Stone Guard

by Emma Alisyn

  “That’s how it is. The males act fast when they decide they want something. Malin said nothing to me for years and then, boom.” Surah clapped her hands together in an expressive gesture. “If you tell me you aren’t interested in Niko, I can make him back off. I am his Princess.”

  Now that the offer was on the table, Bea found she didn’t want it. “No. I think I’ll handle it.”

  “You like him?”

  She lowered her eyes. “I do.”

  “Well, just call if you need me to referee. My place is like a fort.”

  Bea nodded, headache roaring back to life. It seemed the effects of the bump on her head was catching up with her after all. "I don't mean to be rude, Surah, but I would like to sit back for a few minutes.”

  ”Of course," Surah said. "Just don’t go to sleep until I give the all clear. If there's anything else you need, let me know." Bea nodded and felt a sigh of relief as the princess left the room. She needed time to process everything that had happened.

  Time to decide if she was going to ride the coming wave or run for cover.

  9

  “The attempts are escalating,” Malin said, voice terse. They’d cleared the suite and retired to an antechamber. Guards were watching the females as a precaution.

  Niko stood at his side, arms crossed. Kausar was present as well, adding the voice of experience. Malin had called the small, private meeting with his brother in an attempt to convince Geza to take his own protection more seriously.

  Geza shook his head, arms folded. He was leaning back in his seat, ankles on the slick, black, coffee table. Niko couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the Prince work in his study. Papers were strewn over the couch and stuffed in file folders. Papers. Few people knew of Geza’s odd predilection for data printed on dead trees rather than neatly stored digitally, and it was a good thing. Paper was easily manipulated. Or lost. Or poisoned.

  “I’m not launching another investigation into the Mogrens when I just got them settled down. Lavinia’s execution was like pulling a dragon's tail. I want a few months of peace before I wave another red cape.”

  “You’re mixing metaphors,” Malin said, obviously annoyed. “If these attempts escalate without you taking drastic punitive action, they’ll think you’re weak.”

  Geza’s lids lowered over his eyes. “I don’t care what they think. I need peace and quiet for a few months. There are matters I have to see to.”

  “What matters?”

  Niko searched his memory, frowning. After being drafted into temporary, personal service after the fiasco the other night, he’d been given a three month itinerary of Geza’s meetings, travel plans, and public appearances. There wasn’t anything there to indicate business other than the usual.

  “If you must know, I’m searching for a wife,” the Prince said. “No female of worth will marry a Prince whose throne appears shaky.”

  The room was silent. Niko stared stonily at Geza. “Are you doing a formal bride hunt, Highness? The security for that needs to be arranged well ahead of time.”

  “Shit,” Kausar muttered. “If this gets out the clans will flood the area with every eligible female…”

  “No, no. Nothing so public.” Geza rose, paused, and kicked over a stack of books. “I’m sick to death of everyone chattering in my ear about how lovely and stable Malin’s marriage and family life is. What an example he is for young gargoyles.” Geza scowled at his brother.

  Malin smiled. “I am everything a good Prince should be.”

  “Why don’t you just meet me in the challenge circle then?”

  “Let me call my wife and tell her I won’t be home for dinner.”

  Geza rolled his eyes. “Call your wife. When I’m married, I won’t be henpecked like you are.”

  “Really? You must not be planning on siring garlings then, boy.”

  Kausar stepped forward, interrupting the brewing argument. “Sons.” He paused, expression grave. “We’ll need to take steps to protect the woman.”

  Niko’s jaw stiffened, and he suppressed his natural instinct to forcefully demand a 24-hour guard for Bea. “She made her loyalties known, and in a public fashion.”

  “I didn’t help anything by ceding such a task to her,” Malin said, a hint of chagrin in his voice. He sighed. “I’ll—”

  “No,” Niko said.

  Malin’s eyes narrowed. “No?”

  Niko met the Prince’s gaze, ignored the soft tone. “I want her. I don’t deserve her bed if I can’t protect her.”

  “It’s not that simple,” Kausar said, giving him an indeterminate look. “She’s Malin’s employee, and Surah’s friend. Those relationships will be seen as priority over the relationship you may have with her. She’ll be a target.”

  “Just work together,” Geza snapped. “And make sure she’s protected. She did me a service, and I won’t see her harmed for it. Can we get back to me?”

  “Fine, that’s settled,” Kausar said, and Malin shut his mouth. Even a Prince obeyed his teacher, when he used that tone. “We were discussing the action Prince Geza will take to discourage further assaults.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t.”

  They looked at Niko, who shrugged. “Go about as usual, no extra security—outwardly. Make them show their hand. They got away last time because we weren’t prepared. This time we will be, and you’ll have your proof the Mogrens are behind this. And then you can stamp out the whole clan, once and for all.”

  “It’s a decent idea. Arrange it. Oh—take the empty office in this hall. I’m unofficially promoting you.”

  “Does unofficially mean no raise?” Malin asked, voice dry. “You have to stop convincing the warriors that your attention is better than pay.”

  Geza looked annoyed. “Do I look like an accountant?”

  “You look like someone who is amazingly cheap except for throwing parties.”

  Niko bowed, and Geza waved at him, a casual dismissal. He retreated to his new office to get some work done, leaving the brothers to their bickering. Princes had the luxury of sitting around bickering all day. He was a working warrior, though—the time for tea and chat was over. Now it was time for action.

  And time to think about wooing a female, even though they were about to go to war. But did it matter? Even in war, there was still time for . . . courting.

  They didn’t let her leave until the following evening, just as the sun began to set, and Niko insisted on taking her home. “The situation is under control,” he said, “but your security precautions start now.”

  She needed to pick up Aeezah first, and she was hesitant about the idea of introducing Niko to her daughter. Exactly who would she say he was? They weren’t at the boyfriend stage yet, but it felt disingenuous to call him an acquaintance or co-worker.

  Bea sighed. “Okay. Are you riding with me or flying?” As uncomfortable as Veda had been crammed into her car, she couldn’t imagine Niko there.

  He looked at her, eyes penetrating. They were standing on the balcony of her room, looking out over the courtyard. “Would you like to fly?”

  “Airtrans are expensive.”

  “I won’t charge you. Not money, anyway.”

  She realized then what he meant, and the rush of heat through her body shocked her enough she took a step back. To fly, in his arms . . . the thought was exhilarating.

  “No. I think I should just—”

  He placed a finger on her lips, and this time the smile reached his eyes. “Stop lying, Bea.”

  Oh . . . darn. “You won’t drop me?”

  He opened his arms, and waited. “I can’t kiss you if you’re splattered all over the sidewalk.”

  It was a gruesome thought, but delivered so balefully she wanted to laugh. Bea settled for a grin and stepped forward. He didn’t wait. Wrapping arms around her waist, he whirled and leaped off the balcony. Bea shrieked as they dove, but moments later wind rushed underneath wings, and they began to climb.

  Niko laughed, a deep sound of
exhilaration. “We still use a bit of inborn magic to fly,” he shouted. “But most of it is muscle.”

  She closed her mouth because who wanted bugs in their teeth? Niko flew her to Ben’s house, weaving expertly through traffic. They attracted some startled glances. It wasn’t often a gargoyle flew with a human in arms. She hoped her picture wouldn’t be plastered all over social media. He navigated to the neighborhood her ex lived in, proving that someone had done their homework. As he set them down, the display of strength and grace—she wasn’t a exactly a featherweight—impressive. Ben emerged onto the porch as they landed on the sidewalk, frowning.

  “Hi, Ben. Is Aeezah ready?" she asked meekly. Bea hoped to get through the encounter as quickly as possible with no drama.

  Ben crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't looking at Bea, he was looking at Niko. "She’ll be ready in a few minutes. Your work is obviously bleeding over into your personal life. I have to say if this is the company that you're keeping, I think I'm going to have a problem with it."

  Niko stepped to Bea’s side. “I am a warrior and guard of the royal Ioveanu court. To what kind of company are you referring?" The chill, silky formality of his tone should have warned Ben. It certainly warned Bea.

  “The dangerous kind,” Ben said sharply. “Even worse if you’re a royal guard. We all know your Princes’ court is in disarray. He won’t be Prince for long.”

  Bea stifled a wince. She knew enough about gargoyles to know that that was a fighting insult. Ben might not appreciate just how deadly his words were, however. Niko stilled next to her, breath silent. She glanced sidelong to make sure he hadn’t turned to stone.

  “Niko,” she said, touching his hand. “He doesn’t understand.”

  “That’s the only reason he’s still living.”

  Well, she had to nip this in the bud right now. She turned and faced him, eyes narrowed. “He is also the father of my only child.”

  Niko crossed his arms and looked down at her. “You can have more children.” He lifted a hand when her moth opened. “Fine. But tell the human to watch his mouth around other gargoyles if he wants to stay in one piece.”

  “Wonderful.”

  “These are the kind of people you have my daughter around?” Ben demanded. “Bullies who make threats like savages? In what civilized society does a person of intellect threaten violence because someone says something he doesn’t like?”

  Oh, man. Bea placed her hand on Niko’s chest. But, unexpectedly, her gargoyle bowed. “He’s right. I apologize, human. It is no excuse, but the guards are all on edge because of the chaos in the court you mentioned.”

  “Well,” Ben said. “We can all learn and grow, I guess.”

  Bea wanted to vomit. This was the man who didn’t want to pay child support. But at the same time, she supposed she should be pleased the males were resolving their chest beating without bloodshed or the neighbors calling the police. She couldn’t imagine having to explain that in child-support court.

  “Bea, we’ll talk later. I’ll go see if Aeezah is ready.”

  When he went back into the house Bea glanced down the street. “Where’s my car, Niko?”

  He followed her gaze. “The driver moved out several minutes before us. It shouldn’t be long.”

  Which meant he’d sent her car away before being sure she would actually say yes to flying with him. “Of all the high-handed—”

  He touched a finger to her lips and smiled a little. “Quiet. You can curse at me when we’re alone.”

  Ben emerged, and at the door Bea saw his wife. Aeezah pushed past her and ran to Bea. “Mommy!”

  Bea bent down to hug her daughter. “Did you have fun, sweetie?”

  “Yup. Who’s this?”

  She opened her mouth to introduce Aeezah, and Ben called her. “Bea, can I talk to you for a minute? Melanie will watch Aeezah.”

  He sounded pleasant enough, but Bea saw Melanie’s expression, and her heart sank. That . . . woman . . . never had anything pleasant to say to Ben regarding Bea and Aeezah or any of the difficulties in having a previous family. She touched Niko’s hand. He nodded, and she and Ben walked around the side of the house for privacy.

  “I don’t like this, Bea,” he said immediately. “You can’t have our daughter around these people. They aren’t stable.”

  Her jaw loosened. “Are you serious? I have friends who are gargoyles, and they are some of the nicest people I know. Just because their politics are a bit more on the sleeve than most, doesn’t mean—”

  “Melanie doesn’t think it’s safe, and I agree with her. If this is the direction your life is taking, maybe Aeezah should live with us.”

  For a moment, all she heard was the sound of sirens; police taking her away in a squad car for the murder of another woman. She took three even breaths. “I appreciate Melanie’s concern, but it isn’t really any of her business.”

  “She’s her stepmother, of course it’s her business.”

  “Okay. Let’s roll with that. When you have a child, the child will be Aeezah’s sister. Does that make how you raise your child my business?”

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s not the same thing, Bea.”

  “Why not? We have a co-parenting relationship with Aeezah. If you bring Melanie into it and say she has an equal say to Aeezah’s mother, then that means we are all co-parents.” She smiled sweetly. “And that means I get a say in how you raise your baby. The one my child support is paying for.”

  That pissed him off. She didn’t care.

  “Fine,” he said. “I’ll take it to court, and see what they say about giving me custody. Once I tell them about how you spend all your time at work and that you hang out on the weekends and party with Geza Ioveanu, they’ll be sure to take her away from you. And then the child support won’t even be an issue.”

  Niko heard a shout, and the snarls of an enraged alley cat. “Stay here,” he ordered the Little Bea. She gave him a quick look that informed him she was no more obedient than her deceptively quiet mother.

  Turning the corner in a flash of speed, he stopped short. Bea had the human against the side of the house, her hand around his throat, her knee at his groin. Niko recognized his sister’s influence and relaxed, lowering his wings to watch the show. It was actually a decent training exercise for a newbie. Soon, the man would become angry and lose fear then he would fight back. But he was a safe enough opponent while Niko was standing there watching, and it gave Bea the chance to practice some of the moves Veda must have taught her.

  “You might want to rethink that strategy,” Bea growled. “All I have to do is ask Prince Malin, and he’ll have a high-priced shark in a suit worth more than your house on your ass faster than you can says the words ‘Just kidding, Bea.’”

  Niko blinked. She could, indeed, call Malin and ask for that assistance. He wondered if she knew the Prince would be required—and likely more than pleased to give it, considering recent events. He reassessed both her understanding of gargoyle politics, and her spine, and the result was one that pleased him. Immensely. His female would need steel to navigate a career in the court with him. When he realized where his thoughts were heading, the shock nearly took his attention away from the matter at hand.

  “Mommy?” he heard Little Bea say.

  Bea stiffened, then took a deep breath and stepped back. “Think about it, Ben.”

  “You’re a crazy bitch! I’m calling the police for assault is what I’m going—”

  “I would think about that, human,” Niko said, wings rising into the air. He spread them to their full width, one wing brushing the side of the house. And waited. A gargoyle at full wingspan was an intimidating sight. “She is under the protection of the Ioveanu Court. A call to the police would have repercussions, and not for her. Let’s step away from the situation, let tempers cool, and reassess. If you two have business to speak on, maybe a public location in the morning would be best.” He’d be sure to have security lurking if he couldn’t be there himself.


  "I'll be damned if some gargoyle will ever tell me what to do. Get off my property," Ben said. His tone was biting. It was one that Bea knew well.

  “Aeezah, come on, sweetie, it’s time to go home,” she said, taking her daughter’s hand.

  Ben glared. “If you’re dating gargoyles, Aeezah stays with us. Full-time.”

  Niko tensed, the desire to pounce strong. Bea glanced at him, and he forced himself to relax. That look was everything—and interesting, if she could read his energy so well.

  She turned back to her ex. “I am not currently dating a gargoyle.” Each word was an icicle. “And even if I was, it’s none of your business.”

  Niko disagreed with the first statement and agreed with the second, but silence seemed to be working well to defuse the situation. It would be a bad thing to strangle a father in front of his child.

  Bea said nothing else, but took her daughter and began walking to the front of the house. Niko pinned the human with a nasty glare and Ben froze. The car pulled up a bare moment later, timing perfect.

  "I can get home from here," Bea said, not looking at Niko. “Thank you.”

  “Give me your comm unit.” She paused, then took the unit off her wrist and handed it to him. Niko accessed the settings for a moment then handed it back to her. “My code is in there. If he or anyone else gives you any trouble, tap the new icon. It will call security to you immediately.”

  ”We'll be fine. Thank you for your assistance.”

  He said nothing else, only nodded. Niko hated the polite tone of her voice. The warmth, the hint of excitement and hesitant desire was buried. He’d have to show her, quickly, that he could be more than just a complication in her life. He would be an asset.

  10

  The undercurrent in the office changed Monday. The change was subtle, but Bea felt it. Prince Malin came in as usual, nodded and gave her a morning greeting, but this time he paused a few seconds. Well, sometimes he paused anyway, with a quick question or comment about her weekend or her daughter.