“And you were okay with it?” Tian couldn’t help but ask. The man’s expression said one thing while his tone said another.
“Oh, I did plenty of freaking out,” Collin admitted. “But I finally wrapped my mind around it.” He grinned as he paused in the trail. Tian did the same, turning to face him. “The reason I told you this is because discovering paranormals are real with a mate to ease the way, offering understanding and companionship, not to mention pleasure, well, that’s definitely the best way to learn.”
Tian nodded. “I could understand that.” Resting his hands on his hips, he snorted. “So, uh, great pleasure with mates, huh?” He cocked his head. “You’re mated now, though, right? I thought that’s what I heard.”
To an alligator shifter, of all things.
“I am,” Collin confirmed. “My man understands that being a detective is a calling. It’s part of me.” Shrugging one shoulder, he offered, “They don’t want to change you or control you. They want you happy. If being a cop is what does it for you—”
Nodding again, Tian understood what Collin was telling him. “Except undercover work,” he mused softly. Tian watched a wry smile curve Collin’s lips as he nodded. “Well, I can honestly say that if I had someone waiting for me at home, I wouldn’t want to do undercover work.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he admitted, “I was kind of volunteered by my superiors, anyway. I look young, and I don’t have any family.” Seeing Collin’s narrowed gaze, he explained, “I’m a child of the system. An orphan. No one to miss me.”
Tian’s captain—Captain Cain—had taken complete advantage of that knowledge, and Tian knew it. He didn’t have any connections, someone to help him out of a jam if he needed it. For that reason, Tian always did as he was told—kept his nose clean.
“You would now.”
“I’m starting to get that.” What would the captain say if he just tried to walk away? Tian figured the man wouldn’t be happy. Another thought caused his lips to curve into a wry smile. “And to be able to have a family without the hassle of artificial insemination or adoption?” Scoffing, he mumbled, “Geez. I was in the system, and I just said that out loud. Shouldn’t I want to adopt like five kids or something?”
Collin snorted and shrugged his shoulders. “Hell if I know,” he responded. “I come from a big family and am still too afraid to tell my mother that no kids are in my future, adopted or through surrogacy... right now, neither Tristan nor I want them.” He grimaced, adding, “She’s still in denial about me being gay, too, unfortunately. Even though I’ve dragged Tristan to a couple of family functions. My dad, on the other hand... he’s grudgingly accepting while my brother, well, him I had to deck.”
Tian barked a laugh. “I can’t say that’s something I feel I’ve missed out on.” Shoving his hands in his jeans’ pockets, he peered around the forest. “Family in general, though... I always thought having one would be nice.”
Collin bumped his shoulder as he started down the trail again. “There’s a couple openings on the force here locally right now,” he commented, grinning. “Should I put in a good word?”
“Shit,” Tian mumbled, falling into step next to the other man. “I haven’t done regular police work in... god, since just after the academy.” He couldn’t help but feel tempted. “You gonna help me come up with some odd explanation for the reports we received?”
“I need to hear the reports, first,” Collin claimed. “We’ll come up with a way for me to discover your true identity, then I’ll agree to keep it on the down-low while you finish your assignment.”
Tian nodded. “It’s been a long time since I had help.”
Collin shrugged. “I owe the gargoyles,” he admitted. “They make my record shine sometimes.”
“What do you mean?”
“When there’s unexplained phenomena around here, we work together to come up with plausible cover stories,” Collin explained. He smirked, winking at him. “I get all the credit, and they stay secret. Makes me look good.” His grin turned wry as a slight hue darkened his cheeks. “Ha. Means my captain will take my recommendation seriously.”
“And moving here...” Tian paused and shook his head. What did he actually have back in Chicago? An apartment I rarely ever use, no family, and fewer friends. “Yeah, I think I could do that.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he frowned as he asked, “So, uh, will a gargoyle hold off on the whole bonding thing if I ask him to?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Cause as much as I want Roman to fuck me, I’m not ready for marriage. Ya know?”
Collin nodded slowly. “Just ask him not to bite,” he advised. “But if you do that, you have to give him something in return... like a promise that you’re open to a relationship with him.”
Tian nodded slowly, thinking over that. It didn’t take him long to figure out that it wasn’t so much the being in a relationship with a gargoyle that bothered him. Instead, it was feeling like he had no control over the matter.
Chapter Six
“Did Tian show up?”
Roman asked as soon as he woke from roost, his body resuming flesh and blood as opposed to the living stone statue he slept as during the day. Climbing to his feet, he straightened and stretched his wings and back. Doctor Perseus was one of the few gargoyles who’d ever seen the extensiveness of his scars, so he didn’t mind showing off in front of him.
“He did,” Perseus confirmed. “He came in with Collin. They’re both in with Maelgwn right now.”
“Thanks,” Roman responded. “Any idea how long they’ll be? Did he say anything about, uh, meeting me?”
Roman hated how... needy he sounded, but he couldn’t help but ask. They hadn’t really left on the best of terms the evening before. While Tian had acknowledged Roman’s claims, saying he understood what Roman was saying to him, he’d said he needed time to think. While Roman knew asking a human to accept so many changes would be difficult, it didn’t make it any easier to watch his mate walk away from him.
Note to self, find Conchlin and apologize for my harsh words to him yesterday.
Roman wasn’t known as being the easiest to get along with on a good day. Watching his mate walk away? Yeah, he knew he’d turned into a bastard.
Lifting his arms, Roman attempted to find some measure of calm. He twisted right, then left, in an effort to work out the dull ache in his hip. He winced when he felt the pull in his thigh. After straightening his torso, he stretched again, more slowly.
While the mild throb in Roman’s hip was almost always present, winters could get tough. The cold caused the ache to increase and his joints to grow stiff. Fortunately, with spring coming, he was regaining his mobility.
I always seem to know when it’s going to rain, though.
Perseus rested his hands on his hips, drawing Roman’s attention. The doc lifted a brow as he openly perused him. It wasn’t in a heated way, but a clinical scan, assessing him as only a doctor could.
“How are you feeling, Roman?” Perseus asked pointedly. “I know winters can be hard for you.”
“These aren’t as bad as some I’ve endured,” Roman replied, lowering his arms and wrapping his wings over his shoulders. “I used to live in upstate New York, remember?”
“And you didn’t answer my question.” Perseus crossed his arms over his chest as he gave him a narrow-eyed stare. “I know what the pull to mate feels like, Roman,” he began slowly, his tone soothing. “It’s overwhelming. All-consuming. But you have to remember.” He lifted his hand in caution. “Having a mate means a relationship. Give and take.” Pointing at Roman’s hip, he continued, “And answering questions.”
Roman huffed a sigh. He limped across the roof to the edge and peered out over the expansive grounds. “I get that I’m the reclusive chef asshole of the estate,” he muttered, clenching his hands. “But if you’re asking if I know how to treat a mate...” A low growl rumbled from him as he turned and glared at the doctor. “I’m almost seve
n hundred years old. I might be a disfigured bastard, but I’ve been alone a long time. I plan to do everything I can to please the other half of my soul.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” Perseus murmured, lifting a hand, palm out, obviously attempting to placate. “I was sent here by Maelgwn. He just wanted me to ascertain your frame of mind.”
Inhaling deeply, Roman took in a big breath of the clean, fresh, night air. The evening breeze against his face felt fantastic, helping him cool his irritation. He should have known the inner circle would be worried about him. He should even be grateful, knowing they’d offer support and assistance where needed.
They’re not trying to interfere. They’re trying to help. They want what’s best for me.
Jerking a nod, Roman turned and forced a smile to his lips as he met Perseus’s worried expression. “I’m aware my interpersonal skills are... rusty at best.”
Running a hand over the extensive scars covering his right hip and thigh, he peered at the riddled flesh. He didn’t bother looking at it often, but if he were to allow his mate to explore his body...
Roman returned his focus to the doctor and swallowed hard. “When Tian asks, if he asks, I will tell him the truth,” Roman assured him. “Even if it puts me in a bad light.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” Perseus closed the distance between them and rested one big pale-green hand on his shoulder. He squeezed lightly as he held his gaze. “Someone did that to you for revenge on something you had no control over. It was his fault, and he got what was coming to him.”
Clearing his throat, Roman nodded once, but didn’t comment. He wasn’t so certain. He should have figured it out. He should have—
“Stop dwelling on it,” Perseus ordered. “Let’s go get some breakfast. As Maelgwn and Tobias often do when a gargoyle finds his mate, they clear him of his duties while he figures out his relationship.” Grinning, Perseus remained at his side as they swooped down to a massive, rear balcony on the second floor.
Roman walked slowly, giving the muscles in his hip and side the opportunity to warm up. He slowly began to relax into the movement. Wrapping his wings around his shoulders, he followed Perseus into the estate.
“Who’s running the kitchens?”
Perseus smirked at him. “Are you really asking just how big a mess are you going to have to clean up when you go back to work?”
Roman peered at the pictures hanging on the left side of the wide hallway, not meeting Perseus’s gaze. What the other gargoyle said was true. He just wasn’t going to admit it out loud.
Chuckling softly, Perseus didn’t leave him in suspense. “The chieftain put Kort in charge.”
Nodding, Roman felt a small bit of relief. Kort was a mated gargoyle and rarely needed instruction while helping in the kitchen. He could leave Kort a list of instructions and know that his kitchens would still be intact when he returned to duty.
Roman wondered how long it’d take to woo his human and bond with him. Just thinking of the type of wooing he’d like to do caused his blood to flow south. His dick plumped, pushing against the confines of his loincloth.
Perseus snorted. “No prizes guessing who and what you’re thinking about right now.”
“Shut up,” Roman grumbled. As paranormals, they both had highly developed senses, including smell—allowing them to scent another person’s arousal. “Not like we didn’t smell you for days while you were trying to win Wren.”
Shrugging, Perseus continued to grin.
“I’d like to speak with Kort first thing, then we can get food.”
Perseus groaned good-naturedly but didn’t object.
By the time Roman finished giving instructions to Kort—which he wasn’t entirely certain the deep red, grinning gargoyle would use—he spotted Tian already seated in the cafeteria with Chieftain Maelgwn, his human mate Bobby, as well as Second Tobias and his shifter mate Roland. Tian peered around the large, table-filled space fairly discreetly, but there were enough gargoyles and mates peering back at him to make any attempt at subtlety ludicrous.
Carrying his plate of food to Tian’s table, Roman smiled at his human. When his mate noticed him, pleasure filled Roman when he immediately returned his smile. It appeared a little uncertain, or maybe just unsettled, but it was a smile none-the-less.
Roman couldn’t really blame him. The man had only learned about gargoyles twenty-four hours before, and Maelgwn currently had him sitting in a room full of them. Was he using the baptism by fire, method?
Not that I want to question my chieftain, but damn!
Settling into the empty seat next to Tian, Roman couldn’t tear his gaze away from his mate. “Hi,” he greeted, even knowing how lame it sounded. He quickly cleared his throat, then added, “Thank you for coming back.”
Tian nodded, the tension easing from his shoulders. His scent changed just a little, losing some of the slightly acrid tinge that betrayed his unease. He even leaned toward Roman a bit, perhaps reaching for him on a subconscious level since his fingers were wrapped around his coffee mug.
“Yeah, sure,” Tian responded. His brows furrowed as he held Roman’s gaze. “Guess I didn’t actually say I was coming back. I really did just need time to think. Ya know?”
Roman nodded. “I know I came on a little... strong,” he began slowly, wanting to offer Tian reassurance, but smelling his mate’s heady scent was already making it difficult to think. “I would like to spend some time with you, uh, alone, after breakfast, to, well... get to know you.”
Scowling at his food, Roman took a sip of his coffee. He knew he sounded like a bumbling idiot. It’d been far too long since he’d tried to interact socially, even with most members of the clutch. He could hardly call any of his clutch-mates friends.
Maybe this is Fate’s way of getting me out of my shell... or a swift kick in the ass.
Tian uncurled one hand from his mug and touched Roman’s hand lightly. “I’m just as nervous.” Shifting in his seat, he whispered the admission. He glanced around the room once more, then mumbled, “I feel like I’m on display here. Is there somewhere we can go, uh, somewhere private?”
Roman immediately jerked a nod, pleasure filling him. “Of course.” He glanced at Chieftain Maelgwn, who offered him an encouraging nod and smile. “Would you accompany me to my quarters?”
“Yeah, that’d be great.” Tian rose as Roman did the same. He pointed at the dishes on the table. “Can I give you a hand?”
While Roman’s first instinct was to reject the offer, he squelched it. “I would like that very much.” Probably a stretch, but he was trying. He picked up his coffee and the larger of the two plates. “Thank you.”
Tian picked up the bowl of fresh fruit Roman had brought over as well as his own mug. He just smiled, so Roman started toward the east exit. While he spotted a couple of people give him thumbs up and smiles—like Cornelius, Raymond, and Mace—he noted a couple of others whispering together—the gargoyles Zahma and Gabe. Roman could guess at their conversation just from the few words his sensitive hearing overheard.
The pair was jealous.
Roman couldn’t say he was surprised. He’d felt jealousy a time or two when much younger gargoyles had located their mates. Still, he never would have expressed it so openly. That was bad form.
Using his shoulder to push open the right side of the double doors, Roman headed down the east wing. He was one of the few who had quarters on the ground floor. Most of the space had been converted into the social areas. Due to his injury, Roman had a suite of rooms between the kitchens and the infirmary.
They walked in silence the short stretch down the hallway. Roman struggled with some way to break the quiet, but he came up empty. He didn’t used to have that problem.
That was hundreds of years ago.
Roman set the mug and plate down on a hall table near his suite’s door. After pulling his ring of keys from a pouch on his loincloth, he unlocked it. He grabbed the left items
and headed inside.
“Please, have a seat,” Roman encouraged, placing his items on the coffee table, then indicating the several, little-used sofas.
Seeing that Tian shut the door, Roman waited to see where his human would settle. When the man rested his items near Roman’s and sat on the sofa next to where Roman stood, pleasure filled him. He settled close to his mate, then picked up his plate and placed it on his lap.
“I told you before that it has been hundreds of years since I’ve—” Roman paused. Just thinking about fucking caused his dick to twitch.
Tian cleared his throat as he rested his mug on his knee. “Yeah, uh, been a while for me, too,” he replied, saving Roman. “Relationships for cops are tough anyway, what with our sometimes crappy hours. Being an undercover one, well—” He paused and waved his hand absently. “Seeing as you’re a gargoyle and don’t look like a human like the other paranormals do, I can see how figuring out a relationship would be tough.”
Roman smiled, relief filling him. Tian seemed to understand very well. Still, he had to be clear. “It’s not just that,” he admitted. “I was injured several hundred years ago.”
Seeing the way Tian swept his gaze over his form questioningly, Roman moved his right wing aside just enough to show off the edges of his scars on his side. He noticed concern fill Tian’s eyes, but no disgust.
Still, Roman had to warn, “They are extensive. It is difficult for any paranormal to scar, but especially a gargoyle, due to our thick hide.” He shrugged, his lips twisting depreciatively. “Unfortunately, being doused in lamp oil and lit on fire will do it.”
Tian’s jaw sagged open, and his eyes widened. “Holy shit,” he hissed. “Why would—how did—” He snapped his mouth shut and shook his head once. His expression cleared of shock as his eyes narrowed. “That’s probably a tale you’d feel more comfortable sharing after we get to know each other better.”
Clearing his throat, Roman jerked a nod. “Thank you.” He focused on his food, taking a bite, then chewing and swallowing. After several minutes of silence, where Tian focused on his coffee and Roman ate, he offered his mate a wry smile. “I suppose I’m not really sure where to go from here.” An idea struck. “Do you have questions for me? Something I can answer or explain?” He waved his fork toward his body, indicating himself. “I know this is a lot to take in.”
The Truth is even Stranger Page 5
