“Did ya give him a reason to share it with you? Or did ya run away from him because ya didn’t want a male for a mate? Banyan told me he released you. Urijah, you have to go after him.”

Was there anything his mother didn’t know?

“Looks like you and Banyan had a good talk. Did he tell you he murdered my husband? Did wonderful Prince Banyan confide that bit of information to you? How could he tell you everything and tell me nothing? This just proves we weren’t meant to be together.” Oh, shit. He just admitted to his mother he had married a male. Fuck!

Halina passed right over that bit of information as if she hadn’t heard it. Or she didn’t care. “Uri, when was the last time you talked to Banyan? And I don’t mean yelling like ya are now. I mean when was the last time the two of ya had a meaningful conversation that involved how both of you were feeling? Because if I know you, it’s been a long time, if ever at all. You were never one to share what was going on inside; you hid your emotions, or at least you thought ya did. But they were there on your face. You chased after every unattached female, and when ya didn’t find a mate here, you traveled all over looking for what was in front of ya all along. Were you merely trying to placate your father and me? Did ya think we would care that you and Banyan were in love?”

Uri stopped pacing and stared at his mother. “What?”

“I’m your mother. I know you better than anyone. Except maybe Banyan. He is the one ya spent all your days and nights with. He’s the one ya couldn’t keep your eyes off when ya thought no one was looking. He’s the one who had your heart from the day the two of you met. So, are ya going to stand here and deny what was between you?”

“Did you hear the part where I mentioned he killed my husband?”

“Do ya not understand anything about being a Gargoyle mate? Do ya think I would have stood by and watched your pappa run off with some human female when I knew he was mine? I know it’s been a long time since you were home, but have ya not been around other Goyles who found their mate? Have ya not witnessed the intensity with which the bond pulls them toward that other being? Have ya never felt jealous of Banyan when someone else looks at him or touches him? Because if ya haven’t, then I believe he was wrong in assuming you were fated to be together.”

 Urijah had felt all those things. Sometimes his love for Banyan had threatened to choke him. To completely consume him. He never would have thought his parents would understand, so he fought with his heart as well as his beast and ran when Banyan suggested they were mates. In the end, he thought he’d be able to put Banyan and the past behind him when he found a substitute. But the fates had other ideas.

“You sound like Sinclair,” he muttered, remembering the discussion they’d had. “I do understand, because over the past year, I have watched as my fellow Clansmen have found mates in humans. The fierceness they have isn’t any less than those Gargoyles who found mates in other shifters. If anything, it’s stronger since the humans aren’t equipped to take care of themselves the way their Gargoyle can. I came here from Greece where we battled King Rafael’s uncle who had been tormenting the newest mates all because they were human.”

“Do ya think Banyan was your mate?” she asked, standing to stop him from pacing.

Was. Urijah clenched his fists at his side when the beast rumbled in his chest. “Yes, I do.”

“Then like I said, ya have to go after him,” his mother said, gripping the sides of his face, imploring him to do what she thought was right.

“He has gone home probably to become King, and he sure as hell can’t have me as a mate to rule by his side. As soon as he announced there would be no Queen, but another male… What would I even be? There would be an uprising, and Gargoyles everywhere would be challenging him for the throne. Besides, he released me.”

“If someone would have told me when my sons were younger that you would be the one out of the four to give up, I would have laughed in their face.” Halina released him and walked to the window. With her back to him, she whispered, “I guess I would have been wrong.”

“So, you’re saying I should forgive Banyan?”

Halina looked over her shoulder at him. “I’m saying I would have done the same thing.” The fierceness on her face let Urijah know his mother was serious.

More than once Urijah wondered what would have happened if Banyan hadn’t killed Mishka. If he had given them his blessing instead. Would the two have rekindled their friendship? Or would Urijah’s happiness have been too much for Banyan to stand by and watch? Mishka would have eventually succumbed to old age, and it was possible Uri would have given in to Banyan’s wishes. But not after Banyan took Mishka from him. Uri couldn’t forgive him for such betrayal.

Can’t you?

I would ask you to stay out of my head, but…

That’s impossible and you know it. I don’t blame my mate, therefore you shouldn’t. It was the beast that took over. I would have done the same.

I wouldn’t have let you.

Let me? If it were up to you, we would have crossed over when Finley died.

Was that true? Urijah had been lost in the moments after Fin’s death, but had he really been ready to give up his own life? He tried to remember what happened after Sinclair demanded he get up off the ground. He…

You took over.

I did. I avenged Finley as much as possible. That’s what he would have wanted. Finley did not give his life so you could waste yours.

Was Urijah wrong in holding onto a grudge others, including his own mother, said he should never have held in the first place? Urijah had a lot to think about, including putting himself in Banyan’s place.

 

 

Banyan felt like the worst son ever. In his mind, he knew he didn’t cause his mother’s dementia, but in his heart, he couldn’t help but feel remorseful at not coming to see her sooner. The guilt grew heavier as he sat with Sigrid in her room while her caregiver brushed her long blonde hair. The reflection in the mirror wasn’t as he remembered. Her face was the same, but her eyes were no longer bright and full of love. They were the same eyes he saw reflected at him when he looked in the mirror. Eyes reflecting how something was missing from the soul.

In her lucid moments, Sigrid wanted to hear all about Banyan’s travels over the last several centuries. She asked him questions about the lands he had seen and the changes in the world over the years. When she got lost in her mind, she had no idea who he or the nurse were. He didn’t know the female who brought him into the world. Not anymore. He remembered the day he left home and how he was saddened at having to leave her. He knew he would miss not feeling her arms hug him each morning when he came down for breakfast. Banyan thought of all the letters he had written to her telling her how much he missed her. Letters she had never read because he wasn’t allowed to send them.

Those letters were among the ones he had written Uri over the years, and they would be arriving any day among his other things. There were very few items he had shipped from California to Norway. Not because of the cost. Even before returning home, Banyan had amassed more money than he would ever be able to spend. Now, his father’s fortune was added to Banyan’s already massive bank account. The few things he had shipped were things which couldn’t be replaced by opening the internet and doing a search. Things that held sentimental value. Like Mjölnir. Except that item he had given to his mate as a token of his love, even if he hadn’t expressed as much. Urijah had his heart, so why not give him the only other thing that meant as much?

Asmund hadn’t blinked an eye when Banyan explained he was gay and that his mate had refused him. The way Asmund brushed it off as a mere inconvenience spoke to his father’s eagerness to hand over the role of King. “I am sorry to hear that. It pains me to know the Holgersen line won’t be continued through you, but I remain hopeful your sister will find her way home one day.” That was that.

As he sat with his father and listened to what his duties as King would be, Banyan’s heart became heavier with each passing minute. He never planned on taking the throne alone. In his mind, he had always seen Urijah ruling beside him. Two Kings for one kingdom. It had never been done as far as he knew, but this was the twenty-first century. Times were changing, if little by little. When he thought of living in his father’s house, his heart grew wearier. He would keep Marcie on because Banyan had no desire to clean the monstrosity of a house, but the more he thought about it, the more he was leaning toward deeding the place to Brynna, since one day she might be able to fill it with children. He could rule from anywhere in Norway, or the world, for that matter.

The date was set for his coronation. In one week, Banyan would be crowned King, and his parents would be off to Switzerland. His father would have preferred to hand over everything at that moment without fanfare, but even his eagerness to get Sigrid to Switzerland couldn’t override his duty as King. He understood the importance of standing on ceremony. One week was pushing the threshold of propriety in giving those who wished to attend ample time to make arrangements.

When Banyan’s mother grew tired, he left her to take a nap and stopped by his room to find his phone. He sent off a text to Brynna, begging her to come home for the ceremony. He also explained their mother’s failing health. He had no idea where his sister had gotten off to, but after their last reunion, she had promised to be there whenever he needed her, and this was one of those times. Other than Gautum and Freyda, he had no one with the exception of Tabor and Halina. He thought about the few Clan members he’d befriended in California, but they would be returning from Greece, and he didn’t want to interrupt their lives.

Banyan pocketed his phone before heading to the kitchen. A delicious scent was causing his stomach to rumble, and he was ready to find out what it was. Laughter met his ears before his feet found the doorway. Freyda and Marcie were laughing at something Gautum had said, and the two females were clutching their stomachs and wiping tears. Even Lawrence had a grin on his face. Banyan had forgotten how funny his uncle was. If he could enter the kitchen to this every day, staying in his father’s house might not be so bad. Banyan knew it was selfish to want his uncle to follow him. Gautum had his own life in Holmesvik. He had a business with his best friend, and by the way he and Freyda were looking at one another, he had someone to love for the rest of his days.

“Ya still have your head, so I take it things are moving ahead as planned?” Gautum asked.

“Ja. The invitations are being readied as we speak. One week from today, Far will hand the crown over to me, and there will be a party. With it being such short notice, Father doesn’t anticipate many of our Clan showing up, but we are asking for quick responses so we will know how many to expect. Marcie, we will need the house set up for a formal gathering. As soon as we know a number, I will pass that on so you know how many to plan for. I don’t expect you to take on the catering yourself, but I would appreciate you overseeing everything as far as food and decorations. We’ll also need someone to serve drinks. Since it’s such short notice, we’ll run music through the sound system instead of getting a live act.”

“And I’m here to help ya anyway you need me,” Freyda offered.

“As am I, my boy. Whatever you need,” Gautum added.

Lawrence pushed away from the wall. “Marcie, if you want to worry about the caterer and bartender, I’ll take on the decorations.”

Banyan was thrilled everyone was willing to help, Lawrence included. It would make his life that much easier. If Urijah was by his side, he would be proud to stand before their Clan and accept the title from his father, knowing the two of them were going to rule together. Now, he would prefer to have a private ceremony with just their immediate family. Banyan didn’t feel like a King. He felt like a failure.

Gautum whispered something in Freyda’s ear before excusing himself from the room. Banyan assumed it was something sweet, so he didn’t eavesdrop. Instead, he focused on what Marcie was cooking. “I have no idea what smells so good, but it’s making my stomach rumble. How long until it’s ready?”

“It is ready now, but it isn’t quite time for us to sit down,” Marcie said.

Banyan frowned. “If it’s ready, why isn’t it time?”

“We eat at six o’clock every evening.”

That was another thing that would change when he took over. There was no sense in making everyone wait half an hour when the food was ready. Shaking his head, he told Freyda, “I wish you would have brought some of your bread. At least I could sneak a slice of it to tide me over.”

Grinning, Freyda said, “It’s not going to kill ya to wait thirty minutes. Why don’t you and I go for a walk to take your mind off your stomach?”

“I’d love that.” Banyan held out his hand, and Freyda placed her smaller one in his grip, allowing him to help her up. He wasn’t sure how old Freyda was, but as a Gargoyle, she was spry enough to stand on her own. Both Gautum and Tabor had taught him and Urijah manners, not only when it came to females, but to others in general. Having good manners came in handy owning a bar. Being Gargoyle also helped in dealing with drunk patrons who thought they were ten feet tall and bulletproof.

“Talk to me,” Freyda encouraged once they were outside.

Banyan could have been a smart ass and given her a cheeky response, but he knew the female was offering something he rarely had. “I feel guilty I haven’t been back home in so long. I feel guilty I don’t have a mate and offspring to carry on the family name. I feel guilty I don’t want to live in this house.”

“You had a life to live. Did the King contact you and tell you about your mother?”

“No. The last time I came home, he sent me off again to search for Brynna. I haven’t been back since.”

“Then you have nothing to feel guilty about there, because I know you, and had you been aware of your mother’s condition, you’d have dropped everything to be there for her. As for your mate, Gautum confided in me what happened with Uri. Don’t be mad at your uncle; I might have coaxed it out of him,” she said with a wink. Banyan laughed, and she continued.

“Gautum told me of the conversation the two of you had when you first found out you had feelings for Urijah, and he feels as guilty as a male can feel for telling you to forget about being with Urijah in that way. He was afraid of what your pappa would think. But your uncle loves ya like you were his own. Always has. He didn’t care about you being with another male. But he wanted the best life for ya, the easy life, and he figured loving another male would be anything but. You tried to convince Urijah to join you. It was his choice to say no, so you have nothing to feel guilty about there.”

Freyda stopped walking. “This place,” she said waving an arm in the direction of the house, “is huge, and pardon me for saying so, but it’s a bit garish. Granted, it is fit for a King, but that doesn’t mean it’s fit for this King.” Freyda placed her hand on his heart. “Who says ya have to live here? You can rule from anywhere, can’t ya?”

“I guess I could. I know the Italian King lives in the States.”

“Now, don’t be going that far. I was thinking more along the lines of Holmesvik. At least for a while, until ya get your feet under ya.”

“I’m not sure I can live there. Not without Urijah.”

Freyda wrapped her arm around Banyan’s. “I wish there was something I could do to convince that boy to pull his head out of his arse.”

Banyan laughed. “Urijah’s mother said the same thing.”

“I always did like Halina. A smart one, that female. Maybe she and I should tag team her son. He wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Nobody would stand a chance against the two of you.”

“I’m truly sorry Urijah couldn’t see what he had with you, but you’re not dead, so that means there is always hope. Just look at me and your uncle. Took him long enough to come to his senses. Always remember, Gautum and I are here for ya. Whatever ya need.”

“Thank you, Freyda.” Banyan pulled her in for a hug, resting his cheek on hers. His own mother might not be able to give him what he needed, but he would spend as much time with Sigrid as possible, and at the end of the week, he would say goodbye to her. At that point, he would welcome the love Freyda offered to him as a surrogate.