Tristan preened, shaking his shoulders and ruffling the ends of his wings where they draped over the edge of the couch.
A tiny crease at the corners of Aurora’s mouth and a slight relaxing of her shoulders were the only indications she gave of thinking that was cute or funny. And then she shook her head and bent to put her mug down as well.
He threw out another doily.
“If Mr. Tom doesn’t want doilies around the house, he shouldn’t keep moving the coasters,” she mused before sitting back and looking Tristan’s way. Her eyes kindled with cunning intelligence as she tried to piece something together. She did that a lot with gargoyles, trying as she was to learn his culture as they tried to learn hers. “Would you preen with anyone, or just because it’s Jessie and her family?”
A soft glow of warmth radiated from Jessie to accentuate her pleased smile. She loved the addition of Alpha Steele’s family into her circle. It was clearly an extension of the incredible love she had for the man himself.
The same glow immediately infused Aurora. She seemed to feel the same, cherishing her uncle being back in her life aftera difficult separation and loving Jessie like a sister. It was very cute, the two of them.
Actually, Tristan mused, the whole dynamic of this house and its inhabitants was cute—but with bonds as strong as the roots of an oak, and just as deep. The residents would die for each other, and they’d proven it. Their odd little family was a better core of an army than he’d ever seen. If they could continue to grow the convocation, the corrupt mages wouldn’t stand a chance.
If.
Aurora quirked her eyebrow at him in a different way.I asked you a question…
She might as well have been tapping her foot.
“Oh, sorry, I was waiting for the family love-fest to subside,” Tristan said with a grin. “I’d show pride?—”
“You preened,” she interrupted. “You basically flicked your hair and batted your eyelashes.”
He laughed. “I’dshow pridewith most people, andpreenwith other gargoyles and certain ladies…”
“I’m one of those ladies?” Her eyes shuttered, and her body tightened with unease. He didn’t miss her slight flush, though. The unease wasn’t because of his notice, but because of her response to his notice.
Aurora was a lady who needed to get out more. Who needed to sow her wild oats and break a few hearts.
He made a mental note to talk with Jasper and Ulric about it. They’d help her carve out more time for play. She worked too much.
“…and gentlemen,” he finished with a smirk. “And yes, you are one of those ladies. As is Jessie. As is Niamh. It’s not in any way sexual. It’s not flirting, it’s just…” He struggled for how to explain it. “It’s adding a little silliness when showing pride. I waspaying you respect by being tickled that you should praise me. Like a dog wagging its tail.”
Her stare was utterly expressionless. “Your confidence, even when essentially calling yourself a happy dog, is inspiring. Why onlysomepeople?”
“Most ladies enjoy when a man acts silly. Guys are a harder sell, especially shifters. They’re too wrapped up in being”—he did bunny ears with his fingers—”macho. A lot of gargoyles aren’t worried about that, though. We’re expressive. We enjoy using our bodies.” His eyes darkened. “In all things…”
Her flush increased, and she looked away. He laughed as Jessie rolled her eyes.
“Don’t mind him.” Jessie waved him away. “He doesn’t have Nessa here to tease all the time, so he’s spreading it around to everyone else.”
Tristan tried to stop his thoughts from skittering away to Nessa—that beautiful deathwatch angel mage—and his worry over her mental well-being. His worry at what she was resigning herself to do without help. She’d cut them all off and disappeared into the shadows, always a step ahead of him and Niamh. For the past month, he hadn’t been able to track her down. His growing concern that there was a problem was haunting his dreams.
Aurora’s gaze found him again, her eyes piercing and direct. Reading him.
He let her. He had many things to hide, but his affection for that broken, radiant, intelligent woman wasn’t one of them. She might never give in to him, but if she could be safe and secure, happy, he’d consider it a win. She deserved that.At leastthat.
Aurora switched gears, for which he was grateful. He needed the distraction.
“So, you wouldn’t preen with most shifters, then?” she said. “Because of the cultural differences?”
Jessie leaned forward, eyes narrowed, watching them both closely. She was still trying to read the cues.
“Most gargoyles would preen,” he said, “because they don’t care about the cultural differences. That’s why there has been such a problem acclimating the two groups within this territory. Lots of aggression and challenges. But me in particular…” He shrugged. “It’s complicated.”
Aurora’s huff was barely noticeable. He was frustrating her.
“There’s no point in trying to hide your smile—you’re showing it in your body,” Jessie told Tristan, smirking.
