“Holy crap!”The only other human in the forest stepped from behind the Gargoyle King’s wing.“Jasmine!”
Holy freaking moly!Itwasher!“Sue!”
It was really her–the same unruly brown hair, wide smile, and petite figure.Well, she wore a golden loincloth and sparkly top like some sexy Cleopatra, and had a gargoyle’s wing curled around her back like a mantel.But other than that, she was exactly as I remembered her.The friend I’d made in university.Alive and well after three apocalypses, and right in front of me.Impossible!
“Gods, girl, you’re alive!”Sue exclaimed, grinning and teary-eyed.
Tears of joy stung my eyes, too.Gosh, I wished I could run to my friend and hug her.
Sue didn’t hold herself back despite the precarious situation.She stepped forward–
A long and thin tail wrapped itself around her waist and lifted her off her feet.The Gargoyle King deposited her gently back next to him.Her so-calledmate.
He had the same dark-blue hue as the other gargoyles, and was bulky enough to give Tisvali a run for his money.His shoulder-length hair, framed by pointed ears, and his dark pupil-less eyes reminded me again of an elf’s.But the fangs I’d noticed during his greeting made me think of a vampire.
Did he feed on blood?Was Sue his prisoner, forced into being his queen?Her attitude while she’d talked with him and the other gargoyles earlier suggested otherwise, but then again…
She shot the King an accusatory look.“Let go,animar.Jasmine poses no threat to me.”
“Explain,anima,” he rumbled while his eyes were trained on Karim.
My Prince had moved in a defensive stance in front of me.Things could escalate quickly.
“Jasmine is a friend from when I was studying to be a scientist,” Sue explained carefully.“I had no idea she’d survived the apocalypses, let alone that I’d find her here.With elves.”Her tone suggested Sue had a history with Karim’s kind.A bad one.“What are the odds?I just want to give her a hug, Xan.”
“I understand.”The King brushed a tear off her face tenderly, but kept his tail around her waist.“However, now is not the time and place to leave my side and engage in hugging with the Prince’s braid-partner-to-be.”
Braid-partner-to-be?Was that how Karim had presented me to the gargoyles?I’d barely been listening when he’d greeted the guests.He must have done it for the sake of appearances.
“What if we don’t have another chance?”Sue pleaded.
The King kept his gaze on her for a moment, and I had the feeling the entire forest, and not just me, was holding its breath.
“Apologies for the delay, Prince Karim,” the gargoyle leader said.“You should know from personal experience that human females are quite emotional and sensual.Nothing but an unexpected meeting with a long-lost dear one could make my mate forget the purpose of our visit.After all, it was her war strategy that led us to seek this alliance.”
I stared at the monstrous creature with new eyes.Someone who spoke with such pride about Sue and officially declared these historic negotiations her idea, couldn’t be her captor.
That was when Karim’s stance finally lost its rigidity.“As my mother’s son, I am aware of human females’ strong emotions, King Xaniban.I’m also aware that they feel the strong need to offer each other comfort by touch.That’s why I would suggest that once the talks are complete and before we part ways–in peace, I hope–we let our humans touch and have a word.If they so wish.”
“Graciem, Karim!”I wanted to kiss him right now, audience be damned.He was doing this for me!
“I certainly wish totouchand talk with my friend.”Sue’s tone indicated she wasn’t about to ask for something she considered her right.
She was on elf territory and was about to descend into their world, yet she stood tall and confident.Whatever had happened to Sue over the years since graduation and during the apocalypses, had made her stronger.
It had also made her a fighter.My friend had a sword handle sticking out of her belt, just like the gargoyles around her did.At least, it looked like a sword handle–there was no blade at the other end of it.At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a lightsaber or something.
“Shall we leave, then, with the promise that our mates will see each other soon?”the gargoyle asked.
“Yes, King Xaniban.”Karim stepped to the side.“Please follow the lit path to the Kingdom’s entrance.Jasmine and I will wait for your return in the company of your brethren.”
The King flapped his wings once, and his warriors followed his example.This clearly marked the end of the conversation, because afterward the royal couple started walking toward the cave.
I followed Karim to the now vacated spot among the gargoyles.They were as immovable as stone statues, but they radiated warmth that kept the night chill at bay.
As Sue and I bypassed each other, she caught my hand and gave it a strong squeeze coupled with an encouraging smile.It was like a momentary glimpse back in time, to when we were carefree students saying yet another goodbye until the next party or joint class.
It was when she kept walking with the Gargoyle King by her side and I, with the Elf Prince, that I realized just how different things were now.I could only hope that whatever position this new, post-apocalyptic world had put us in, we could still be friends.And not enemies in a war between the males we cared about.
