Once Urijah decided to reach out to Banyan, he had six long, torturous days until it was time for the ceremony. It was all he could do to remain at his parents’ and not go to Banyan immediately. He didn’t want to look too closely at why he was ready to forgive Banyan for the past and get their friendship back on track. He could tell himself he was replacing Finley with Banyan, but that wouldn’t be the truth. At least not all of it. He missed Finley, and he would never forget the bond they shared, or the way Finley laid down his life for Uri. But he and Finley had shared twenty years together. Not hundreds. Uri blamed the longing for Banyan on being back in Norway. Being back where they grew up together.

Three days had already passed, and he was ready to crawl out of his skin. If he didn’t have things to take care of, Uri would more than likely have been on his way to Åsmundnes already. His beast constantly reached out to Banyan’s. Urijah refused to dwell on the tingling he got when the beast grew excited. He couldn’t allow himself to hope for things he knew were impossible. If Banyan agreed to be friends, that would be enough. That was all he could ask from Banyan – his friendship. Urijah had long ago resigned himself to being without a mate, and he was okay with that. He just wanted his friend back. The one Banyan had been in the beginning. The one who meant everything to him.

Thankfully, his parents didn’t mention the mate bond. They did, however, talk about Banyan and the coronation constantly. They wondered what kind of King he would be. Would he live in the large house that belonged to his father, or would he build his own house somewhere close by? Urijah again thought of the clearing and how Banyan planned on building the two of them a place to live there. Maybe he would still carry through with that idea. It was the perfect place to hide away, and Uri figured the King would need to get away from the duties of ruling a Clan, even one as small as the Norse Clan. Uri had already talked to his parents about the Gargoyles who remained in Norway, and according to them, there weren’t that many.

When Gautum called Tabor to tell him the news, he had invited Tabor and Halina to arrive early in Åsmundnes. There was plenty of room in the King’s home, and as the Queen’s brother, Gautum had taken the liberty of offering up one of the bedrooms. He also explained how the Queen wasn’t well, and the King had too many things on his mind to worry about extra house guests. Tabor and Halina were preparing to leave, and Urijah had offered to watch over the business. He had spent the last three days at the armory with Tabor, and he was going to take care of things while his father was away.

“Don’t you want to go with us?” Halina asked as they stood by the car. “There’s plenty of room, according to Gautum.”

“I’m sure Banyan has enough to worry about without adding me to the mix. The last words I spoke to him were harsh.”

“I don’t believe you. Just go the fuck away and leave me alone.” And that is exactly what Banyan did. He went away, leaving Urijah more alone than he’d ever been in his long life. Only now, it wasn’t what he wanted, and he couldn’t wait to see Banyan. See if there was anything salvageable. He was still upset, but with each passing day, the anger which started in New Orleans was abating. When he searched his heart – if he was being honest with himself – he no longer felt the loss of Mishka and hadn’t in a long time. Uri had held onto the memory of the loss to use against Banyan. Now, the pain of Finley’s loss had overshadowed and replaced all other pain. Except for Banyan releasing him.

“I will go to the coronation, but I won’t arrive early and distract Banyan. You two go ahead, and I will be along in a few days. I promise.” Urijah kissed his mother and hugged his father before they settled into their vehicle and backed out of the driveway. When he could no longer see the tail lights, he went back inside to bathe.

Instead of getting in and out quickly, Uri allowed himself time to stand under the hot water while memories of Banyan snuck into his thoughts. Whenever that happened, Uri knew better than to fight his body. Using the suds from the body wash, Uri stroked his erection, thinking of Banyan on his knees with his lips wrapped around Uri’s cock. Instead of drawing it out, he quickened his strokes and let his orgasm take over him. With his parents out of the house, Uri didn’t try to hold back Banyan’s name as he spilled his seed on the wall.

Never had the two of them showered together. They had bathed in the lakes and fjords many times, but Urijah wondered what it would be like to have Banyan’s hands soaping his body while the water rained down on them. His cock threatened to get hard again at that thought, so Uri finished washing off, trying to think of something else besides Banyan.

When he stepped out of the shower, Urijah stared at his reflection, taking stock of his appearance. His hair was long, as it always had been. His beard was ragged and unkempt, but he hadn’t been trying to impress anyone. Now, though, he wanted to look good for Banyan’s party. He didn’t want to be an embarrassment in front of the King – new or old. Urijah found a pair of scissors and trimmed his whiskers until they were a respectable length. He shaved the scruff on his neck and cheeks before clipping the mustache to show his lips.

  After dressing, Urijah went to the armory to see if any new orders had come in. His father needed to get a computer for home. Then again, Tabor might not want to bring work home with him. Urijah envied his father having a best friend to spend his days with and a mate to warm his nights.

You’re seriously going to go there?

Ignoring his beast, Urijah searched online for specialty stores. He had already gone shopping for clothes since his bag contained things he wore to the gym back in New Atlanta. Urijah hadn’t planned on visiting Norway, much less staying for more than a few days. What he had worn during the war had been covered in Finley’s blood. Urijah couldn’t get out of them fast enough. Once back at the villa on Kefalonia, he had stripped down and showered under scalding water, trying to remove not only the blood but the memory of Finley falling. The blood had mixed with the water, soap, and tears, swirling first pink then clear down the drain. The memory was and would be forever etched in his mind. When he finally stepped out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel and Mjölnir, someone had removed the ruined clothing from his bedroom. For that he was grateful.

Now that he was going to Banyan’s coronation, Urijah needed to go shopping again. This time for something appropriate to wear to a party. The nearest store which contained the type of outfit he wanted for the ceremony was several towns over, so Uri jotted the address down before locking up behind him. As he drove across the country, Uri couldn’t help but be homesick. He had traveled all over, yet nowhere came close to the beauty of Norway. If things with Banyan went the way he hoped they would, Uri could see himself moving back and taking over for his father and Gautum so they could do whatever it was they wanted. And maybe Uri could convince Banyan to join him every now and then when he wasn’t too busy ruling the Clan.

While shopping, Uri had to ward off the unwelcome advances of the saleswoman. She offered more than once to help him out in the dressing room. He didn’t want to be rude, but after a couple of subtle refusals, he finally told her he was gay. Urijah didn’t find exactly what he wanted, but it was close enough. While paying, he noticed a sword on display. Uri didn’t have to ask to hold the weapon to know who had forged it. His father and Gautum’s work held a style and quality all its own.

After stopping for a quick lunch, Uri headed back home where he stored his new clothes in the drawers and closet. He slid his feet into the new boots he’d purchased so he could get them a little broken in. They looked ridiculous with his jeans, but he didn’t care. No one was going to see him wearing them.

Urijah had something important to take care of before he left for Åsmundnes. When he sat down at the kitchen table with pencil and paper, memories of Banyan came rushing back. He couldn’t count the number of times Banyan had sat at that very table and written letters or stories. Latham, Uri’s oldest brother, came in one day while Banyan was writing and grabbed the paper so he could read it. Banyan didn’t protest. Instead, he waited patiently for Latham to ridicule him. Urijah was shocked when, after reading it, Latham placed the paper back in front of Banyan and clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s pretty good, Ban,” his brother had praised. Latham was the only one who ever shortened Banyan’s name other than Uri. Banyan didn’t seem to mind it. Nor did he mind the ribbing Dacey and Tamas gave him, either. Banyan was as much their brother as Urijah was.

Uri fingered Mjölnir before removing it from around his neck, setting it next to the paper. When he thought of a gift for Banyan, he had considered returning the talisman, but Banyan had given it to him, and he vowed to never take it off. This one time would be the exception. Uri had noticed the tools needed to forge a similar pendant in the supply room at the armory. That’s when the idea came to him to create a new version of Mjölnir for Banyan. The one Gautum had made for Banyan had a raven’s head at the top. Uri planned on replacing the raven with Odin. Banyan was going to be the King, therefore he needed a talisman fit for one. It took him several tries, but he finally managed the perfect design.

He had two days to create the pendant. Two days to get the design off paper and onto metal. He would work around-the-clock if he had to. Somehow, Urijah prayed this gift would go a long way in mending their friendship. That and a well-worded apology.

 

 

When Banyan wasn’t in the office with Asmund, he and Brynna spent as much time with their mother as they could, relieving the caretaker. Sigrid was lucid much of the time, and in those moments she wasn’t, Banyan and Brynna continued to get to know one another. Their mother listened, but Banyan wasn’t sure how much she actually grasped. Growing up, Banyan had dreamed of the day he would have sons of his own to raise as Gautum had raised him. The older he became, the more that dream disappeared. If something changed and he ever did have children of his own, he vowed to listen to their words. To care about their lives. To be involved every step of the way and never turn them out for someone else to raise.

He and Brynna took turns talking about their lives. Banyan learned a lot about his sister from her stories. The adventurous tales made him smile, reminding him of his own treks across foreign lands with Uri by his side, until his best friend left him behind. He didn’t miss the wistful tone, though, when she spoke of never finding a mate. Seeking a mate had been the biggest catalyst for Bryn setting out. At least he had Urijah for the first few hundred years of his life. His sister had no one. When he thought of her traveling by herself, it hurt his feelings as well as pissed him off. She never should have been alone, and he blamed that on his parents. He also blamed himself for never checking on her.

When it came time to talk about his mate, Banyan waited until their mother was asleep, and they walked around the grounds for privacy. He found himself confiding in Bryn, wanting her to have the whole story so she knew the kind of Goyle her brother was. Who her King was going to be. When he confessed to killing Mishka, Bryn didn’t bat an eye. She reacted the same as the others who had heard the story. After he confided about donating money to fund shelters for LGBTQ children and teens, Brynna told him that was the kind of Gargoyle he was to her. The one who would make an excellent King. Not the one who had made a mistake thirty years ago.

The coronation was getting closer, and the house had already been transformed into a completely different place. Lawrence had outdone himself in the short amount of time. Having unlimited funds at his disposal helped. Marcie had sent Banyan and Brynna to a taste-testing with the caterer, and the menu was set. Banyan had left the floral arrangements up to Lawrence and Brynna, and the two of them became closer as a result of working together. The human male was much happier now than he had been when Banyan first arrived, and Banyan attributed it to the fact that Lawrence was in his element. It took a special person to wait on others hand and foot when their ambitions lie elsewhere. Banyan had already spoken privately with Marcie about sending Lawrence to art school, and the woman had thanked him while crying against his shoulder.

Tabor and Halina arrived a few days early, and Banyan was happy to see them. For a brief moment, he hoped Urijah was with them when he got the faintest whiff of sandalwood, sage, and mint, but then he remembered Uri hated him. He doubted he would ever see his mate again. He put on his best smile and invited them into the house. Banyan still couldn’t think of it as home. Gautum and Freyda took over, showing their friends to one of the many guest rooms available. Marcie had made sure all the extra rooms were ready for whoever might be invited to stay.

“B, there’s a delivery truck outside,” Brynna yelled from the front of the house.

Banyan made his way from the kitchen where he had been staring into the refrigerator. He wasn’t hungry, just bored. At least having his personal items to put away would give him something to do. Since he didn’t know where he was going to live, he directed the driver to place the boxes on the front porch. As he carried them inside a couple at a time, Banyan separated the boxes of clothing from personal effects. Clothing he hauled up to his room, but the ones containing his personal items he put in the first spare room he came to. One of the boxes contained the letters and stories he had written over the years. He opened the flaps and pulled out the stack on top. Having sorted them before he left California, Banyan grabbed the letters to his mother. As he thumbed through the top few, he wondered if she would even want to read the words her small son had written so long ago.

Instead of taking them to her then, he decided he would give them to her as she was leaving for Switzerland. She could either read them or throw them away. He wouldn’t know, and that was okay with him. At least she would have them. Banyan knew what hid underneath the letters to his mother, and he had no desire to read words he’d penned for Uri. The sentiments were branded on his soul. Instead, Banyan proceeded with the task of unpacking his clothes.

Although he didn’t consider his father’s house his home, Banyan would be staying long enough to decide whether to return to Holmesvik or build a new house in the clearing. If he decided to build, he would need a place to live while the new house was being constructed. Gautum had invited him home to stay with him, but Banyan didn’t want to be in the way as his uncle and Freyda started their new life together. The two of them had been cozy ever since arriving in Åsmundnes, and it did Banyan’s heart good to see someone happy.

He wanted his sister to find her mate and her happiness. Her laughter rang through the house, and Banyan was drawn to it. Instead of breaking down the boxes, he left them for later when everyone else had retired for the evening. He followed the sounds of talking to the large parlor where Brynna was relating a story to the others. He took a seat next to her on the sofa, turning his body toward her so he could get the full effect. Her smile was infectious.

When Marcie excused herself to begin supper, Freyda and Halina joined her. Banyan had no problem with the females bonding over cooking and recipes. He wanted everyone to feel like family, Marcie and Lawrence included. Brynna left the males to talk and invited Lawrence to join her outside. His sister had a love for the arts, so she and the human had plenty to talk about.

Banyan poured drinks for Gautum, Tabor, and himself. He had sent Lawrence to the liquor store the day after he arrived, since Asmund’s selection was lacking. Once they knew how many guests were going to be in attendance for the ceremony, Banyan made another trip to the store with Lawrence, giving them a chance for some one-on-one time. The man was actually funny, and before they returned to the house, Banyan had taken Lawrence out to a local bar where they enjoyed drinks and a few games of billiards. Lawrence couldn’t play for shit, but he thoroughly enjoyed himself, thanking Banyan more than once for the opportunity to get away for a while.

Banyan considered having a pool table put in the house once his parents were gone. He didn’t know if Brynna played, but he could teach her how if she didn’t. Considering she had been in a motorcycle club and hung out in bars, she was probably a pool shark like Tessa.

After passing out the drinks, Banyan remained standing as he took a good look at the formal living room. His mother insisted he call it a parlor, while silently Banyan was mentally giving it a makeover as a game room. It was one of the larger rooms on the bottom floor, and if he pushed the furniture against the wall, that left plenty of room for a billiards table as well as a large screen television and a bar. “Banyan, did you hear me?” Gautum asked.

“Sorry, no. I was rearranging the furniture,” he muttered, knowing Gautum and Tabor could hear him.

Both males laughed, and Tabor asked, “Are ya envisioning swords on the walls instead of floral paintings?”

“Something like that. Can you imagine Sigrid’s face if I turned this into a game room?” Banyan only dared speak his mother’s name, because his father had taken her outside to get some fresh air moments before. “I do have several swords I will be displaying wherever I end up. Some of them are the first ones Uri and I forged together when we were young. I have a collection ranging from the really shitty ones to the last few we made for the Stone Society. I kept a couple as mementos when Uri and I didn’t kill one another.”

“I’m thankful ya managed ta work together,” Tabor said. “I’m not ready to lose any of my barn.”

“I was thankful, too. We might not have gotten along all that well, but we did make some spectacular weapons. If things were different, I would have enjoyed seeing the two of us take over the armory here.”

Gautum and Tabor shared a look. It was one he had seen many times before. The two were close enough they didn’t need to speak aloud. He ignored them and poured another drink.

“Is there going ta be music at your coronation? I wouldn’t mind dancing with Freyda.”

“It’s been a while since Halina and I cut a rug. Now that your head is out of your arse, we should take the females out on the town. Better yet, let’s take a vacation. Anywhere they want to go.”

“I think that’s a splendid idea. The business will be fine,” Gautum said. Banyan wasn’t sure how the business would be fine, unless they had someone who oversaw it while they were away.

“I’ll be glad to help out with your business anytime you need. I’ve run my own companies, and you know I can forge a weapon if need be.”

“Thank you. We might take you up on your offer,” Tabor answered. He and Gautum grinned at one another, and Banyan rolled his eyes like a teenage girl. The two of them were up to something, but instead of calling them on it, he chose to ignore them. He would eventually find out what the big secret was.