Chapter 2 – Thorne
My eyes fall to the new vampire queen just in time to notice a flash of what appears to be annoyance, possibly disdain, cross her face.
What the hell?
We’ve never met, yet she’s already annoyed with me?
Or maybe she’s repulsed by what she sees.
I mean, sure, I don’t talk much—especially compared to loudmouth Locheran—and I’m not as handsome as him and Xander. I’ve got battle scars all over my body. The most prominent one across my face. I don’t miss the way others cower, their eyes widening when I approach with my rugged and massive body.
I’m intimidating, sure, but sometimes I don’t want to be.
Sometimes I just want to cuddle on a couch with someone and watch a romantic comedy and cry when the couple reunites at the end.
Sometimes I just want to be the little spoon for once.
Sometimes I just want to be told to get on my knees and beg my lover to punish me.
Whoa... where did that thought come from?
I haven’t had thoughts like that in... decades. Thoughts that began the moment we walked in, and I saw her. My cock jerked with need. I didn’t know how to act so my eyes nervously scanned the room, looking anywhere but at her.
I’ve been alive for 712 years. I’ve had partners of all genders and species, but sex became boring to me. I stopped feeling attraction. Even when Locheran drags me to nightclubs and drunk beings rub up against us, my body just doesn’t respond.
But now. Now, as I take in Layla’s light brown skin, her dark brown eyes, her mahogany hair that falls in elegant and loose curls around her head, her small breasts and soft body underneath the stretched fabric of her violet dress…
my heart flutters, my stomach twists, and my cock hardens against my black cargo pants.
A throat clears and Locheran punches me in the shoulder, reaching around Xander to do so.
I snap out of it and notice Layla holding out her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Thorne. I look forward to working with you,” she says.
I move to take her greeting. Wait, maybe I shouldn’t touch her. If I’m feeling this way from just a glance at her voluptuous body, then skin-to-skin contact will surely cause me to combust.
I drop my hand. She frowns and pulls her hand back, but I’m already extending mine out again. Her brows furrow, and she doesn’t move to accept my confused greeting so I lower my hand, which of course, is when she decides to reach out hers out one final time.
“Are you well?” she asks, balling her hand into a fist and dropping it to her side.
No. I'm not well. I am literally dying inside.
Words, Thorne! Use them!
But I can’t so I answer the vampire with a nod. I’m… flustered, and I don’t understand why.
“Do you not… speak?”
Humor fills Layla’s voice as she regards Locheran and Xander who stare at me like I’ve grown an extra tail and a horn out of my ass.
Xander slaps his palm on my shoulder not-so-gently.
“He’s a gargoyle of few words.”
Great. He’s probably pissed. Or at least disappointed. I’m sure I’ve embarrassed him.
Layla purses her lips and glances at her friends, the former vampire queen Millie and her fledgling. The two are huddled together, palms over their mouths, clearly amused by what can only be explained as madness on my part.
“Okay then,” Layla says. Her smooth honey voice washes over me like a warm shower on a cold winter night. “The attendees will be arriving shortly for the ball. Shall we head to the war room to meet?”
“Lead the way,” Xander says.
Layla says goodbye to Millie and the blond man, telling them she’ll see them later at the party. Once she turns to leave, Locheran nudges me with his elbow.
“Hey, so you were super weird just now.”
“Was I?” I elbow him back.
“You definitely were,” Xander says, furrowing his brows.
He’s probably regretting bringing me to this meeting. The vampire queen asked Xander to bring a few of his top soldiers. We’re not sure what she could possibly need help with, perhaps wrangling another rogue vampire, but it doesn’t matter. I was honored Xander chose me.
I’ve been beating myself up over the past three months after Xander’s brother betrayed him.
His sister betrayed him, too, and I failed to notice.
Elara was my partner on patrols more times than not.
How did I not know she was being manipulated by Magnus and forced to help him? If only I had caught on sooner…
I scrub a palm over my face and straighten my posture. That’s all water under the bridge. Xander made it clear that Elara had tricked everyone. He does not fault me.
“You’re right. I was weird. I just… wasn’t sure how to greet her.”
“If you say so, buddy,” Locheran snorts.
They know that’s not the reason. They know I’ve greeted many kings and queens in my lifetime. I simply can’t explain what’s happening. It’s as if my body is vibrating with… anxiety? Lust? Both?
I ignore Locheran and enter the war room behind him.
Layla sits at the front of the table with a few of her bodyguards standing behind her against the wall.
Xander takes a seat next to the vampire queen with Locheran on her other side.
Layla inspects her manicured nails, as if doing whatever necessary to avoid eye contact with me, as I take my seat next to Locheran.
She clears her throat.
“Thank you for meeting with me before tonight’s celebration,” she begins.
There’s a slight quaver in her voice. She’s nervous. I fight the urge to stand and go to her... to hold her in my arms and ease whatever is causing this anxiety.
“I was informed a few weeks ago by the Council of Vampire Elites that they have been in discussions with other supernatural leaders about… um… revealing ourselves to the humans.”
Locheran leans in and Xander’s mouth drops open, but he snaps it shut, letting her continue.
“Right, I had the same reaction. It’s something that would need in-depth planning, which is why COVE wants to form a committee with representatives from all supernatural communities so we can work out the details of how to make this happen as smoothly as possible.
I’m to meet with leaders this week to discuss their recommendations for that committee.
COVE would also like for my security team to be somewhat of a test of this unification plan. ”
Layla purses her lips and scrunches her nose like an adorable bunny. An adorable, but uncertain, bunny. Her hesitation tugs at my heart.
Layla’s eyes snap to me.
Shit.
I place my hand over my chest as if that will stop the traitorous organ from beating so fast.
Can she hear me pining for her? Of course she can. She’s a vampire. Her hearing is even better than my own supernatural hearing.
Layla’s eyes hesitantly slide back to Xander. “King Basque… would you be interested in a partnership? One that involves having a gargoyle head my security team?”
The room is painfully silent for a few seconds, and I’m pretty sure the drumming of my frantic heartbeat has gotten louder.
Choose me. I would love to protect you.
I want to scream it out and claim this woman to be mine. If that means being her head of security, then I’ll gladly accept the role. Yet I don’t want to appear eager, especially after acting so strangely earlier.
Xander takes a sip from the glass of water in front of him and clears his throat.
“That’s... quite the request, Queen Aldana.”
She sighs. “Yes, and I understand if it’s one you would not be interested in fulfilling.
However, it’s the 21st century. It’s time we finally stop hiding.
The humans are ready, especially with all the television shows, movies, and books about us.
But in order for them to accept our existence, we supernaturals have to show a united front.
We can’t convince the humans we’re of no threat to them—no more of a threat than their fellow humans—unless we ourselves are amicable. ”
It makes sense.
I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have humans know about our existence. There are a few who already know, who work with us during the day when the sun turns us to stone, but to convince an entire population that we aren’t here to cause them harm?
It could end up being a disaster.
“Why a gargoyle?” Xander asks.
My stomach drops. Is he going to say no? Despite how badly I want to protect this woman, I couldn’t defy my king and accept the role.
Even if I beg for the role.
Layla shrugs. “I wasn’t given a reason, but I will say there’s no better choice.
Gargoyles are why this city still exists.
You are loyal guardians, fierce warriors, strong and intelligent, and I’d be honored to have one of your soldiers by my side, especially with all the unknowns that come with this unveiling plan. ”
My chest puffs with pride. Locheran and Xander sit taller.
“After these two most recent incidents with Heinrich and your brother,” Layla continues, her voice softening.
She’s beautiful and compassionate. “The vampire elders and other supernatural leaders want to avoid another power-hungry monster from trying to take over the human world. We want to reveal ourselves peacefully, not forcefully. Elder supes have been discussing this for months. Did you not get the invitation to those meetings?”
Xander winces. “I was invited but being that I was months away from permanently turning to stone, I declined to get involved in any supernatural related business.”
My heart hurts for my king. He had begun to lose hope before his fated mate entered his life.
“When must I decide?” Xander asks.
Layla grimaces.
“Now? They want to present my new head of security at tonight’s ball.”
I swallow to wet my dry throat, not loving the idea of her working the crowd.
She’s the host. She’ll be networking, shaking hands with other supernatural leaders. There will be dancing and flirting and food—for the supes who can eat—and booze or intoxicated human donors for supes who can only get high off drunk or drugged blood.