Banyan felt the moment Urijah’s shifter went into a rage. His own beast roared with the pain, and he had no recourse but to go check on his mate. He had intended for the letter to make things better, not worse. Seeing Uri in Finley’s arms was a punch to the gut, but it wasn’t anything he shouldn’t have expected. The two males were close. Banyan knew this, yet it still made him want to take Finley’s head. Banyan turned around and headed back toward the other villa. When he came to a pathway leading to the beach, he took it against his better judgment. The area they were calling home for the next few days was supposed to be uninhabited, but the Goyles still had to be on the lookout.

As he walked along the water’s edge, Banyan longed to dive into the waves and turn his shifter loose. If he could have gotten away with it, he’d have swum out into the sea and never returned. He had vowed to Rafael to defend the Clan’s honor, and he would keep his vow, but as soon as the Greek King was taken care of, Banyan would be on his way home.

Home.

What did that word even mean? It had been so long since Banyan had felt he belonged anywhere. Thirty years to be exact. When he first arrived in New Orleans almost forty years ago, Banyan had met up with Dominic Dubois, the leader of the Clan in the southern states. The two became fast friends, and Dominic helped Banyan make a home in the Big Easy. Banyan opened a jazz club, and the two of them spent most nights smoking cigars and sipping whiskey while keeping an eye on things. For ten years, Banyan lived his life quietly, filling his nights with music and liquor instead of hard bodies.

He finally felt settled until the fates stepped in again and tossed Urijah back into his life. His mate moved to New Orleans to open his own bar. Neither one was aware of the other because their establishments weren’t in close proximity. It wasn’t until Dominic mentioned the new Gargoyle who’d moved into the city that Banyan’s beast got excited. There weren’t too many males named Urijah, and as soon as Dom described the Goyle, Banyan knew his time of peace was over.

He momentarily got his hopes up that Urijah had sought him out, but the first time he laid eyes on his mate, he knew better. Banyan had decided to show up at Uri’s place and surprise him; only he was the one who got the surprise. Banyan walked in to find Urijah and a male kissing. The words that followed had his beast taking over and—

“Banyan, what are you doing out here?” Tamian asked.

He didn’t want to talk to Tessa’s brother. Hell, Banyan didn’t want to talk to anyone, but he wasn’t a rude bastard, so he stopped. “Trying to clear my head.”

“Do you think it’s a good idea to be so far from the villa?”

Banyan looked around and saw he’d walked farther than he should have. “You’re out here. I could ask you the same question.”

Tamian frowned. “I came after you. I called to you from the lighthouse, but you didn’t respond. I figured either you were ignoring me or so lost in thought you didn’t hear me. Which was it?”

“I didn’t hear you,” Banyan answered honestly.

“You wanna talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“I can understand that, but we’re going into battle soon. We’re going to need everyone’s heads in the game. Completely in the game.”

“And that’s the reason I’m out here alone. I understand what’s at stake.” Banyan stared out at the water, and the urge to phase was almost too much. His shifter understood why Banyan felt the need to release Urijah even if it didn’t agree. The beast within would never give up on their mate.

“Then I will let you be,” Tamian said and turned to go back to the villa. Banyan remained where he was at the edge of the water, watching the half-blood walk away. There was something different about Tessa’s brother. The male seemed as much a Gargoyle as Banyan himself, but that couldn’t be, especially since Tamian was a clone. He was the only half-blood besides Tessa Rafael sent to join in their fight, so the King must have seen something extraordinary in the male as well.

As much as Banyan wanted to stay where he was, he made his feet follow after Tamian back to the villa. He was about one hundred yards away when he noticed someone walking toward him. When he saw who it was, his beast went on alert, as did Banyan. He had no desire to speak to Finley. Now or ever. His claws and fangs were front and center by the time the other male was within ten feet of him.

Finley cocked his head to the side and snarled. “You released Uri, so why the fuck are you phasing?”

“I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

Finley closed the distance, getting in his face. “No, your letter was explanation enough. I guess now you won’t care if I lay claim to him.”

Banyan retracted his claws and punched Finley in the jaw. He knew he was acting like an ass, but his beast was too close to the surface to back down. He needed to expel the rage inside, and Finley was the perfect punching bag. Finley wiggled his jaw and grinned. “Feel better?”

“Not by a long shot.”

“Then have at it,” Finley said, holding his arms out to the side.

Banyan took him up on the invitation and swung again, this time with his left hand. Neither male held back. Banyan had sparred at the gym, but it had never been in anger. He knew he was going to have to apologize later, but in that moment, he didn’t give a shit. The exertion was easing the pain and fury somewhat, and Finley, for whatever reason, was giving that to him. Being evenly matched, they basically traded punches for several minutes. Being Gargoyle, both would be able to go for hours without stopping. When Banyan finally felt the beast retreat, he held up his hands. “Enough.”

Finley was hopping up and down in the sand, rolling his head side to side, releasing some of the adrenaline. “Uri and I have been friends for a while now, but he never mentioned you before he came to California. Still, it didn’t take long to figure out you two were mates as soon as I saw you together. I may be a lot of things, but a homewrecker isn’t one of them. Not that the two of you are actually together. I love Urijah—”

Banyan growled, but Finley held up his hands. “No, let me finish. I love Uri, as a friend. I’m not going to lie and say there wasn’t something else between us, but it wasn’t the type of thing that was forever. If I had known about you when I was living in New Atlanta, I never would have slept with him.”

His beast was getting riled up again, but Banyan was actually interested in where this little speech was going. Not many males would let you try to beat the shit out of them and then carry on a heartfelt conversation.

Finley continued, “I don’t know what happened to keep Uri from mating with you. He only said he couldn’t trust you. Did you cheat on him?”

Banyan clenched his fists and willed his claws to stay put. “No. I’m not going to say I never had sex with anyone during the time we were apart, but I will say that as soon as I knew Urijah was my mate, I did everything I could think of to get him to love me. He found me lacking, and after rejecting me countless times, he left. I followed him for a while, but I finally gave up and prayed he would eventually find his way back to me.”

“What happened in New Orleans?” Finley asked.

Other than Dominic and Urijah, nobody knew what happened that day thirty years ago. Now that he’d released Uri from their mate bond, maybe it was time he told his side of the story. Who better to tell than his mate’s best friend? “I killed his husband.”

 

 

Urijah curled up on the floor, cradling his head with his hands. He wanted to tell Finley the story, but he wasn’t sure how Fin would react. His best friend would either sympathize with him and get pissed at Banyan on his behalf, or he’d tell Uri to suck it up and get over it. How was Urijah to know Banyan would show up when Uri had finally decided to move on with his life? Uri had loved Mishka, the human he married. Once he left Banyan behind, it had taken him a couple hundred years to come to the realization he was never going to be given a female mate.

As it had been before he left Banyan behind, his attention was always on males. When he succumbed to his baser urges and began seeking out men for companionship, he knew Banyan truly was his mate, but with all the time that had passed, Uri figured Banyan was no longer an option. He hadn’t admitted as much to Finley; Uriah had missed Banyan fiercely during their time apart – another indication they were mates. He spent the years pining away, but it was his own fault for leaving his best friend behind. Banyan had waited patiently for Uri to get his head out of his ass, but Uri had spent too much time trying to be something he wasn’t.

When Urijah gave up looking for Banyan, he started fucking any man who was willing. It wasn’t until he met the quiet human who reminded him so much of Banyan he decided to settle for second best. After living together for over four years, Mishka proposed, and Uri said yes. Uri bought the bar in New Orleans and everything was going great, or so he thought. The ink hadn’t dried on the marriage license before his husband lay dead in his arms. He didn’t immediately understand what was happening, but when he looked up to find Banyan in his bar fully phased, he knew his mate had killed his husband.

His heart was broken. Urijah had loved the human, even knowing their time together would be short. His heart broke all over when he saw it was Banyan who had taken Mishka away from him. The fight that ensued was worse than any battle Uri had ever engaged in. His beast was torn between protecting himself and holding back from hurting their mate. The one being who had always been there for him from the time they were young Goyles was the one who hurt him the most.

Even as close as Uri and Finley became during the years they lived in New Atlanta, Banyan was the only one alive who knew Urijah. Truly knew who he was and what made him happy. Urijah never thought he’d see his mate again after so long apart, and moving on with a human who reminded Uri of Banyan was the only thing that kept him from disappearing and willing himself to cross over to the other side. Without Banyan, his life had no meaning. Until he met Mishka. The human was so like Banyan, Uri almost had himself fooled he was Banyan.

One thing among many that still bothered Uri was the fact that Banyan vowed he was from an Original line of Gargoyles. They had grown up together, and Banyan’s father was best friends with his own father. Uri could still see the day the younger Goyle had come to live in their village, but then again, a whisper of something off about how they met seeped in from time to time.

Uri had several older brothers who he trailed behind daily, wishing to be as big and strong as they were once he transitioned. One by one, the brothers found their mates, and when that happened, Uri was left behind. Then one day, a boy around his age arrived in the village, and they were instantly the best of friends. As they got older, Uri felt a closeness to Banyan he hadn’t felt with even his brothers or the other kids in the village. The two became inseparable, and it never crossed Uri’s mind there was more to their relationship than friendship until Banyan transitioned. It was the first time in eight years the two of them were separated for any reason other than sleep. Even then they more often than not stayed overnight together.

Urijah’s transition happened a few days after, so it was a couple of weeks before they were allowed around the other, giving them both time to acclimate to being Gargoyles. After that, everything changed. They were no longer boys who ran through the countryside or swam together in the lakes. With his transition behind him, Urijah could further emulate his older brothers, and that included finding a mate to bond with and start a family. Uri began seeking out females even though he was still a young Goyle. His relationship with Banyan was strong, but the more Uri sought a mate, the less Banyan smiled.

Urijah never could understand why the fates refused him a mate, and the longer he went without one, the more withdrawn he became. One day, he went in search of his best friend. When he found Banyan at the lake, his friend had just shed his clothes and was walking naked toward the water. It was something they’d done hundreds of times over the past eight years, only that time, Urijah couldn’t help but notice the way Banyan’s body had filled out. How his long legs held more muscle under his taut skin. How his chest was sprinkled with dark blond hair across his defined pecs. How his cock hung long and heavy between his legs. Uri’s pants became tighter the longer he stared. That had never happened when Uri caught sight of a female bathing. He didn’t understand what was wrong with him and why he wanted to go to Banyan and put his hands all over him.

Banyan stopped at the water’s edge and turned toward Uri, holding his hand out. “Aren’t you coming?”

Uri stared at Banyan’s hand. His fingers itched to grab hold, his mouth watered, wanting a taste, and his beast thumped around inside his head, urging him toward Banyan. But that was wrong. Banyan was his best friend.

“Uri?” Banyan called to him.

“I…” Urijah found it impossible to walk away from Banyan. So, he did what he knew in his heart wasn’t right. He walked toward the water, stripping as he went. Banyan’s eyes burned into Uri’s skin as he got closer. Instead of diving into the water, Urijah continued his slow steps, easing his way toward Banyan until they were facing one another. Banyan still held out his hand, and Urijah took it. Banyan pulled Uri to him, settling their bodies together in a way Uri felt was wrong, but fuck if he could find it within himself to care.

How could something wrong feel so right? Banyan placed one hand on Uri’s neck and held him steady while he leaned in and pressed their mouths together. Banyan’s lips were soft, and his hand was strong. The way their cocks rubbed together was more exciting than stroking himself when he had a little privacy. Banyan’s tongue touched Uri’s lips, and he tentatively opened for him, allowing Banyan to thoroughly explore his mouth. His first kiss was supposed to be with a female. Not a male. Not his best friend. But Urijah had a feeling it would be the best kiss he ever had.

Banyan slid his free hand down Uri’s side, slowly touching the planes of his toned body. Uri had filled out since his transition, but he still had a lot of growing to do. He did the same to Banyan, touching his best friend the way he had thought about while hiding behind the tree. When his hands found the globes of Banyan’s ass, Uri dug his fingers in, pulling their bodies closer together. A moan slid between them. He didn’t know if it had come from him or Banyan. It didn’t matter, because the more they rutted against each other, the more sounds were elicited from deep within.

Urijah broke the kiss so he could catch his breath. Keeping their foreheads together, he closed his eyes and prayed to the gods they weren’t doing something so wrong there was no coming back from it.

The ache in his dick at the memory had Uri rubbing his cock through his pants. Fuck! Jumping from the bed, he removed his clothes as he strode to the bathroom. Without waiting for the water to heat, Urijah stepped under the cold spray and prayed it would help.