She blinked and stared into Gregory’s eyes for a moment. “Thank you.”
Then she turned to face the Sorceress who was already stepping away. “And thank you as well. I am in your debt.”
Daryna shook her head. “You owe me nothing. Besides, that seems somewhat self-serving.”
“Still, thank you for protecting my child while Gregory freed me from the collar.”
“I will always protect our child and our mate.”
Chapter Six
Gregory hung back and watched Lillian and Daryna. Even though they’d left the maze behind for the gravel paths of the garden, a chill still followed them. Regrettably, this iciness had nothing to do with the magic they’d summoned for the spell work.
The sensation creeping up his spine was caused by another situation entirely, and he even had a word for it—female rivalry.
Gregory had the distinct impression he was the bone of contention between these two formidable females. Daryna was all ancient confidence and superiority, which wasn’t helping. Lillian, on the other hand, was doing what she could to adapt to the situation without starting a verbal or physical fight. But she was distancing herself from him.
And that was not something Gregory liked. At all.
All three of them needed to work together as one unified being. But Lillian was human raised, Daryna was set in her ways, and he simply wanted fate to find someone else to toy with for a while.
If a compromise was to be found—and one damn well better be found, there was no way he was choosing between his mate and the Sorceress—than it was going to be up to him to locate the solution.
“What would you like to see next?” Lillian asked Daryna, her voice colder than magic from the Spirit Realm.
“You as a gargoyle. I must admit, I’m curious. I’ve seen what you look like in Gregory’s memories, but I want to see you with my own eyes. Then I’d like to go hunting with you both before work demands all our attentions elsewhere.”
Lillian’s hand dropped to her belly. “I’ve meant to ask, but are we all confident that shapeshifting won’t harm the little one?”
Daryna tilted her head and studied Lillian—giving her a look that said she didn’t quite believe she’d been asked such a foolish question.
“Not helping,” Gregory muttered into Daryna’s mind. “Are you intentionally aggravating Lillian?”
Daryna arched an eyebrow at him but directed her answer at Lillian. “Have I not said that I would never do anything to harm our child?” Daryna made a vague gesture at the tree line in the distance. “Besides, a hunt will be good exercise. You’ll want to stay in peak physical form for the health of the little one.”
Lillian’s eyes narrowed dangerously at Daryna’s tone.
Gregory stepped between them. “We might not get another chance for days. Gran says the military is badgering her. They want us to work with them more closely. I also need to return to forging more ward-spelled weapons. And we have an army to raise. A hunt sounds good when compared to all that.”
“Fine,” Lillian growled.
Gregory felt the betraying wilt of his ears as they drooped to half-mast.
Lillian’s expression softened slightly, and she rolled her eyes at him. “I could use the exercise of a good hunt. We can walk to the tree line and then I’ll shift. No use giving the scientists anymore of an eyeful than they already had.” Her expression turned troubled. “It’s bad enough that Anna’s been voluntold to be their guinea pig, but I still can’t believe everyone is just cool with Shadowlight volunteering for study.”
While Lillian’s muttered comment inched back over toward more angry and annoyed, Gregory felt a spark of humor at that particular situation. The young gargoyle loved attention, asking questions, and generally getting underfoot.
“The scientists will get more than they bargained for with Shadowlight and Anna. Besides, Whitethorn and Greenborrow are watching over those two cubs.”
“Anna will be thrilled you called her a cub. She’s older than me by a couple years.”
Gregory huffed again. “You’re all cubs in need of training. And I think I need to master the skill of time travel to find enough hours to rub together to complete all my tasks.”
Bending down, Gregory nuzzled Lillian’s hair when she continued to look sour. “But those are worries for later. Come, hunt with me.”
The hard glint in Lillian’s eyes softened further, and she nodded. But a moment later her expression hardened again when she looked from Gregory to Daryna and back again.
“Do you mind if we bring Shadowlight along for the hunt. He’s just lost his father, and with River in a coma, he’s alone for the first time in his life. He’s putting on a brave face, but he’s hurting inside. Anyone can see that.”
Gregory dropped to all fours and bumped his head under Lillian’s hand. Her fingers dutifully rubbed along his muzzle and then up into his mane.
“Of course will bring him along,” he said between blissful scratches. “He’s ours to protect as well.”
Daryna nodded. “I agree. Shadowlight is welcome to come, but you forget he is not alone. The cub has his Kyrsu to act as his family now.”
Gregory huffed in surprise. He knew Anna and Shadowlight’s fates were linked. He could sense that from the moment he’d laid eyes on the human soldier. But a human Kyrsu?
“And what in God’s name is a Kyrsu?” Lillian asked with narrowed eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Kyrsu is the word for ‘second’ in the gargoyle language. It’s also the title of the second in command of the gargoyle legion,” Daryna explained.
“That clears everything right up. Thanks.” Lillian glowered at Gregory. “When were you going to tell me this bit of news?”
“I’ve shared very little about my gargoyle brothers, not because I wish to keep things from you, but because of lack of time,” Gregory said, bumping his muzzle under Lillian’s hand a second time. When she resumed her scratches, he continued his tale. “You know that unlike myself, the other gargoyles were created to serve Lord Death. While I am their leader when we are born into the world as Avatars, the rest of the time the gargoyle legion is led by others.”
“They hold the fort for you while you’re away.”
Gregory nodded. “Yes. They take command from Lord Death directly while we are with the Divine Ones in the Spirit Realm.”
“So there’s always someone to keep an eye on the Battle Goddess even if it’s not us,” Lillian finished for him.
“Exactly so.” He nuzzled Lillian gently, pressing his muzzle against her belly, breathing deeply of her scent mixed with that of their child. His heart filled with joy, and he was distracted until Lillian’s fingers caressed his horns.
“Anna and Shadowlight….you were saying.” She prodded him back to the tale.
“Hundreds of centuries can go by while we dwell in the Spirit Realm. In our absence, the gargoyles are led by a Rasoren. Its translation means roughly ‘prime leader’ and Kyrsu is ‘second one.’ Since I first met Shadowlight, I’ve speculated that the Battle Goddess was trying to create her own Rasoren and Kyrsu to lead her armies.”
“Yes. You mentioned their titles. But we’ve squashed the Battle Goddess’ plan in that regard, surely.”
“Yes. But that doesn’t change Shadowlight’s future potential. He was bred to be a strong and cunning leader—one the Battle Goddess intended to use to crush her brother’s army. We have diverted the cub’s fate. But now he will grow up to lead Death’s armies instead. By a strange twist of fate, Shadowlight has already chosen his second in command.”
He sensed Lillian piecing together bits of what he’d just revealed.
Lillian laughed. “Anna is ‘second one’ to Shadowlight’s ‘prime leader,’ isn’t she?”
“Mother Bear might be a more apt name,” Daryna said dryly.
Gregory nodded agreement. “A standard prime and his second are often father and son, brothers, or sometimes just long-standing
friends. But all are formidable warriors. Only the strongest of mind and body are granted the rule of the gargoyles.”
Again Lillian’s expression darkened. “At least Shadowlight is safe from what the Battle Goddess would have turned him into.”
Daryna shook her head. “You forget. Having rescued Shadowlight doesn’t change what he is, what he will grow into. Fate still has plans for those two cubs that even I cannot see. Seeing the future is not a gift the Divine Ones granted their Avatars.”
Lillian grunted, apparently not happy about Daryna’s words, but not denying them either.
“Even if fate has a dark path for Shadowlight to follow,” the Sorceress continued, “Anna, as his second, will be there every step of the way.”
Lillian just shook her head. “I don’t want to be the poor soul who has to tell Anna her fate is no longer her own.”
“I imagine the human already senses that or will discover that fact soon enough.” A small mysterious smile graced Daryna’s lips for a moment before vanishing.
Gregory wondered at the cause and decided he’d speak more on this topic when he had a chance to get Daryna alone. “The cub’s fate will not unfold for years to come. In the meantime, I shall start his training. I’ll even start with today’s hunt. It will do him good.”
For the first time, both Lillian and Daryna agreed on something. Together, hidden by his shadow magic, they sought out the youngest gargoyle.
Chapter Seven
Merciful light. It looked like the seemingly endless, dreary, useless meeting was finally going to be over. Shadowlight’s ears perked up. As he listened from his lair under what Gran called a conference table, he heard the humans gathering together their reports and the scraping of chairs as the officers stood.
Earlier he’d squeezed in between Gran and Anna’s chairs and crawled under the table for a nap. To keep from getting kicked in the head or some other body part, he’d curled into a ball, practically sitting on Anna and Gran’s feet.
It was the sound of chairs sliding back that had woke him. Yawning, he shifted and stretched.
He’d been too wound up from the aftermath of the battle with Commander Gryton to sleep and had settled for following Anna around most of the night. His shadow magic hid him from sight and only Gran, and perhaps Major Resnick knew he was presently under the table.
Resnick was observant for a human and had noted when Anna had shifted her chair enough to allow him under the large table.
“It’s settled then, for now,” Resnick was saying, “I’ll stop by the labs and tell them that they will have a few volunteers coming in shortly.”
From Shadowlight’s understanding, the scientists had wanted a female and male from each Fae species to study. Gran had—to steal a phrase from Anna—shot that down. Only volunteers would go to the scientists, and even then there would be other Fae present to make sure no samples ever left the lab.
He supposed it was wise. Blood had power in more than just the Magic Realm. And Gran had muttered something about cloning and immortality.
Shadowlight knew what immortality meant, but he didn’t know the word cloning, and none of his father’s memories helped either. Hmmm. He’d ask Anna later.
Other conversations drifted around the room but he focused on Resnick’s whispered aside to Gran. “But there will be volunteers?”
He’d made it a question, but Shadowlight sensed it was more of a statement.
“Of course,” Gran said with a chuckle. “We can’t have your scientists turning poor Anna into a pincushion and draining all her blood, now can we?”
They wished to drain Anna’s blood?
Shadowlight growled threateningly as he hauled himself out from underneath the table.
When he was free, he shoved Anna’s chair behind him and stood guard, his muscles bunching in preparation to lunge and his tail flicking with battle readiness.
“Damn it, kid!” Anna hissed under her breath and added a sharp ‘Shadowlight behave’ for the benefit of the other humans in the room. She grabbed his shoulder, her short talons digging in painfully.
“Has that creature been here the entire time?” Colonel Tremblay asked, his tone hostile.
Resnick cleared his throat. “He came in just behind Anna and Vivien. Then promptly disappeared into thin air. I assumed everyone saw him pull his vanishing act.”
“Your job is not to assume,” came the sharp reply.
“Sorry, sir,” Resnick said and then added in an afterthought. “I’ll see to the young gargoyle’s education. He’s adopted Corporal Mackenzie as his surrogate and looks to her for guidance.”
“Good for him. Now get him trained.”
“Gentleman,” Gran said as she pushed back her chair and picked up her wooden staff. “He’s not a dog, and if you try to treat him like one, the demigods will hear about it. I can assure you of that.”
Shadowlight knew adopted was something one did to give a person a family after they’d lost their own. The concept worked for Shadowlight. Anna helped fill the void left by the absence of his parents.
Thoughts of his father—a stone statue who might or might not awaken again in some distant time—came to him. And if that wasn’t bad enough, his mother was severely hurt. Anna said she was in a deep coma. Focusing on his parents hurt his heart, tightened his throat, and brought the dampness of tears to his eyes.
“It’s my fault, Sir.” Anna loosened her hold on Shadowlight’s shoulder and walked around to stand in front of him. “I didn’t think to tell him not to come. I figured it’s better than leaving him to his own devices.”
More dark looks were cast about the room and aggression scent filled the air, but after another long awkward pause, the one called Colonel Tremblay merely pushed back his chair and stood. “Major, you’re responsible for both the Corporal and the gargoyle child.”
The comment got a sharp affirmative from Resnick. After that, the meeting room finished emptying until only Gran, Anna, and Resnick remained behind with him.
“Did I do something wrong?” He didn’t like the thought of getting his new friends into trouble.
“Nothing you did, kid,” Anna said and then ruffled his mane affectionately. “Just human insecurity at its best.”
He bumped his muzzle under her hand looking for more scratches.
She obliged as she addressed Major Resnick. “How soon until I report to the lab?”
“You look like shit. Get a couple hours sleep. I’ll tell Fleming he can have you after fourteen-thirty. Vivian wants to introduce me to a few of the Clan and Coven council members around thirteen hundred hours and discuss the possibility of training demonstrations. I want you there to help smooth the edges. Gran says the Fae consider you one of theirs now. I’m going to use and abuse that to secure their full cooperation.” Resnick sighed, sounding nearly as tired as Shadowlight felt. “The last thing we need is a violent misunderstanding to destroy the fledgling peace treaty while it’s barely hours old.”
“I’m all for the use and abuse of power in the name of peace,” Gran chuckled and patted Resnick’s shoulder. “That’s why we’re going to make a great team. We’ll keep all the faction so busy they won’t have time to bicker.”
Anna snorted and muttered a ‘good fucking luck’ under her breath that Shadowlight was sure no one was supposed to hear.
He reared up to walk on two legs and followed the others as they left. When he caught up with Anna, he asked, “We make a good team, don’t we?”
Anna laughed. “Yeah, kid. We’re a good team. Don’t worry. I won’t allow anyone to separate us.”
Warmth suffused him at the fierce undertone of her words. Reaching along the magical tether that had been created when he’d saved her life by sharing his blood, he touched her mind. Her thoughts were full of strength, loyalty and the need to protect him.
Their mental link was growing stronger. So too was Shadowlight’s magic. New knowledge awoke daily alongside more of his father’s memories. One such piece of i
nformation was the awareness he was now strong enough to issue orders to Anna and she would obey.
It was a dark power, one that he didn’t intend to use against her, or anyone else for that matter. Yet there was one thing that terrified him almost enough to call on that ability.
A vision of what Gryton had done to his parents flashed through his mind’s eye.
He reached out and grasped Anna’s shoulder, forcing her to stop and face him.
Before he could stop them, words came pouring out of his mouth. “Promise you won’t ever leave me.”
Those six words were more than just sounds given meaning. There was a command buried deep within them. One that made Anna stand straighter and the weariness fall away from her features.
“Oh, kid, you have my word.” Anna’s expression turned fierce. “I’ll do my damnedest to protect you and nothing, short of death, will ever keep me away for long.”
“I’m glad.” Shadowlight felt foolish tears misting his eyes, and he blinked them away.
“That’s what big sisters are for, kid.”
Shadowlight nodded and broached another topic somewhat uncertainly, “Will you come with me to visit my mother?”
Anna’s fierce expression turned softer, her dark eyes glittering with some strong emotion.
“Of course I will. We can go now if you like. I can grab a nap later.”
Shadowlight nodded, feeling happier. “Thank you.”
Anna chuckled and ruffled his mane. “Anytime, kid. Come on.” She turned and started away, her long legs caring her across the distance quickly. Shadowlight dropped to all fours and loped after her.
Chapter Eight
Anna found herself hesitating at the door outside River’s room. Shadowlight’s mother was in a hospital bed with various tubes, hoses, monitors, and wires trailing away over the side of the bed. The readings on the monitors meant little to Anna, but she knew this Fae was in a deep coma. What she hadn’t the heart to tell Shadowlight was that no one knew how long his mother would remain in one.
It was a miracle she was even still alive.
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