by Faith Gibson
After a couple hours, Zeke knew Stella was a high school teacher. He found a photo from the local news outlet when she won teacher of the year. What he didn’t find was a marriage certificate or birth announcements. Knowing she was a teacher, Zeke concluded the kids she had mentioned were students. At least he hoped they were. Not that he wouldn’t accept her children if she had them, but it would be easier without an ex-husband in the picture. Zeke wanted to call and hear Stella’s voice, but it would only rile his beast. His Goyle was already pissed he hadn’t stayed in California.
Zeke needed at least a small connection, so he texted her.
Zeke: Did you make it home okay?
Stella must have been holding her phone because she responded straight away.
Stella: I did. My next-door neighbor assaulted me immediately, but I got away from her as soon as I could.
Zeke: You were assaulted? Did you call the police? Are you okay?
Zeke was on his feet, ready to head to the airport when his phone pinged.
Stella: Sorry, not that kind of assault. Mrs. Goss is just nosy.
He blew out a breath. He wanted to spank Stella’s ass for nearly giving him a heart attack.
Zeke: You scared me.
Stella: I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful with how I phrase things. So, how was your flight? You said you had business?
Zeke: The flight was short, and my meeting was canceled until tomorrow. I stopped by a diner, and now I’m sitting in my hotel room. I usually go for a run, but I wanted to make sure you got home okay. Zeke wanted to ask so many questions, but doing so by text was too impersonal.
Stella: I used to jog every night with Bruce, but he passed away last year.
Zeke: Bruce? Zeke held his breath, praying Bruce wasn’t her husband.
Stella: Sorry. Bruce was my pit bull. He was the best dog ever. I got him right after I started teaching, which was almost ten years ago. Now I jog by myself, but it’s not as fun.
Zeke: Not that I can replace your best friend, but I’d love to jog with you. Zeke hated the thought of Stella out alone even if was around her neighborhood. It wasn’t safe for someone as pretty as her to be without protection.
Stella: You mentioned New Oceanside. Do you live close to the beach? Is that where you usually run?
Zeke: I have a house on the beach. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s nice to hear the ocean every night when I lay down. And yes, I run on the sand. Do you like the beach?
Stella: I love it, although I don’t get to see it as often as I’d like. I do visit the coast for at least a week every summer once school lets out.
Zeke: You’re welcome at my house any time. Zeke deleted the sentence. It was too forward even if it was the truth. Instead, he typed: Once we get to know one another better, maybe you can stay at my house instead of a hotel or wherever it is you usually go.
Stella: Thank you for the offer. Since that’s months away, I have a feeling we’ll know each other pretty well by then.
Zeke’s heart stuttered. His mate felt their connection. If things went the way Zeke knew they would, it was possible she would spend all summer with him on the beach. And maybe that’s how things would work. She’d keep her job, and they would live in her home during the school year, visiting the beach house during breaks when they weren’t off traveling. Because they would travel, of that he had no doubt.
Zeke: You’re welcome, and I have the same feeling.
Instead of letting Stella get her rest, Zeke continued chatting with his mate, getting to know little things like her favorite foods and TV shows. She talked about teaching, and he told her about his travels, leaving out why he visited so many different places. There would be a time for explanations once they were mated.
When he noticed how late it had gotten, Zeke insisted she get some sleep, promising to resume their chat later that day. After Stella wished him a good night, Zeke stared at the ceiling. His beast was antsy, and Zeke needed to expend some energy, so he changed out of his jeans and pulled on a pair of sweats and running shoes. He started off jogging on the street, but when he was out of sight of any businesses or homes, he turned toward the mountains. With it being so late, he didn’t think anyone would see him. Zeke had found this particular trail the last time he visited. It appeared to be a deer trail by the prints, but Zeke hadn’t encountered any wildlife the last time. If any animals were in the vicinity, they probably sensed the beast within him and gave him a wide berth.
Zeke jogged until he came to an open area, and then he let his shifter loose a bit. Running full speed was risky, but not as risky as flying. Zeke did some rock climbing, using his claws to pull himself up. He didn’t ascend to the top of the mountain. Instead, he stopped about halfway up and admired the view. It was so different than California. Zeke wondered how attached Stella was to her job and home. When Jonas hired Zeke and Sam to watch over the family, he paid them well to do so. His father had more money than the gods, and he was generous in what he gave them. Since Cyrus was the last sibling to watch over, Zeke would no longer need to travel in secrecy.
Once he and Stella completed their bond, would she be willing to give up her teaching job and see the world with him? Zeke had no plans to abandon those siblings he’d met just because they now knew the truth. With Sam and Monica reconnecting with Xenia, Sam would more than likely want to spend time with his daughter getting to know her. Not that Zeke saw his brother all that often. Sam and Monica lived in New York. Zeke’s family was scattered around the world, and he had enjoyed his job. A job that, after talking to Cyrus, would no longer be needed.
Zeke scaled down the rocks, then headed back to the hotel. While he ran, he imagined Stella jogging alongside him. He didn’t let himself think about getting to know her intimately, because running with an erection was no fun. By the time he got back in the room and showered, it was going on five a.m. He planned to drive to Cyrus’s house early, before his brother had time to head to his parents’. Instead of lying down for a short nap, Zeke got dressed and headed out.
Chapter Three
Cyrus’s truck was in the driveway when Zeke arrived. Just as he reached for the handle, a couple dogs bounded around the house barking, Zeke didn’t need to worry about Cyrus knowing someone was there. His brother strode onto the porch, casually pointing a rifle Zeke’s direction.
“Hera, Leto, quiet!” Cyrus commanded the dogs. They stopped barking, but neither dog moved away from the car.
Zeke cracked his window. “Hello, Cyrus. My name is Ezekiel Seymour, and I need to talk to you about your family.” He was vague, allowing Cyrus to think he was referring to John and Gwen Gillespie, the couple who adopted Cyrus.
Cyrus raised the gun a little higher. “I just spoke to Mom not five minutes ago. They both were fine.”
“No, not your parents. Your birth family.” As with all others, the Gillespies signed an agreement stating they wouldn’t reveal who Cyrus’s birth parents were. In all his years as a watcher, that agreement had never been broken. “It’s important, Cyrus. Life or death important.”
“Get out of the car slowly.” Cyrus didn’t loosen his grip on the gun.
Zeke pushed open the car door, and the dogs alternated between growling and whimpering. At least the horses weren’t close by. Zeke brought his shifter to the surface, emanating his dominance over the dogs. Getting bitten would hurt, but he would heal quickly. The animals whimpered, then took off running around the back of the house. With them out of the way, Zeke walked toward his brother. When he got close enough for the porch light to illuminate his features, Cyrus gasped. Zeke had stopped aging when he met Stella, so he appeared as though he was in his early thirties, not fifty-seven. At fifty-three, Cyrus looked like an older version of Zeke, both taking after Jonas.
“You look just like I did when I was younger. Brother?” Cyrus lowered the rifle as he took in Zeke’s countenance.
“Yes. One of many. May I come in?”
“I… yes. This is…” Cyrus shook his hea
d, then opened the door, holding it for Zeke.
“Have a seat. Can I get you some coffee? Although I think I’m going to need to add some alcohol to mine.” Cyrus placed the rifle on a rack by the front door.
“I would love some coffee.” Zeke followed Cyrus farther into the living room and took a seat on the sofa. Cyrus’s house was a two-story cabin. The lower level was an open concept with only a few doors, one which led out back. A wide staircase rose to a loft overlooking the downstairs. “Nice place you have.”
“Thanks. Dad and I built it when I graduated high school. I always knew college wasn’t for me. I grew up on the ranch helping raise cattle. I was more at home atop a horse than in a classroom, but I also wanted a little bit of freedom. Their ranch is about three miles down the road.” Cyrus must have been up for a while since the coffee was already brewed. He handed Zeke a mug. “Do you take cream or sugar?”
“No, this is perfect. Thank you.”
Cyrus took his own cup to a cabinet where he added a healthy dose of whiskey to his coffee. “You said something about many siblings and life or death?”
“I wasn’t lying about the siblings. There are fifteen of us still living. An older brother was killed several months ago, and I recently found out one of our sisters is really a niece, but that’s a story for another time. What I’m about to tell you is going to sound far-fetched and unbelievable, but I need you to keep an open mind, and when I finish speaking, I will show you proof.”
“Proof of what? And what about the life and death situation you mentioned. Was that a lie?”
“No, just not as dire as I made it sound. Cyrus, have you heard of Jonas Montague?”
“The scientist who cloned the first baby? Yeah, everyone’s heard of him.”
“Jonas is our father.” Zeke always started with that. Sometimes it went over well. Others?
“Are you saying we’re clones?” Cyrus downed the whiskey and coffee mixture, then poured a mugful of liquor from the bottle he’d placed on the mantle. A lot of drinking and pacing accompanied these talks.
“No, not at all. We are the biological children of Jonas and his mate, Caroline.”
“Mate? You mean he didn’t wed the mother of his kids?”
“Here’s where the story gets strange. Jonas is a Gargoyle. Meaning he appears human, but he has a shifter inside that can come out. Unlike stories about werewolves who fully shift into their animal, Gargoyles retain most of their human features when they shift with the exception of wings, claws, and fangs. The females don’t have wings, nor do they have the same impenetrable skin the males do. Our mother, Jonas’s mate, is fully human, making us half-bloods. The difference in the two is that full-bloods transition for the first time around puberty. Half-bloods don’t transition until they meet their mate, and since you have yet to transition, you haven’t met yours yet.”
Cyrus, who had been staring at Zeke, burst out laughing. Zeke had been met with that reaction more than once, so he let his fangs drop and extended the claws on his free hand. Cyrus’s laughter abated, and his eyes widened. “What the fuck?” His eyes darted to the rifle by the door.
Before Cyrus could take a step, Zeke set his coffee down and sped across the room to stand in front of the weapon. “Did I mention super speed? We have extraordinary strength too. If you’d feel better holding the rifle” — Zeke pulled it down and held it out to Cyrus — “I’d be okay with that, but please don’t shoot me in the head. One, it’ll hurt like a mother, and two, you’ll be the one cleaning up the mess.” When Cyrus just stood staring, Zeke replaced the rifle in the rack. “Cyrus, I’m your brother, and I would rather die than hurt you. And no, that wasn’t all parlor tricks. I can show you my wings if you need further proof.”
Cyrus picked up the whiskey. Instead of adding more to his mug, he drank from the bottle instead. After wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, he dropped into the recliner. “Say I believe you. What does that mean for me? I can’t do all that.” Cyrus waved his hand in Zeke’s direction.
“It’s because you haven’t met your mate. We only recently discovered what causes the half-bloods’ transition. Unfortunately, I ran into my mate about thirty years ago and didn’t know it. I’ve been living without her all these years because I didn’t know she was the reason.” Zeke left out the part about Stella being a toddler at the time. “If you had come across your female, or male if you prefer, you would have given over to your Gargoyle.”
“If I haven’t met them in fifty-three years, what makes you think I will now?”
“Because it is our way. Our niece, Xenia, only found her mate a few weeks ago, and she’s forty-seven. Keene showed up for a date while Xenia was going through her transition. She was freaking out, throwing shit at Keene, yelling for him to get out of the house. Luckily, another niece, Sophia, showed up at that moment and walked Xenia through what was going on. All these years I thought Xenia was our sister, but Jonas had convinced our brother, Sam, to put his first-born up for adoption the way he and Caroline had with most of us. Not only did Xenia find out she was a Gargoyle but that the man who raised her was actually an uncle on her mother’s side. Sophia found out the female she thought was her aunt was really her sister. It’s all a little convoluted.”
“Why did Jonas put us up for adoption? And you said most of us.”
“When Jonas met Caroline, Gargoyles had never mated with humans. He was ostracized from his Clan, and he took Caroline and fled Italy. When she got pregnant with their first child, they were on the run. Caroline wanted children, but Jonas convinced her letting others raise most of their offspring was for the best. Two years after they had me, Gabriel was born. For whatever reason, they kept him, but they probably wish they hadn’t. His story is tragic, but we’ll get into that later. Caroline had seven more children, but when she got pregnant with Isabelle, their last child, Caroline refused to part with her daughter. When Isabelle was old enough to notice her parents weren’t aging, Caroline left Isabelle with Jonas. When he deemed her too much to handle on his own, he sent her to live with a husband and wife who were friends of the family, while Caroline watched over her from nearby. Isabelle thought her mother had died, and it wasn’t until a few months ago she found out that wasn’t true.” Zeke scrubbed a hand down his face. “There are so many stories surrounding our family, but those can wait until later.”
“I’m not sure I want a mate if having one comes with such turmoil.”
“It’s worth it when you meet the one the fates send you. As Gargoyles, there is only one perfect being for us. You haven’t met yours for a reason, although only the fates know what that reason is. I met mine in passing thirty years ago, then yesterday I was standing in line at the airport, and there she was. Our King, Rafael, spent almost six hundred years thinking he’d never find his mate, then one day the chief of police came calling regarding an incident at one of Rafael’s warehouses, and boom – there she was.”
“What if I had found a partner already? What happens to them when my mate comes along?”
“That has happened, but more often than not, the spouse isn’t a good one. The marriage doesn’t last for whatever reason. Rafael’s cousin’s mate was married when he found her, but the husband was a horrible human. He was killed after kidnapping Abbi, and now she and Frey are happily mated.”
“If I never find my mate, what happens?” Cyrus had stopped drinking and was focused on all Zeke was telling him. Zeke took that as a win.
“Life as you know it will continue. You’ll remain human. Keep aging. Nothing will change. If you do meet your mate, you’ll know it because you’ll feel sick to your stomach for no apparent reason. If that should happen, you need to get away from her as quickly as possible because you’ll transition soon after, and you don’t want her around for that. It’s rather painful the first time.”
“Him.”
“Excuse me?”
“My mate will be a man. At least that would be my preference.” Cyrus wouldn’t meet Zeke’s eyes
.
“Then that is who the fates will send to you. But you will need to stay away from him until you have your phasing under control. That is what we call shifting. If or when it happens, you’ll need to have the same conversation you and I are having. If he agrees to be your mate, you’ll bite him, and that will seal the bond. You both will stop aging and hopefully live a long life together.” At least that’s what Zeke hoped happened. The females’ outer appearance didn’t change, and he figured it was because of the bite. “There’s something else I should warn you about. Once you transition, your animals are going to become agitated. That’s what was wrong with your dogs when I arrived. They recognized the animal within me.”
“Will I have to give them up? I love Hera and Leto.”
“I honestly don’t know. Maybe since they’re already loyal, they’ll be okay with you being different.”
Cyrus stood and stared into the fireplace. “I feel like I’m dreaming.”
“Believe me, I understand. But you’re not alone. I live down in Southern California, and it’s only a three-hour plane ride. If you need me, all you have to do is call. Our other siblings are scattered across the globe. Isabelle and Dane are in New Atlanta where Rafael lives. Lilly lives in New Orleans. Sophia is mated to Rafael’s cousin Nikolas. They also live in New Atlanta. Our brother Sam, Sophia’s dad, lives in New York with his mate, Monica. Cordelia, who recently transitioned, is in New Mexico. Everyone else is somewhere across the pond.”
Cyrus continued asking questions, and Zeke answered every one of them honestly. When it came time for Cyrus to get ready to head to work, Zeke made himself at home and whipped up a quick breakfast while Cyrus was in the shower.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Cyrus said as he poured a cup of coffee. “But I do appreciate it.”
“It’s the least I could do for your hospitality.” Zeke plated their food, and the two brothers ate in companionable silence.