Spectrum (Stone Society #14) - Faith Gibson Page 0,90
we ran into you at the restaurant.”
Isabelle leaned back against her husband’s chest, and he slid a hand around her stomach protectively. “Like I was saying, I have so much to tell you, and yes, it’s about Gabriel. He’s back in New Atlanta.”
“Then why didn’t he come with you? Is he okay?” Rebekah wanted to leave right then and go to him. Or did she? He disappeared without a word to her. Broke her heart. She didn’t know if she could go through that again.
“He’s been through a lot. It’s one of the things I wanted to speak to you about, but not here.”
“Then let’s go to my home. We’ll have plenty of privacy there.”
“We’ll follow you,” Isabelle said, gesturing toward the pathway.
Rebekah probably should have gone to their hotel instead of allowing them into her sanctuary, but she had a feeling she would need the comfort of being in her own space. She would listen to what they had to say, and then she’d decide where to go from there.
Thirty minutes later, Rebekah pulled into the driveway with their rental car following. Instead of pulling into the garage, she parked out front. After unlocking the door, Rebekah turned off the alarm. Esmeralda took one look at the newcomers, hissed, then took off running down the hallway. That was strange. She was usually a social cat.
“Please make yourselves at home. Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” all four said in unison. Isabelle and Dante sat next to each other on the sofa, while Tessa and Gregor took the love seat. Rebekah sat on the edge of the chair opposite Isabelle.
Isabelle laced her fingers with Dante’s. “Instead of making small talk, I’m going to come right out and tell you everything. What I’m going to say is going to be hard to believe, so please keep an open mind.” When Rebekah promised she would, Isabelle continued. “The first thing you need to know is like the four of us, Gabriel is special. Have you ever read a fantasy book about shapeshifters?”
“You mean like werewolves?”
“Yes. Where people can change into something other than human.”
“It’s been a while, but yes, I have.”
Isabelle looked at Dante, and he nodded. “We are all shifters. Gargoyles, to be exact. Dante and Gregor are full-bloods, meaning both their parents were Gargoyles as well. Tessa and I are half-bloods because our mothers are human. We can show you so you know I’m not lying.” Isabelle held out her free hand, and claws extended from her fingertips. Fangs extended over her bottom lip. “The females of our kind only have claws and fangs. The males have wings and special skin which is practically impenetrable. We all have extended lifespans. Full-blooded Gargoyles transition for the first time when they reach puberty. Gabriel, like me, is a half-blood, and we don’t transition until we meet our mate. I didn’t know about any of this until I saw one of my brothers going through his transition.”
Rebekah held up her hand to stop Isabelle. “I need a drink.” She rose from her chair and headed to the stocked bar at the back of the room. She wasn’t a big drinker, but this crazy story called for hard liquor. She poured two fingers of whiskey, downed it in one go, then poured another shot which she took back to her chair. Instead of sitting, she remained standing as she studied the four people. No, they weren’t human if she believed Isabelle’s story.
“I know this sounds crazy, and believe me, I understand. I wasn’t aware of shifters. Had no idea I was one. I also didn’t know I had fifteen siblings either. But back to Gabriel. When you and he were together, it caused his transition. Since our parents didn’t tell us about being Gargoyles, Gabriel wasn’t aware of what being around you would do to him. He was out one day when his first shift came upon him. It just so happened that when he began changing into his Gargoyle, he wasn’t alone. Are you aware of the Unholy?”
“Of course. He’s not one of them, is he?”
“No, but the men who saw Gabriel transitioning were scientists who worked for a man named Gordon Flanagan. They took Gabriel to Flanagan, they studied him, extracted his blood, and used it in an attempt at creating super soldiers. What they ended up with were the Unholy. When they had what they needed from Gabriel, they dumped his body, thinking he would die. Only he