Aveoth entered the ceremony chamber and scanned the faces in the gathering crowd. Kelzeb walked behind him, escorting his mother and great-aunt. Bodies parted, giving him wide berth as he strolled with Jill at his side across the room to his rightful place at the royal couch. It was a custom Lord Abotorus had kept from his previous clan. Aveoth wanted to burn the damn thing. It had been placed six steps up from the main floor so everyone could clearly view it, as though it were a throne. He faced the room from his perch but didn’t take a seat.
Kelzeb climbed the steps with the women of his family and motioned for his mother and great-aunt to take a seat. They hesitated until both looked at Aveoth for permission. He gave them a nod. His mother appeared confused, and he understood why. Only the lord was allowed to sit there, and his mate, if any. At all the other ceremonies, he’d sat alone while his mother and great-aunt had stood at the sides of the couch.
It was time for customs to change. Both women did his bidding.
His gaze scanned the room again and he saw surprise on some faces. They’d noticed the exchange and where the women were seated. He smiled when their gazes jerked to him but he allowed his anger to show in his eyes.
Jill kept still and silent at his side but her hold on him tightened. He placed his palm over hers, gently rubbing her skin to assure her things were fine. Whispers circulated and more gazes turned his way, to his mother and great-aunt, and to Jill. Then the room grew silent quickly without him giving the order.
He tracked the four council members as they moved around the room, coming together near the front. Kelzeb stepped to his right but kept a few feet of space between them. His best friend put his hand on the hilt of his sword. Aveoth didn’t have to look at his face to know that Kelzeb glared at those four Gargoyles.
“Thank you for assembling this day.” Aveoth used a louder voice than normal so the sound would carry to every part of the room. “As we all are aware, Tork and his mate had a son, and they will share his name when I accept him into the clan. They’ll be along shortly…but I wanted to make an official statement while I have you all gathered.” He took a deep breath. “I’d like to introduce you to my mate. This is Lady Jill.”
Shock and surprise registered on some faces. He noticed a male near the back was pushed, and wasn’t surprised when he identified the culprits. Elco and Winalin were rudely making their way forward. Elco’s face was badly bruised and one arm hung uselessly at his side, the hand clearly bandaged.
Aveoth also spotted smiles on the faces of most GarLycans loyal to him.
“I protest!” Kado sputtered.
“Shut up,” Aveoth snapped. “I’m not done.” He deepened his voice further. “You will listen to what I have to say before anyone else interrupts.” He eased Jill’s hand off his arm, not taking his attention off Kado and the advancing siblings. He lowered his voice. “Go sit with my mother,” he urged Jill. “Please.”
She did as he asked, leaving his peripheral vision. He didn’t dare track her movements but knew she was safe.
He gripped his own sword handle and raised his voice again. “No one has ever dared ask me why I challenged Lord Abotorus.” Instant silence fell over the room. Aveoth continued. “He and the council, all those years ago, determined adding Lycan blood into our clan was a mistake. They were plotting to annihilate each and every one of you with a drop of Lycan blood running through your veins. Lord Abotorus had decided to murder his own mate, the Lady Galihia, and myself so he could breed with a pure-blooded Gargoyle.”
Shock crossed many faces, followed by rage, but a group of his most loyal nodded in agreement, already aware of the past that had been avoided.
Kado opened his mouth, but Aveoth drew his sword and pointed the tip at him, holding his gaze, daring him to say a word. The Gargoyle clamped his lips together.
He lowered his sword. “I challenged Lord Abotorus to prevent that tragedy from happening. It would have destroyed this clan. No lord should have the right to demand any of his people kill their own children and mates. It’s an abhorrent abuse of power. Yet…that was their plan.
“We’re stronger than ever as a clan with our mixed bloodlines. We’ve thrived and grown in numbers. I keep track of the Gargoyle clans who are our enemies. Not a single member of those clans will ever have the option of claiming a mate, or holding a child in their arms. It’s the very reason the first group of Gargoyles fled Europe and settled in this mountain. They wanted a future—and we’ve become that future. I will never allow GarLycans to be called a mistake, or to be wiped out.”
He glared at each face of the council. “The slaughter of younglings and mates will never happen in my clan. I will no longer tolerate the prejudiced belief that pure-bloods are better than half-bloods.”
He let his words sink in to the assembled.
“I’ve waited a long time for this day…and it’s time to make a point. I want every GarLycan and Lycan mate to go to the left side of the room, and pure-blood Gargoyles to step to the right side. Now,” he thundered.
His clan divided, the vast majority of them on the left side, with just over a dozen on the right. He waited until they were done positioning themselves and peered at the Gargoyles. “Hawk, would you kill your own sons?”
The Gargoyle flashed a look of pure rage. “Never!”
“It wasn’t an insult. I already knew what your answer would be, and of your love for Fray and Chaz. As I said, I’m making a point. Some of the men around you can’t say the same.” He lifted his sword to the council members, one at a time pointing them out. “They plotted with Lord Abotorus to demand that you kill your mate and sons. Council members, look to your right. Your clansmen are never going to allow you to do that.”
“You’re lying!” Kado roared.
Aveoth jumped, clearing the stairs and landing near the four council members. “How dare you. You don’t even have enough honor to be truthful to your own clan. You slink behind closed doors and plot like snakes, yet think we’re beneath you! You four conspired with Lord Abotorus to murder every Lycan mate and GarLycan in this clan, and you don’t even have the balls to admit the mistake you made.” He eyed the other three members. “Do any of you have the honor to admit the truth? Or are you as spineless as your leader?”
Domb raised his chin. “I have honor. Lord Abotorus was correct in stating Lycan blood poisoned our clan and needs to be cleansed. The council agreed—and we still do.” He shot a look of contempt to the other side of the room. “Your feelings make you weak,” he sneered. “I hear you laughing and making light of things with your jokes. You gather in your little groups to have fun. It’s pathetic!” Then he turned to look up at Kelzeb. “My son is my greatest disappointment. He chose friendship over his own father and has defied me on too many occasions. There’s no honor in that. My mate is an annoyance I’ve had to deal with on a daily basis, and for what? To gain him in my life? I regret allowing her to birth him!”
Kelzeb jumped from the dais to land next to Aveoth.
Aveoth prevented him from attacking by making a low growl, trying hard to avoid bloodshed.
“Protect the women,” Aveoth demanded.
Kelzeb made a grumbling sound deep in his throat but backed up, returning to his previous spot.
Aveoth glared at Domb and allowed his wings to slide out. He spread them wide and slightly shelled his body. “Do I look weak to you? I could take on all four of you, kill you the way I did Lord Abotorus. I refuse to call that traitor to the clan my father. He was the disappointment, and so are you.”
None of the four members reached for their swords and most of the Gargoyles backed away from them, distancing themselves from the council. Only Elco and Winalin remained close. It told Aveoth who remained loyal to the four. That didn’t come as a surprise.
“You recently held a secret meeting and plotted to force me to mate Winalin. That will never happen. Your dreams of turning this clan into what you wish are over. It ends today.”
He backed up a few steps so he could see more of his clan, staring at the faces of the GarLycans and their mates. “You’re alive today because I refused to allow you to be slaughtered in the name of prejudice. You’re strong, valiant, and I am proud to call each of you my clansmen and women.”
He turned his head, addressing the council and the two siblings backing them. “I mated Jill. Mixed-bloods are what made this clan strong. My mate his half human and half VampLycan.”
Someone softly gasped from the crowd, but that was the extent of the reaction from the GarLycans. Pure rage showed on the council members’ faces, though. Domb even reached for his sword.
“Do it,” Aveoth dared him. “I’d take pleasure in killing you.”
Domb withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back.
“I will not lie about her bloodlines. The VampLycan is very weak in her, but it’s there. She is my mate, will one day birth my younglings, and I will reign down hell to protect her and them, just as I did to safeguard the lives of GarLycans and their mates in this clan. No more prejudice will be allowed. No more plotting deaths over bloodlines. Today ends in celebrating our differences. Anyone who has a problem with that, draw your swords and challenge me.” He pointed in the clear dividing area between the right and left. “The line will start here.”
The four council members didn’t move, but they shelled their bodies and reached for their swords. They glanced at each other, and Aveoth could almost read their minds. The cowards didn’t plan to take him on one at a time.
They stepped forward as one to form a line, facing him and drawing their blades.
Kado was the one to speak. “You are no longer our lord. You mated the enemy! We demand your death or banishment. Decide now.”
The council was too focused on him to notice what was taking place behind them. Aveoth grinned as he scanned the room again. His clan hadn’t let him down. He’d hoped telling them the truth once and for all, and bringing the facts of the past into the open, would achieve unity.
The women and children were easing to the back of the room to get out of the way, but the rest of his clan were glaring at the council members, their own weapons drawn.
“You think that’s funny?” Kado thundered. “We’ll have your head!”
“You have to go through us first,” Fray advanced with his twin brother, taking positions to Aveoth’s left. “You want to be cowards and fight against him en masse? Look around you, shitheads. You advance on our lord and the biggest chunks left of you will be your heads.”
Duster unleashed his wings, flew over the council, and landed at Aveoth’s right. He fisted daggers in both hands and shelled his body. “I think fingers are going to be the biggest pieces. We all want to partake in cutting them apart, so we can whack at their heads a bit. I call ears!”
“Noses,” Chaz chuckled.
“I need a new rug in my bathroom,” Hawk called out. “Milgo’s got a lot of hair. Dibs.”
Pride surged through Aveoth as more voices rose in his clan, announcing they’d attack the council to defend him, his mate, and his family. The council members formed a circle to protect their backs, and he saw fear flash in their eyes.
“I’m done taking your shit,” Aveoth stated loud and clear. “So are they. I’m disbanding the council as of this moment. You’ve punished and tormented GarLycans by assigning them shit duties and talking down to them, thinking you’re superior. You huddle in your secret meetings while you plot to harm this clan. No more.”
Gorzak was staring at something behind Aveoth, a wide grin curving his lips. Aveoth dared to glance back and noticed that Kelzeb had his cell phone out, a gleeful expression on his face. His friend was recording his father’s downfall, and seemed to be enjoying it. Aveoth didn’t order him to put the phone away, instead facing the council again.
“You can’t disband the council!” Elco stepped forward but he didn’t go for his weapons.
“I just did.” Aveoth narrowed his gaze on the jerk. “If they—or you—don’t like it, I’d be more than happy to send you back to Europe. They have a council that would love to bring charges against these four for treason from when they fled.”
“They’d execute us,” Kado protested.
“Damn straight they would. Now fucking bow, and pledge your allegiance to me and my mate. Otherwise—fight.”
Kado dropped his sword and knelt. The other three followed his lead, unarming themselves and bowing their heads.
“Apologize to the clan for being shitheads who planned to murder most of them.”
Each muttered the words but he knew they didn’t mean a single one. It was tempting to force them to fight but they wouldn’t. All four were cowards.
“You have no authority anymore. You hold no rank.” He shot a glare at the siblings. “Have Elco and Winalin teach you how to be useless and do nothing in a clan. They are experts at it.”
Some laughter filled the air.
“If you defy me, if you plot, hold meetings, or show any intent to do harm to this clan, I will personally put each one of you in a box and drop you off with your old clan gift-wrapped, since you’re too cowardly to fight. Be grateful I’m nothing like Lord Abotorus, or I’d take your heads regardless of your unwillingness to hold a blade. He had no problem murdering unarmed clan members. Get out of my sight now.”
The four clan members rose up, didn’t touch their weapons, and fled.
He watched them leave before turning his attention to the siblings. “Go with them. Either find your place in this clan by accepting you’re not above everyone else, or get the hell out. I’m sure we can hunt up two more boxes if you need to be dropped off at another clan. They’d be more than happy to find use for a full-blooded Gargoyle female. Of course, you won’t find them willing to make you any deals for her, Elco. They’d just murder you and use her as a breeder. Old clans love to chain and abuse their women.”
Winalin paled and grabbed hold of her brother. He put his arm around her and led her out of the room.
Aveoth sighed and sheathed his sword. “Anyone remaining have a problem with my mate being part VampLycan?”
Heads shook, many of the clan giving him bows and smiles. He completely relaxed. “We’re a stronger clan by mixing our bloodlines. Everyone has the right to take a mate and have younglings here if you wish. Human. VampLycan. Lycan. I don’t give a shit, as long as you’re happy and so is your mate. Is that clear?”
They nodded, some of them calling out agreements.
“Tork, his mate, and their son should be here at any moment.” He smiled wide. “Let’s celebrate.”
* * * * *
Jill’s face hurt two hours later from smiling. At first it had been forced as Aveoth introduced her to what seemed like dozens of people one by one. They were friendly, seemed to be okay with her as their new lady, and no one had made her overly nervous.
Tork and his mate Benla smiled as she carefully took their son into her arms. Torris was adorable and the scent of baby powder filled her nose. “It’s an honor that you trust me,” she told the couple.
Aveoth had instructed her to say that before the couple approached, explaining that allowing her to hold their son showed their faith that she wouldn’t harm their baby. It was tradition when a new clan member was introduced to allow the lord and lady to accept their child.
“Are you okay?” Benla asked kindly, her tone soft. “You look nervous.”
“I don’t have much experience with babies,” Jill admitted. “He’s so darn cute.”
The Lycan grinned. “He is. My mate and I make pretty babies.” She looked up at Tork with love in her eyes. “We should have many more.”
Tork put his arm around her. “I agree.” He turned his attention on Aveoth. “I was told what happened and what you shared before we arrived. Everyone is talking about it. You’ve always had my loyalty, but now you also have my gratitude. I do have something to ask.”
Jill stared down at the baby and admired his big golden eyes. He gazed back at her, and she felt her heart melting. Bat babies looked just like human ones, only their eye color was a bit different. Some darker browns bled into the boy’s irises, then lightened in spots. The colors were fluid and constantly changing. Like Aveoth’s, it was amazing.
“What?” Aveoth snapped, drawing her from her musings. She looked up to see that his skin had grown a little ashen and he seemed pissed.
“The council,” Tork repeated. “They said I wasn’t allowed to have another baby with my mate until they gave permission. You didn’t know? They’ve been doing it for a while.” Tork looked concerned.
“Goddamn them,” Aveoth grumbled. “I had no idea. They loved to do shit behind my back. Why didn’t you or anyone else come to me with this? Did you talk to Kelzeb?”
His friend was at his side in an instant. “This is the first I’ve heard of denying permission to breed, or I would have told you. You know I don’t have a mate, or they probably would have tried to pull that bullshit on me too.”
“You can have another baby whenever you’re ready. That’s a choice between you and your mate. No one else has the right to say otherwise.” Aveoth drew closer to Jill and his features softened as he admired the baby. “Younglings are a joy to all. May I?”
Jill carefully transferred the baby into his arms, and Aveoth grinned outright. She would swear her ovaries ached watching his features grow animated as he made soft baby noises. Maybe she was ready for a bat baby after all in the near future. There was something very appealing about Aveoth with that baby.
“Take care of that, Kelzeb. Talk to other mated couples and see what else the council did. Tell me and we’ll clear up any matters.”
“I had to get permission to mate,” Tork offered. “They only agreed after I begged and pleaded. They said I’d owe them favors.”
Aveoth’s head snapped up and he growled in a scary way. The infant in his arms reacted by jerking in his hold, and then began to fuss softly. Aveoth instantly calmed his temper and handed the baby over to Benla.
“I’m going to kill those cowards. Why did you even ask them? They had no say in the matter.”
“It’s what all of us have been told. That we had to go to them for permission.” Tork kept his head down. “Each of us were summoned to their chambers while we were in training and given rules as youths.”
Jill leaned against Aveoth’s side and gripped his arm because he looked enraged and about to lose his shit. It didn’t take much to guess that was news to him. “They’re just assholes. Simply tell everyone that’s bullshit.”
“I wish those four weren’t such cowards. Did you see how fast they dropped their swords to avoid me killing them?” He held her gaze.
“I’ll take care of it immediately,” Kelzeb swore. He walked away, mingling with the nearest group.
“Congratulations on your adorable son,” Jill told the couple. She jerked her head, giving them a signal to get lost, and hoped they understood. They did, leaving her alone with Aveoth.
She stepped in front of him. “You look ready to kill somebody, Wings. Deep breaths. We’ve avoided bloodshed so far and I’d hate to have to return your mother’s dress all stained. I mean, it wouldn’t be a loss. This thing should be turned into curtains anyway. There’s enough of it.”
He put his hands on her hips. “I want to kill the council.”
“What council?” She winked. “You disbanded them.”
The tension seemed to leave him. “They’ll always cause us trouble.”
“Assholes never change. True enough. It was pretty clear, though, that there aren’t any village idiots here to follow them, except that guy with the battered face and the porn queen clinging to him when they left.”
His lips twitched. “Village idiots?”
“Yeah. You know. Grab the ropes and torches to lynch someone and only the stupid people go along with it. They’re outnumbered, and the only ones in fear of being hung from a tree to be set on fire is them. Maybe the five of them can spend their time pretending to be plumbers while Winalin shows them the leak in her body where her soul escaped.”
“The battered one is Winalin’s brother.”
“Eww. Okay. Maybe he can hold the camera.”
He tugged her closer and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “You always amuse me. I never know what you’re going to say next.”
“I’m special that way and no take-backs now. You’re stuck with me. That mate thing sounded pretty solid and forever.”
“It is and I’m grateful.” He lowered his head, peering into her eyes. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m intimidated by your clan. I won’t lie. I’m hanging in though. Everyone who’s approached seems to be okay with me.”
“They are or I’d have drawn my sword.”
“You’re kind of hot when you get all murdery.”
“Is that an actual word?”
“It is when you knew what it meant. Plus, you’re the ruler of this place and I’m your mate. It’s a real word. I said so.”
“I love you, mate.”
“I love you, too. Now feed me. I’m starving.”
“I can do that. They are serving a buffet on the other side of the room.”
“Do we have to sit on that couch? Because I have to say that it feels like bricks are under those cushions. It’s the most uncomfortable thing ever.”
“I’ll have it burned.”
“Good. I’ll throw the match.”
“We’re a perfect pairing.” Aveoth released her and offered his arm. “Come with me.”
“Lead on, Wings.”