by Faith Gibson
Simone offered Trevor a faint smile. “Thank you, Trevor. I just came downstairs for a drink of water, but I heard all the voices. Michael, has the doctor contacted you?”
“Yes, he just called. We now know what Desi was injected with, but we still don’t know what to do about it.”
“I’m calling Jonas. I’ll be right back,” Tessa said, excusing herself. She jumped over the railing, landing on the pathway below that led to the pool.
“I’m never going to get used to that,” Rae said as she shook her head.
“Sure you will. Well, maybe not with Tessa, because that girl’s a mess,” Trevor said. “But the rest of the mates are actually really down to earth and sweet.”
“I heard that,” Tessa yelled, flipping Trevor the bird. He smiled and blew her a kiss. Sixx wanted that type of camaraderie for Rae, and now Simone. The two of them could use the love and caring of the other females. Even though Trevor was male, he was a great mate and fit in with the women, offering his support when he could.
Sixx kept one ear on Tessa’s conversation with her uncle and one on Trevor speaking with Simone. He hadn’t known Jasper and Trevor were coming to visit, but now that they were there, Sixx was glad. Simone needed someone to hold her hand while she held Desi’s, and there was no one more perfect for the job than Trevor. He understood more than anyone what she was going through.
Rae put her hand on Sixx’s shoulder as she told him, “I called Tyson and let him know we’ve found Desi. He insisted on coming to visit, but I told him that Desi was still unconscious, and as soon as he woke up, I’d call. That appeased him for now. Cynthia is putting out a notification that Desi’s been found, but the band would appreciate privacy until further notice. They may need the Clan’s help in keeping the press from hounding them.”
Tessa had finished her call with Jonas and was climbing over the railing. “I have good news and bad news. The good news is Jonas feels we can revive Desi. The bad news is he says we need to mix the blood of an Original with that of Simone’s.”
“You have Original blood, don’t you?” Trevor asked Tessa.
“Yes, but not as strong as a Gargoyle’s would be.”
“You can have my blood,” Banyan informed them.
Urijah stood up straight and pointed his glass at Banyan. “You? You’re not from Original blood. We grew up together, or have you forgotten?”
Banyan blanched at Uri’s statement. He obviously hadn’t forgotten. “I remember my upbringing very well. Even though you think you know everything there is to know about me, I can assure you that you do not.” He stood and turned his back on Uri, focusing on the others. He fisted his heart and declared, “I, Banyan Asmund Sorensen, do vow on my honor, my King, and all that is holy, that I come from an Original bloodline.”
Sixx inclined his head to Banyan, accepting his sacred vow. “Thank you, Brother. We need to get the doctor here to make the exchange.”
Trevor cleared his throat and looked to Jasper for permission, or maybe it was courage he sought. Jasper spoke for his mate. “Actually, Trevor brought all the necessary equipment to do the transfusion. He wanted to be prepared in case Lilly needed his assistance. He isn’t a medical doctor, but he is working toward that end. Sixx, I vouch for my mate when I say he can do this.”
Sixx trusted Jasper, therefore he trusted Trevor. “Go get your stuff,” Sixx instructed the human. “Banyan and Simone, let’s go into the kitchen where he has more room to work.” Sixx stepped toward the door when Rae grabbed his arm.
“Are you sure about this? I mean, does Jonas know this will work? And Trevor seems nice, but is he capable of a transfusion? Do they not need to know Desi’s blood type?” She bit her bottom lip and crinkled her forehead. Sixx had been around the Clan for hundreds of years and had learned to trust them. She had been around them less than a week.
“I’m sure, Doll. Gargoyle blood is a type, and I trust the Clan with my life. With our lives.” Sixx kissed his mate on the forehead and gave her a gentle push toward the door. Instead of remaining outside, the others followed, and soon the house was filled with family who all wanted Desi to wake up.
The normally jovial Trevor stepped into a different persona than Sixx had ever witnessed. The young man was confident in his skills and had a soft hand with a needle. He withdrew several small bags of Banyan’s blood before taking Simone’s. “Tessa, did Jonas say what the ratio should be?” he asked as he released the tourniquet from Simone’s arm. He placed a cotton ball at the point of injection then covered it with a bandage.
“Eighty-twenty, Banyan’s to Simone’s,” she confirmed.
“Excellent. I’ll prepare the I.V. and we’ll get started. Simone, if you would, go upstairs and tell Desi what’s about to happen. You might not think he can hear you, but he can. Jasper can attest to that.”
Simone left the room, and Trevor got busy mixing the blood. Lilly followed Simone upstairs, carrying a small bundle of sage. Sixx had no problem with the witch cleansing the room while asking for her Goddess’s blessings. When she came back downstairs and nodded at Trevor, he carried the bag of mixed blood up the stairs. Jasper followed with the other items Trevor would need. Once he had everything in place, Trevor stood staring at Desi. He softly touched Desi’s face, moving a long strand of hair away from his eyes.
“Hello, Desi. I’m Trevor. Normally I’d be fanboying all over your gorgeousness, but today I’m here to help you. I’m a mate, not a Gargoyle, but I vow to you, on Jasper’s honor, that I will do everything within my power to heal you and bring you back to your family. Simone’s here with you, and man let me tell you, the fates were good to you. She’s beautiful. But more than that, I can see the love in her eyes when she looks at you. That is more important than all her pristine mocha skin and long curly hair. Now, I’m going to insert an I.V. into your neck. I’m not sure how long it will take, but you’re going to get stronger, and you’re going to come back to us. Please.”
Trevor pulled on a pair of gloves and got busy. Sixx held his breath while the young human inserted the catheter into Desi’s neck, securing it in place with surgical tape. The bag of blood was hanging from a metal pole exactly like you’d see in a hospital. When Jasper said they came prepared, he hadn’t been kidding. When the blood was flowing down the tube and into Desi’s neck, Trevor moved out of the way so Rae could get in there and sit next to their son. Trevor walked into Jasper’s open arms and finally let the tears fall. Sixx stepped toward them and placed his hands on Trevor’s shoulders.
“Thank you, Trevor. You have no idea how much Rae, Simone, and I appreciate you flying out here to offer your support and your services. Not only Jasper, but the entire Stone Society Clan is blessed to have you in our family.” Sixx squeezed Trevor’s shoulders before turning to his own mate. Jasper led Trevor away from the room, giving them some privacy.
Before they hit the bottom of the stairs, Jasper mock whispered, “Gorgeousness? Really? You do know he’s the spitting image of Sixx, right?”
Through his tears, Trevor confirmed, “Yeah, and he’s gorgeous, too. Have you looked at him?” Jasper along with all the others laughed at Trevor’s answer. Sixx couldn’t see auras the way Lilly could, but if he had the ability, he knew Trevor’s would be bright yellow and full of sunshine. Sixx remained in Simone’s bedroom while she sang to Desi and Rae held his hand. He sent up a prayer to the gods asking for their mercy. Now, all they could do was wait.
Simone wanted to talk to Desi, but she felt self-conscious about it with his parents in the room, so instead, she sang. She knew she didn’t have the best singing voice, but she could carry a tune. Looking at Desi’s motionless body was taking its toll. It had to be that mate bond she’d been told about. If it were anyone else she barely knew, Simone would feel bad for the person having been kidnapped and lying unconscious. This feeling for Desi went deeper than anything she’d ever felt before, even for her mother. Simone had no idea who her father was, and since she was an only child, her mother was th
e only one who’d ever deserved a deep, unconditional type of love. Until Desi.
Simone had balked at the idea of the fates choosing her as a mate for one of the brightest stars in the music realm. Desmond Rothchild could have any woman he wanted. After watching the way Sixx was with Rae, it became clear to her that the fates knew what they were doing. Simone had never been around so much love in one place. And that wasn’t just for their mates. These people, Gargoyles, they were a family. The number of Gargoyles that accompanied them that morning to look for Desi had been great. They had dropped everything to come together for one of their own.
From what they’d told her, Desi had only been one of their own for about a week. Now, she was also one of theirs, whether she accepted it or not. She, Simone Campbell, a woman who only a few days ago had no family left in the world other than her mother and roommate, now had the Stone Society to call her family. It was all overwhelming. She wasn’t even going to think about them being non-humans. She would focus on all that later. Right now, she needed to pay attention to her man. Her male.
Rae and Michael stood from the bed. “We’re going to let you have some alone time with him. Call out to us if you need anything,” Rae said with a smile. She touched Simone’s cheek as she walked by. Simone smiled back, thinking herself lucky.
“Desi, it’s Simone. I hope I haven’t scared you off with my singing. I guess I should leave that to the professionals, huh?”
Desi didn’t answer, but Simone didn’t stop trying. The voices downstairs rose and fell. There was laughter and silence. Doors opening and closing. Every few minutes she talked to Desi, sometimes aloud, other times with her thoughts.
“Have you tried kissing him?” Trevor asked. Simone was in awe of the young man who looked like he belonged in a comic book store instead of studying to be a doctor.
“No, I haven’t. Although he did kiss me when he reached out to me.”
“He’s spoken to you?”
“Don’t get excited. It was in a dream, or so I thought.” Simone explained to Trevor how Desi came to her while she was asleep and then again a few hours later.
“Wow, your bond must be powerful if he found you and you aren’t even mates.”
“What do you mean?” Simone asked.
“The bond isn’t complete until he bites you. Sure, being around you caused him to transition, but until the fangs come out, it’s not a done deal. I was sitting pretty much where you are. Jasper was in a coma, and Lilly had performed the ceremony giving him the antidote. With the poison that Jasper had been given, he was paralyzed. He wasn’t getting better, and I found out he thought I was dead. He had lost hope, so I cut myself on his fangs to show him I was serious about being mates.”
Simone smiled at the thought of Trevor going to such great lengths for his Gargoyle. “Did it work?”
“Only after we laid him out in the snow.”
“The snow?” Simone couldn’t wait to hear the stories of the other mates if they were half as interesting as Trevor and Jasper’s.
“Jas lived in Europe for many years. He loves the snow, and had mentioned wanting to visit somewhere cold again. When he was in his coma, it was as if the gods knew what Jasper needed and sent us a shit ton of snow in New Atlanta. Gregor carried him outside for me. I lay down next to him, and the snowflakes worked their magic. We don’t have snow out here in California, so I thought maybe true love’s kiss would wake sleeping beauty.”
Simone laughed out loud at Trevor’s silliness. She had only just met him, but she knew in her heart they could become fast friends. “True love’s kiss, huh?”
“You do love him, don’t you? I mean, I heard your story. You don’t know him that well, but you could love him, right? Please tell me my favorite rock star is going to get his happy ending. Don’t make me go all diva on your mocha ass,” Trevor scowled.
“You better stop talking about her ass!” Tessa yelled from downstairs, and the others laughed.
Simone smiled. “I really like her.”
Trevor grinned. “Yeah, she’s a nutcase, but I wouldn’t trade her for anything. Tessa’s one of a kind, and I mean that in a good way. Now, I’m going back downstairs and pester the shit out of her. You keep trying to get our boy here awake.”
“Thank you, Trevor. As far as mates go, I have a feeling you’re pretty special yourself.” Simone kissed him on the cheek. Trevor blushed but smiled at her before making his way downstairs.
No kissing other boys.
“Desi?”
Yep, it’s me. Am I alive, or am I dreaming again?”
“You’re alive, but I need you to open those beautiful eyes and look at me.”
We’re trying. I mean... I’m trying.
“I know all about your shifter, so you can say we.”
You know? And you haven’t run for the hills? Wait, where am I, and what’s that pain in my neck?
“We’re at your parents’ house, so technically, we’re already in the hills. And no, I’m not running. I’ll stay as long as you want me to. The pain you feel is an I.V. We had to give you some blood.”
Why is it in my neck?
“Because your skin is too thick for the needle to protrude elsewhere.”
Will you be my mate?
“Do you want me to be your mate? I mean, I know the fates chose me for you, but you don’t have to say yes.”
Silly woman, why wouldn’t I want you? You’re gorgeous, you’re talented, you’re brave, you’re... do you want kids?”
Simone laughed. “Someday, but yes. Do you?”
As long as they look like you, I want a houseful. Simone?
“Yes, Desi...”
Kiss me. Please.
Simone smiled and leaned over Desi’s beautiful face. She pressed their lips together, lingering, tasting him for the first time. When she started to pull away, Desi wrapped his arm behind her head, trapping her. He parted his lips and drew her in for a real kiss. Oh yes, she’d be his mate if he kissed her like this every day.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Rae was enjoying the peace and quiet of sitting on the patio. Desi was awake, and according to Dr. Mercato, was well on his way to a full recovery. He was his father’s child, after all. When Desi regained consciousness the night before, Rae had never been so relieved in her life. Seeing her son gaze lovingly at Simone made her heart soar. All she ever wanted for Desi was a full life. Full of happiness, success, and love. Now, his life was full of family, too. The door opened, and Simone stepped outside carrying a cup of coffee. “May I join you?”
“Of course, sweetheart. Desi wearing you out already?”
Simone sat down in the chair next to her and laughed. “No, but his fan club was keeping him company so I could take a shower. I figure I’m going to have him for a very long time, so it’s only fair that I share a little of him with the guys before they leave and head back to New Atlanta. I don’t know who’s more enthralled, though. Desi’s smitten with Trevor.”
Desirae could see why. When Trevor wasn’t pestering the crap out of Tessa, he was entertaining the rest of them with stories from the morgue. “The band is coming over today. Sixx called Rafael earlier this morning, and he’s agreed we should tell the guys the truth of the Gargoyles.”
“This oughta be fun. Show and tell has taken on a whole new meaning. I still can’t believe this is my life now. Our life. When Desi bites me, I’ll look like this forever. He told me a little bit of what you went through. I’m really sorry you had to wait so long to find out the truth. That must have been hard for you.”
“It was, but if the pain of the last twenty-four years was what I had to endure to get to spend the rest of my life with Michael, it was worth it.”
Simone sipped her coffee then turned toward Desirae. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.” Desirae had already mentally prepared herself for Simone asking questions about sex.
“Did it hurt? Getting bit.”
That wasn’t the question she expecte
d. “Let’s just say it heightens the experience. I’m surprised, though, that he hasn’t already gotten to that point.”
“It’s been... difficult, keeping things less than... feral. Desi wants to keep things platonic until I’m sure about our future together, but I have no doubt that I want to be mated to your son. He insists on sleeping apart until I’m ready to be bitten. I’m ready. I know with Gargoyles, being mated is all that’s required, but Desi said if I decide to move forward with him, he wants to get married, too. Do you think we’re rushing things?”
Desirae knew why Simone was asking. She’d felt that same urge to rush things along when she and Michael were together before. Had he asked her to marry him after only a few days, she’d have said yes. “Not at all. You know you’re destined to be together. You went through a horrific ordeal to find your way to one another. The future is yours, so why wait? Besides, if anyone asks, you can tell them you’ve known each other for over a year. It’s the truth.”
Sixx stuck his head out the door. “The boys are here, Doll.”
“Thanks, Baby.” She smiled as Michael blew her a kiss before closing the door. “Nope. I don’t blame you at all. When you find the one, you grab on any way you can and hold on for dear life,” Desirae whispered. When she stood to go greet Desi’s bandmates, Simone was smiling at her. “Oh, shush,” she chastised the younger woman.
“I didn’t say a word.” Simone’s smile only got bigger. “Desirae, I’m really glad you and Michael are going to be my in-laws.”
“Me, too, sweet girl.”
The peacefulness Desirae had been enjoying quickly dissipated as soon as she stepped inside. Tyson, Zach, and Brett were in a group hug with Desi. She couldn’t tell where one began and the others ended. The four of them were as close as brothers. It was one reason she was glad they were telling the guys the truth about Gargoyles. “Pretty Momma!” Tyson yelled and grabbed Desirae up in a hug. Somewhere behind her, Michael growled. When Tyson didn’t immediately set her back on her feet, her mate closed the distance between them.
