whenever he apologized. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

The door opened and a red-headed human servant in a pristine gray uniform strode in.

“Gentleman,” she said, holding a green medikit in her hands. “The most gracious of Weaver Seth asked me to bring you this.” She placed it on the table and bowed.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

Dane grabbed it. “Cheers.”

“You are most welcome. Please offer those same thanks to Weaver Seth. His kindness knows no bounds.”

Did she have a sickbag with her by any chance? Because anymore of that and I’d be bringing up my supper.

“Noted,” I answered instead.

She left the room.

“Right, let’s get to it,” Dane said, opening the pouch.

I rested my chin in my hands, elbows on the table. “Shit. This is…I don’t even know what to say.”

“Here for you when you do, bro.” He opened a tube of Skinbliss Cream—a healing balm manufactured in Gula, my home world.

“Thanks, bud.”

“Don’t bottle it. Always vent that noxious gas.”

Dane always had my back, his listening skills were unparalleled. He was like the gargoyle version of a healing crystal, the best support you could ask for.

I wanted to tell him about the lie sitting in my chest like a spiky iron ball. It’d help vent the worst of the gas. But I kept the secret, knowing the risks. I trusted him, but not this tower. Speaking it aloud might shove the truth into the wrong hands, circling back to Luke.

“I’m…I screwed up.”

He rubbed cream into my neck. “How so?”

“By letting this happen.”

He grunted. “You let nothing happen, bro. Things got out of control. No one’s to blame. These humans have shown they’re relentless.”

“And they’ll push harder,” I said.

“Maybe. Doesn’t mean they’ll win.” A dreadlock fell over his face. He flicked it back to join the others.

The cream helped my neck, tingly in my cuts, planting buzzing kisses on my skin.

Bliss.

My friend found an oil in the medikit—similar to human ibuprofen gel. “Want me to do your knees?”

“No. I’ll do them.”

I rolled down my leather trousers, working the oil into my kneecaps. They thanked me with a warm hum.

More bliss.

“Let me fix us some drinks,” Dane said.

Before he moved away, I looked him square in the eye. “What if Ember gets him?”

My hands were shaking, a sudden influx of fear smashing into me. I tried shoving it away, only making it worse. Terrible ideas crawled inside my head, suggesting a life without Luke in it.

I clutched my rose quartz bracelet, beginning the usual ritual of snaps to sidestep my anxieties.

Dane ran his tongue over his top lip. “Not happening.”

“But what if she does? What if I’m powerless to keep Luke safe and…” I paused, lungs freezing.

“Easy, bro.”

The room spun, the ice in my chest spreading.

“Breathe, Asher.”

Can’t breathe. Can’t breathe.

“Come on, bro.”

The ice cracked, a long exhale breaking the panic. “Shit…”

“You good?”

I massaged my ribcage, every breath sharp. “I’m alright.”

For now…

Dane got to his feet. “You okay to stand?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Up.” He gestured with his hands like a magician floating a body off the ground. “Arise, my dear bro.”

I snorted. “Really?”

“Did I mispronounce arise? Get on your feet, man!”

I obeyed. “Why?”

“Now come here.” He spread his arms. “Come hug it out.”

“I’m good.”

I wasn’t anywhere near good.

“Get over here,” he demanded. “You need one of my hugs. You know how much they rock the casbah.”

“They do what?”

He rubbed his chin in puzzlement. “I was listening to The Clash at Tom’s earlier and there’s this song called ‘Rock the Casbah.’ It’s amazing.”

“Yeah. It’s a banger. But what’s this about Tom? You were over at his place?” My panic eased, my lips spreading into a smile. “Have you made a move?”

Dane folded his arms. “No. We were just hanging out.”

I tilted my head. “You blushing, buddy?”

He straightened his spine defensively. “Why would I blush? I told you, I think he’s cute. We’re just hanging out. Nothing more than that.”

“Yet?”

He shrugged, grinning, saying nothing else.

I couldn’t wait to share this gossip with Luke. He’d love it.

I checked on my mark.

All good. He was under the hot spray of a shower.

Gods, what I wouldn’t give to be under it with him.

“Anyway,” Dane said. “Get over here.”

This time, I went to him. He wasn’t lying about the power of his hugs. They were amazing, breaking down my inner turmoil in the mighty crush.

It reminded me of my sister. Now she knew how to hug it out.

“You’re amazing, Asher,” he whispered. “Don’t ever forget it.”

I hugged him tightly, holding back the threat of tears.

“I’ll be with you every step of the way,” he added. “Got that?”

“Thanks so much.”

“You’re welcome.” He slapped my back. “Shall we get some drinks?”

“Sounds like a wonderful idea.”

We broke apart to the sound of Seth’s voice.

He stood over by the door, a lit joint in his right hand, clad in one of his staple fur coats. Almond-scented smoke curled past his face, accentuating his smug features.

“I’ll take a coffee,” he said, bringing the joint to his lips.

Mood officially in a ditch.