Gryton halted but kept his back to her. “You would pit yourself against your other half? For me? Why?”
“Because it is a parent’s role to raise, guide and train their offspring in order that the young one is skilled enough to survive in the world. But I also believe it is a parent’s duty to love their child as well.”
“Love?”
His snort of disdain was at odds with the wellspring of need she felt rising from him. Like any child, he’d craved his parents love at one point. He’d since buried that need, but it was still there under layer after layer of disdain.
“However, I do not need to pit myself against my other half in this. He will not need to know this for a while. Only once you are trained, and I have overthrown the Lady of Battles and the Lord of the Underworld, will I introduce Gregory to his son. He will see what I have already seen, that you are not without redemption.”
“He’s tried his hardest to kill me each time we’ve met,” Gryton pointed out. But Daryna noticed he’d turned and walked back toward her. “Somehow, I don’t think the one who sired me will ever greet me with…open arms.”
“Not yet, no. But you inherited some of his memories. You know we chose to bring you into being; it wasn’t an accident.”
“Am I supposed to thank you for starting my miserable existence?” Gryton’s tone was incredulous.
“I…do not believe that was our intention.” What could she say to that? She had no memories of her own, only those few chaotic ones Gryton had inherited from his father.
“For whatever comfort it gives, I think you meant to leave me a gift of all your memories and knowledge,” Gryton said. “You knew you would not be able to train me yourselves once the Divine Ones discovered what you planned. Moments after I awoke and took my first breath, I felt a great spell ripped away from my grasp and shattered across the Magic Realm. Moments after that the first of the gargoyles came to slay me.”
Gryton pulled off his helmet and braced one fist against his hip. “I know well what the Divine Ones think of me. And the gargoyle legion. And Lord Death. I don’t know why I told you this.”
Suspicion entered his gaze.
“I have weaved no spell over you. Unless honesty has that same power.”
Gryton grunted in a very Gregory like manner.
But Daryna sensed a softening in his resolution. “One day, if you’re admirable to it, I would like to glean more of our last life from what memories you did absorb before the spell was destroyed. Then, when it is time, I will share them with Gregory.”
“Don’t you fear what the Divine Ones will do to you? They wiped your memories once.”
“Yes. But they did not unmake us. They didn’t even demote us as it were. We are still their Avatars. Perhaps they have allowed us to return this time to do what they themselves could not.”
“To kill the Lady of Battles and the Lord of the Underworld? You actually believe that.”
“Yes.”
“But why should I trust anything you say?”
Daryna stood and raised her arms away from her sides and turned her palms out, showing them empty of any weapon, be it magical or cold steel. “Look within my mind for the truth. I know no other way to reassure you.”
She lowered the shields, both physical and mental, that surrounded and protected her.
Gryton’s nostrils flared in surprise, but he swiftly stepped up to her and pulled off one gauntlet and then the glove underneath. His strong fingers closed upon her jaw and even as he closed his eyes, his magic reached into her, seeking all that she was.
His soft, quickly drawn breath told her when he found her memories, her present thoughts, and plans. And also her devotion to him. Family. He was family. The one thing she’d always wanted but could never truly have until him.
After long moments, Gryton released her jaw. His eyes blinked open, and he just stood, silent and staring for long moments.
“Are you ready to accept my offer of training?”
He sat cross-legged on the floor. Once he was settled comfortably, he looked up at her. “I will allow you to teach me. If you later think to betray me, I will return the favor. What lesson shall we start with?”
“Why, the first one.” And so Daryna did, settling to sit cross-legged opposite him.
She had less than three hours to begin his training, but Gryton proved an able student. By the time the sky to the east had taken on a pinkish hue, he’d already learned better ways to harness and control his power without leashing it so tightly that it fought him to be free.
Daryna regretted that her first session with her son was already coming to a close. But there would be other days, although, escaping her gargoyle protector unnoticed might prove difficult. She couldn’t risk using the collars a second time. In truth, she couldn’t stomach the thought of enslaving Gregory to her will. No. The collars would come off this day.
She would just have to use something else as a distraction. Daryna frowned, not liking where her mind went, but Lillian would be the easiest distraction to use against Gregory if it came to that.
Glancing at Gryton, she said, “If I can’t escape tomorrow night to continue your training, take what I’ve already taught you and reinforce those lessons until they become second nature to you. And think on my plan. I do not require an answer right away.”
“I will think upon all you have told me.”
She sensed Gryton still didn’t entirely trust to the new path fate had set him on, and given his past, Daryna couldn’t blame him. Everything that had shaped him reinforced that he could only trust himself. But he was also a creature of logic more than passion, and the intricacies of her plan to slay the Battle Goddess had impressed him.
“Good. Even if Gregory finds your trail and puts a wrench in my plans, I will make certain you don’t have to flee back to the Magic Realm empty-handed. But we will talk more on that later. I must go.”
“I will be here waiting.”
Daryna nodded. He would be. She sensed no deception in his words.
With some regret, she turned from her firstborn son and summoned magic. The portal swirled to life in a vortex of power, and without a backward glance, she stepped through it and appeared in the forest she’d left behind only a few hours before.
She made her way back to the stone cottage and on inside until she was again looking down at her most beloved other half. She patted him gently and crawled into bed and curled into his warmth.
He slept on, unaware of her treachery.
Chapter Five
After an awkward breakfast in their room, Lillian again found herself in the company of Daryna and the ever watchful Gregory as they made their way down to the center of the maze where her hamadryad grew. Daryna had said that she was capable of summoning the magic she would need to remove the collars herself, but that by using the hamadryad to channel the flows of magic from the Spirit Realm, it would be less wear and tear on her new body.
While Daryna had explained the spell work to Lillian, Gregory circled them like an overprotective border collie. Any soldier or scientist who came too close got a warning snarl. Her gargoyle protector had been out of sorts ever since he woke up and found he was sandwiched between his mate and his Sorceress.
Lillian might have felt sorry for his apparent confusion if Daryna hadn’t been caressing him when she first woke up. It was evident he’d enjoyed his Sorceress’ touch until he saw Lillian’s expression. At which point, he’d bolted from the bed like she’d set his tail on fire.
The one saving grace was that Gran was waiting for them just outside the maze’s main entrance with a dozen other Fae in tow. The new arrivals gave Lillian someone else to walk and talk with. Thus giving her an excuse to ignore Daryna.
Lillian soon learned that Gran had recruited other Fae in case of trouble with the military or the accompanying science team. In the end, there wasn’t any trouble though. Gran’s evil eye more than enough to keep the scientists in check.
If she was given
a choice, Lillian preferred the soldiers over the scientists. At least the soldiers only watched them with eagle-eyed distrust. Which was better than being viewed as a specimen for study.
When they reached the center of the glade, it was to find a good two dozen soldiers stationed inside. Lillian noticed a variety of flags decorating the different uniforms. It looked like a good half of the world’s other militaries had come to join the fun.
“After seeing what one of the Battle Goddess’ minions could do all by himself,” Gran said as she gestured at the scorch marks that scarred the area, “the joint taskforce has tripled the number of soldiers in the glade in case more enemies than just Gryton came here with him. The military knows the hamadryad is the easiest way to travel between the realms.”
“I see the alliance has developed a little more diversity.” Lillian nodded to a variety of uniforms.
“It’s funny how the threat of a demigoddess from another realm has convinced many of the world’s politicians to put aside their petty bickering.”
“It’s actually reassuring.”
“To you maybe,” Gran said. “All I see is a big political headache and the likelihood of even more scientist arriving. At this point, even if we devastate the Battle Goddess’ armies and win the war, the Clan and the Coven will never be able to disappear into the relative safety of obscurity.”
“One problem at a time. At present, I’m more worried about the possibility of more Gryton-type minions arriving than I am of what might happen three months or a year from now.” Lillian still remembered all too well the damage Gryton and the collar had inflicted upon Gregory.
Gran sighed. “I’m not even certain who has military command at this point, but I did convince Major Resnick and his superiors to agree to pull some of the soldiers back while Daryna works with the tree to remove the collars.” Gran grinned. “Well, convince might be too gentle a word for what I did. There might have been mention of angry demigods should anyone get between them and the hamadryad.”
Once they reached the tree, Gran and the other Fae dropped back and stationed themselves around the inside wall of the maze with the military personnel.
Lillian again found herself alone with a stoic sorceress and a watchful gargoyle. While she wasn’t happy to be indebted to Daryna, she was glad that the collars would be removed soon.
It would also mean that Gregory would be free to call upon his own powers without limit or command. That would be another great weight off her shoulders.
They halted just under the drip line of her hamadryad’s canopy. Standing in the shade of her tree’s sheltering branches, some of the tension that had lodged between her shoulder blades eased. Her worries were not completely gone, but they lessened as they always did when she was out with her hamadryad.
After a moment, Lillian turned her attention to Daryna, where she’d started to summon magic for a spell.
“When I studied the tattoos while I was still a hamadryad, I learned a great deal about how the spells of enslavement worked. The threads of power linking them to your bodies are easy enough to undo from outside. There were a few other nasty bits of spell work involved, but nothing I can’t handle. Although, I will start with Gregory. He’ll be able to protect himself better than you would be able to. And while I’m confident, I won’t risk our child on an arrogant notion that I know all there is to know about the collars.”
Lillian nodded her understanding and agreement. Normally, she would have been quick to volunteer first, but now with the child, she had to be more cautious.
“Gregory, whenever you are ready,” Daryna said.
He took a step closer to the Sorceress, and then he knelt on the ground and closed his eyes, tilting his head back almost in supplication. An uneasy feeling rose within Lillian again. But Daryna merely rested one hand on Gregory’s right shoulder while she fingered the tattoo that circled his throat.
She studied it at some length and then Lillian felt a breeze kick up, one that had no natural source. Magic flickered along Daryna’s fingers, a barely seen shimmering.
Soon the Sorceress began a chant. It was almost beyond the range of hearing, even for Lillian’s gargoyle enhanced senses. As the chant grew in volume, so too did the breeze it summoned swirl faster. The slight glow around her fingers expanded, throbbing in sync with both the breeze and the chant.
A chilled power Lillian had come to recognize as Spirit Magic, caressed her skin, raising gooseflesh as it passed. Soon the chill had spread, filling the glade and dropping the temperature by several degrees.
Frost glinted on Gregory’s dark skin, and Lillian winced at how cold he had to be. But then again, he seemed to be enjoying the cold. Gargoyles were odd. Or perhaps it was actually Daryna’s touch he took pleasure in.
Lillian frowned, her stomach souring at the thought. But she stomped on that emotion before it could spiral into something darker. She wasn’t going to be jealous about her new doppelgänger. It wasn’t fair to Gregory to force a divide between them.
Not yet at least. She’d wait until she had something more substantial than just a primal jealousy to go on.
Daryna continued to call power from the Spirit Realm. A vortex of energy now danced around Gregory. It snatched at his hair and clothing. The cross current winds began to moan, high-pitched and eerie. The savage currents picked up bits of grit and gravel from the walkways and tossed them around the glade, pelting anyone in their path.
Protective instincts flared to life within Lillian, stronger this time, and talons erupted from her fingertips. She took a step toward Gregory and the Sorceress just as the chant ended. The sound of the howling wind halted so suddenly Lillian’s ears twitched.
“I would never harm Gregory,” Daryna said, stepping aside, so Lillian had a clear view of her mate.
Gregory was still kneeling, but he was now touching his own throat. Then as a toothy gargoyle grin spread across his face, he summoned his magic freely, without needing consent or command from her.
He seemed completely unharmed by Daryna’s spell work. Grudgingly, Lillian admitted she owed thanks to the other woman for fixing her most grievous error.
“I know you wouldn’t harm Gregory intentionally, but I’ve seen a lot go wrong, too.”
The Sorceress nodded. “I understand. Your trust must be earned.”
“I’m sorry,” Lillian said, “but, yes, it does.”
Again Daryna merely bobbed her head, that annoyingly stoic look back in place.
Gregory stood and whispered quiet thanks to Daryna. Then he gave her a couple thorough gargoyle kisses before he walked over to Lillian.
She’d never been a fan of the gargoyle way of showing affection, but now that it was directed at another person, Lillian felt her insides twist with another stab of jealousy.
‘Ugh. Get a hold on that green-eyed monster,’ Lillian muttered deep in her own mind. ‘He’s just showing affection to the other half of his soul. Deal. With. It.’
Yah. Right. The pep talk did nothing for her.
Gregory stepped in close to Lillian, blocking her view of her doppelgänger. He nuzzled her hair out of the way and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. His warm breath and scent surrounded her, making it impossible to stay upset at either Gregory or Daryna.
“I will do the spell work to unmake your tattoo,” Gregory said as he tapped a finger against her throat. “Daryna will monitor and protect our little one from the power of the spell and any backlash from the collar.”
The concept of a child was still so new to Lillian that it hadn’t occurred to her that breaking the spell on the collar might be dangerous to the fetus in her womb. The thought of losing that tiny life terrified her. She wanted Gregory’s child.
“I would rather allow my own tattoo to remain in place than risk the life of our child.”
Gregory rested his hands on Lillian’s shoulders and pressed their foreheads together. “As long as I draw breath, I won’t allow harm to come to you or our child.”
His words reassured her. It was true. He wanted this child. Perhaps even more than she did. He’d certainly been waiting longer.
“I trust you.” Lillian glanced at Daryna. “Both of you.”
Daryna and Gregory both bowed in the same old world style and then began their work. Even before they laid hands on her, Lillian felt their separate powers reach out and wrap around her.
Gregory stood in front. His thumbs pressed gently against her throat, caressing the tattoo with chilling power. Behind her, Daryna knelt and reached around her to curve her fingers along Lillian’s abdomen. Warmth seeped into her body, emanating from Daryna’s touch. It cocooned Lillian’s unborn child in layers of protective magic.
“There,” Daryna said. “Our little one is safe.”
Gregory huffed an affirmative and unleashed a torrent of energy. Threads of power flowed across her skin; the cold more intense now that she was its focus. The tattoo around her neck flared with a heated warning, dragging a gasp of surprise from Lillian. The spell branded into her skin shifted and heaved like a living thing.
Her fingers flexed and tension raced up her back. Her breathing came in short, choppy pants.
The urge to shift into her gargoyle form clawed at her mind, but she didn’t know what that would do to the spell Gregory wove, so she fought the need.
“Shhh,” Gregory whispered, bowing his muzzle close to her ear a moment before he began a chant that sounded similar to the one Daryna had used on him.
Then, just like earlier, he ended his chant and a strange wash of power from the Spirit Realm flowed from his hands into her body, taking with it the constraining band of power that had been circling her throat. There was a secondary shift of power and then she felt free, like a weight was lifting from around her neck. Instinctively she reached for her throat and fingered the skin. It felt whole. Clean and unblemished by the tainted collars.
Sorceress at War (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 4) Page 4
