“And what happens if your parents decided to come back?”
“They won’t. When Banyan became King, everything transferred over to him except for the money our father had set aside for their lives away from here. They’ll be in Switzerland until the doctor either finds a way to help my mom, or they’ll go off and live the rest of their lives in solitude. At least that’s what he said they had planned.” Brynna didn’t miss her parents at all, and she found that a sad testament to her relationship with them.
She and Travis got into the back seat of the SUV, leaving enough room for Odin between them. Brynna placed her hand on the seat beside her, but Travis kept his hands clasped in his lap. As Banyan drove, he and Uri chatted about the armory. The two of them had taken over the business from Uri’s father, Tabor, and his best friend, Gautum, who was more of a father than uncle to both Banyan and Brynna. They could fulfill all orders from either the location in Norway or the one in New Atlanta.
When Banyan parked at the edge of some trees, Travis asked, “Is something wrong?”
Banyan turned to look at Travis. “No. We have to walk from here.” The four of them got out of the SUV, and Banyan took the lead, holding Uri’s hand. The two of them pushed their way through the overgrown path, and Travis stepped in front of Brynna, doing the same. He really was a gentleman.
When they stepped into the clearing, Banyan and Uri stopped, looking at what was to be the location of their forever home. The property was everything Brynna remembered. It was nestled in the middle of the woods away from anyone else for fifty miles. There was a path leading to a fjord where they could swim and let their Gargoyles loose without fear of someone seeing them. Banyan and Urijah, hand-in-hand, explained where they wanted the house, one that would be built with the trees they cut down to make room for the structure. Travis listened intently, asking questions Brynna never would have thought mattered. That’s why Travis was the architect, and she was, well, her.
Being born second as well as female meant her place wasn’t set at birth the way Banyan’s had been. He had been born to the crown while she was nothing more than a female. Even if she’d been a male, she would have been nothing other than Banyan’s sibling since he was the oldest. Her parents had tried to shield them both. Banyan by sending him to live with Gautum, and her by raising her to be a genteel female who would make a good mate to a strong Gargoyle. Only after a while, Brynna had other ideas. With her being sheltered in the monstrosity of a home, she never had a real opportunity of finding a mate. Her parents rarely entertained, and the few times they had, her mate hadn’t been in attendance. So Brynna set out in search of her mate many years ago.
It had been scary and eye-opening, traveling the world alone, but it taught Brynna a lot about herself. She had many adventures along the way, but it wasn’t until she went to New Atlanta with her brother and Uri that she finally found what she’d been looking for all along – Travis McKenzie.
Travis was an amazing human. Standing only a couple inches taller than her, the handsome human had light brown hair and the most amazing green eyes. He wasn’t built like the other males in her life, but most humans weren’t unless they spent countless hours in a gym. Brynna was okay with that. She didn’t need him to be chiseled. She just needed him to love her. Giving him time to mourn his girlfriend was taking a toll, but when they finally became mates – because they would become mates – it would be everything she’d ever wanted.
“Bryn?” Travis touched her arm, getting her attention.
“Huh?” She had been lost in her thoughts and didn’t notice him calling out to her.
“I asked if you were okay.”
“Oh. Yeah. You know me. Just over here daydreaming.” Brynna turned so they were facing one another and placed her hands on his shoulders. Travis never shied from her touch. Either he was too nice to back away, or he didn’t mind it. Travis set his hands on her hips and smiled. It was the first time he had touched her in such a way, and her beast crowed. Feeling as though they were turning a corner in their relationship, Brynna leaned in. With less than an inch between their lips, Banyan called out to them, and Travis jerked back. Great timing, B.
Banyan and Uri had wandered off through the woods, but now they were back and ready to leave and head to town. When Banyan caught Brynna scowling at him, he asked, “What?”
Brynna shook her head and walked silently back to the car. Travis was subdued on the ride, and Brynna was sure she had lost the perfect opportunity to move things forward. Banyan tried to talk to her when they arrived at the house, but she waved him off. “Travis, let me give you the tour. I’d love your opinion on whether or not the manor can be transformed into something other than what it is.”
“Uh, yeah. Okay.” Travis gestured for Brynna to lead the way, and she hooked her arm around his as she showed him every room in the house. It took a while, as large as the manor was, and Brynna was not rushing to return to the kitchen where the others were lounging and drinking coffee. She wanted as much alone time with her mate as she could get. The bedrooms were self-explanatory, so it was the larger rooms where she lingered, offering her own ideas of what they could be used for in a commercial setting. Travis listened patiently while Brynna rambled.
When the tour was complete, they ended up in the kitchen anyway, and Travis took a seat. Brynna wanted something stronger than coffee, but she poured Travis a cup and fixed it the way he liked before pouring her own.
Marcie snarled her nose and pointed. “The lot of ya know how to ruin a good cup of joe.” Brynna laughed at her friend. Marcie, like other Norwegians, drank her coffee black and strong.
“After looking around, Travis thinks a bed and breakfast won’t work,” Brynna announced to the others. Travis had nixed that idea after seeing the first three rooms. Brynna sat down at the table next to him and stuck her bottom lip out. He grinned that shy smile he reserved for her, and she returned it. “I get what you’re saying, but what the hell are we going to do with this three-story monstrosity?”
“A hotel?” Travis ducked his eyes. He was comfortable with her, but around others, he was still reserved.
“Hmm. Okay. Tell me your thoughts.”
“What?” Travis’s eyebrows almost hit his hairline. Odin, but her mate was adorable. And sexy. Waiting to claim him was getting harder by the day. In human days, that wasn’t much time, but for a Gargoyle waiting to claim the other part of their soul, it was an eternity.
“Trav, you’re a genius when it comes to building. If you think we should turn this place into a hotel, you’ve obviously given it some thought. I want to hear what that gorgeous mind of yours has come up with.” Travis blushed whenever Brynna complimented him. Or smiled at him. His cheeks were pink often. Clutching her coffee mug, she brought it to her lips. “Well?”
“I’m more familiar with the residential side of things, but to me, a bed and breakfast connotates somewhere smaller and more intimate. A building as large as this could be marketed as a boutique hotel. It would have the larger feel of a hotel but the intimacy of a B and B. The best of both worlds.”
“That’s brilliant. I knew—”
“Knock, knock,” Freyda announced as she and Gautum entered through the back door. “We’re not interrupting, are we?” The older female winked at Brynna before holding out her hand to Travis. “Hello, Travis. I’m Freyda, and this is Gautum.”