After saying goodbye to the older Goyles, Marcie and Lawrence excused themselves to their rooms. Travis had hoped Banyan and Uri would retreat to their wing, but instead, Banyan had other ideas. “Let’s move this party to the kitchen.” Banyan grabbed a couple bottles from the bar and headed to the smaller, cozier room.
Brynna retrieved the half-full pitcher of whatever concoction Lawrence had mixed and followed her brother. Travis excused himself to the bathroom, and when he got to the kitchen, Brynna and her brother were having a fierce, yet almost silent conversation. They moved apart and each grabbed a drink.
Travis pretended not to notice and stepped past them to start a pot of coffee. He was already feeling the effects of all the alcohol, and he didn’t want to pass out at the table. Travis stood at the counter while the coffee brewed, studying the three Gargoyles. He should have felt out of place, but he didn’t. Banyan and Uri had always made Travis feel welcome whenever they were around, and tonight was no different.
Banyan cradled his drink as he spoke to his sister. “I think holding off on the hotel is a good idea. Maybe once you redecorate and make it yours, it’ll feel more like a home than a museum.”
Was that what they were talking about when he came in the room?
“What do you think?” Brynna turned and asked Travis.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Want to help me transform this place into Casa Bryn and Trav?”
“I’d love to help you, but why would you want my input?” The coffee maker beeped that it was finished percolating. Travis turned and poured himself a cup to get his emotions under control. Of course he wanted to help Brynna, but he didn’t understand why she wanted him to.
“We’re going to head upstairs so you two can talk,” Banyan offered.
“That’s okay.” Instead of sitting down, Travis opted to go upstairs so they could speak freely. “I think I’m going to turn in. The alcohol caught up with me, so I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Brynna looked disappointed, but she quickly put a smile on her face. “Good night. If you need anything, you know where my room is.”
Travis nodded. What he needed he would never ask for. When he turned the corner, he overheard Banyan say, “You have to tell him the truth.”
“I can’t, B. I don’t want to hurt him.”
Travis wanted to turn around and find out what they were talking about, but if it was going to hurt his feelings, he needed to wait until he wasn’t so tired to face whatever it was.
Chapter Three
Brynna poured another drink from the pitcher and sat down, rubbing her temple with her free hand. “I don’t think Travis is ready for the truth, and I don’t want him to think I’m insensitive to what he’s been through.”
Banyan took the chair across from her. “And I don’t think you’re giving him enough credit. It’s been over six months since Rachel died. Besides, I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“It’s nothing more than lust. He’s a young man with needs, and I’m just a pretty face.” At least that’s what Brynna kept telling herself. Why was she so hesitant in moving forward? If she were being honest with herself and her brother, she’d say it was fear of rejection. Of not being enough. Brynna had been alone for so many years, and the thought of Travis not wanting to be her mate downright mortified her. Sure, she’d taken lovers over the years, but sex was all they’d wanted from her. For whatever reason, not one single male had wanted a relationship. Her good looks were either too intimidating to get a nice male, or those who sought her out only did so because she was model perfect. Their words, not hers.
Uri gripped Brynna’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “This is the way I see it, so please forgive me if it sounds harsh. Everything happens for a reason, and that includes Rachel’s death. I have no doubt Travis loved the girl, but she wasn’t his intended. You are. I’m sorry she had to die at the hands of Theron, and I’m also sorry Travis had to endure the heartache that came with it. But he’s your mate. What he’s feeling isn’t merely lust; it’s the mate pull. Even if she had lived and they had married, it would have ended eventually because he belongs to you.”
“That’s not fair to him, though. I would never want to be the cause of someone’s death or someone else’s heartache.”
“Of course you wouldn’t, but what happened is done. None of us can change the past. What we can do is look to the future.” Urijah moved around the table to sit beside Banyan. “Take us, for example. Banyan killed my husband because he knew I was his mate. A little extreme? Yes. But that’s how strong the bond is.”
“And how many years did it take for you to forgive him? I don’t have thirty years to wait. Travis will be nearly sixty by then.”
“I guarantee you won’t have to wait that long, especially since the two of you are going to be together twenty-four seven for the next month or two. Close proximity is going to drive you both crazy. Speaking of crazy, how is your beast with the waiting?” Banyan asked.
“Not happy. It never really came to the forefront on its own until I met Travis. I’ve never felt like it was a part of me unless I phased for whatever reason, and those instances were few and far between. Growing up the way I did meant I wasn’t encouraged to embrace the Goyle. I did let it loose when I’d go swimming in the fjord. Getting that extra boost of power was exhilarating. Mother about had a stroke the first time I slipped off on my own. She chastised me for not acting like a lady. Seriously? I get she was born in a different time, but did she never let her own beast loose?”
Banyan frowned. “You’re telling me during those years you were on your own, your shifter never came out to protect you?”
Brynna picked at the chipped polish on her nails. She was in serious need of a manicure. “I said those times were few and far between. I didn’t say nonexistent. The day I snuck out of here headed to Paris was the first time it really pushed against me. It convinced me I needed a weapon, so instead of heading straight for France, I stopped off to see Gautum and had him craft me a short sword I could carry in my luggage. Back then there weren’t metal detectors or baggage inspectors. It was quite freeing to travel without worrying that someone would rummage through my things. I mean, who wants a stranger to sort through your unmentionables?” Brynna scrunched her face, and both Banyan and Uri laughed at her.
“Did Gautum ask why you wanted a weapon?” Banyan asked.
“He did, and I told him the truth.”
“And he didn’t try to stop you from traveling on your own?” Uri asked as he added more Scotch to both his and Banyan’s tumblers.
“Nope. Instead, he convinced me to stay at his home for a couple weeks so he could train me to use it properly. Then he gave me a going-away gift of a handsome sheath and a large sum of money to add to what I’d taken from Father. Oh, he was leery at first, but during those two weeks, we had some really nice conversations where I complained about being stifled at home and wanting to find my mate. I think he understood my need to stretch my metaphoric wings. He did offer to travel with me, but I declined. It was something I needed to do on my own. Prove to myself I was more than a pretty face.”