At last he looked up. “Interesting. Fed upon your power but you weren’t able to detect what spell she used?”
“Correct.” Anna’s statement had a little questioning lilt at the end.
“Hmmm. Very interesting.”
“Out with it, Old Man,” Anna barked.
Thayn’s grin stretched his lips wide, showing rows of gleaming teeth. “I might be old, Young One, but that means I’ve learned patience. Something you’re clearly still struggling with.”
“Can’t deny that,” Anna muttered.
“I need to meet this extraordinary mortal to confirm my suspicions,” Thayn said and then dropped to all fours and sprinted away.
“Damn it,” Anna shouted. “Wait for us!”
AFTER A SWIFT RUN, Obsidian was once again in the extensive gardens and pathways that surrounded the spa complex. He followed as Thayn continued unerringly to the large stone cottage where Gran and her family lived.
“Is it just me,” Anna asked, “or does he seem rather too familiar with this area? Do you think the old fart has been spying on the Avatars on his own even though he said he wouldn’t?”
“I think that is a very accurate guess,” Obsidian agreed. “I wonder what all he’s learned and kept from us?”
“Probably all the good stuff.”
“If you two are finished talking about me,” Thayn whispered into their minds as he halted in the path ahead, “we’re here.”
They came around a gentle curve in the pathway to see the back wall of the stone cottage come into view. At the moment, no one was in this section of the garden or sitting on the porch, but they could hear voices from within.
Thayn strutted boldly up the stairs and onto the veranda where he peered into the back windows.
A familiar smell drifted to Obsidian and old memories surfaced. Gran’s cookies. Chocolate chips and peanut butter and something that smelled like tri-berry pie.
Thayn drew in a deep breath and made a purring sound of appreciation. Obsidian shouldered the elder aside and gazed into the window. Gran was within, using a spatula to remove freshly baked cookies from a pan. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten in hours.
“Watch your step. Or you’ll slip in a puddle of your own drool,” Anna whispered into his mind as she moved past them and made straight for the door.
Disgruntled that his Kyrsu had entered what might now be unfriendly territory before he had, he hurried into the house.
Thayn followed them in.
On the lookout for squeaky floorboards, he followed Anna deeper into the kitchen. His Kyrsu was stealthy, making no sound that would betray their arrival.
Thayn came last but cut out around Obsidian and boldly approached Gran.
Obsidian’s adopted mortal grandmother stood with her back to them, unaware of the gargoyles invading the kitchen.
He was about to suggest Anna take human form and alert Gran of their arrival—a familiar face would be a lot less intimidating than the sudden appearance of three gargoyles—but Thayn acted faster.
Obsidian froze as the eldest of the gargoyles leaned around Gran and stole a cookie off the cooling rack. He popped it into his mouth whole and his tail stilled.
It took to the count of thirty for his tail to swing back into motion. But it was the slow flick of contentment, rather than curiosity or mischievousness.
After a brief hesitation, the elder leaned forward and stole another cookie. He was reaching for a third when Gran smacked his hand with the spatula.
“An exchange of names would be nice before you steal any more of my cookies.” Gran’s stern voice rang out across the kitchen.
The gargoyle elder laughed and released his hold on his shadow magic shield. Gran turned and looked him up and down, not rattled by the gargoyle leaning over her with the cookie still clasped in his hand.
“And you are?” She asked, the spatula smacking rhythmically against the palm of her other hand.
Thayn stepped back and gave her a bow. “I am called Adept Thayn and have the dubious distinction of being the most ancient of the gargoyles. And by what name may I call you, most delightful of cooks?”
She arched an eyebrow, taking in Thayn’s form. “You don’t look very ancient.”
“Gargoyles do not age physically, but I assure you, I am very old. And your name again?” He bowed a second time, then caught her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles before he straightened.
Gran laughed at his deep bow. “Vivian. But most around here just call me ‘Gran’ for grandmother.”
Thayn tilted his head, his lips stretching with humor. “You are far too young to be called Gran. Vivian is a beautiful name. I shall use that if you are not averse to its use.”
“I’m not.” Then Gran grumbled in an attempt to hide her blush. “Wouldn’t have told you my name if I didn’t want you to use it.”
Anna bumped Obsidian’s shoulder. “Is it just me, or is Thayn flirting with Gran?”
“I,” Obsidian paused and tilted his head as he studied the elder’s body language. “I think you’re correct. Though I’m not sure what game he’s playing. They only just met.”
Anna broke out in sudden laughter. “I think I can guess. Dryads have a phrase that is very similar to one we have on earth. It means the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Truer words I’ve never heard when it comes to gargoyles. You all love food.”
“That goes for you too,” Obsidian remarked.
Anna’s eyes narrowed.
Obsidian was still holding back chuckles when Gran held out the plate of cookies in his direction, though her words were for Thayn.
“Why don’t you tell the other two gargoyles to drop their invisibility acts and come over here and have some cookies and make introductions?”
Anna glanced at Obsidian. “How the hell did she know we were here?”
Thayn just looked in their direction. “You’ve been found out. Might as well show yourselves. I imagine Vivian will be happy to see you both.”
With a shrug, Obsidian released his magic. Anna followed a moment later.
Gran eyed his appearance. “Well, aren’t you a big one!”
Then her eyes shifted to Anna and froze. Whatever she’d been about to say forgotten on her tongue.
After a count of ten, Gran closed her mouth and nodded to his Kyrsu. “You’re female. Which can only mean you’re Anna. Welcome back, my dear! Gryton told us what the blood witch did to you and that Shadowlight took you to the Lord of the Underworld to save your soul. But even Gryton wasn’t sure if Lord Death could save your life.”
“It was close,” Anna agreed.
Obsidian felt when Anna’s mind turned back to that time. Instinctively, he reached out and gave her a comforting lick.
Gran didn’t miss the little intimacy. She focused on him with greater scrutiny. He could see her battling with her disbelief and doubt until she gave herself a little shake as if it was that easy for her to cast aside her doubts.
“Shadowlight!” She opened her arms wide. “Come, give your Gran a hug.”
Obsidian stalked across the space and scooped her up in his arms. Chuckling, she returned his hug as hard as she could. When he allowed her feet to touch the ground, she reached behind her and grabbed the plate of cookies and held them out to him.
“Go on, I know you want them. You cannot have changed that much.” Then she gave his height and broad shoulders another look and shook her head again. “Or maybe you have. Still, I can’t see you not liking my baking.”
“I’ve missed it and you a great deal,” he admitted as he scooped up a cookie from the plate. She offered them to Anna next. His Kyrsu just shrugged and then grabbed two of the still-warm cookies.
“How did this,” Gran paused and gestured at his height, “happen in so short a time?”
“It has been close to fourteen years for me,” he admitted, seeing no point in lying to Gran.
“Fourteen years?” Shock registered on her face bef
ore she schooled her expression.
“It has only seemed like a few months for me,” Anna interjected, “since I took a stone nap for the rest of it. I can relate to the shock of seeing the new Shadowlight for the first time.”
“Goddess of the Moon,” Gran breathed, “this will be a long tale, won’t it?”
“Indeed,” Thayn agreed. “Best we bring all this lovely food with us. If my memory isn’t failing me, the male half of the Avatars always has a healthy appetite.”
“He still does,” Gran said as she turned back. “I was just getting this ready to take to them and the others, anyway. Let me just get the tea ready, and we’ll be all set to have a long chat.”
The kettle was just starting to boil when the door between the kitchen and living room swung open. “I came to help carry the goods down to the—”
Jason stopped short at the sight of three gargoyles occupying the kitchen. Obsidian would have called greetings in the human tongue, but presently, his mouth was full of cookies. Not that Jason gave anyone a chance to respond. With a shout, he darted back through the kitchen door faster than Obsidian thought humans could move. Jason’s footsteps swiftly receded deeper into the house.
Gran sidestepped Thayn to glance around his wings. “Was that my grandson?”
“Yep,” Anna said, pushing the door open to glance into the empty living room. “That was Jason, and I’m pretty sure he’s gone for reinforcements.”
“Hmmm. It will save us all having to carry this down to the dungeon, I suppose.”
“A dungeon?” Thayn asked, sounding delighted by the news.
Gran faced him. “You never know when you will need a nice cage with stout bars and powerful warding.”
“True.”
Anna’s thoughts brushed Obsidian’s a moment before her voice was in his head. “Gran and Thayn. I’m not sure if any of the realms are ready for their meeting.”
Obsidian laughed, drawing the gazes of the two in question. “I think Gran and Thayn will hit it off to the detriment of everyone else.”
“Goddess, imagine the pranks the two of them will get up to!”
“It will be interesting.”
Gran cleared her throat to get their attention. “It’s not nice to talk about us behind our backs.”
“It is not,” Thayn agreed, a note of mock threat in his tone.
“Ah, fuck,” Anna hissed mentally. “We’re in deep shit now.”
Chapter 20
Lillian
AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL hunt to find the two trespassers, Lillian and Gregory had returned to the cottage. Now she stood in the secret chamber one level below the basement. Off in one side of the room, three cages sat looking ominous. Only one of them was occupied.
A part of her hated to see Gryton locked in a cage, but she also knew it was the safest place for him and everyone else. Thankfully, Private Emerson had a strong moral compass, and she’d been quick to come to Gryton’s defense since he’d been acting to protect the hamadryad from gargoyles with unknown intentions.
The alliance didn’t need a greater wedge between the different factions than already existed by the revelation that Commander Gryton was their son.
But at the moment, Lillian had a more significant concern—a mother’s worry. “I don’t like that two Legion gargoyles were examining our daughter.”
“They did not harm her. And I can’t believe that any gargoyle would harm an innocent child. Perhaps they were only reassuring themselves that she will not grow up to be another demigod like Gryton.”
His words were full of confidence, but she knew her protector well. He, too, feared another attempt at her hamadryad which was why he’d taken time to add several more layers of protection that would—if not stop another gargoyle—at least slow him down.
“They are learning our defensive capabilities,” Gregory offered at last. “They may also be waiting until they adjust to this realm’s lack of magic before confronting us about Gryton.”
She compressed her lips. “That’s not a comforting thought.”
“No,” he agreed.
Private Emerson approached them.
“I hope I’m not interrupting ma’am, but Major Resnick wants me to subtly ask if either of you will have a problem with me keeping Gryton drained until we satisfy Command with the new security measures. Clearly, the ones in place weren’t enough to hold him.”
Gregory huffed. “I am more than happy to have you keep him depleted.”
Lillian elbowed him in the side, and he added, “For now. Until everyone is satisfied.”
Erika turned to Gryton and grinned as she stomped over to his cage. “You hear that? You’re now a Null’s all-you-can-eat buffet.”
As humorous as Lillian found the Erika-Gryton dynamic, it still couldn’t defuse the tension in the room, which was probably why Gran had left forty minutes ago to whip up something to put everyone in a better mood. Jason had just left to help.
As if her thoughts had summoned her human brother, there was a knock at the door. A moment later, Greenborrow released the ward.
Jason stuck his head in, his gaze seeking her out. “Hey. Found your gargoyles. They’re in the kitchen with Gran. Eating cookies.” He jerked his thumb to indicate somewhere in the upper levels of the house.
“One of them is the biggest damn gargoyle I’ve ever seen. Gran is positively crooning over him. Think you might want to come and have a look.”
With that, he vanished back out the door. Lillian glanced once at Gregory before they both broke into a run and chased after Jason.
Chapter 21
Gryton
HE CURLED HIS FINGERS around the bars of the cage and snarled. There were gargoyles here in the building, and his parents had just left him defenseless against his enemies. He narrowed his eyes as he concluded his sire and dam might just be the worst parents in the universe.
“You,” he snapped, directing his attention at the Null. “We need to follow them, find out what the gargoyles are really planning. I doubt it’s anything good for the Avatars or myself. And since the humans of this world have already bound themselves to my sire and dam, the Legion gargoyles might see you as the enemy as well.”
“Sounds like a good reason to stay away.”
But he could see the Null’s sharp mind working. She just needed a little nudge.
“You could neutralize a gargoyle as easily as you do me. Capture them and find out what they want.”
“And leave you here undefended so you can escape at the first opportunity? Nope.”
Gryton frowned at the human, undecided if he hated all humans or just her. He thought it might be just her.
He was still trying to glower a hole in the side of her head when one of the human soldiers approached the cage. “I’ve radioed the major this newest complication. He’s on his way back here with two more units. The rest of my team will stay and watch Gryton. He wants you to come with me and help capture one of these new gargoyles.”
“Yes, Captain Stanton. I’ll do my best to get close to one and incapacitate it.” After she’d addressed her superior, she glanced toward Gryton.
“You behave,” the Null whispered for his benefit.
He didn’t miss how the Null’s brows slanted as she looked over her shoulder at him a moment before she exited the room.
“Not for your asking,” he whispered after she’d gone. Grinning, he tested the bars. They gave under his tug.
While the use of his magic would have made his escape easier, he’d still be able to force the bars wide enough apart to grant his passage.
He waited until the guards were talking on the radio. Then with a flex of muscle and a dose of determination, he jerked the bars apart and launched himself from the cage as the wardspells lashed out at him.
Ignoring the vicious spells biting into his back and sides, he confronted the soldiers swiftly, taking them out before they could do much more than call for backup.
He was still feeling far from mellow, but h
e allowed the soldiers to live. Once the last one was unconscious at his feet, he sprinted from the room, swiftly climbing the stairs and emerging into the next level of the cottage.
Following the sound of Captain Stanton and the Null’s boots as they ran, he spotted the door that led to the kitchen still swinging, telling him which way she’d gone.
He stalked forward and shoved the door aside and nearly ran into the Null. She’d been forced to stop there, not able to venture further into the already crowded kitchen.
Gran stood with three gargoyles arranged around a central table. Another unit of human soldiers blocked the door leading outside, with more men stationed on the veranda. Nearer at hand, Lillian and Gregory stood confronting the three gargoyles. His mother’s human brother, Jason, hadn’t been lying.
The biggest gargoyle Gryton had ever seen was glowering at him. But that wasn’t what made his breath still in his lungs. A female gargoyle stood at the male’s shoulder. She was as beautiful and powerful as Gryton remembered her.
“Hello Anna,” he said in greeting. “I see you survived.”
“Gryton.” She tilted her head in acknowledgment.
He noted that Shadowlight had abandoned his plate of cookies and now curled a wing around Anna protectively. Or maybe that was possessively.
She rolled her eyes at Shadowlight and the gargoyle’s ears wilted with embarrassment, but he maintained his glower. After a moment, Anna nuzzled Shadowlight affectionately, and Gryton was certain they were speaking mind to mind.
He didn’t like the natural intimacy between the two. They felt like a long-established pair, as if they had been fighting side by side for centuries.
A moment later, he was disgruntled to realize he was jealous of a cub. He didn’t like the notion or that he wasn’t in control enough to snuff out unwanted feelings.
That was unacceptable.
“Hello, cub.” Gryton’s tone was mocking to cover his own unruly emotions.
The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9) Page 168
