When a Gargoyle Lives (Gargoyles Book 2) by E A Price Page A

with their dragon ancestors.  Ric could not feel comfortable sleeping in the house, although Annis did not seem to mind and Luc had done so numerous times.  Although he suspected Luc preferred to be close to his mate and Annis did not mind anything.
    “How old is he, four?  Five months?” asked Andrew.
    “Technically nine days,” replied Cai, gruffly.
    He paced the garden impatiently while keeping an eye on his mate and child.  Luc appeared to be standing nonchalantly, but all of his attention was on Cai, ready to pounce if need be.
    “Nine days?” repeated Maggie.  “He’s enormous.”
    Ingrede beamed with pride.  “Our younglings are large.  The larger they are, the more powerful they will be in later life.  Wolfe was exceptionally large when he was born and has already grown.”
    “See, for human women, smaller is better.”
    “Much smaller,” agreed Kylie, flashing a nervous glance in Luc’s direction.
    Ric coughed to withhold a snicker.  She should be worried.  Any offspring of Luc’s would probably be gargantuan.
    Ingrede had dark green coloring with long black hair and small ridges on her forehead.  While Cai was dark blue, bald and had large horns rising almost a foot above his head.  Baby Wolfe was more of a turquoise shade with a few wisps of black hair, dark purple eyes, and tiny little nubs on his head.  He tried to shove his fist into his mouth.
    Ric watched the proceedings with a passing interest.  He was glad that Cai and Ingrede were relaxing, even if Cai was still tense, but he had no real interest in younglings.  He was preoccupied with a feeling of expectancy that he couldn’t explain.
    The alarm sounded, and Cai growled. Ingrede snatched Wolfe back who started wailing.
    Annis came scurrying out of the house into the garden.  “It is Brenda; I saw her on the TV monitor.  She is at the gate, and she came alone.”
    Luc breathed out deeply and looked at Kylie.
    “She came alone,” repeated Kylie.
    “Indeed.  Annis, open the gate for her, close it immediately after.”
    The female nodded and ran back into the house.
    “I will meet her at the driveway,” Ric declared, rushing to do so without waiting for an answer.
    He was standing at the top of the drive, arms folded, tail flicking, as he waited for her.  She walked up the drive slowly.
    “Brenda,” he growled.
    She fiddled with the hem of her coat.  “Hi, how’s your arm?”
    He snorted dismissively.  “It is fine, of course.  I barely felt it.”
    A smile blossomed on her face.  An evil smile.  “Sure, that’s why you screamed so loud.”
    Heat rose to his face.  “I did not scream!”
    “Course not, and you weren’t yelping like a little girl when I kicked you in the…”
    “Brenda!” said Kylie brightly, walking towards her.  Luc followed at a distance.  “I’m so pleased to see you.”
    Brenda’s eyes darted to Luc.  “I wasn’t sure if I’d be welcome.”
    “You are always welcome,” said Kylie as she hugged the younger female.  “Right, Luc?”
    He grunted.  “You have not told anyone about us?”
    Brenda shook her head.
    Luc grunted again.  But it was a different grunt.  He had fifty shades of grunts.  He had said this once to Kylie, about him having fifty shades, and she blushed.  To this day, he had no idea why that phrase would make her giggle and turn pink.
    “Why are you here?” growled Luc.
    Ric felt a snarl rattling in his throat.  There was no need for Luc to speak to the girl that way.  He seemed to forget the way he himself had been needling and yelling at her moments before.  He seemed to have a problem with anyone else treating her with any disrespect.
    Brenda looked uncertain.  “I… I don’t…”
    “She’s here to visit,” said Kylie, primly.  “C’mon, let me introduce to everyone properly.”
    “I do not scream,” muttered Ric as she passed by him.
    “Sure you don’t,” she smirked.
    Ric gaped after her.  “That female is more trouble