Epilogue – Layla
Two months later
Ever since Vara was kidnapped, King Xander, Locheran, and Thorne have been focusing on finding the humans responsible. They believe it’s a family, coming from a long line of hunters, who traveled to the city from Upstate New York after Erebos told them about Vara.
One of their hideouts in the city was found, but they must have been tipped off because it was empty when the gargoyles got there.
They found remnants of ingredients used for spells, which further confirms they’re using a witch to help them.
Supernatural Crime Investigators are now looking into missing or kidnapped witch cases.
There’ve been several over the last few years.
Tonight, a ball is being held to celebrate the final night of the rescheduled International Supernatural Conference.
My dress is a black bustier ball gown with a tulle skirt and sleeves that fall off my shoulders. The skirt is down to my feet, but thankfully, I’m wearing red stilettos so I don’t trip over the fabric.
“My queen,” Vara purrs, entering the room.
She’s wearing a dress similar to the one she was kidnapped in. Apparently, the hunter ruined the original when he stabbed her, and it was one of Vara’s favorite dresses. So she bought another one.
“My sphinxy poo.”
“I’m leaving,” she says, tossing up her hands and turning on her heel.
“Baaaabe.” I snatch her hand and tug her back.
Vara can’t hide her smile as she perches her arms on my shoulders while I place my hands on her hips. Her golden wings spread out and flicker with purrs of contentment.
“You love the silly nickname.”
“I hate it, but I love you. I’ll allow it, but I’ll bitch about it the whole time.”
“Deal.”
“What are we making deals about?” Thorne asks, walking into the bedroom.
“That I can keep calling Vara sphinxy.”
Thorne frowns. “What’s my nickname? I never got one.”
I smile mischievously, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“What about Flower or Rose Bud? Because roses have thorns?”
“Nevermind. I’m good.”
I finally get a good look at him, and he’s wearing a suit, all black of course. His long black hair is up in his typical man bun.
“Damn, BC, you’re looking fine!” I say and giggle.
“BC?” He lifts a brow.
“Layla and I secretly call you that because you have a big cock,” Vara says, her voice full of humor.
“Creative.” Thorne sighs. “Let’s go PIMA.”
“PIMA?” I ask.
“Yeah. Pains in my ass.”
He stalks out of the room, shaking his head, and Vara and I burst into laughter.
In the SUV to the venue, we cuddle in silence in the back seat. Until I can’t take it anymore.
“I’ve been thinking… can gargoyles and sphinx have children?”
Vara sucks in a sharp breath, not expecting the question.
“I’m just wondering if that’s something we’d want in our future. Kids, I mean. Vara, you said you’re the last of your kind that you know of. What if you could have a little garga-sphinx baby.”
“Pretty sure you just made up that word,” she laughs.
“But could it happen?”
She sighs. “Anything is possible with supernaturals. Have I ever wanted kids? Not really. Was it expected of me? Yes. Then my species was wiped out, and I hadn’t thought about it since. However, if there’s a chance to save my kind... then, yes, I absolutely would have a garga-sphinx baby.”
“I’d be honored to put a baby inside you,” Thorne says, giving Vara a smile. Then he clutches my chin. “And you Layla. For all we know, our fated mate bond would allow you to have babies as well.”
My heart beats excitedly at the thought.
The beats have become more frequent over the past two months.
Not full-on pulsing, but it will flutter and come to life when something—or someone—excites me.
To be fair, it’s been dead for about 700 years.
My heart has a lot of healing to do, and I think the bond, and my mates, is slowly reviving it.
But babies?
How would that even work for a vampire? Would the baby be undead? Would it be some feral beast with fangs?
My brain hurts thinking about the possibility of a vampire/gargoyle hybrid.
We enter the ballroom to find it packed with humans and supernaturals.
The unveiling plan has officially launched. Despite the conference being postponed, we received enough feedback from the community that they’re ready to emerge from the shadows.
There’s still a lot of work to do.
A PR plan being number one. We will set a reveal date, and a television broadcast will be made to announce our existence. Before that happens, we’d like to track down as many known hunters as possible and imprison them. The number of attacks on supes is still too high.
We find King Xander with his now wife Evangeline at his side.
She’s beautiful in her dark red gown with black designs sewn throughout.
Beside Evangeline is a woman just as short and thick, but she has dirty blonde hair that’s styled in waves around her shoulders.
Her gown is dark blue, sleeveless, and fits her curves wonderfully.
Her name is Farrah, Evangeline’s best friend. Before we can begin a conversation with them, Locheran walks up to our group, a scowl on his near flawless face. I rarely see the gargoyle with anything but a smirk or smile.
He does a double take when he spots Farrah. Apparently, Evangeline told her bestie about the existence of gargoyles… and other supes… a few weeks ago. She must still be adjusting because her eyes widen when spotting Locheran. He gives her a shy smile, which I find odd.
The gargoyle is anything but shy.
He shakes his head, his serious face returning.
“We managed to get surveillance images from a suspected safe house belonging to the hunter clan responsible for Vara’s kidnapping.”
He flips his phone around to show a large man with a head full of light hair, which I assume to be gray or blond since the image is black and white. He has a stubby nose and light eyes that must be blue.
Farrah gasps.
“What is it?” Evangeline asks, but her best friend shakes her head.
“I, um, just saw a human shift into a wolf.”
Her face has paled more than usual. Her heart is racing in her chest.
I sense Farrah is lying.
Either she knows the man in the photo, or she’s concerned about him killing off her new monster friends. Humans often lie so either one could be true.
I’ll bring my concerns to Thorne and Locheran tomorrow. If I’m wrong, I don’t want the night ruined. I’m not sensing malice from this woman. If anything, she’s giving off defiance. Anger. Betrayal. Especially after seeing that photo.
“Send the image out. We’ll talk strategy tomorrow,” Xander says, slapping Locheran on the shoulder. “Relax tonight. Party. Find a beautiful being to fuck.”
“Xander!” Evangeline scolds.
Farrah’s pale face fills with color.
Oh. Okay. I get it now. This human has a crush on Locheran. I wonder if she fell for his charm and good looks while appearing human. It’s hard to resist the gargoyle now in his true form.
Please don’t ever tell Locheran that.
Thorne’s jealous voice fills my head.
I turn away from our friends and place a palm on his chest, then Vara’s, too, since she’s standing next to him.
“Don’t worry, my handsome protector, I only have eyes for two. Wait… that doesn’t sound right. I have two eyes, but they belong to you two…” She sighs and rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean!”
“No, I have no idea what you mean,” Vara says, goading me.
I roll my eyes and smile. “I was trying to say that I love you two.”
“Good,” Vara says. “Because I think I’ve loved you since you walked into my club almost two years ago.”
Vara clasps her hand on my nape, pulling me in for a kiss.
When she releases me, I turn to Thorne.
“I want to hear it, BC.”
He snarls at the dumb nickname. I admit it’s dumb.
But it’s still true.
“I think I’ve loved you since the first time you hid your smile from me. Now I get to see that joy every day. Because you, Queen Layla Sofia Aldana, are a bright day in my cloudy world and I bask in your ray of light.”
Locheran gags behind us, and Thorne flips him off.
“It was a little cheesy,” Vara says.
“Yeah, it was,” Layla agrees. “But I’m a whore for cheesy lines. Feed them to me anytime.”
I’m pretty sure Locheran mumbles gross before he walks away, leaving me with my mates.
My lovers.
My guardians.
They are so beautiful.
So beautifully mine.
The end