Chapter Fourteen #2
“It’s not a criticism, Red.” Damon stood, moving around the table to slide into Redford’s lap.
The chair creaked a bit, but it held. “I’m just making an observation.
You’re good at the organizing side of things, delegating, and seeing the bigger picture.
At least this time, instead of using those skills to work yourself to death, you’re building something you actually care about. ”
Redford wrapped his arms around his mate, feeling the truth of his mate’s words. “I care about this. I care about you.”
“I know.” Damon pressed a kiss to his temple. “That’s why you need to let go of everything else. Not forever - you can still consult if that’s what you wanted to do, but for the day-to-day stuff you’ll need to step back, at least as far as the FBI is concerned.”
In past years, when Redford had indulged a bit too much in the whiskey and was tired of being alone, he’d thought about what it would be like to leave his job, and the thought terrified him every time.
But with Damon’s butt warming his thighs, and the castle sitting just outside the door, Redford felt something he hadn’t experienced in decades – anticipation for the future.
What that would look like, Redford wasn’t sure, but he knew he’d be building a life with Damon, there could be more secrets in the castle to uncover, and most of all, he’d have time to just be himself.
“I’ll talk to my supervisor,” Redford said, “and request an extension on my leave while I figure out the next steps.”
“An extension?”
“I want to give the teams a chance to work without me.” Redford grinned.
“There’s a method in my madness. I have easily a year’s worth of leave owed – time off they were going to have to pay me for anyway if I resign now.
But by waiting, Wilson gains his confidence, does a good job – or someone else steps up because that doesn’t matter in the long run – and then I hand in my resignation.
“If Wilson is still there at that time, I’ll recommend him for my position, so the transition is smooth, but either way, I’m not going back.” He met Damon’s bright eyes. “So basically, I’m all yours.”
Damon’s grin could have lit the whole cottage. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.”
“We should encourage my pack to visit at some point,” Damon said after a long moment. “They’ll be keen to meet you, and as I say, you won’t be the only gargoyle, as Kolton is mated to one as well – they even have a kid now.”
“How many of the hellhounds from your pack have found their mates?” Redford was genuinely curious.
“You’re the ninth mate – only three single hellhounds from our pack left now. And then there’re the kids…”
“They have children? So some are mated to women?” For some reason, Redford had imagined all the hellhounds would have male mates, but clearly not.
“Nope, all the hellhound mates are males, and yes, before you ask, all the hellhounds are as well.” Damon looked like he was trying really hard not to laugh.
But how did they have kids? “Foster care? Adoption?”
Damon shook his head. “The gargoyle Simon that I told you about laid the egg his and Kolton’s child came from.”
Redford spun Damon around, gripping his biceps. “An actual gargoyle baby, from a mixed species, same-sex couple? That’s not possible.”
“And yet it is. Hatched from an egg that came from Simon’s stone side, they now have a son named Warner.
And yes, now that I think about it, apparently Simon’s clan didn’t believe it was possible either, but there’s just something about hellhounds…
” Damon trailed off, and he was definitely chuckling now.
“Stones and sky, that’s incredible.” Redford couldn’t believe his ears, but his gargoyle didn’t seem surprised. “So…er…I feel like I want to ask how, but I don’t need a birds and bees talk.”
“It’s all to do with intent, Red. You can stop worrying if you’re pregnant already unless you were thinking about having little ones last night.
The hellhound pack is part of the gods’ line because we were created by Lord Hades.
Men from the gods line can impregnate other males, or become pregnant themselves… ”
“So you could get pregnant.” Redford latched onto that like a lifeline. It doesn’t have to be me.
“No, it doesn’t have to be you, and yes.
” Damon paused and thought for a moment.
“I know Cain got pregnant – that’s another one of my pack members, and him and his mate Ollie have a little girl.
In Beau and Blue’s case, it was Blue who got pregnant – did they have a boy or a girl?
I can’t remember. A boy, I think. Yes, Tristan.
And then Faron’s mate Patrick was pregnant…
Hmm, that’s…I can’t remember if they’ve had their little one yet, I’d have to check the group chat.
But yes, if it’s good enough for Lord Hades to carry two sets of twins to his mate, then why can’t we do it too? ”
Lord Hades? The God of the Underworld? Redford quickly rubbed his left temple. “Okay, but you said it has to do with intent, so it’s not like either one of us is just going to suddenly get pregnant, right?”
“I know we’ve got the castle to fix and more history to uncover,” Damon said, draping his arms around Redford’s neck.
“But if it’s something you ever want to think about – later – then the option is there.
It will always be there, and we can talk about it then.
I just didn’t want you to be surprised when you meet Simon. ”
“I think you’ve done that already,” Redford said, tilting his face up so he could catch a kiss.
“But yes, the castle, documents, the council…we have other things to do for now.” He was totally ignoring his gargoyle’s happy thoughts about having an egg of his own. Didn’t you hear me? I’m ignoring you.
/~/~/~/~/
After eating a large late lunch, they spent the next hour carefully examining each document, taking notes on what they’d found.
The logbook alone contained over three hundred names spanning nearly a century.
There were numerous letters from safe houses across Scotland and beyond.
But it was the journal that fascinated Redford the most, in the way it detailed daily life at the sanctuary while it was running.
Redford found himself wondering about the people who’d lived in the castle, the ones who’d risked everything to help strangers.
They’d been human, from what he could tell, but there had to have been some knowledge of the paranormal world because different species types were mentioned in the list of those saved.
But apart from Beatrice, the witch who’d warded the castle, it seemed most of the people running the network were kind locals doing extraordinary things because it was the right thing to do.
“What are you thinking?” Damon asked, watching him.
“About the concept of legacy and what we leave behind.” Redford set down the letter he’d been reading. “These people built something that lasted centuries, and I feel that matters today, even if they couldn’t be aware of that.”
“And you want to honor that.”
“Don’t you?”
Damon’s expression went thoughtful. “Yeah. I do.” He glanced at the window, at the ruins beyond.
“I’ve lived thousands of years, Red, and I did my part protecting the Underworld, and then my packmates when needed on Earth.
I’ve never been part of building something like this, though, and I’m excited about it. ”
“Well, that’s probably just as well.” Redford stood, stretching. “It looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Damon rose too, gathering the documents with careful hands. “First things first - we need to secure these properly. I’ll put them in my collar box for now. Later, when we contact the council, we can see what they recommend.” He paused. “And you should call your supervisor.”
Redford nodded. The conversation he’d been avoiding for months, maybe years. “Tomorrow. I’ll do it tomorrow.”
“When you’re ready.”
“I’m ready, and I’ll do it tomorrow, I promise.” He pulled Damon close, tucking his mate against his chest. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For helping me see what I was too burned out to notice.” Redford pressed a kiss to the top of Damon’s head. “That there’s more to life than work. That it’s okay to want something for myself.”
Damon’s arms tightened around him. “You deserve everything, Red. Don’t you forget it.”
Redford smiled. “Everything? Does that mean you’re cooking dinner tonight?”