Malakai (Stone Society #13) - Faith Gibson Page 0,22
could get into this property, it was possible he could…
“Whoop!” Drago pumped his fist in the air. This! This was how he was going to win the war.
A giggle escaped Josie when she opened her eyes. “I had the strangest dream.” When she looked around, she noticed she was lying on the sofa. “Shit, I didn’t think I drank that much. Was there something in the fish that made me sleepy?”
Malakai was rubbing the back of his neck. “No, and you weren’t dreaming, Sunshine.”
Josie sat up, eyeing Kai. “I am being Punk’d. Men don’t have wings.”
“No, but Gargoyles do. I hoped to have this conversation much later, but you need the truth.”
“You turn into a little stone creature? And what? I’m the heroine in the story who breaks the curse?”
Kai blew out a breath. “No little stone creature, and it’s not a curse. Gargoyles were created by the gods to watch over humans. Over time, our nemeses have changed, while our role remains the same. Right now, we fight and capture the Unholy. I am the seventh son of a seventh son, seventh generation Palamo. Only our generations are thousands of years. I’m four hundred twenty-eight years old, and you are my mate.”
Josie looked around the room for a camera.
“Please don’t run,” Malakai begged.
“Run? No. I’m looking for a camera. You’re trying to make a fool of me.”
“Sunshine, I promise I’m not joking. Gargoyles are real. You saw my wings. I also have fangs and claws.”
“Show me.”
Kai held out his hands, and sharp claws extended from his fingertips. He raised a hand and pointed to his mouth. His canines extend over his bottom lip. Josie shook her head. This was crazy. She didn’t know how he was doing these tricks or why he was trying to pull one over on her. Josie stood and looked around for her purse. When she found it, she pulled out her phone, but Kai was there in an instant, taking it from her. She stumbled, her leg hitting the coffee table, sending her to the floor. She landed hard on her ass. Kai was on his knees in front of her.
“Shit, Baby. Are you hurt?” The man before her looked normal. Had he put something in her food? Was she feeling the effect of some psychotropic drug? Kai reached down to help her up, but Josie shook off his hand. She pushed up from the floor as gracefully as possible. “I’m leaving now, and I’d appreciate if you lose my number.”
“Sunshine, no. I’m sorry I sprang the truth on you. But you’re my mate, and I needed you to know. Look, I can prove it.” Malakai took his shirt off and pointed to his chest.
“It’s a chest. All men have them.”
“No. My birthmark. It’s in the shape of a seven. You have one too.”
“How…?” No. There was absolutely no way he knew about her birthmark. Especially since it was somewhere he couldn’t have seen.
“Are you telling me you don’t have a birthmark?”
“What I’m telling you is I don’t believe in men with wings. Or your parlor tricks. Or coincidental birthmarks. Or curses.”
Malakai looked like he was about to cry or lose his shit. Maybe both. Josie felt pain deep in her soul. Like if she walked out the door, it would be the biggest mistake of her life; but shifters weren’t real.
“Would it help if you met some of my Clan? Maybe talk with another human mate? I can give you their names. Talk to them. Let them tell you their stories, and you’ll see I’m telling the truth.”
“You’re saying it’s not just your family from back home, but there are more of your kind here in New Atlanta?”
“Yes. Hundreds more. Our King lives here. Do you remember Kaya Kane?”
“The chief of police?” Kai nodded. “Of course. She retired shortly after she’d been kidnapped.”
“She’s now our Queen. You could talk to her. Kaya’s a good woman. Honorable. She’ll help you understand all this.”
“I’m still not sure what this is.”
“She and Rafael host Family Day at their home most Sundays. Please, come with me. There’ll be plenty of mates you can speak to. And if you still believe I’m somehow tricking you, I can have my fellow Clansmen shift for you. Tessa will be there. She’s a half-blood and can shift too. Please, Sunshine. I’m begging.”
“I’m going home. I need to call for a ride.” Josie had to get away from Malakai so she could think.