Gargoyle (Woodland Creek)(15)

He turned to face me. “Isaac wouldn’t say anything about you after the meeting.”

I held his penetrating gaze. “And?”

“Well, what was your conversation about that has him acting like this?” He waved one hand at me, his expression incredulous. “He was ready to tear into Caleb today.”

Knock. Knock.

My eyes flew wide, my gaze soaring to the closed door.

I didn’t move. I had no clue what to do.

The decision was taken out of my hands.

I heard a key placed into the lock even though the door wasn’t actually locked, then a heartbeat later, the door opened into the dead silence of the room. Everyone was staring at the entrance.

Jonathan paused half inside the doorway, his eyes widening, both of his hands still on the doorknob. His startled expression swiftly turned blank as his exquisite gaze scanned the room, taking in each individual. He paused on me, promptly running up and down my frame. He gently extracted his key from the door and silently pocketed it.

Just as mutely, he finished stepping inside and shut the door soundlessly behind him.

His eyes held mine.

My mouth bobbed a few times, utterly flustered.

I waved a hand at nothing. Stood there like an idiot.

No one said a word, waiting for me to speak, even though the room was palatable with tension.

Like a damn fight would break out at any time.

All I knew was I didn’t want him to leave. “Don’t leave.” Yeah, it just blurted out. “I got dinner.”

I snapped my mouth shut. Ran my hand through my hair, glancing at my uninvited guests. I waved a hand at them. “They’re going. Right now.”

Jonathan stuffed his hands in his pockets, his black eyes still on mine.

I said it again. “Don’t leave.” I wasn’t above begging for what I wanted. “Please.”

He snorted softly, his gaze pulling from me to each of them, and then he took his hands from his pockets and strode calmly to the table and sat on a checkered chair, dwarfing the furniture as normal. He began opening the cartons of food. Not glancing up from his task, he simply asked, “What are they doing here?”

Instant. “I didn’t invite them.”

He grunted quietly, glancing at each man again before peering back to the task of peeking in cartons. “Again, what are they doing here?”

I waved a finger at the wizard on my couch. “He said he was having dinner here.” A flicked finger at the Gargoyle. “He wanted to question me more.”

Jonathan hummed softly, then cocked his head slightly, glancing around the table. “Plates?”

My feet quickly went into motion. He was staying. “I’ll get them.”

Another soft hum and he peered up as I entered the kitchen, his gaze on the uninvited. “I know enough about the two of you to make your lives a living hell, so it would probably be wise to forget I was ever here.” Our relationship…not known.

Caleb instantly waved his fork, lifting his container again from the table. “You have my word I won’t speak of this.” He sat back and started eating again.

Mike chuckled softly. “I’d love to know what you have on me…hunter.”

And…they knew about him. Confirmation.

“No, you wouldn’t.” Jonathan’s smile was cool as ice. “You aren’t as smooth as you believe yourself to be.”

Mike chuckled again, but his gaze was sharp. “How long have you been in this relationship?”

“That’s not for your ears,” he muttered, taking one of the plates I handed him. As I sat down across from him with my own plate, he simply asked again, “Your silence for mine?”

Mike was quiet for a full minute as I began loading food on my plate, making sure to leave Jonathan his favorites. Then Mike muttered in exasperation, “Fine. I won’t tell of your relationship.”

My brows lifted even as I quickly rose from my seat to grab us drinks. Whatever Mike kept secret, he definitely wasn’t willing to let it be known. Caleb hadn’t seemed all that worried, but Mike’s brows were still furrowed.

Setting a beer in front of Jonathan, I placed my own glass of tea in front of my plate. My eyes widened, though, as I sat down and the entire room started to shake as a…Gargoyle’s furious roar was heard far above outside. My gaze met Mike’s eyes. I muttered, “Who else is coming?”

He growled a quiet curse. “The guards must have told him.” He tugged at his ear. “It’s Isaac.”

Wonderful. I shooed a hand at the door. “Go meet him on the roof or something. I don’t need another uninvited guest. He probably thinks you’re hurt with Caleb and Jonathan in here.” I knew, without a doubt, Jonathan hadn’t made his presence known when he had snuck in here. He wasn’t that sloppy.

Only a mere second later, my eyes widened as a silver fog filtered in through the smallest crack of one of my windowsills, creeping directly behind Mike. He stiffened and then turned abruptly, clearing his throat as the mist hovered directly in front of him. “I’m fine. I’m not hurt. I only came here to question her further.”

The silver fog floated around Mike, hovered there for another half-minute, then just as suddenly, Isaac was standing inside my living room. He was calm and collected…only wearing a pair of holey jeans and a soft white t-shirt, his feet bare.