Aveoth Read online

  Chaz nodded. “Lady Galihia visited.”

  Aveoth stiffened. “I’ll call her and see what she wanted.”

  “She asked to talk to your woman inside.” Fray took a step back. “We couldn’t tell her no, so we let her pass.”

  “Fuck.” Anger gripped Aveoth.

  “Sorry.” Fray didn’t look it. “She gave her word she wouldn’t frighten, harm, or upset your guest. You know your mother. Could you turn her away?”

  “She was here for about twenty minutes and left smiling.” Chaz shrugged. “She claimed she adores your Jill and told us to let you know she expects you both for dinner soon.”

  “You have her approval,” Fray added.

  “You two may go. I appreciate you ensuring Jill’s safety.”

  He opened the door, locked it behind him, and ran up the stairs. Jill’s bedroom door was closed. He hesitated there, heart pounding. Had his mother upset Jill? He didn’t believe she would, but after Winalin, Jill might be leery of all women at the cliffs. He raised his fist and tapped. “It’s Aveoth.”

  “Come in.”

  He didn’t hesitate. Jill sat up on the bed. The visit couldn’t have been too bad. She didn’t appear frightened or angry. “The guards I assigned outside said my mother came to see you.”

  “She’s really nice, but it was a shock when she told me who she was.”

  He relaxed and leaned against the wall just inside the door. “I wasn’t hatched from an egg. I mentioned having a mother.”

  Jill smiled. “It was the fact that she looks so young. She’s really beautiful, Aveoth. I like her.”

  “I’m grateful.” He wanted to go to her but stayed back. “May I ask what you two discussed?”

  “A lot of things.”

  He cringed. “I hope it wasn’t something embarrassing.”

  “Ah. Like that you drooled constantly as a baby and crossed your eyes a lot?”

  Heat flushed his cheeks. “I did?”

  Jill laughed. “I have no clue. You should see your face.”

  He pushed off the wall and slowly approached her. “I like it when you tease me.”

  She stood. “Your eyes are swirling silver and the blue is sparking up big time. They’re beautiful. What are you thinking about?”

  He halted. “You’re the one who is beautiful, Jill.”

  “That’s what happens to your eyes when you’re turned on, isn’t it? Your voice just deepened too.”

  “I could mask my emotions if you wish. I don’t want to frighten you.”

  “Nice avoidance on answering my question there, Wings. Your eyes are mesmerizing when the colors are changing. I like them. I just wanted to know what you were thinking about to cause that reaction. How was your meeting?”

  “As expected. I went flying with Kelzeb and Duster afterward to cool down. Gargoyles on the council tend to piss me off.”

  “Is Duster a man?”

  “Yes. He’s a GarLycan scout and a friend.”

  “How did the Gargoyles piss you off?”

  “Political bullshit. They love to pretend they wield more power than they actually do. I had to remind them I’m in charge.”

  “Did you have to kill anyone?” She glanced down his body.

  “No.”

  “That’s a relief. Your clothes are black, but now I can stop imagining blood on them.”

  She amused him, and he grinned. “Not this evening.” He noticed the book on her bed. “You were reading. I’m glad you found a way to spend your time.”

  “You really need a television and cable, Aveoth.”

  “I’ll arrange it for you.”

  “Thank you. I like books but your collection is mostly classics or manly stuff I’m not really interested in. You have a ton of westerns and murder mysteries.”

  “I can order you books. The scouts go pick up the mail once a week, weather permitting.”

  “Winters are harsh here, aren’t they?”

  “Outside, yes. Inside, we’re protected.”

  She got a strange look on her face.

  “What is it?”

  “Don’t you go stir crazy?”

  He shook his head. “We’re a city built inside this mountain. You’ve been outside and seen how high we are. There are stairwells and levels from here all the way to the base. A lot of my clan consider the winter months a vacation.”

  “How is that possible? They’re stuck indoors, right?”

  “They are during bad storms, but that also means it’s impossible for others to attack us. The scouts don’t have to patrol as often, and I don’t send anyone back and forth on missions.”

  “What kinds of missions?”

  “I mentioned there are some Lycan packs I’ve assigned guardians to. They live there year-round to keep them protected from Vampire nests, human poachers, and to keep other packs from starting territory wars. Occasionally they request additional, help, so I send reinforcements. I also assign some of my clan to assist the VampLycans. For instance, recently a nest of Vampires came into this area. We helped deal with them.”

  “You didn’t want them to be your neighbors?”

  He decided to be completely truthful. “They broke laws, Jill. Kidnapped a VampLycan, and many human lives were lost. They wanted a war, and got one. My men also assist in rescues when we hear about lost humans in surrounding areas.”

  “Aren’t you afraid they’ll realize something is different about your people?”

  “No. I have scouts fly over the area when it’s dark, after the human rescue teams have had to call their search to a halt until daylight. We’re able to locate the lost and then one of my men will land, pretend to be human, and lead them to the nearest group.”

  “I like that you care about humans.” She took a step closer, stopped, then took another. “I think that’s enough small talk.” Jill crossed her arms over her chest and stared up at him.

  “You appear nervous. What do you really want to talk about?”

  “Your mom said some things that made a lot of sense.”

  “Like what?” He was more than curious. “Did she try to help you plot a way to talk me into returning you to your old life? It’s too dangerous, Jill.” His emotions ranged from anger at his mother to dread. He’d been certain his mother would like Jill, but knew she’d still be afraid of how the clan would react to her being human. His mother knew him too well, and knew that he’d absolutely refuse to have Jill sterilized to prevent an accidental pregnancy. “Please don’t ask me again. I believe I could make you happy here if you stayed. Give me time and get to know me.”

  “That’s kind of what your mother said.”

  He was surprised. “She did?”

  “My life is never going to be the same, now that I am aware of people with extras and super powers.”

  He tried not to laugh. “Superpowers?”

  “You fly and turn to stone, Wings. I’d consider those superpowers.”

  “Fair enough. Are you willing to give us time? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

  “I have questions, and I need you to straight-up answer them. No avoidance. Can you do that?”

  “Yes.” He motioned to the bed. “May we sit? Or would you prefer we go into the living area?”

  “I’m good here.” She sat on the bed, scooted over, and pointed for him to take a seat a few feet down the mattress.

  He sat. “Ask.”

  “I thought you just wanted to hook up for a while. I even considered that maybe you wanted me just to have your baby, after you mentioned we could breed. What Winalin said implied you just planned to keep me long enough to give birth, then dump me, but your mom is convinced you want to make me your forever mate. Is that true?”

  He groaned. His mother had ruined his plan of slowly gaining Jill’s trust, making her care for him, and then breaking it to her. Jill wanted the truth but he worried she’d hate him if he gave it to her. They’d made progress. All that might be wiped away.

  Her eyebrows arched. “