Chapter 5
Bayu now understood why no human had ever caught his interest. He was destined to be Carleigh’s.
While listening to Silas speak about Gargoyles, Tiger perked up at the mention of a mate, especially one who was a shifter.
When Carleigh admitted their beasts could communicate, Bayu understood his animal’s excitement.
Bayu couldn’t imagine being sentient with no way to converse with anyone else, and now he wouldn’t have to go without being heard.
Bayu would know exactly how Tiger was feeling at all times.
All the information had been overwhelming, to be honest. Bayu had grown up with such a small family, and the Gargoyles were numerous.
According to Silas, Carleigh’s father had two brothers and four cousins, all of whom had mates and kids.
Most of those kids were now adults and were all close friends as well as siblings and cousins.
He had spent the last eleven years mostly alone, so being inundated with a family as large as hers would take some getting used to.
So would being intimate. Bayu had gone on dates.
He had even had sex a few times, but it wasn’t something he needed often.
The way his body reacted to Carleigh’s touch was new and exciting.
Bayu had thought he was broken; he wasn’t.
He’d only needed the right woman. His mate.
His beautiful, brilliant female. Even though Silas and Carleigh both said the fates chose who a Gargoyle was destined to be with, Bayu thanked Baekyo for bringing them together.
Was this part of the plan? Would he have met Carleigh if his father hadn’t passed on?
He didn’t want to think of it that way. He couldn’t be appreciative yet sad at the same time. Could he?
Bayu stopped at the back door and eavesdropped as Carleigh called one of her cousins.
Would the male offer the use of his private plane willingly?
By the sound of the conversation, the answer to that was yes.
It warmed his heart when Carleigh didn’t hesitate to offer to go with Bayu to retrieve the sacred scrolls.
Traveling almost twenty-four hours one way would give them more time to get to know one another.
When he stepped outside, Silas was standing on the patio staring out at the back of the property. He turned, smiling.
“How are you doing with all of this?”
Bayu answered truthfully. “It’s a lot to take in. I wish I had met Carleigh under better circumstances because what I have to do next isn’t going to be pleasant.”
“That’s the good thing about having a mate like Carleigh; you don’t have to endure your trials alone.
She might sit behind a computer all day, but she’s as tough as all the other females.
I haven’t been in town as long as some of the other Goyles, but everyone I’ve met has nothing but the highest regard for Carleigh and her crew at H3.
It’s amazing what they can do with a computer.
Let’s go see what the plan is for our trip. ”
“You heard?”
“Shifter hearing. I do my best to tune out the private things, but being your bodyguard, I can’t venture too far, just in case.”
“I understand, and I appreciate your diligence.” Bayu opened the back door, and Silas followed.
Carleigh was tapping her phone against her hand. “Connor’s letting us use his jet. He’s calling Cruz, the pilot, and we should be able to leave first thing in the morning. If we leave by seven, that’ll put us in Kuching around seven p.m. Friday evening. Does that work for you, Silas?”
“I’m here for whatever Bayu needs, and I have my go bag, so yes. I’ll call the office and let them know our plan.”
Bayu hated having to wait that long to see Gemi, but considering that she was halfway across the globe, he didn’t have a choice.
“I’ll text Gemi and let her know the plan.
” Once he’d sent his aunt an estimated time of arrival, he gave Carleigh his attention.
“Would you care to stay for supper? With the groceries you picked up, I planned to cook for Silas and me, but it will be easy to add enough for you as well.”
“I’d love to stay. I’d also love to help if you need me to.”
“This is a simple dish, but if you’d like to cook the noodles while I prepare everything else, I would appreciate it. I should probably ask if you eat shrimp and pork, and are you okay with a little spice?”
“Yes to all. What are you making?”
“A simple stir-fry called Hokkien Mee.”
Carleigh went to the sink and washed her hands. “Sounds exotic, not simple.”
Bayu pulled the ingredients needed from the refrigerator and cupboards before washing his hands once Carleigh was finished.
“It is a staple back home. Knowing I would be leaving when I turned eighteen, my mother taught me to cook so I wouldn’t starve once I was on my own.
I cannot always find the right ingredients for those dishes we had, so I’ve learned to improvise over the years. Do you like to cook?”
Carleigh found a pot for the noodles and added water. “I’ll be honest. I work so many hours that I’m rarely home. I can cook well enough that I don’t starve, but I’m not very adventurous. I stick to the basics.”
Bayu hated that she worked so much, but like he told her earlier; hopefully now, she would have reason to cut back.
If not, he would ensure she had delicious meals to come home to.
“I will keep you fed.” A few seconds after his declaration, Tiger purred, and Carleigh giggled.
Bayu turned his head to where she was placing the pot on the stove. “I take it our beasts are conversing?”
“Yes. My Gargoyle is thrilled that you are willing to cook for us.”
“And that was funny?” Bayu asked as he focused on removing the skin from the pork belly.
“No, but she sent a wave of appreciation to your tiger, and he basically took credit for you being so generous.”
“Silly Tiger,” Bayu chided playfully. Tiger rumbled in return.
When the food was almost done, Silas gathered bowls, silverware, and drinks.
Bayu had come to enjoy the sweet tea that was popular in the South.
At home, he made it with fruit juice, but in the safehouse, they didn’t have that option.
Instead, he’d added a gallon of ready-made to the shopping list. When everything was cooked, Bayu transferred the drained noodles to three bowls and topped that with the meat mixture.
When they were seated, Silas was the first to dig in, humming his enjoyment. Bayu waited for Carleigh’s reaction, and he wasn’t disappointed.
“I can’t believe you threw this together so quickly. This is delicious.”
Bayu ducked his head, but he was pleased his mate was happy. “Thank you. It is a dish I cook often, so it is muscle memory at this point.”
When they’d all scraped their bowls clean, Carleigh offered to wash the dishes, but Silas insisted they relax while he took care of the kitchen. Bayu wasn’t used to having help, but he appreciated it. He and Carleigh returned to the living room and sat on the sofa, closer together this time.
“That was wonderful. Thank you again for cooking.”
“It is my pleasure, and I was serious about keeping you fed. That is, once we return from Kuching. I have no idea what will happen once I meet with Gemi. I am assuming she was the keeper of the scrolls. I may need to remain with her for a time to learn what she knows. If that is the case, I will not ask you to put your life on hold. I will remain in Kuching as long as needed, then return via commercial air travel.”
Carleigh took Bayu’s hand and traced the marking along the back of it.
“I appreciate the offer, but when I return home tonight, I will pack enough clothes for a week, and I will take my laptop with me. I can work from anywhere as long as there is Wi-Fi. However, Gemi demanded you get a bodyguard, so my focus will be on helping Silas protect you, should the need arise.”
Bayu shook his head. “No, Carleigh. I will not allow you to put yourself at risk for me.”
Carleigh bristled, and Silas groaned from the kitchen. “Did Silas not tell you that my female Clanmates and I have trained from an early age with weapons and in hand-to-hand combat?”
“Yes, but—”
“Let me tell you a few stories about the women I’m related to.
” For the next half hour, Carleigh gave what Bayu was certain were abbreviated accounts concerning her aunts, cousins, and friends going through some horrific trials.
“We do not sit at home knitting blankets while our mates are in danger. That is one thing you will need to get on board with, Bayu. We are raised as warriors, not meek little housewives. I may sit behind a computer all day, but I am not without physical skills.”
“Apologies, my Sayang. I did not mean to offend. Please be patient as I learn your ways.”
“What does that mean?” Carleigh asked, her tone much softer.
Bayu had to think back to what he said. “Sayang means darling or dear. Too soon?”
Carleigh flashed him a sweet smile. “Not if I can call you my tiger.”
Bayu felt that was a little too on the nose, but if that was her wish, he would abide it. “Anything you like as long as it’s positive. No negative name calling.”
“Never. Not between us. Now my cousins and me? That’s a different story.
If you ever hear us calling each other something derogatory, just know it’s in fun and done with all the love between us.
It’s rare we get angry. Annoyed? Yes. But never angry.
There’s too much love for that to happen.
” Carleigh looked around the room, smiling and waving at one of the cameras.
Major said she and her coworkers monitored them, so was she signaling to one of them?
“I’m going to head home so I can pack and get some sleep.
I will meet you both in the morning at the airfield. ”