and practice. Next time you feel about to rage out, stop, count to three and smile.”
“I don’t have time to,” I whine. “It comes on suddenly. One second I’m fine and the next someone says something to piss me off and…boom.” I make an explosion gesture with my hands.
“I see. Okay, next time try and count to one before you…” He mimics my gesture. “Then the time after that try for two, and so on.”
I nod slowly, taking that in. “Okay, I hear you.”
He smiles at me and I return it. We sit there for a few moments and then I stand up. “I’ve got shit to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Actually, could you make time to pop by later?” he asks carefully.
“Why?” I ask curiously.
“I want to make sure that you’re doing okay,” he says quietly.
I clench my jaw. “Sure,” I chirp, “If I have time.”
“Of course,” he says.
I nod and leave his office, bumping into a huge male with the most astonishing slate gray eyes.
“Your Majesty,” he murmurs, giving me a deep bow.
I give him a puzzled look, which turns to a smug one. Yes, more of my minions should bow down to me. I like this gigantic male already.
“Aleister,” he says, straightening up and looking down into my eyes with a level gaze that I feel is tinged with sorrow.
I blink and step back slightly. “You,” I state coldly.
He shakes his head. “I am the Gargoyle Master,” he informs me, “I’m aware of what one of my subjects inflicted upon you.”
He drops to his knees and takes my hands, looking up at me imploringly.
I lick my lips. “Go on,” I press darkly when he hesitates to continue.
“I wasn’t there last night, but I have a connection with all of my subjects. I can see through their eyes and I saw what he did. I apologize profusely for his disgusting behavior. He will be severely dealt with.”
“If you saw what he did, why didn’t you stop him?” I ask the only question that I’m concerned about right now.
“I latched onto his essence too late, my Queen. I was on my way when you vanished and then I saw you up in your room.”
“You saw me through his eyes?” I inquire, trying to get this straight in my head. “You know exactly what he did to me and that I…” I pause, trying to decide how much to actually say. Although if he saw what happened, he must know that I had no powers, until I vanished.
He stands up again, letting go of my hands. “I’m not here to judge your choices, Ma’am,” he says, lowering his eyes again. “I’m here merely to tell you that in spite of them, none of my subjects have the right to touch you.”
“Ma’am?” I choke back on that, but then his words sink in and I balk. “You think I’m into rape play?” I croak.
“I’m not judging,” he says again.
“You dick!” I shriek. “I am not into rape play and I certainly wouldn’t have let the assholes touch me if I’d had a choice about it.”
“Erm,” he stammers going bright red, his eyes darting to the side.
I press my lips together as I suddenly find this amusing. I stifle my laughter, taking in his very handsome face. In fact, his whole body is rocking it hard. Makes sense, though if he turns to stone. His light brown hair is short, his eyes are to die for and those abs, rippling under his gray t-shirt are making me sweat in a good way.
“I’ll explain,” I say, taking pity on him and losing any sense of wariness around him. He is too cute, like a giant puppy and for some inexplicable reason, I think I can trust him. I get that vibe from him. There are precious few people that I trust. I can count them on one hand, but this guy…I don’t know. There’s something about him. He seems, well, I hate to use the word good, but I have no other word for it. He has shown outrage on my behalf for something his minion did that genuinely seems to appall him, even though he is a creature of Hell. It’s delightful, delicious and so very sexy.
I grab his hand and pull him away from Gregory’s office door and further down the hall. We are on the ground floor of my residence and not many rooms down here are used for anything. I push open a door a few down from Gregory’s