Read Sorceress Rising (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 2) for Free Online Page B

Greenborrow will do the same among the rest of the Clan.” He tilted his
head in the leshii’s direction. Greenborrow nodded his head in acknowledgement.
    “In the
meantime, until the metalsmiths have arrived, I will construct some defensive
spells to warn us should the Riven attempt to invade our lands. While the
spells will cover a vast area, they will be temporary, lasting mere days in
this Realm. However, they will help until the next Wild Hunt can run.”
    “We are honored
to have your protection.” Whitethorn folded his arms across his chest and bowed
at the waist.
    “Until later,
then,” Gregory said and started away from the small clearing where they’d
talked. Lillian followed, curious about how he would place magic enchantments
over a large area. She might lack her own magic at present, but that would not
always be the case, and at the very least she could watch and learn.
    Gregory walked a
short distance and dropped to all fours. He circled back and sidled up next to
her. His one wing dipped in invitation, baring his broad shoulders and back.
His tail snaked around her hips before she thought to try and backpedal out of
immediate danger. But it was too late and his muscular tail dragged her closer
to his back.
    “I’m not tired.
I can walk, really!”
    Gregory coughed,
or it might have been a laugh. Lillian failed to find the humor in the
situation. He wanted her to ride gargoyle-back, as it were, and she wanted
nothing more than to avoid that fate.
    Last time, she’d
found the whole situation too bumpy, too fast, too scary, and far too
intimate—equal parts awkward and thrilling at the same time. And this time, she
feared she might not find it so bumpy or scary.
    “This is
probably a bad idea.” Lillian ran possible scenarios through her mind. “I might
fall off and break something.”
    “Now who is
lying? Besides, I won’t let you fall.” Gregory forced her closer. It was get on
his back or be flipped over it to land painfully on the ground on the other
side.
    Lillian decided
to save what dignity she still possessed and tossed a leg over his back and
settled in place. Gregory’s wings folded tight to either side of her thighs,
locking her in place. She knew from previous rides she was actually as secure
as she would be if she buckled herself into a car. Probably more so. Gregory
looked out for her welfare—a car was far more indifferent.

C hapter Five
     
    The siren
glanced up uneasily at the ocean’s ceiling. A mirror-bright, cerulean blue
reflected from the upper realm, a world of air and strange destinies; a world
she’d soon have to explore.
    She swam for
hours, unable to find the source of the oily taint she inhaled with each
flutter of her gills. It was everywhere, had worked its way into every reef,
school of fish, and patch of kelp she encountered. While she did find life, it
was not thriving as it should. The underwater world, her realm to protect, was
changing, its magic diminishing, its species no longer as numerous as they once
had been.
    Even the great
whales were not untouched. From them she gathered more knowledge. As she’d
suspected, humans were responsible. The whales’ perception of the source of the
taint—some cataclysm—was vague, the details scattered and full of holes. They
could only relate what they themselves had heard, but they spoke of a family of
dolphins that had witnessed the event.
    With greater
determination, Tethys set out to find the dolphins.
     
    ****
     
    For leagues, the
siren swam, her anger banked, but still glowing like a land-bound’s fire.
Around her, the ocean’s waters raged in sympathy. White capped waves rolled
away from her location with greater and greater frequency.
    A soft clicking
sounded in the distance. Twisting her body, she whipped around, honing in on
the location. The water carried the sound from a long ways, but it was still
distinguishable as dolphin speech even over the deep drone of the raging seas.
    They sang