“Halina, I need your help with the website, min kjære, and then we are—” Tabor stopped when he rounded the doorway into the kitchen. “Urijah?”

“Hallo, Far.” Urijah barely got the words out before Tabor enveloped him in a bear hug. Of all the siblings, Urijah was the largest, so having his father wrestle with him was a feat, even for a Gargoyle.

When Tabor pulled back, he took a good look at Uri. “What’s the matter, son? Ya look like ya lost your best friend.”

There was no way his father could have known about Finley, but the words still cut deep. “Ja, I did. Finley was one of the best Goyles I’ve ever known.”

Tabor frowned and looked to Halina who shook her head. “Okay, what’s with the looks?” he asked his parents. “And what website do you need help with?”

“Uh, Gautum and I have a business together. He had to go out of town, and I have some orders to send out, only I don’t know how to work the blasted computer. Back to this Finley. Why don’t you tell me about him?” Tabor gestured to the table where he took a seat.

“I’ll tell you about Fin, but then you and Momma are going to talk to me, too.”

“Fair enough. Halina, come sit with us.” Tabor held out his hand, and Halina moved away from the window, coming to sit next to her mate.

Urijah took a moment to study his parents. There were subtle differences in their appearances, but for the most part, they looked just like he remembered. His mother already knew about New Orleans, but he didn’t want his father to know he was gay.

Why not? It is who we are.

I just got here. I don’t want him to kick me out just yet.

He is your father. He will not kick you out.

Was it time to come clean? Urijah drummed his fingers on the table, debating whether to tell Tabor the truth.

“Sønn?” Tabor prodded.

“I…” Urijah looked to his mother for guidance.

“Was Finley a lover? Is that why you’re hesitating?” Halina asked. So much for guidance. “Uri, your pappa knows, so you can stop worrying.”

“You do?” Uri asked Tabor.

“Ja. There was no denying what you and Banyan had was special. I always thought the two of ya would end up together.”

Well, fuck. He had spent the last seven hundred years worrying for nothing. “Finley was my best friend for the last twenty years. Yes, we were more than friends for some of those years, but at the end of the day, that’s all we were – best friends. I met him when I moved to New Atlanta.” Urijah went on to tell him all about the Clan meeting their mates in humans and how Alistair tormented them at every turn. When he spoke of burying Fin, Uri choked up. The pain was still raw. Both parents reached across the table and wrapped their hands around his wrists, offering their silent support. Uri cleared his throat and said, “Now, tell me about your business.” If they didn’t change the subject, Urijah didn’t think he would be able to stay in the house much longer.

“Gautum and I didn’t want to give up forging swords, so we began designing them for renaissance festivals and collectors who like to pretend they are real warriors. He is computer savvy, so I let him handle that side of the business. We have a website where we post photos of the weapons, and that is where the majority of our orders come from. He had to go out of town, and I need to get the orders out.”

“I can help you with that,” Urijah offered. “I would like to see what you’ve been up to, if that’s okay.”

“Does that mean you’re sticking around a while?” his father asked.

“I had considered it,” he admitted. “Frey, the owner of the gym where I work, assured me they have my shifts covered for as long as I need. I think I would like to stay here a while.” Urijah realized he wanted that. Whether he had known it subconsciously or not, he wanted to be there with his parents. Close to where he and Banyan became friends.

“Let’s take a walk,” Tabor said, standing from the table. He leaned over and kissed Halina, not caring that Urijah was watching. It wasn’t the chaste kiss of two mates who had been together almost a thousand years. It was a passion-filled kiss of two beings that still couldn’t get enough of each other. Urijah couldn’t imagine what that would be like.

I can. It’s the same way you kissed Banyan the last time.

Urijah couldn’t think back on that kiss. Not with his parents around.

“I’ll have supper waiting for ya,” Halina said before Uri and his father left the house.

Urijah waited for his father to rail at him about being gay. When speaking about his time with Finley, Uri had glossed over the fact that they were lovers. He hadn’t expected his mother to throw him under the bus then put it in reverse, but the truth was out there, and if his father disowned him, Uri would deal with it. As they walked down the sidewalk of their small town, several familiar faces said hello and welcomed Uri home. The longer he spent in Holmesvik, the more he wanted to stay there. He wanted to wrap himself in the memories of being young and carefree. Of running all over the hills and forests with Banyan. Lying under the Norse sky and being in the moment with his best friend.

“Here we are,” Tabor said as he pulled a key from his pocket.

“Tatum Replicas. Why Tatum?”

“It’s what the humans call a smash-up. Tabor and Gautum… Tatum. It sounded better than Gaubor, plus it was din mor’s idea.”

Urijah grinned at the thought of his parents discussing human pop culture. “I’m pretty sure it’s called a mash-up. Should I refer to you and Momma as Talina? Or how about Habor?”

“Don’t you be making fun of din mor. She was proud of herself, and I think it’s catchy,” Tabor said sternly.

Uri laughed and clapped his father on the shoulder. “Oh, Pappa. I’m not making fun. I think it’s sweet, and it warms my heart to see you still taking up for her all these years later. I always did enjoy seeing the two of you together.”

Tabor got a faraway look on his face, and Urijah knew his father was thinking of his mother. He always thought he would have that someday. When he came back to the present, Tabor ushered Uri into the armory. “Well this looks familiar,” Uri muttered. He knew his father had drawn up the plans for the armory in California, but he hadn’t realized the reason behind the design.

“The office is this way,” Tabor said, leading Uri into a large room that served as both an office and kitchen. He could remember his father and Gautum spending their days side-by-side in the old armory with Uri and Banyan watching and learning. He couldn’t help but think of Banyan now and how their friendship was different than what he thought it would be. He wasn’t sure they could even be considered friends now. The thought left him hollow inside.

“Sønn?” Tabor said.

“Yeah, so show me your website.”

Tabor pointed to the computer, and shrugged. “I hate to admit, but I have no idea how to use that thing.”

Urijah sat down and moved the mouse to bring the system out of sleep mode. The website populated immediately. Urijah took a few minutes to familiarize himself with the program, and soon he was explaining things to his father. “If this is up-to-date, you have four leather hilts and two metal hilt orders waiting to be shipped.”

“You’re a life saver. The swords are ready to go. I just have to pack them up. Do ya think you can figure out the shipping labels?”

“I can probably manage,” Uri said. Their system was pretty self-explanatory, but he wasn’t going to tell his father that. He was glad to be of use. “So, where’s Gautum?” he asked his father’s retreating form.

Tabor froze momentarily, but when he started walking again, he said, “He had to go out of town.”

His father had already mentioned Gautum leaving their village, but he didn’t bother elaborating. Something was up. It didn’t matter that Urijah hadn’t seen his parents in a long time – he knew them. He knew when they were hiding something. Halina was always more forthcoming with the truth, but for some reason, Tabor kept things closer to the vest. “Would you care to expound?”

“Not really.”

Urijah stood from the desk and strode to where his father was gathering the pre-made swords to ship out. “Not really? Does this have anything to do with Banyan becoming King?”

Tabor dropped his chin to his chest momentarily. When he looked up, he briefly met Urijah’s gaze with sad eyes. He looked back down at the sword he was holding, turning it over as if to examine it. “I always thought this would be you and Banyan.”

“What do you mean?”

Tabor handed Uri the weapon and reached for another one, not meeting his eyes as he spoke. “This armory. This life. The two of ya were inseparable, just like me and Gautum. Didn’t matter when we found our mates. The two of us were the best of friends, planning our futures together. When Gautum lost Jaleh, it broke my heart almost as much as it did his. That’s how much I loved him. How much I still love him. I have no doubt your feelings for Banyan ran even deeper at some point. The two of us taught ya the business so one day you could take over, and he and I would spend our later years traveling. Seeing the world. You never came home, so we stayed here.”

Urijah was speechless. All these years he had avoided mating with Banyan when his father had known the truth all along. He had spent countless years searching for what he already had. Ruined a human’s life because of his own insecurities. How could he have been so blind? The fact that Banyan murdered Mishka still troubled Uri, but the more he spoke to others, it seemed he was the only one it bothered. “How could we take over the business when Banyan isn’t who he said he was? He could never live this life with me while serving as King.”

“Says who? Just because his own father whiled away his years inside that big house doesn’t mean Banyan has to. Tell me about your American King. Does he hide out in his house?”

“No. Rafael is an architect. He has one of the most lucrative and successful businesses in the state of Georgia.”

Tabor cocked an eyebrow at his son. “Right.”

“How long have you known that Banyan wasn’t Gautum’s son?”

“Since he was born. It was supposed to be a secret, but Gautum never kept anything from me. He had already lost Jaleh, so he knew he would never have offspring. He took to your brothers when they were all born, and Halina and I didn’t mind sharing with him. When his sister had Banyan, you would have thought Gautum was the father. He spent a lot of time in Åsmundnes. It’s the only time the two of us have ever been separated. When the King asked Gautum to bring Banyan back here and raise him, Gautum jumped at the chance. It was only supposed to be for a few years, but Gautum somehow convinced the King to leave Banyan where he was. The two of you were… Anyway, the rest is neither here nor there, because you let your mate go. Right now, my mate is at home cooking supper, and I don’t want to be late. So, help me box up these swords.”

Urijah needed time to digest what both his parents had said, and he couldn’t do that sitting at the table breaking bread with them. “How about I box them up, and you go on home. Show me where the shipping supplies are, and I’ll handle the rest.”

“How are ya gonna manage that?”

“Gautum, or someone, typed up detailed instructions for both shipping and invoicing. It’s straightforward, so even I won’t screw it up.”

“I never thought ya would. But yeah, I can do that. We only have two types of swords in stock, and they are here,” he said pointing at the racks holding the weapons. “We do custom work when it’s called for, but we sent the last one of those out a couple of weeks ago. The shipping supplies are in the storeroom here.” Tabor opened a door and flipped a light switch. There were stacks of boxes as well as pre-cut Styrofoam inserts. Rolls of packing tape lined a shelf. “Shipping labels are in the cabinet next to the desk.” There were other items Urijah wanted to inspect, but he would wait until his father had gone home.

“I’m impressed, Pappa.”

“Thank you. Gautum and I are happy with our little endeavor. It is lucrative, but it also keeps our skills sharp. Now, if you don’t have any questions, I’m going home to my mate. Do ya want me to have her save supper for you?”

“That would be nice. I’ll get these packages ready for pickup tomorrow, and then I’ll be along.”

Tabor clapped Urijah on the shoulder. “I love ya, Sønn. No matter what, I love ya.”

Urijah managed to choke out, “I love you, too.”

Tabor gave Uri the key to lock up with before leaving him to it. Urijah studied the sword he was holding. His father had taught him well, and Urijah could produce a weapon of equal quality. He would never say he could do better, because he didn’t believe he could. Urijah might have given Banyan a hard time over the armory in California, but he was equally as skilled. Uri closed his eyes and imagined the two of them back home in their little town, working together at the business their fathers had left behind for them. Gautum isn’t his father.

Tell that to Banyan and Gautum.

Urijah first went to the computer and worked on the shipping labels. Once that was complete, he took the labels into the supply room where he carefully packed each sword into the protective foam before taping up the boxes and securing the labels. He returned to the computer to schedule the pickup, printing out the confirmation afterwards. Uri minimized the website page to take a look at the other programs his father had installed. Yeah, he was being nosy, but he doubted his father or Gautum had anything on the system he shouldn’t see. His mother had obviously helped out before, and if she was allowed access, surely it was okay for him to take a look.

The email program showed several unread messages, so Uri clicked the icon. Instead of him finding the company’s email, he found his father’s personal account. His heart tattooed a heavy beat in his chest when he saw the unopened message from Asmund Holgersen. Against his better judgment, Urijah opened it. He read the email several times. It was an invitation as well as an apology. Banyan’s coronation invitation was being done by email, and the King was apologizing for the short notice. In one week, Banyan – his Banyan – would become the Norse Gargoyle King. That was just crazy.

Urijah sat back in the chair with his elbows resting on the arms and his hands steepled in front of his face. Banyan had known all along he was a prince. He’d known from the first day they met he would eventually return to Åsmundnes where he would be crowned King, yet he had never bothered sharing that with Urijah. Had never thought to mention he was royalty.

You were too busy trying to find a different mate. Why would he tell you?

Why do you have to be so logical?

One of us has to be.

Shut it.

His beast was right, though. Urijah had never given Banyan the opportunity to discuss a future together. Had he done so, Banyan would more than likely have confided his true identity to Uri. Thinking about it logically, Urijah had no right to be mad at Banyan for keeping that truth hidden. He had to wonder if Banyan planned to return home for the crown all along. If he and Uri had been mates, would he still have become King? Banyan had mentioned a sister, so as far as Urijah knew, there was no other brother to take the throne.

The more Urijah stared at the invitation, the more he wanted to see Banyan crowned King. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Besides, he had already decided to remain in Norway for a while, so what would it hurt to join his parents? Other than his heart hurting, that was. Urijah’s beast practically purred at the prospect of being around Banyan in a less than violent setting.

Don’t get your hopes up.

Don’t give up on yours.

He released us.

I still feel them. Don’t you?

No, I don’t.

You aren’t trying hard enough.

We aren’t mated. How can you possibly sense them, and from this far away?

Because I want to.