Rafael (4 page)

Rafe had flown
with Mason several times. The younger Goyle was mastering his changes like a pro.
Gargoyle shifters were quite different than the gothic stone figures depicted
on buildings. They were primordial beings. Even though they had human traits,
they were full-blooded Gargoyle. There were various phases of changing, those
being extending claws, elongating fangs, and unfurling wings. The skin of the
male Gargoyle was virtually indestructible. It was thicker than human skin but
didn’t feel any different to the touch. One of the few things that could
penetrate it was the fangs of another shifter. The older the Goyle, the faster
and more innate the phasing became.

Rafe led Mason
through the sky to the north of the city at a safe level. Humans rarely looked
up. Should they happen to, they would think they were seeing a large bird.

Kaya Kane lived north
of the city. It was no coincidence he chose this quadrant to patrol. The pull
he felt when around her was too strong to ignore. As he and his young protégé
closed in on her home, he told Mason to separate for a twenty block radius.
Rafe continued to Kaya’s house until he hovered just outside. The only light on
in the house was on the back side. The glow from a lamp along with the moon’s
beams made it just bright enough that he could see Kaya through the thin
curtain covering the window. Having excellent hearing, the tune she was humming
sounded like a lullaby in his ear. The melody ramped up to a sexy number as she
began to undress. Rafael found a tree limb to perch on so he could give the
show inside all of his attention.

Her blouse fell
from her arms as did her pants, then her bra. The wine glass caressing her
nipples caused a jealous stir in his chest. His tongue should be the cause of
moisture on her beautiful breasts, not a piece of glass. This slow dance felt
as though it were choreographed just for him. His cock was straining against
the fatigues he was wearing. His fangs ached to burst forth from his gums and
claws scratched at the inside of his skin, begging for release. Kaya’s hand
slid beneath the thin layer covering her mound, and he could smell her arousal
as if his nose were buried where her hand was.

Her breathing
hitched, and her hand sped with the need for release. When Kaya yelled his
name, Rafe had to grab his cock and squeeze.
Fucking hell. Motherfucking
hell. She was thinking of him! 
Mate or not, Rafael was going to bed this
beauty and soon. The flap of wings brought Rafe out of his private viewing.
With one last lustful gaze, he launched from the tree into the sky.

“All was quiet
except for a human bar brawl that spilled into the back alley,” Mason reported
as they met in the air.

“Very good.
Let’s head toward the warehouse where the murders happened. I want to take a
look around.”

Mason flanked
Rafael as they flew in silence, keen eyes watching the streets below. As they
approached the warehouse, Rafe listened, scanning for humans. Finding none in
the area, they made their descent. They landed soundlessly on the ground beside
the loading dock, both tucking in their leathery wings. The King took in their
surroundings, first by closing his eyes and smelling. Gargoyle senses were
always heightened no matter what form they were in. Next he scanned the area,
looking for anything the CSU team may have missed.

He and Mason
split up to cover more ground. After several minutes he called for his young
cousin, “Mason, come check this out.” Rafe was squatting by a set of tire
tracks hidden behind a row of saplings. “What do you see?”

Mason pointed at
the tracks. “Tread, large vehicle probably a van or an SUV. Makes sense the
killer would have used a van so he could haul more people. An SUV is large but
the seats would have to be removed. Tread appears to be from a late model Ford
panel truck with the wheels out of alignment on the right side.”

Grinning, Rafe
pulled out his cell phone and snapped several pictures, sending them to Julian.
The Society owned a sophisticated lab that allowed them to do their own
investigative work. Hopefully Jules could get the make of the tread and thus a
clue to who the killer was.

When Rafe was
satisfied there was nothing else to see, they once again unfurled their wings
and took to the skies.

Nikolas had
looked through over half of the books in the family library; a massive room
that just happened to be in his home. So far there was nothing written about
human bonding. One of his specialties was speed reading. He would much rather
be sitting with an old book in front of a fireplace than outside patrolling.
This assignment was just what he relished.

If it were true,
if the Goyles could bond and mate with a human, their heritage could be
preserved, and another generation of protectors could be produced. This
possibility excited him, so after a quick bathroom break he dove back into the
rest of the journals. He had just pulled a book down from the shelf when he heard
the door open. Geoffrey, his older brother by about fifty years, walked in.

“I thought you
were helping Gregor find someone to go undercover.” He placed the book on the
table and opened it.

“I did. One of
my students, Tamian St. Claire. His skill in Muay Thai is the best I’ve ever
seen. I’m just waiting for the day he kicks my ass,” Frey said with a laugh.
“He’s still a little bit of a wild card. There is just something about him I
can’t quite shake, but he’s been studying with me on and off for three years
now, and I really like the guy. He has no family in the area and mostly sticks
to himself. He is always talking about making a change and stepping up to
better the world, that kind of thing.”

Frey walked over
to the bookcase pointing to the book beside the space vacated by the journal
Nik was studying. “This one next?”

Nik looked at
his brother and frowned. “You hate reading. And sitting still. And reading.”

Frey grabbed the
book and sat down in an overstuffed chair and got comfortable. “Yes, but I hate
being alone more. If there is something to bonding with humans, I want to
know.” He settled in and began reading.

Nik just
shrugged his shoulders and returned his attention to the book in front of him.
Being alone was just a way of life for most of their species. Nik often drove
out of town to find one night stands. While he hated the lack of connection
that came with that type of interaction, he craved the feel of a woman beneath
him, beside him, surrounding him. Seems he wasn’t the only one.

Rafe woke to his
personal phone ringing. He glanced at the clock: 4:17 in the fucking morning.
“This better be important.”

“Hello to you
too, Brother. Catch you at a bad time?”

“Sin, you do
realize there is a time difference?” Rafe sat up, swiping a hand through his
hair. If Sin was calling so early, there was a good reason. 

“Of course I do,
but I wanted to give you a heads up. Since you didn’t bother answering your
phone
before
going to sleep or returning the message I left, I thought I
better check on you. What’s up?”

Rafe’s thoughts
were so filled with one lady cop that he hadn’t looked at his phone before he
lay down. “Long night, sorry. What did you need?” He wasn’t ready to tell Sin
about Kaya and his reaction to her. None of the brothers wanted a mate more
than Sinclair. Being younger than Rafe by only a few years meant he had been
lonely almost as long. Sin was like Nikolas; he wanted a woman in his life,
even if it were just for a night. He had even married a couple of times over
the years. As painful as it was to watch your partner age and die, Sin endured
that pain just so he could enjoy a companion while the human was alive.

“I wanted to let
you know that Lorenzo Campanelli and Jasper Jenkins are heading your way this
afternoon. I will have Ashley forward the itinerary to Willow.” The Clan moved
around quite a bit, usually on the same coast. When they felt they were
jeopardizing the family, they would travel cross country to start over. Some
even changed countries.

“Be mindful of
Jasper though. He has been showing signs of aggression lately, and he wasn’t
keen on the move. He more or less told me he wasn’t moving and when I told him
it wasn’t a request, he phased. Fully. I believe if some of the others hadn’t
been present he might have challenged me.”

“So you’re
sending me your problem child?” Rafe just laughed. “I’ll hand him over to Frey,
see how long the attitude adjustment takes.”

“Not long
knowing our little cousin.”

“I’d really like
to witness you calling Geoffrey little. He’d be offering
you
an attitude
adjustment.” Frey was the largest member of their Clan and being a master of
several types of martial arts, he was not only the fiercest but also the
scariest.

“Yeah, well I
want to keep all my limbs intact as well as my head attached to my shoulders,
so I think I’ll pass.”

Rafe laughed
again. He missed Sin. Not only were they closest in age but they were close
period. He and his brother were so much alike they could pass for twins and
often did in their younger days.  He couldn’t hold back the sigh that escaped.
“Miss you, Brother.”

“And I you.” The
line went dead as it always did before he could say goodbye. Sin didn’t believe
in the word.

Rafe placed his
phone on the night stand and then settled back into bed. Jasper. He didn’t know
much about the man since he was sent directly to the west coast from Scotland
when he could no longer pull off his young age there

Nikolas kept a
detailed record of every Society member: their age, occupations, all former
identities, as well as their mates and offspring for the few who were lucky
enough to have bonded. Most chose to remain in the same occupation as before,
but every once in a while a few opted for something new. When you did the same
thing for hundreds of years, it could become monotonous. Whatever job they
chose, Rafael would help them both adjust to their new surroundings.

Nik had found
nothing to report from the archives. He was surprised that Frey helped him
search. Rafe, however, was not. Theirs was a family of protectors first, and
they took their role in society seriously. They also wanted to be mates and
fathers like most men did. Just because they were shifters didn’t mean the
longing for that soul mate wasn’t there. If anything, it was a deeper want, a
greater longing since they couldn’t choose just any woman.

If they never
found their mate, they lived alone until they were no longer of this world.
They could have sex, but it wasn’t a lasting fulfillment. It quenched the
thirst for a moment, but the parched feeling came back quickly.

Would Kaya Kane
even desire him? Right now, probably not. Until he was no longer a suspect for
the recent murders, she no doubt wanted nothing to do with him. He hoped the
man Gregor and Frey were putting inside the pen would come up with some answers
and quickly.

Wanting a few
more hours rest, Rafe closed his eyes. As with the night before when trying to
go to sleep, his thoughts turned to Kaya and the way she affected him. He loved
the fact that she was tall and toned. All of his past lovers had fit the same
description. No petite women for Rafe. He was a big man and wanted a woman who
wouldn’t break when he bedded her. His sexual tendencies leaned to the rough
side. If by some miracle Kaya was his mate, he would thank the gods every day
and night, and worship and cherish her until her dying days.

Kaya stood at
the kitchen table scooping seeds out of the pumpkin she was going to carve. A
dark haired little boy with eyes the color of pitch stood in the chair watching
intently. The back door opened, and the little boy declared, “Papa look! 
Momma’s making us a punkin.” Laughing, the father of her child picked his son
up throwing him in the air, causing them both to laugh. With the boy safe in
his arms again, the man leaned over and kissed
Momma
on the cheek
.
She
smiled at her son then looked up at the man holding him: Rafael.

Kaya awoke from
her dream with teeth chattering. The temperature had dropped overnight. She
pulled the covers up tight under her chin. She wasn’t completely certain it was
the frosty morning causing her teeth to stutter together. The little boy in the
dream had seemed so real.

The morning
light hadn’t broken so there was still a little while before her alarm would go
off. She loved this time of year with the cooler weather, the harvest moons,
and the wind whispering through the trees. Autumn had been her favorite season
since she was a little girl.

 The change in
the topography of the land after the bombings seemed to affect the weather for
several years. Back then, the air was almost always filled with a hazy film.
The temperatures rarely fluctuated from one season to the next. The religious
zealots were calling for the end of days on every street corner, quoting the
book of Revelation. They obviously were wrong since the seasons leveled out as
did the smog in the air.

Kaya’s house was
full of Halloween knickknacks, and there was even a pumpkin sitting on her
front steps. Each year she planned on carving a jack-o-lantern and each year
she ran out of time. She loved watching the kids come to the door in their
costumes. Her neighborhood was one of the safest even with the houses sitting
back from the road. She observed which parents came with their children and
those that sent them out on their own. Her dreams of having her own goblin or
vampire to dress up were quickly dwindling with her age. Not only was she
getting too old, but her job was hard enough with nobody waiting on her at
home. If she had a child to take care of, she might think twice about running
the city’s police department.

The scene from
the dream played on a continuous loop in her mind: the beautiful boy, the
handsome father. Closing her eyes made the vision even clearer. She opened her
eyes, but those tiny black orbs would not vanish. Her chest ached with the
longing to see his face in reality. Something about those eyes was haunting her
soul, but at the same time, that little face lightened her heart in an
otherwise bleak world.

Kaya turned to
her side and slid one hand under her pillow, cradling her head. Her teeth no
longer shivered, but she still felt the chill. After a while, she gave up on
going back to sleep so she rolled over, shut off her alarm, and made her way to
the shower. She might as well go on in to the office and try to get some work
done.