Stone Guardian(25)

Her dad gripped the edge of the table with one hand, the knuckles white. “It’s several wizards casting several layers of spells that takes months out of every year to renew and strengthen. It’s not someone showing up and waving a wand. And in my house I’ll be shown respect, young lady.”

“Then don’t treat my questions as annoyances. You’re the chief of police, Dad. You need to have some back-up plans in place, unless you want to find yourself in the middle of another disaster and have more people die…” Her voice trailed off as her brain caught up to her words. “Dad, I’m sorry.”

Jack Miller took a deep breath. He pushed himself away from the table and stood. He was every day his age at this moment, older than Larissa had ever seen him. Without a word he left the dining room.

Awkward silence hung over the table for a beat of time, then by wordless agreement Gary, Steven, and Christopher got up and left to follow Dad, leaving her alone with Michael.

Michael’s eyes were narrowed on her, the deep brown burning with laser intensity. “Michael-”

“What was that about, Ris?”

The words hit her ear, but the vibration was wrong, unexpected. This wasn’t Michael chiding her about upsetting Dad, at least not completely. Michael was in cop-mode, and he was never in cop-mode with her.

Does he know about Friday?

Her fingers went icy. No. He can’t. Dad doesn’t know.

Because if Dad knew, he would have been on her doorstep dragging her out of the apartment. No way around that. Dad didn’t know, and he was the guy in charge.

So why was Michael in front of her looking at her as he would a suspect at the station?

It wasn’t until right now when the half-formed thought of telling Michael was discarded that she realized she was even thinking of it. She deflected. “I went a little far, Michael, but I’m teaching the Great Collision and it came up and it’s a valid point. The question stuck with me.”

“Are you sure that’s it? Anything else bothering you?”

His eyes didn’t lose their laser focus, and she really needed to leave and think things through. “I’m,” she licked her lips, buying herself a few moments. “I’m sorry I upset Dad. I think I need to go home. Things have somehow derailed, and me leaving is a good idea.”

He placed his hands on the table, readying himself to get up. “I’ll drive you.”

She placed her hand over his, stopping him. “That’s silly, Michael. My car is here, I haven’t drunk any alcohol. A little fresh air and I’ll be fine.”

Michael looked dubious but didn’t stop her as she grabbed up her coat and bag. She opened the door, slinging her purse over her shoulder, “Tell Dad I’ll give him a call tomorrow and I love him.” Without waiting for his answer, she went outside.

This was more complicated by the minute. Dad didn’t know anything but Michael might? Impossible.

Impossible.

Just as impossible as a gargoyle protector.

Just as impossible as zombies coming after her.

Just as impossible as necromancers waiting for the chance to grab her again.

Instead of taking her usual back alley shortcut home, Larissa kept to the well-travelled streets.





Chapter Nine





Once again, Terak was on the roof of the opposite building and watched the little human through her glass doors. This time though she was aware of him, or aware someone was watching her. She kept pacing to the window, looking out, going back into her home, only to repeat the process moments later.

After several revolutions of this, her head snapped up and her spine straightened, as though she had come to a decision. She again began to move toward the windows, but this time instead of stopping there she continued to the glass doors that led to her balcony and opened them. Stepping out onto the balcony she waved her arms in wide arcs through the air.

He neither saw nor sensed any threat to her. Uncertainty kept him still, a sensation unknown to him before she entered his life.

After several moments of waving she brought her arms down and around herself, hugging her body against the cold. Her lips tightened, and she went back inside.

She could not wish his company, could she? She fought hard against any guards, so why would she seek him out?

But she kept looking out the window, her attention never leaving the balcony for more than a few minutes.

Standing, he snapped his wings in preparation, leaping in the air and gliding the short distance to her.

She heard his landing. Within moments she scrambled from her inner rooms toward the balcony door. Her eyes widened when she saw him. “It’s you.”

Did she not wish to see him again? They had parted on as pleasant of terms as possible considering the circumstances of their initial meeting. His shoulders went back as he braced himself. “Does this upset you?”