by Emma Alisyn
The guards were in the training yard when he landed. Everyone worked in rotation; three evenings on duty, the fourth in training. Even though they hadn’t fought a clan war in decades, the Prince still kept his males in top condition, and himself as well. There was regular security to handle, and the occasional death threats or concerns from rival clans. Sometimes they were loaned out to other Princes, in different holds, in return for favors later on. And truth be told, if Geza didn’t employ them all, what else would they do? They were warriors, trained to fight, to protect. Niko supposed they could all get jobs in security in other sectors, but most of them were uncomfortable in human culture, and few gargoyles could tolerate full daylight well for more than an hour or two at a time. At least in Seattle, the horrid sun was mostly covered in clouds during the day.
His father spotted him, and scowled. Good. If Arthur was already annoyed, it would be easy to pick a fight.
Niko intended a fight.
His father strode across the yard, a broad male with the confidence of experience in his steps. Niko didn’t underestimate his father’s skills, he was a guard after all, but Arthur lacked one thing—Niko’s nasty edge. Temper on Arthur was the petulant variety, and he directed his bullying at people weaker than him.
“I hope you talked to your sister,” Arthur snapped. “I have a mind to shut down her business as she is clearly under poor influence in her choice of companions.”
“What makes you think you have any say in her business?”
Arthur looked surprised. “I’m her father.”
Niko shook his head slowly. “You're an old, bitter male angry he didn’t ascend as high as he feels he deserves. You suffer from delusions, such as the fantasy that you have any say in Veda’s life. You have no legal authority over her because she is not highborn. She didn’t use your money to start her business, so you have no authority to shut it down. The only power you have is to bully females and run your mouth.”
There was silence in the training yard. Niko hadn’t bothered to lower his voice.
“You’re asking for a walloping, boy.”
Niko grinned, fangs slipping from their sheathes. “I thought you’d never offer, old stone.”
Arthur launched himself at Niko, a cannonball of strength and skill. Niko leaped to avoid the tackle and kicked, wings high, and the fight was on.
Warriors surrounded them in a loose circle, silent, though he knew they would be laying bets. Arthur had experience and weight on Niko, but Niko was faster and his edge better honed. Over the years, Arthur had become complacent. He was more interested in politics and trained only the bare minimum to keep himself in fighting shape. Niko knew a war was coming, whether Malin and Geza wanted it or not, and kept his skills sharp.
They traded blow for blow in a vicious flurry, taking to the sky a story above ground the way proper gargoyles would, contemptuous of flat earth. Sweat dripped from Arthur’s brow as he kept his bulkier frame in the air, avoiding Niko’s fast kicks and punches and trying to come in close quarters.
Niko knew better than to get in a grappling match with his father, the older male had the greater weight. He’d wear the buzzard out, and then ground him after exhaustion caused him to make a mistake.
The mistake came in the form of a dive. Arthur committed himself too early, put too much of his weight behind it and couldn’t correct course to respond to Niko’s feint in time. Niko grabbed him, connecting a solid punch to the jaw and brought them both tumbling to the ground. He reared up at the last second, though the impact was still jarring. Break apart, spin, kick to Arthur’s ribs. He stumbled back and crumpled, Niko on him without even a second’s respite.
When he was done, Arthur’s face was a bloody mess, and he lay still, one eye swelling shut.
“I yield,” Arthur croaked. “Goddamnit.”
Niko’s smile was vicious. “If you ever go near Veda’s business again, or if you ever even think of harassing Bea, I will destroy you. And if any of your friends show up to harass either of them, I will destroy you. This was just a friendly warning, father.” Arthur held his eyes, rage simmering, but he nodded curtly.
Niko rose, took a step back, wings snapping open. “I hope we understand each other. And, if you make my mother miserable tonight, I will hurt you some more.”
Arthur spat the blood out of his mouth and flipped to his feet, a grimace crossing his face. He was injured in more places than just his face, but he couldn’t show it. “What goes on between your mother and I is none of your concern.” Niko waited, expression cold. “But, you earned the right to make your request. I’ll stay away from the human girl. Veda can defend herself.”
It was good enough, for now. As Niko took off into the air, he heard his father shout. “Good fight, son.”
He sat on the porch, folding his wings behind him, and stared up at the moon until the bitter edge of his temper softened. He refused to walk into his mother’s house with the scent of battle anger on him. Son or not, he was still a warrior, and he’d slit his own wrists before he caused her distress.
The front door opened. “Why are you sitting on the steps, Niko? Come in.”
He didn’t move. She sighed, and the door closed as she stepped out, and settled next to him. “Your father called. He said you two had a fight.”
Niko snarled. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him against her side. She was strong, but she was slender, and a half head shorter. But he leaned his big body against her because she was his mother.
“He only wants what’s best for you.”
“I decide what’s best for me,” he snapped.
“I know, I know. He’s very traditional—it’s what attracted me to him in the beginning.”
He knew. She’d grown up in a human household, and craved the gargoyle culture her mother couldn’t give her. Half human children born from a casual liaison weren’t rare, but they were discouraged. His grandfather was from an entirely different Clan, and Niko had little contact with him. His father represented the quintessential gargoyle male. Everything was done according to tradition, his family an old and settled one. Marrying his mother was probably the most outside the box thing Arthur had ever done.
“He’s just mad I’m stronger than him.” He heard the pout under the growl in his voice and winced.
Stacia laughed. “He’s very jealous, but very proud. Come on, let’s get your scrapes seen to.”
She ushered him into the dining room and retrieved her box of first aid supplies from the kitchen, tending his little wounds. He allowed it because it pleased her to fuss.
“He’s not going to be in a good mood when he comes home,” he said quietly.
“No.”
“Mother…why don’t you come home with me tonight? Father needs some alone time. Would do him some damn good.”
She patted his knee, putting her supplies away. “What started the fight anyway? He didn’t say.”
He was reluctant to tell her. “Veda has a human friend who volunteers at the Garden.”
Stacia’s brows rose. “Are you talking about Bea?”
“Yes.”
“Sweet girl. Very practical, and her daughter is just adorable. Go ahead.”
“He brought males by the Garden, showing Veda off.”
Stacia frowned. “He’s trying to find her a husband.”
“That’s going to blow up in his face.”
“I would like to see you garlings settled. Living alone isn’t healthy. How do you cook for just one?”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I don’t cook.”
She scowled. “That’s awful, Niko. You have to cook.”
He shrugged. “Whole Foods. Hot bar. Enough said.” His mother was clever, defusing his anger with talk of food, and marriage, and little things. “He and the males were rude to Bea. Borderline harassing.”
“No one touched her did they?”
“I’d break all their fingers if they had,” he snarled. “He’s lucky it was o
nly words, or I wouldn’t have stopped with a simple walloping.”
“Niko, you can’t talk about your father like that.” She sighed. “You warriors are so rough. Do you like Bea?”
The question threw him. “She’s human.”
His mother glowered at him. “She’s a nice woman, and she works for Prince Malin, so that’s a plus in her favor.” Stacia paused. “She’s single, you know.”
“No matchmaking.” But, he couldn’t deny the stir of interest. She’d stood up to the males well, albeit foolishly. “Has she ever courted a gargoyle?” He asked the question before he thought about the words.
Stacia’s mouth curved, eyes sparkling. “I can ask. Put in a little word for you.”
“No.” He stood. “Come home with me. Arthur’s going to be in a foul mood. I don’t want you putting up with his crap.”
Some of the sparkle faded. “I can handle your father. You go home, get some rest before your next rotation.”
He took her hand, lifted it to press against his cheek. “I have an alternative idea.” He’d known she wasn’t going to go for the first one. But, since she was feeling guilty about saying no already . . . .
“Oh, really?”
He grinned at her. “Veda needs help at the Garden. She has Bea, but Bea can’t do everything by herself.”
Stacia looked startled. “Veda’s never asked me to come work with her.”
“It probably just never occurred to her. You know she wants to do everything on her own. Come try an afternoon, keep Bea company.” A flash of calculation across his mother’s face told Niko he’d captured the bird.
“All right. Just let me know when.”
Monday morning, Bea stared at her online account with a sinking feeling in her stomach. She’d done calculations every which way over the course of the weekend, and there was nothing she could foresee doing that wouldn't end up with her running short of cash every month. She’d received a significant promotion two years ago when Prince Malin’s executive assistant Leila, in sheer frustration, recommended Bea act as his personal assistant since she was already handling spillover, social functions, and areas Leila found completely boring, like communication with the R&D departments. But even with her increased salary, finances would now be tight.
Bea sighed and swiped away from the accounting tab, hearing the ding of the elevator announcing an arrival. Prince Malin emerged from the doors, a tall, stern man whose demeanor had imperceptibly softened since his marriage to the gargoyle princess, a woman who was supposed to be his sister, except they weren’t related at all by blood. Ioveacorp’s CEO, he was part of the gargoyle royal family in the Pacific Northwest.
The gargoyle family tree was confusing to Bea, but what she couldn't deny was that when Malin and Surah looked at each other, the sparks between them were visible. Besides, she liked Surah, her blunt practicality and the lack of hauteur for a woman of her social status. When she came through the office she acted like she was no different than a girl just walking down the street. That kind of oblivion was either because she was sheltered, or because she was too involved in her research to give a damn about society. Bea suspected the latter. But when Surah and Malin looked at each other, it was as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.
Bea wished that someday she would find that kind of love. Being a divorcee wasn't something that she had planned on for her life, nor being a single mother. But, she was managing as best she could despite that. Niko’s face drifted through her mind and she banished it. She wasn’t foolish, and that was a lost cause.
Prince Malin smiled at her as he passed her desk. “Good morning, Bea. How was your weekend?"
"Fine," she said. Except for the run in with an asshole gargoyle. “The first demonstrations of the spheres didn’t go well. Tech department let me peek at the vid.”
His brow rose. “Before they let me see it?”
“I have a hook-up.” She said it with humor.
“You read the report?”
“Yes, sir, and summarized it as you asked. There’s a flaw they’ve discovered in testing and they’re waiting on you to ether approve further testing or send straight back to R&D.”
“Damn. I’ll look at it, thank you.”
Malin started to move away, but Bea stopped him. "Mr. Ioveanu, may I ask a question?"
He paused. “That was a question.”
She smiled. His humor was corny, but she couldn’t help but giggle. She quickly smoothed her face back to something resembling professionalism, though, considering the nature of her upcoming request.
"Is there any capacity here at Ioveacorp in which I can be used to earn extra pay? I have some availability in my calendar.”
Malin studied her face. "I'm sure we can find something. Are you having financial difficulties, Bea? I can arrange for—”
Bea shook her head, mouth firming. “I’d like extra work, if it’s available.” Not the advance or whatever she had the feeling he’d been about to offer. And, trust him to see right to the heart of her carefully worded request.
Malin hesitated, then nodded. “It would mean weekend and evening work, though. I know you have a daughter.”
There was a part of Bea that shriveled inside considering spending less time with Aeezah, but it just required her to have her ex spend more time with their daughter. That was something that Aeezah had been asking about in any case. “As long as I have notice, I’m sure I can make that work. Thank you.”
He inclined his head. “We’ll take a few minutes today to go over the calendar. You’ll be paid at time and a half rates—that will net you more than an add on to your salary.”
Bea blinked several times, relief surging through her. “That would be great. Then I can talk to Ben tonight and make sure that he's all on board too.”
He touched her shoulder briefly. “If you need assistance, I want you to tell me. Employees are most productive when they can focus on their work.”
He couched it in practical terms, but Bea knew he was simply a good man, and fell a little bit in love with him. Not in a romantic way, but as an employer he would always have her loyalty.
“Thank you, Mr. Ioveanu.”
4
It was official. Bea’s ex, Ben, was a world-class jerk. Her hands shook from anger as she got back into her car after their conversation. Once upon a time, Bea had thought that they’d divorced amicably. They had been mature about the situation when they realized there was an irrevocable split between them. But, ever since Ben had remarried the year before, their relationship had changed, and not in a good way, indicating the influence of his new wife.
Bea wasn't sure that Ben's new wife, Melanie, even liked Aeezah. Ben was less and less available recently to take care of her despite Aeezah’s insistence on wanting to see him. Now this latest conversation took the cake.
"I'm glad you decided to come over today, because there was something that I've been wanting to talk to you about," Ben said to her when she arrived. Bea thought it was simply a matter of wanting to rearrange schedules again.
"You know that things haven't been as great with the business recently,” Ben said. “We’ve had to do some cutting back in a lot of different places. The thing is, Melanie and I aren't getting any younger, and we do want to start a family.” He couldn't even look at her.
"Okay," Bea replied. "Aeezah always wanted siblings. I'm sure she will be happy when that happens." She felt nothing at this news. She’d moved on a long time ago.
“The thing is, we've already been trying for a while, and there are some other alternative methods that we need to look at now. Melanie wouldn't like it if she knew that I was telling you all of this, but there are some expenses that we will need to incur to continue on that journey. So, I'd like to talk to you about renegotiating the amount of child support."
Wait a minute. "You pay the minimum we agreed to. Aeezah needs to be provided for, and I've never tried to get more money even though I probably could through the courts.” This was exactly
the kind of thing that Ben would do. Agree to one thing and then do completely another.
Ben’s fingers tapped on the table top front of him. “You've got that fancy job with the multimillionaire gargoyle CEO. You have a luxury townhouse. Melanie and I are still living a very modest life all things considered. I'm not saying that I don't want to pay anything for our daughter. I'm just saying I would like the flexibility to be able to pay less for a period of time."
Bea stood up. “So, you would prefer Aeezah lived in a slum?” Anger burned in her gut. “And because I provide a decent place to live and I have a good job, that means you don’t have to take care of your responsibilities? I know you want to have a family and that’s fine, but you have a daughter who is already here. If you can’t afford a child without taking away from the one you have, maybe you shouldn’t have one.”
“Melanie said you were going to be a bitch about it,” he snapped. “You’re incredibly selfish, Bea.”
“I’m selfish?” She stared at him in disbelief. “You’re creating, deliberately, a financial situation for yourself by introducing a child into the world you can’t afford, and I’m selfish? Tell you what—why don’t we let the courts decide?”
His face flushed in anger. “You do that. I’d love to see a judge get ahold of how much you make, so things can finally be fair.”
She stood, staring at him coldly. “Keep up your delusions, Ben. If you think with a two income household any judge is going to reduce what you already pay, you’re insane.”
Bea left without giving him a chance to respond. She wasn’t going to argue with him. She’d just file the paperwork, and let the legal system take him down to reality.
By the time the weekend arrived, her anger had softened to a simmer. It was Ben's weekend with Aeezah, so she felt okay spending a few extra hours at the Garden. She’d made an arrangement with Veda to swap a box of produce every week in return for a few hours of weekend labor. Tending to the plants in the quiet setting was therapeutic, if nothing else. It was the only therapy she could afford for the time being.