Myths and Gargoyles Jamie Hawke (i read a book .TXT) 📖

something about a woman and her journey to lead an army of werewolves against vampires and witches and whatnot. “She’s still alive and fighting?”

Sharon frowned, glancing away. “It’s complicated.”

Red gave me a nod, but her look told me it was a topic for another conversation.

“Please tell me some of the P.T. Hylton books are real, or—”

Just then the car pulled up, and Pucky put a hand on my back. “We’ll have time for all that,” she said, and I sensed there was something weird about this topic—maybe they found something about how we viewed fairy tales offensive? The government was trying to hunt them down and kill them, after all.

I entered the car and let the topic rest, enjoying the fact that Chris went right into his normal way of taking over a conversation. He was Mr. Chatterbox, and totally into all of this even though he’d always treated my obsession with it before with a bit of contempt. Of course, that was before either of us had known there was truth to it.

It was a great opportunity to apply my recent promotion, so I brought up the screen. First I put the Prana toward speed and agility. Ichor was always more complicated, but one skill looked especially exciting, and led to even better ones—it seemed to be one that would absorb attacks and be able to channel the energy. Even better, it led down a path that allowed Tempest-focused group attacks. Looked like I had a new strategy, so I took the current upgrade and tuned back into the conversation.

“You two,” Chris said, looking from Red to Sharon, “this is for real? The Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood are now on a team?”

The witch looked curious as well, and even the rest froze waiting to hear the response.

“I’m not so ‘bad’ anymore,” Sharon said, glancing hesitantly at Red.

“And I’m not so ‘little,” Red replied. “Big girls can make up their own minds on matters, and not be stuck to fairy tale bullshit.”

“So you’re okay with her being on the team?” Elisa asked.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

Sharon chuckled nervously, but then added. “I’m just trying to make things right. Do good, you know? Because I’ve done enough bad that needs to be countered.”

“And you weren’t in complete control,” Pucky reminded her.

Chris leaned over to Sharon. “Is it like being high? It is, right? I mean, there’s got to be a reason it’s so tempting once you’ve tasted it—the darkness.”

“Your tone makes me worry about you,” Sharon replied.

I jumped in, now that I’d had a bit of the taste myself. “It’s nothing like that. Imagine more like you’re having a dream and you’re the bad guy, but you can’t stop yourself. You’re trying to wake up, escape the dream… but nothing works.”

“Damn,” he glanced over at Hekate. “And you’re… in this dream now, or awake?”

She smiled sleepily, rolling her head as one does when drunk and trying to decide how drunk they really are. “Hmm, I’d say waking up.”

“We’ll keep an eye on you, and be sure to shake you good if you drift off again.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Elisa said, glancing out the window. “But if it does, my brothers can help.” At Chris’s look of confusion, she explained, “they show up in the form of swans and bursts of light that help to fight the darkness. It’s this whole thing.”

“Right…” Chris pursed his lips, looking around at each of the ladies. “So you have to tell me—why him?”

“Forget you,” I said, playfully hitting his leg.

“I’m serious. You’re a great friend, really, I mean it. But a Protector? This—I mean, what are you? Best way I can see it, what with the humans after them and all, the Myths are like the Children of the Forrest and you’re the new Night King. Not exactly, but—”

“Dude, fuck that,” I replied. “You see me raising armies of the dead and marching off to kill humanity?”

“Not a perfect analogy, I concede.” He grinned, clearly enjoying getting a rise out of me.

“It’s different on many levels,” Red said, then put her hand on my knee. “And to answer your question, it was partly because Excalibur had selected him, in a sense. And partly because the enemy knew it was him too—they have their own methods and… actually, Sharon?”

She blinked, confused, then frowned. “Oh, how did I know to go after him? A scent.”

“I showered that morning,” I protested.

“More like an internal scent,” Sharon replied. “It was strong—maybe because of your connection with the Excalibur essence? I can’t explain it, and honestly a lot of those memories are foggy.”

Chris laughed, shaking his head. “Well, good thing our boy wasn’t sick that day or you all would be out of a Protector.”

“Maybe,” Pucky replied. “Thing is, it’s not like only one person fits—but the universe does have a way of putting all the right pieces in place. If he hadn’t been there, maybe it wouldn’t have been meant to be, and then maybe someone else would’ve been chosen. A woman, most likely.”

“So you all didn’t choose him, exactly,” he said, grinning my way. “You’re just stuck with him.”

I was searching my mind for a comeback when Pucky came to my rescue.

“No, but we were the ones who choose to sleep with him.”

Chris almost choked on his words when he said, “What?”

“Yeah, we don’t usually fool around with the Protector, but…” Pucky blew a kiss my way.

When Chris’s eyes settled on me, they were wide. “You’re… I mean… with all of them?”

Not wanting to be the type to kiss and tell, I looked at Elisa as she nodded. “He’s good, too.”

Red lifted a finger. “Technically, I’ve not gone all the way yet, but look forward to it when it’s time. We’re fooling around.”

Chris was staring in disbelief when his eyes moved over to Sharon. “You too?”

Sharon frowned, looked at me, and said, “I’ve only just joined the team, I’m not sure how that part works.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Elisa