Stone Guard

by Emma Alisyn

  “Hi,” she said. “New employee or volunteer?”

  “Volunteer,” the woman said and smiled, dimples flashing, and held out a manicured hand. She wore simple, khaki capris and a blue knit blouse with a draped neckline. Classic, and feminine. “You’re Bea—we’ve bumped into each other before, but I’m sure you don’t remember. Niko and Veda chatter about you all the time.”

  Bea took her hand. “You’re friends with . . . . ” Bea trailed off, then slapped her forehead with her free hand. “I see the resemblance now! But I didn’t know they had another sister.” She hesitated. “Are you a gargoyle?”

  Stacia laughed. “You sweet girl. I’m their mother.”

  She blinked, surprised. She was pretty good at pinpointing gargoyles in human form. They just weren’t that good at containing their . . . energy. Though Prince Malin was better at it than most.

  Stacia must have seen her thoughts. “I’m only half-gargoyle.” Her smile was understanding. “It’s hard to tell when the sun is up, I know. Why don’t you show me what needs to be done before Veda gets here? If I’m already working, she’ll be less likely to shoo me out.”

  Niko and Veda’s mother was a pleasure to converse with. Soft spoken with a quiet wit. She seemed to take genuine pleasure in the work that needed to be done, and the two women chatted amiably off and on until trucks pulled in with that week’s produce. She eyed Stacia’s outfit, thought about how Niko would react if he saw his mother doing hard manual labor, and opted to send Stacia to the front to deal with the inevitable early risers who wanted a peek before they were actually open.

  Bea put her back into unloading the cardboard boxes and taking them to the back counter where they’d be sorted and inventoried then placed into the subscription crates for the weekly produce packages. The boxes came in fifty and seventy-five pound increments, and despite the fact that she was used to lugging around laundry and furniture, it was still challenging.

  “Why are you doing this? It’s a job for a male.”

  Bea immediately straightened from her lean against the sorting table and turned as Niko entered the back, thumping a stack of three large boxes onto the table. “It’s my job, and it’s good exercise.”

  He glared at her. “Exercise by sorting. I’ll do the lifting.”

  She knew he didn’t mean to be rude, or rather he didn’t care that he was rude because in his mind he was doing the right thing. It helped. A little.

  “Did Veda send you?” she asked when he returned. “I told her I could handle it on my own for a few hours.”

  “No.”

  “No what?”

  “Are you offended I’m helping you?”

  Whenever a gargoyle used the word offended . . . . “No. I just want to know if Veda’s lost confidence in my work.” Because whether she was getting paid or not, Bea wanted to make sure that weekly box of food was not charity, but fully earned.

  He grunted. “You work like a soldier. I’m here for another reason.”

  She waited, because in the course of normal conversations with humans, he would have automatically followed that statement with an explanation. Bea realized this was Niko, though, and refused to ask.

  He smiled a little, glance knowing. “I’m here to make sure there are no more incidents with my family.”

  Her mind immediately went to the run-in with his father. She licked her lips. “Am I—was he upset?”

  “He can be upset all he wants as long as he stays away.”

  Niko’s tone chilled her. He must have read the emotion on her face, because he said softly, “Don’t be afraid of me, Bea. You’ll never have anything to fear from me.”

  He turned away after that, and they continued to work in silence for several minutes. Bea turned his words over in her mind, trying to figure out if they meant something more than face value. Was he saying he cared about her? Was he saying that he was trying to protect her? And if so, why?

  “How’s my mother doing? Be honest.”

  She glanced at him, startled. “She’s wonderful. I hadn’t realized how quiet it was with Veda gone.”

  Niko visibly relaxed, and it was then she realized how tense he’d been, even in his usual silence. “She doesn’t get out of the house much.” He glanced towards the front. “I hope she’ll like it here. I’d like her to have something relaxing to do.”

  The note in his tone was both sweet, and sad. There was a reason he wanted his mother out of the house, and a reason he was obviously protective. Bea thought about all the reasons why a son would feel like that, and none of them were good. He was standing across from her at the sorting table, a hand resting on the top. His fingers were long, and well shaped, the skin smooth and youthful. Clean nails, cut short and glossy with health.

  Impulsively, she reached across and laid her hand on his. “I think the customers will love her. She has a very soothing energy. It was a good idea to bring her here.”

  He glanced at her hand on his, and stilled. Bea pulled away, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to touch you without—”

  “Bea. It’s fine.”

  “You know my name.”

  “Of course, I know your name.” His expression was quizzical. “We’ve been around each other for weeks.”

  She had, which was why when she’d first realized he was Veda’s brother, having recognized him first from visits to Prince Malin’s office, she’d been startled. It was a small, gargoyle world apparently.

  “Do you have a male?”

  She blinked, a little disoriented by the change of topic. “You mean a boyfriend? Umm . . . no. I’m divorced.”

  “How long ago?”

  “It’s been at least four years. He remarried.”

  “And you have a daughter.”

  “How did you know that?”

  His lips curved, though there was no humor in his eyes. They were intense, focused on her face. “You’ve brought her with you a few times. I’ve watched you.”

  “Oh. Well, yes, I have a daughter.”

  “Who protects you? A beautiful female and her young shouldn’t be left alone in a city with predators.”

  “Are you talking about the human or the gargoyle predators?” Because there were plenty of both, and also plenty of single mothers walking around. There had always been single mothers. His concern confused her.

  Wait. Had he just called her beautiful? She stared at him.

  “I’ve already made known what I’ll do to any gargoyles who disturb you,” he said, then shrugged and turned away. “I have to go check in for duty. Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being kind to my mother.”

  He disappeared into the front of the greenhouse, leaving Bea to wonder exactly what he meant, and ponder the flash of complete, utter adoration in his eyes. His mother was a very lucky woman.

  5

  Niko landed his personal airtran and entered the Garden through the back. It was late afternoon, the sun almost down, and Veda hadn’t answered her comm. He’d called his mother as well, but she was in the market and unworried—he hadn’t had the heart to tell her about the foul language against Veda or about the fight. But, knowing his father’s friends, and salacious talk he’d overheard about his sister—and had to respond to, leaving a few males in less than optimal condition and pissing Kausar off in the process—he’d worried some male might have come and harassed her. Either in retaliation or because she was seen as fair game due to his father’s open discontent over his daughter’s behavior.

  Shouts inside had him running, when he glimpsed two females engaged in combat and skidded to a halt, staring.

  “Score,” Veda crowed. “You’re getting the hang of it, girl! We’ll make you a warrior’s wife after all.”

  Bea circled her in a cute, sloppy beginner’s crouch, mock glowering. “I don’t want to be a warrior’s wife, I want to be a warrior.”

  She wore leggings that didn’t cover anything except the color of her skin, and a V-neck shirt with
a deep enough gap his cheeks heated, and he had to avert his eyes. Claws sprouted in his nail beds, fingers flexing involuntarily as his suddenly fevered imagination summoned a vivid image of her round flesh filling his hands. Her full mouth slack as she moaned beneath him, full thighs spread wide as he feasted.

  Niko swore, vicious, and cut the thoughts off. Not because they were unwelcome, but because he knew the more he entertained desire, the less he would be able to court her in a gentle fashion. A warrior only had so much self control, and she wouldn’t understand or accept a gargoyle male’s aggressive sexual advances as being a part of an honorable courtship. She might even see it as assault, if he allowed his heated blood to carry him down an inevitable path.

  He stepped forward and Bea’s eyes flickered, going towards him. She straightened, an odd expression on her face. “Sir Nikolau.”

  “Niko,” he said, voice rough.

  She glanced down, avoiding his eyes as she often did. He wanted to howl in frustration. Why was she afraid of him? He’d been so careful around her. Quiet, keeping his voice neutral, being as helpful as he could to show her that his strength was at her disposal. But, she still shied away.

  “Uh . . . I’ll go sluice off in the bathroom and get back to work,” she muttered, and sidled away.

  His gaze followed her and he took a step as she fled.

  “Niko,” Veda said sharply, snapping her fingers.

  “What?”

  “Down, boy. The pheromones are gagging me.”

  He ground his teeth. Sisters. “Are not.”

  “Oh, yeah?” She stared at him. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you on duty?”

  “You didn’t answer your comm. I was worried.”

  “Oh, okay. Sorry about that, I was showing Bea some of those moves you trained me on.”

  He took a deep breath, inhaling pollen and dust and the scent of his sister’s sweat. It cleared his head, started to settle his nerves. “If she wants to learn, a real warrior should train her.”

  When Veda glanced away he knew he’d hurt her feelings. “I didn’t mean you’re not a warrior.” Oh, fuck. “Maybe I should train you both. If you’re going to do this, it’s better you do it right.”

  Her eyes widened. “For real? No more putting me off?”

  “No.” Especially since she’d inadvertently drawn the attention of some of the ruder males in the guard circle. He couldn’t be around to protect her always. And, he especially couldn’t always be around to protect Bea. Not until she was his. “We’ll start soon.”

  Veda grinned. “Awesome, bro. Thank you. I’ll tell Bea.”

  Bea exited the small bathroom she’d used as makeshift locker room. It wasn’t meant to be a locker room, so she hadn’t done more than sluice off the worst of the sweat, apply a fresh deodorant patch and change her t-shirt.

  She opened the door and stepped out, then shrieked when a shadow moved in front of her.

  “You’ll have to learn a different response than that if you’re going to learn to defend yourself, little warrior,” Niko’s amused voice said.

  “Sir Nikolau.” She stiffened. “You startled me.”

  “I meant to.” He came into the light, a small smile on his lips. “You did well with Veda.”

  “Thank you. She said you taught her.”

  “Yes. A little.” He just stared at her, the smile now gone, replaced by his usual implacable expression. Bea moved forward, edging around him warily. Why was he just staring at her?

  “Umm . . . well. Okay. Have a good evening.”

  He shifted. Just slightly, changing the angle of his shoulders, but it was enough of a demand that she halted.

  “I didn’t think a human woman would be able to take to our way so well,” he said. “My mother’s mother . . . well. She wasn’t a warrior.”

  “I’m just a mother, too.”

  His fingers ghosted under her chin, raising her face to force her to stop avoiding his eyes.

  “Mother’s are warriors of a kind, but I think you have a different sort of spirit in you. I’m curious.”

  “Is your curiosity going to—“ she cut the words off, because they were supposed to have stayed in her head.

  “Going to what?”

  “Nothing.”

  His eyes lowered to her mouth, and the light touch of his fingers turned into a thumb on her lower lip.

  “Forgive me,” he murmured. “You haven’t given me the right to touch you. But yes, I think my curiosity is a dangerous thing for you. If that was what you were going to ask.”

  He released her and turned away, and she exhaled, shaky. She’d thought he’d been about to kiss her, and she was nearly certain a kiss from him would be the first skirmish in an advance to claim her mind, as well as her body.

  Veda and Nikolau were both intense that way. They just didn’t make gestures, even small ones, for the hell of it.

  Just as the tension left her body he turned, crossed the few feet between them, and seized her by the back of her neck. So quickly, his touch so gentle, that she didn’t react until it was too late.

  Until his mouth was covering hers, and she felt what it was like to have the ‘curiosity’ of a high ranking warrior fully focused on her.

  Bea grabbed his lower arms, simply for balance because the shock of lust through her body nearly melted her knees. And then he broke away, and this time though his face was still expressionless, his eyes burned.

  Bea touched her lips, and it took her a moment to get the word out. “Why?”

  “I couldn't help it. I needed to know.”

  “Know what?” She couldn’t explain why a simple kiss shook her to the core, other than her instinct that he would be a very difficult male to handle properly, and if she didn’t want him it would be . . . tricky . . . to extricate herself.

  But, she did want him. She just didn’t think wanting him was good for her life.

  “If I was imagining my feelings for you,” he said, voice almost casual. “I wasn’t. Now I know.”

  She didn’t call him back when he left this time, didn’t demand an explanation. If she knew him at all from the several weeks being in his presence, she knew an explanation, and an opening move, would be coming soon.

  Although he wanted to hunt the human woman back down and pin her to a wall and teach her why she shouldn’t be afraid of him—yeah, as if that would really teach her not to fear—he left. Forced himself to leave, though he could have lifted her onto the nearest table and explored his burgeoning desire. His comm unit blinked as he was about to launch into the sky and Kausar’s irritated face appeared in the screen.

  “Sir.”

  His teacher glared at him. “This was a shitty time for you to put down two of Prince Geza’s guard, boy.”

  “They were talking dirty about my sister. I’m not letting that go for anyone, not even the Prince.”

  “There’s consequences. You get to come to the party tonight.” Niko grimaced before he could stop his expression. Kausar snorted.

  “Fine,” Niko said. “I’ll be there.” As he disconnected, an idea came to him. A party was the perfect place to get a human woman who was already half acclimated to gargoyles to relax, and possibly see him in a non-threatening light. Prince Malin would likely be there, and maybe even Surah. Turning around, he went back into the warehouse.

  “Veda.”

  His sister jumped, and whirled, glaring at him. “You startled me.”

  He grinned. It was fun sneaking up on her. “If you want to be a warrior when you grow up, little girl, you’re going to have to do better than that.”

  “What do you want, Nikolau?”

  He crossed his arms, considered the ramifications of revealing himself even a little to his mischievous, little sister, and sighed. “Prince Geza is having a party tonight.”

  “So, what is new?” She rolled her eyes.

  “I want you to come. And invite Bea.”

  Veda stared at him for a long moment then grinned. “That is new.
Well. Well. Well. I knew it.”

  Sisters were irritating. “You didn’t know anything.”

  “Oh, yes I did. You’ve been stalking her for weeks. Your wings practically quiver when she’s around.”

  “They do not. That’s ridiculous.”

  “Wiko wiiiikes Bea,” she sing-songed, then danced out of his way as he swiped at her. “Just wait till I tell Arthur. I can’t even wait to see the look on his face when he realizes you like a human . . . ” she sobered abruptly. “Niko. She’s not one night stand material.”

  He was irritated. “I know that. Have I ever harmed a female?”

  “No. But you’ve left a few broken hearts behind you.”

  It was his turn to roll his eyes. “Right. Just bring her, all right? Before I think of speaking to her, I need to see how she’ll handle a social situation with a number of us. It doesn’t matter if I like her if she can’t . . . integrate well.”

  Veda sighed. “I know.” There were plenty of stories of humans who’d tried to merge into the gargoyle world and fled. They couldn’t accept the volatility of nightshifter natures. And the undercurrent, even after centuries of closely integrating the two societies, of gargoyle hostility against the ’weaker’ humans. Or human condescension of ‘savage’ shifters.

  “Keep an eye on her. She’ll be a temptation to some of the wastrels there.”

  Veda’s expression darkened, and she nodded. “I’ll bring her, but damn you, if you play games with her, I’ll kick your ass.”

  "You were distracted in practice,” Veda said, coming up behind her.

  "I know. I have a lot going on.” What would it be like if she had a brother like Niko, who could go . . . talk some sense into Ben? Or a boyfriend. She glanced at Veda. “Did you talk to Niko about me? He’s acting weird. He usually just ignores me.”

  “Has he bothered you?”

  “No! Nothing like that. He just . . . ” she bit her lip, wondering if she was causing drama for no reason. “He asked if I had a boyfriend. And, he said he’d . . . I don’t know, something like he’d made it clear no gargoyles were to bother me. Did he mean me, or us, here at the Garden?”