Creed Read online

  “I never heard why it was called that.”

  Kelzeb hesitated. “Our forefathers were vicious. We’ve always had the issue of birthing more boys than girls. The desire to breed would come upon them and they’d hunt for a woman. They preferred Gargoyle ones but you know their birthrate is low. So they’d kidnap humans and take them to their lairs. No one volunteered for that. It was pretty violent. Those women would be chained and taken against their will. You’re young, so you don’t know how humans used to be. They would go insane after being exposed to one of us. Imagine being forced to drink something that made you actually want to have sex with your kidnapper who looked like a demon. Their lives were destroyed regardless of the outcome.”

  “Outcome?”

  “The ones who got pregnant where kept chained and locked inside the Gargoyle’s lair until they birthed for him. He couldn’t risk her throwing herself off the ledge before she delivered the child. It happened sometimes. The ones who were released afterward were usually murdered when they told their people what happened to them. Their families and neighbors believed they were exposed to evil, and it was safest to kill the women to keep the devil from coming back.

  “It was named the ravage because any woman was destroyed if she was chosen to be a breeding vessel. Take your pick on what was worse. Being forced to birth a child for who they thought was the devil, or being killed by their own families and friends after being freed.”

  “I’m glad we ask for volunteers now. I could never do that to a woman.”

  “No shit. I’ve gone through the ravage, and it’s hell, but I would chain myself to a wall before I forced a woman into my bed. I would never be able to forgive myself.”

  “Nor would I,” Creed agreed. “I’ve only experienced it twice but I’d have chained myself too if the women hadn’t been willing.”

  “What was your first one like?”

  He hesitated. “Cold.”

  “How in the hell can you say that?”

  “My father arranged it. It was with Winalin. He had an understanding with her brother. They wanted us to breed. I’d planned to unchain her and tell her to run away. I didn’t want to have a youngling that my father would take possession of. Winalin and I spoke once they put us together in guest quarters, and she wasn’t happy with the arrangement either. Unfortunately, they had locked us in and we were stuck together.”

  Kelzeb shot him a horrified look but said nothing.

  “We both felt resentment, being ordered to be together by our family members. The sex was pleasurable but it was nothing like with Angel. There is no comparison.”

  “Because you have feelings for Angel.”

  “It’s more than that. She’s very passionate.”

  “Wasn’t Winalin?”

  “No. She refused to drink my hormones for fear of being unable to prevent ovulation in her body. Neither of us wanted her pregnant. I mostly feared harming her, since she wasn’t as turned on as I was.”

  “That does sound cold. We’ve reached the meeting point; they’re waiting.”

  Creed sat up straighter, staring at the SUV parked on the side of the road. The Jeep had barely come to a stop when he’d shoved open the door and rushed forward. The scent of Angel almost took him to his knees. She opened the passenger door and he grabbed her around her middle, lifting her right off her feet.

  He studied her face, throat, and arms with a quick glance. “Were you hurt?”

  She gripped his shoulders. “I’m fine.”

  “I heard you were attacked by a Lycan.”

  “I’m okay.”

  He pulled her closer, hugging her. His dick had become rock hard. His Angel smelled like pure sex. It made him want to rip off her clothes and take her right against the black vehicle. He was only able to resist because three GarLycans were in close proximity to his mate. His protective instincts were keeping his lust in check. Barely.

  The two doors on the other side of the SUV opened and the twin enforcers climbed out.

  Creed backed up with Angel in his arms. His body fluxed a little when his skin tightened, trying to shell to make him tougher to kill. Both men were reading as a danger to his mate, despite the fact that they’d brought her to him. It was difficult to reason with his mind with Angel in his arms.

  “Creed.” Kelzeb used a soft tone. “Don’t. She’s in no danger. We are expected by Lord Aveoth. No one is going to touch her. Control your body now. Anyone could drive by and see you. That’s an order.”

  He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. Angel was with him and safe. He got a leash on his lust and instincts. It wasn’t easy, but he’d had sixty years to learn discipline. His skin stopped tingling and he lowered Angel to her feet. He opened his eyes and met Kelzeb’s stare. “I’m fine now.”

  The other man sighed. “Good. Keep it that way. You and your mate ride with me.” He glanced at Fray and Chaz. “You two follow. We’re going home. The talks with the packs have been rescheduled.”

  “Fantastic,” Chaz muttered. “I fucking hate them anyway.”

  Fray chuckled. “Only because the women avoid us two and flirt with the others. We scare them with our eyes.”

  “I don’t want a mate,” Chaz growled.

  “Sure you don’t.” His twin snorted.

  Chapter Ten

  Angel wasn’t certain what to expect of the place Creed called home when he wasn’t living in his cave perched high above her village. She’d never seen another GarLycan until that airport hangar, and then the third one who’d arrived with Creed to meet her alongside the road.

  So far, her impression of his people didn’t bode well for her future.

  All three men were a bit intimidating. They showed no emotion when they climbed out of their vehicles in an out-of-the-way spot off a dirt road. She stood in official GarLycan territory. They’d passed an electronic security gate that had closed off the road a mile before they’d parked.

  Kelzeb addressed Creed, not sparing her a glance. “I’ll take her up. She needs to be presentable before meeting with Lord Aveoth. You need to change clothes.”

  Creed stepped in front of her, putting his body between Angel and the enforcer. “I’ll fly her to my lair and see to it.”

  “No.” Kelzeb softened his voice. “She’ll be taken to Galihia. You know the rules. She’ll be safe. I give you my word. You wouldn’t have anything appropriate for her to wear. You’re already in deep shit. Do you want to make things worse? Don’t fight me, Creed. The last thing you need is to appear in court wearing chains.”

  Angel could feel the tension and she reached out, placing her hand on Creed’s broad back. “It’s okay.”

  He turned his head, staring down at her. His eyes had gone black. She was starting to guess they did that when he was angry or his emotions were in serious turmoil.

  “It’s okay,” she repeated. It horrified her to think of him being put in chains. She even managed to force a smile to hide her uneasiness. “I’ll be fine.”

  He said nothing, just stared down at her.

  “Don’t get into more trouble over me,” she whispered. “Please?”

  That seemed to sway him. “Do everything you are told.” He turned and reached up, grabbing a thick lock of her hair with his fingers. “Rein in your attitude for me. I find it amusing but they won’t. Do you understand?”

  It was a clear warning. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

  “Treat everyone as if you are in the presence of a visiting elder.”

  In other words, his people were formal and would take any lip as a sign of great disrespect. “I understand.”

  “It’s important, Angel. It would be bad otherwise.”

  She wanted to hug him but refrained. Her fear notched a little higher but she tried to hide it from him. She had no idea what the laws of his people were with regards to etiquette or how harsh their reprimands would be, but his grim tone implied a lot. It would be really severe. She nodded.

  “You won’t like the clot