Chapter 60
Chapter Sixty
Hailey
There wasn’t time between ending our shift and the gargoyle bonding party to take Otis out on a date to anywhere but the tailor.
However, I took every opportunity to kiss him that I could, and he did the same.
The rest of my bond mates took Otis’s inclusion in our relationship with such ease, I wondered if they’d known, like I did, that it was a fated, foregone conclusion.
It felt so right. I felt complete and insanely happy, despite the background noise of former flights, orc fights, and the lingering cloud of an unknown human threat.
The scar on my face was always going to be a reminder that even someone as weak as a human could take my life, and I didn’t think anything I could say would get them to lower their guard.
Tonight, I hid it as best I could with my makeup in my large bathroom, but it was still there.
It always would be. I looked at my dress and hoped I wouldn’t embarrass Ilyas among his former flight.
Though he said he didn’t care what they thought, and that he didn’t even want to go tonight, I could sometimes see the regret in his eyes.
I didn’t think he regretted bonding with us.
In fact, I knew he was deliriously happy.
I felt it down the bond. I thought perhaps he just hated how things had ended with his flight.
I didn’t want him to resent us in years to come because he’d had to choose. I didn’t want him to ever wonder if he’d chosen wrong.
The dress I wore was a shimmery opalescent sheath that fell like liquid to the floor.
When I moved, it flashed faintly of pinks and blues and reminded me of the moonstone he’d gifted me, which hung heavily around my throat.
I’d kept my makeup subtle, highlighting my eyes and lips but going for understated.
My hair fell in smooth curls down my spine.
I hoped I was enough.
A knock on my door had me looking over my shoulder.
I wasn’t surprised to see Ilyas, the only one of the guys who’d already owned a tux.
He looked so fucking handsome, he stole my breath.
His tux was black on black, and in the overhead light, his hair shone the faintest blue.
He looked like a storm cloud before it snowed.
“You look breathtaking,” he said in a low voice that made my body tighten with need. My newfound family was turning me into a bit of a glutton for pleasure. They chased my orgasms like they were the holy grail.
I flushed and smiled up at him in the mirror as I secured my earrings. “You look like a dangerous dream.” I winked at him. “Definitely a wet dream though.”
He chuckled low and closed the distance between us. Ilyas leaned down and planted a kiss on my cheekbone, careful not to smudge my makeup. Smart man.
“I brought you a gift.”
He handed me a soft, deep green velvet box a little bigger than a deck of cards.
I opened it, and inside was the most beautiful French hair comb I’d ever seen.
It was an intricate antique design, with swirling rows of champagne colored stones that I had a sneaking suspicion were diamonds, and set in the center were large orange stones.
“Sunstones,” he told me softly, taking the comb out and holding it up. “May I?”
I nodded as he swept my hair back on one side and watched as he stood behind me, expertly sliding the comb into my hair like he’d done it a hundred times.
“Sunstones are what we give our bond mates after they accept our bond. They represent our eternal love, our growth together, and the growth of our bond and happiness. As the moon goddess gives us our bond, the sun goddess renews and protects.” It sat perfectly in my hair, exposing one ear and the column of my throat.
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my pulse. His lips moved lower, then his tongue ran over the bond mark that was still healing on my shoulder. The sensation shot straight to my core, and I gasped softly. I’d worn this dress so everyone could see the mark, see that Ilyas was mine.
“You’re so beautiful, you steal my breath, little hailstorm. I am so fortunate.”
I chewed my lip, my eyes meeting his stormy ones in the mirror. His eyes were endlessly fascinating, and I often found myself transfixed by them with their streaking gold that was constantly moving.
Turning in his arms, I tilted my face up for a kiss.
“Thank you.” As he kissed me tenderly, careful not to ruin any more of my makeup, I smiled.
“For the gift, the kisses, and… everything.” We’d skipped so many steps before bonding, most of all the grand confessions of love, and I knew he had taken his place in my heart and soul, but now wasn’t the time for declarations.
He kissed my forehead. “My pleasure.” He sighed. “We should go before I can no longer resist the urge to push that confection of a dress up your thighs and fuck you right here.”
My mouth went dry, and I wet my lower lip, making him groan. “I mean, I could redo my makeup.”
He growled. “Temptress.” He kissed me once more and moved toward the bathroom door.
I looked at the smiling, happy person in the mirror and wondered if my child self would even recognize her.
* * *
The guys fanned around me like my own personal security.
Apparently, you could dress a security team in tuxes instead of tactical gear, but they were still security.
I smiled up at Eric, who was holding my arm.
Ilyas was a stone wall at our backs. We’d need the buffer, I thought, as every single head turned toward us as we entered.
The room was beautiful, with cathedral ceilings and hundreds of twinkling lights that made it seem both intimate and grand. There was a large champagne fountain in the center of the room, and the light clink of crystal was the subtle song of old money.
There was a sea of gargoyles, beautifully dressed and elegant.
Everything was tailored or designer, and wealth permeated the room like an expensive perfume.
Even from here, I could tell why they wanted Ilyas so badly.
While the male gargoyles were all large and broad, none were as physically impressive as Ilyas nor as handsome.
They looked like craggy stone cliffs, not the chiseled work of art of my bond mate.
Unlike their male counterparts, the female gargoyles were beautiful. Tall and curvy, they looked like they’d been formed by flowing water or the hands of a sculptor. How had none of them beguiled Ilyas already? I was straight, and even I had lustful thoughts.
They cast me jealous expressions, their faces pinched tight, and I could see their anger that I’d stolen the best of them. Bad luck, because he was mine now. I looked over at Eric.
Ours.
Reaching behind me, I snagged Ilyas’s fingers, and he squeezed them back.
An aging gargoyle with a pudgy middle and graying hair appeared in front of us. “Ah, Ilyas, so glad you could make it.” His lip curled as he looked at us. “It’s… wonderful to meet your new bond mates.”
Yeah, his tone said he wished he could scrape me off his shoe like shit he’d stepped in. I gave him my brightest smile. “So lovely to meet you too, Key Adrik.”
Eric held his hand out to shake. “Indeed, Ilyas has spoken of you so often, I feel like we already know you.”
Ilyas’s huffed laugh ruffled my hair, and Adrik’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sure. Come, your table of honor is available for you and your… retinue.”
“The rest of my flight, my brothers in bond,” Ilyas growled, not letting the insult slide.
“Of course,” Adrik said politely, and his smile turned sharp.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of embracing your new bond mates.
I couldn’t find any of your human bond mate’s family, of course, due to their untimely and unfortunate deaths,” he drawled like poison, “but your orc bond mate’s family was already known to me. ”
Ilyas stiffened behind me. “You son of a bitch,” he spat.
Sitting at our table was the orc king, Joseph Voight, and he was surrounded by four large, rough-looking orc enforcers.
The key turned and gave us all a cold-eyed stare. “Family and bloodlines are important, wouldn’t you agree?”