“You are, deliciously so,” was his reply, coupled with a fangy smile and his tail taking the place of his hand.“But you need to stop thinking like a human,anima.”
Agh!He seriously had to stop calling me that.Just like he had to quit caressing my sensitive places with a fifth limb I had no idea how to deal with.I had enough on my plate as it was, given the hot rod growing harder under my belly by the minute.
But I did not tell him to stop.His tail started drawing little circles on my ass cheek and his hands began moving up and down my back, and the wordenoughgot stuck in my throat.The multiple orgasms must have completely scrambled my brain.
“Marriage doesn’t exist here,” Xaniban explained.“There are no rings to exchange, vows to make, hearts to break when the marriage turns out to be a mistake.The mate bond makes no mistakes, because it exists to prevent the mistakes from happening.It comes into being, linking a male and a female, not because they could exist as one based on a liking for each other’s qualities, beliefs or past.But because they have existed as one once.They have belonged together and they will again, to death and beyond.”
Ridiculous.“I think you Gargoyles have watched too many astrology videos on YouTube and taken the whole soulmate concept too seriously.”Make that taken the concept to a sky-high level of cheesiness.
“I do not know what tube you speak of, but I sense you arebeing sarcastic.”That sarcasm of mine won me a light tail slap.
I gasped.Now was the time to protest.I should tell him to stop immediately–
He pressed a finger to my lips.I was the one who had to listen this time.
The words of protest died on my lips.Perhaps it was a good idea to hear him out.In the meantime, why not allow myself the guilty pleasure of his caresses, just for a few more minutes?Then I was getting away from him, one way or another.
– 17 –
Mate Mumbo Jumbo
“We were one species once, very long ago,”Xaniban told me, running his hands along my back.“We lived on our homeclouds–not that many back in the day–and we had no concerns about the ground and its creatures.We had everything up here, our females were plenty, andpipsof all genders were born daily.
“But then a king got greedy.He wanted to be worshiped by all Gargoyles and have dominion over all homeclouds.Many gargoyles grew so confident with what they had that they forgot where it all had come from–the Gods, our creators and protectors–and followed the foolish king.It was a time of division and bloodshed.”
The movie fan that I was, I immediately imagined how with some epic music in the background, that story would make a greatopening to a Hollywood blockbuster.Too bad Hollywood was overrun by vampires.
“Suffice to say, the Gods were angered,” Xaniban carried on.“They chose to punish Gargoyles, so none of us would ever forget to appreciate what we were given.The punishment was harsh but just: the soul of every gargoyle was split into two, and one half was cast out from the sky.Placed in a body devoid of wings, that half was destined to remain on the ground, reincarnation after reincarnation, unable to reunite with the other half.”
“Okay…”
“The ground being so vast, the chance of the two halves finding each other is slim.Not unless the gargoyle half lives an honorable life that would grant them the Gods’ forgiveness and blessing.Then, on a fated flight over the ground, the gargoyle will find the missing part of their soul and be whole once more.”
“But not before the gargoyle claims as many partners as possible, right?Just to make sure his soulmate isn’t some other busty woman or strapping guy.”
My joke was met with another light tail slap.But come on now, how could I take his beliefs seriously when they sounded copy-pasted from a romance novel?On the positive side, the absurdity of the mate lore had reduced my frustration somewhat.That might also have to do with tiredness catching up to me.
“There are signs to help recognize one’s mate,” Xaniban told me.“Those are easier to notice when the gargoyle is open to the possibility that the Gods have already granted their blessing.Still, the best way of knowing is through a claiming.”
How surprising.“Let me guess.The more claimings, the better?”
“No.”His tail twitched against my ass cheek in warning.I’d better keep the sarcasm to myself.“One claiming is all it takes not just for the recognition of a mate, but also for the mate bond to lock into place.To bind the two halves into one soul.There can be no splittingthem apart ever again, in this life or what lies beyond.”
Xaniban’s soft touch on my back stilled.“The bodies carrying the two halves remain separate but feel the constant need to be close to each other.Separation brings restlessness, pain, even death… The death of one’s mate can cause insanity or the end of the grieving half.”
“Uh…” I didn’t feel sarcastic anymore.Xaniban sounded gravely serious.
“That is how my father died,” he admitted, voice low.“He couldn’t bear to live without my mother, who lost her life upon birthing my little brother.”
“Oh God.”I was well familiar with the horror of losing both parents at the same time.A home fire had taken mine five years ago, and the pain of that loss was my constant companion.“I’m so sorry, Xan.”
“Do not be.”He tenderly traced my jawline with a knuckle.“Their souls are now one whole, beyond the death of their mortal bodies.”
That was a comforting way to look at it, I guess.“What about your brother?”I found myself asking.I hoped that, unlike me, Xaniban had a sibling to share the loss with.
“My older brother chose to become king once my father decided to join my mother, but fell in battle soon after I reached maturity.I took up the burden and honor of kingship, while my little brother chose the path of warriorhood.He is now the commander of another homecloud’s army.Rest assured, you will meet him at the celebrations.”
“Celebrations?”I stiffened.I couldn’t take any more surprises.
