The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9)

by Lisa Blackwood

  It was just hair, he told himself. It was a harmless enough activity.

  Daryna settled on the bed behind him, her knees on either side of his hips. He tensed, wondering if she would forget herself and touch him as she had last night. He did not wish to hurt her, but this thing between them wasn’t what he’d always known.

  However, nothing more than the brush of bristles touched him, so he relaxed and enjoyed the sensation of having his mane combed smooth. He rumbled a contented sigh and allowed his eyes to drift shut.

  They snapped back open a moment later when Daryna hugged him from behind. Warm lips brushed the curve of his shoulder.

  His wings twitched and unfurled, forcing her arms away from his body. They needed some new rules. Apparently, he hadn’t been clear enough the night before.

  “Lillian will be finished her shower soon...”

  Daryna stood, and then stepped around in front of him and settled on his lap. “Well, then I better hurry if I want to enjoy the other half of my soul for a brief time.”

  Her hands brushed across his chest, stroking and kneading his tense muscles. When he opened his mouth to say something, she pressed kisses along his throat and worked her way down.

  This close, her scent was stronger, familiar and just as addictive as Lillian’s. Her magic raced over his skin a moment later, and he’d be lying to himself if he said he didn’t like it. He’d missed his other half. He always did when they were born in separate bodies. The desire awakening in his blood was also familiar.

  His sorceress pressed closer, brushing herself against him. Her left hand grasped one of his larger ones and guided it to her breast while the right settled on his hip where her thumb stroked back and forth slowly with promise.

  Even as his body responded, his mind snapped into focus. Yes, she was the Mother’s Sorceress, the other half of his soul. And, yes, he loved her—always would. But his heart only wanted Lillian’s touch.

  “No.” Many times in the past when the loneliness became too great, they’d played love games—dangerous, delightful games that walked the line of what their sacred vows allowed.

  This lifetime was different.

  He captured her hands and brought them up to his chest, to rest over his beating heart. “This doesn’t mean I love you less, but I will not partake of these types of games with you until you and Lillian are reunited in one body. It’s not fair to either of you.”

  Daryna broke eye contact and looked down.

  “I’m sorry,” she mumbled softly. “I remembered what you said last night. Still, I can’t just deny what my heart still remembers and craves. But neither will I force myself on you.”

  When she glanced back up, she slipped her right hand free of his grip—he let her—and then she cupped the side of his face. “But I would have one kiss from you each day all the same. That will be enough for me.”

  Gregory wasn’t certain of the wisdom, but her request was reasonable. In the past, he’d never denied his lady anything that was in his power to grant. She was a part of him, and he couldn’t bring himself to deny her a simple kiss.

  “Get a room.”

  The words burned through the haze of confusion. Lillian stood in the bathroom door wearing a robe and toweling her hair dry. “And by get a room, I mean a different one.”

  Chapter 17

  LILLIAN HAD EXITED the bathroom about thirty seconds before. Plenty of time to see Daryna straddle Gregory’s lap as they kissed and caressed each other. Lillian’s heart had frozen in her chest, sympathizing with her shocked mind which didn’t know what to do.

  She’d stood there, silent, her heart breaking. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise—she’d been expecting something like this since Daryna had first emerged from the tree. The Gargoyle Protector and the Mother’s Sorceress had a long history—an ancient one. They’d loved each other longer than Lillian had been alive.

  Hell, longer than the human civilization had been around.

  So, it wasn’t a surprise that they would share a deep affection and intimacy. Still, Lillian’s mortal-raised heart ached, her throat tightening with unshed tears.

  Then Gregory had told Daryna no.

  A clear ‘no’ that left no room for misinterpretation. He had denied her. Lillian dragged in a deep breath. When she released it, much of the earlier heartache was expelled with it.

  Gregory had denied his sorceress because he was loyal to Lillian.

  Narrowing her eyes, she focused on the back of Daryna’s head. The other two still weren’t aware that she’d exited the bathroom. Lillian waited to see how the other woman took Gregory’s rejection.

  When Daryna reached up and caressed Gregory’s cheek, pressing her courtship, Lillian felt her claws lengthening. The now familiar vision of her grabbing Daryna by the hair and dragging her from the room kicking and screaming formed in her mind.

  However, Lillian held her position while Daryna apologized to Gregory for acting like a cat in heat.

  Fisting her fingers, she forced her claws to return to their regular length. She listened to Daryna’s crocodile tears and apologies to Gregory and then after a coy pause, the demand for a kiss. And how that would be enough to satisfy.

  I call bullshit, Lillian thought to herself and then cleared her throat. “Get a room.”

  When she had Gregory’s full, guilt-laced attention, she added, “And by get a room, I mean a different one.”

  Gregory bolted upright. Only a firm grip on Daryna’s shoulder prevented her from sprawling on her ass.

  Damn. That would have been entertaining. Lillian shoved the petty notion aside. This new development needed to be dealt with, so none of them were distracted. They had a war to prepare for. The Lady of Battles would certainly enjoy it if her enemies were suddenly at each other’s throats.

  And Gregory looked so torn. Her beloved didn’t know what to do, but clearly he thought he was guilty of something.

  His look of anguish was enough to extinguish her petty thoughts. For his sake, she would find a way to work with Daryna.

  “Lillian.” He released Daryna once she had her balance and then he stepped away from her. “Forgive me. Both of you, forgive me. I should be strong enough to be the protector you both deserve. I should not allow my own needs and desires to taint my judgment.”

  “Gregory, I’m sorry,” Lillian said.

  He stepped further away from them both, toward the door. “I will not choose between you or hurt either of you. So, I shall be your protector, your loyal gargoyle, but not your beloved.”

  “Gregory, wait,” Lillian called softly and held out a hand. “You have not failed us or betrayed us. Don’t let this drive a wedge between us. That is what the Lady of Battles would enjoy the most if she knew.”

  When Gregory didn’t come to her immediately, she went to him and grasped one of his hands in hers. He didn’t try to pull away, so she gestured Daryna over as well.

  Daryna watched Lillian with what could only be described as surprise, touched with a hint of admiration.

  “Yeah. I promise I won’t start any slap downs or bitch fights.”

  Again, Daryna’s eyes widened. And then to Lillian’s surprise, the other woman started to laugh. “Perhaps another time? Gregory might enjoy the show.”

  Lillian grunted, but felt a begrudging twitch of her lips at Daryna’s words.

  She turned her attention entirely upon Gregory. And tapped him on the chest. “I came in time to see you say no to Daryna. And I thank you for being honorable. But I am not so selfish to deny you the other half of your soul. Or to deny Daryna hers.”

  “Lillian, I—”

  She cut him off. “I don’t really want to share your affections. Not even with myself, as it were, but we all need each other to be strong and whole. No secrets and no deceptions. And Gregory, that’s why I won’t make you choose.”

  She reached out and turned his face until his eyes met hers. “However, just in case you get confused, if you want more than to kiss,” she
ran her hands over her curves. “This is the body for that. We don’t need any accidental demigods suddenly being born into the Mortal Realm. We have enough trouble.”

  Daryna made a soft noise. It almost sounded like a gasp. Had she just managed to surprise an immortal sorceress?

  By the time Lillian looked up, Daryna’s expression was as stoic as always. Hmmm. Damn. Must’ve imagined it, Lillian thought a bit sourly. She’d have liked to shock the age-old sorceress out of her calm demeanor for once.

  Daryna wasn’t going to humor her today it seemed.

  “Lillian. Gregory. I, too, must ask forgiveness. I’m certainly old enough to know better than to wish for things I can never have. But that also means I’m old enough to know what a rare gift fate has given us in this lifetime.” She stared at Lillian. “Don’t waste the opportunity to be with the one we have always loved. And there is no need to be jealous for what Gregory still feels for me. I am but a memory. You are the Mother’s Sorceress as the Divine Ones intended for this lifetime.”

  Daryna gave Lillian a little bow and then straightened and walked toward the door. “Gran said that she, the Fae council and the human military were likely to talk long into the night and that my presence would be appreciated when I’m able to join them.”

  Duty, Lillian thought sourly. “We should be there too.”

  It was the last place she wanted to go.

  “No need. I will report everything I learn after the meeting is over. If other humans mean to harm us, I will find them, but you have my word I will leave any traitors for the human authorities to deal with.”

  “Are you sure?” Lillian didn’t like the thought of shirking her duties.

  “Yes. You and Gregory have both been tromping around the forest all day. You need rest worse than I do.”

  Daryna smiled serenely, and suddenly Lillian was in the other woman’s thoughts.

  “Our beloved needs soothing this night. He has been divided and uncertain how to provide what we both need without hurting the other. Show him that he has been overthinking things. And, Lillian, if you can accept that Gregory’s love is not limited, that he can, in fact, love us both without conflict, then that will make things easier for you.” Daryna fell silent in Lillian’s mind, but she could still feel the other’s presence so wasn’t surprised when she added one final thing.

  “And if you can accept those truths, know that I will never attempt to seduce Gregory for more than a kiss every now and again.”

  Lillian arched an eyebrow. “Agreed. And if you never try to take more than a kiss, I will never have to drag you out by your hair.”

  Daryna was halfway to the door when her laughter rang out. “Deal, my firstborn body.”

  Chapter 18

  COMMANDER GRYTON PACED around the perimeter of the natural cavern that was now his temporary home. As far as such abodes went, he’d been in worse places while he went about his duties assigned by the Battle Goddess.

  So far, the Mother’s Sorceress—it was too strange to call or think of her as his mother yet—had been honest, teaching him things about controlling his magic that he’d never known.

  And Daryna was fair in her teachings, never unduly harsh with her words or training techniques when he failed to grasp some concept. Unlike the Battle Goddess, who believed weakness and failure could be beaten or tortured out of a person.

  Was this kindness and patience really what it was like to have a mother, he wondered? Or was this just another type of manipulation?

  Because, really, she could simply be a far more accomplished liar than he gave her credit for.

  Although...he’d been in her head during the training sessions and those times her memories and motives were open for him while she taught him about controlling and harnessing his vast and terrible fire magic. Nothing in her thoughts had hinted at a later betrayal.

  Before she captured him, his power had been cascading out of his control. Had she not seized him and drained much of his wild power and started the process to teach him, he doubted he’d still be here. At least not as he was now.

  His inability to control his own magic might have ended with this realm gaining a second sun. While the idea of a second sun to dance in binary sync with the star that already powered this solar system might be an interesting one, it wasn’t how he wanted his present existence to end.

  “That’s why I am glad my hamadryad recognized you as our son. Otherwise, I might have lost you before I even had a chance to know you.”

  Daryna’s voice appeared in the air, echoing from another location. Then with a slight buzz of power along his skin, she stepped through a portal and was standing at his side.

  He’d grown accustomed to her sudden appearances and disappearances, as well as the seeming ease with which she read his mind. “Greetings, Sorceress.”

  She flashed him a smile, the warmth in it real and frighteningly addictive.

  “Hello, my son.”

  She came and sat by the small fire he’d built earlier. Not that he needed one. Being a fire elemental, he could simply summon fire and make it burn without needing fuel. Although, there was something comforting about the smell of wood smoke.

  It wasn’t lost on Gryton that he could learn so much more than he already knew from this woman.

  If he was willing to trust her completely.

  So far, she’d done nothing to betray him. As a result, he was prone to letting his guard down around her far more than he should. “Did you achieve what you had hoped?”

  “I must admit, my day wasn’t very productive. There was an incident with the humans. A minor betrayal. But it was enough to set back the alliance.” She sighed and flicked her hair over her shoulder in annoyance. “Every moment we are pulled away from our rightful task to fix some little insignificant issue, we are drawn away from our preparations for the war with the Battle Goddess.”

  “Well, at least my day wasn’t a complete waste,” Gryton began. “I was able to do more scouting around the military camp earlier this evening as well as in the stone cottage that’s serving as a meeting place for the Fae.”

  Gryton turned the rabbit cooking over the coals. Belatedly he glanced between his simple meal and the female who had given him life. “Are you hungry? Rabbit is all I can offer. But you are welcome to share.”

  “No, but thank you.” Daryna dropped a pack next to a ridge of rock that doubled as a bench. “I brought you some supplies. There’s some food stolen from Vivian’s hearth.”

  His interest piqued at the mention of the old witch’s cooking. Even cold, day-old food created by her hand was better than what he’d eaten back in the Battle Goddess’s domain. He expected it was enchanted, but he didn’t care.

  Once all was said and done, and they defeated the Battle Goddess, he decided that if the old witch who was only known as Gran survived, he’d make sure she had a place in the new world.

  “At least you were able to do some scouting.”

  Gryton glanced up at her. “The other Fae were not able to see me. Not even the gargoyle child and his pet berserker.”

  Daryna smiled. “You noticed that about the human hybrid as well.”

  He huffed in remembrance, his eyes narrowing. “I still have a scar from her. I would like to return the favor sometime.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “From what I saw in Lillian’s memories, you already did.”

  “Her burns healed without even a scar to show for it,” he pointed out.

  “The hybrid is not our enemy. Leave her alone for now.” Daryna’s expression turned thoughtful. “You’ve been able to scout the area and determine the best location to capture the young gargoyle?”

  He frowned at the fire. “I tracked the young gargoyle for the better part of two days — at least when he wasn’t in the company of your male half.”

  “My male half? It wouldn’t kill you to call him your father.”

  Actually, if Gregory learned the truth, he just might kill Gryton. Regardless of what his mother said
, he knew better than to trust his spells and mind tricks to work on his sire. “From what I overheard, there will be more of the training exercises like the one today. That will be the best time to capture Shadowlight. The rest of the time there are too many guards around.”

  “I’ll have to do something to distract Gregory for you.” Daryna frowned in thought.

  Gryton cleared his throat. “Separating the child from his berserker will be almost as difficult.”

  “Yes, Anna is like a mother to him now. Even if she wasn’t being influenced by Shadowlight’s altered biology, she would still be protective of the youngster. The need to protect seems to be hardwired into her DNA.”

  “Hardwired? DNA?” The Mother’s Sorceress sometimes used words he didn’t know. He hated feeling inferior.

  “They are human words that simply speak of bloodlines and origins,” she explained. After a moment her expression turned thoughtful again as she started to pace around the cavern. When she completed one revolution, she halted before him.

  “That protective nature might be what we can use against her. If there is some new danger to the cub, her nature and training will demand she go find it and neutralize it before it can become a threat to Shadowlight.”

  Gryton arched an eyebrow. “What would be a big enough distraction to draw away Gregory, Lillian, and the hybrid? If they’re chasing me, I can’t very well snatch the child.”

  “No.”

  “And you can’t risk revealing our alliance yet.”

  “Hmmm. No.” Daryna agreed.

  Gryton had two other assets he hadn’t told her about yet. He supposed now was the time for a show of trust. “I have two assets that might be helpful in this endeavor. When I first arrived here and was scouting the area, I found the two Fae that the human military had captured. When they were unconscious, I took the opportunity to weave a few subtle spells that would enslave them to my will. I simply have to trigger the spell, and they will be mine to command.”

  “Ah. You mean the sidhe Whitethorn and the sprite Goswin?”