as if she weighed nothing.
“It was very nice meeting you young lady. I look forward to speaking with you at length, later” Krail added, beaming from ear to ear.
Fatima didn’t see any reason to be happy.
***
It wasn’t exactly the introduction Lorn had in mind, but he wouldn’t let himself worry about what had already been done. He was more concerned with how things would be going forward. When his father had arrived with some other Protectors in tow, he smelled trouble, which was exactly what he got after informing them all there was a Fledgling upstairs in his bed. His announcement was followed by utter silence before the room erupted in accusations.
“You had no right to take her,” Mikhail Ludwick began. “How do we know she would have chosen you if all the Protectors were present?”
“Exactly. As far as we know you could have her bound to your bed,” Alejandro Saldano added.
“When I met her I didn’t know she was a Fledgling. Her mark is not in the traditional spot. I discovered it after we became lovers, which makes it obvious she has chosen me.”
“How can we be certain you didn’t force her decision?” Alexi Dracon questioned quietly from his chair in a corner.
“Because I don’t resort to rape in order to get a woman in my bed. Yes, I have found my mate, but I’m still dedicated to the cause. This should be a day of rejoicing because we now have concrete proof there are Fledglings in the world. We just need to find them.”
Lorn resisted the urge to throw the brooding Protector out of his home. All knew there was no love lost between the two gargoyles.
Each man seemed to digest the meaning of his words before agreeing.
“How do we go about finding them?” Lorn’s father questioned. “In my day the marked women were presented to us in our annual celebrations,” he remembered nostalgically.
“The internet would be a good starting point,” Alejandro suggested.
Most of the men, including Lorn, snorted aloud.
“No, I think Alejandro is on to something. With the number of social networking groups there has to be Fledglings on any number of them. We could also buy ad space.” Jean, Lorn’s younger brother, piped in.
“And say what exactly… Fledglings wanted?” Alexi grunted.
“No, but give me a few days to think on it and I’ll come up with an idea,” Jean offered.
“In the meantime we must first address the issue of Vladimir and secondly allow our brother to return to his new mate. The sooner they can get their coupling out of their systems the sooner they can continue their research,” Mikhail had added jokingly, getting the barest cursory chortle.
None of them had much to laugh about these days and losing another brother to consumption only punctuated the gravity of things. Lorn might have found his mate but until more Fledglings were discovered the rest of them were on borrowed time.
***
As Lorn allowed a seething Fatima to slide to the floor he couldn’t help but think there wouldn’t be much loving going on any time soon.
“You should be in the bed. I instructed Pierre to bring you a tray once you’d awaken.”
“I’m not hungry,” she lied. “What I would like are some answers. First, why are my clothes here and what the hell was the whole Conan the Conqueror thing you just pulled downstairs?”
“Your things are here because this is where you belong, with me every night.” His voice dropped seductively, causing Fatima to take several steps back.
“Well, you should have consulted me first before moving my stuff. Did you ever stop to think I didn’t want your staff to know we’re sleeping together?”
“It’s not their business.”
“Well, it’s mine. What if the university were to hear about this? It could compromise the whole credibility of the research.”
“To hell with the research and the university. I’m not going to sneak around with you like some guilty teenager.”
“You don’t get it.” She bit her bottom lip in
“It was very nice meeting you young lady. I look forward to speaking with you at length, later” Krail added, beaming from ear to ear.
Fatima didn’t see any reason to be happy.
***
It wasn’t exactly the introduction Lorn had in mind, but he wouldn’t let himself worry about what had already been done. He was more concerned with how things would be going forward. When his father had arrived with some other Protectors in tow, he smelled trouble, which was exactly what he got after informing them all there was a Fledgling upstairs in his bed. His announcement was followed by utter silence before the room erupted in accusations.
“You had no right to take her,” Mikhail Ludwick began. “How do we know she would have chosen you if all the Protectors were present?”
“Exactly. As far as we know you could have her bound to your bed,” Alejandro Saldano added.
“When I met her I didn’t know she was a Fledgling. Her mark is not in the traditional spot. I discovered it after we became lovers, which makes it obvious she has chosen me.”
“How can we be certain you didn’t force her decision?” Alexi Dracon questioned quietly from his chair in a corner.
“Because I don’t resort to rape in order to get a woman in my bed. Yes, I have found my mate, but I’m still dedicated to the cause. This should be a day of rejoicing because we now have concrete proof there are Fledglings in the world. We just need to find them.”
Lorn resisted the urge to throw the brooding Protector out of his home. All knew there was no love lost between the two gargoyles.
Each man seemed to digest the meaning of his words before agreeing.
“How do we go about finding them?” Lorn’s father questioned. “In my day the marked women were presented to us in our annual celebrations,” he remembered nostalgically.
“The internet would be a good starting point,” Alejandro suggested.
Most of the men, including Lorn, snorted aloud.
“No, I think Alejandro is on to something. With the number of social networking groups there has to be Fledglings on any number of them. We could also buy ad space.” Jean, Lorn’s younger brother, piped in.
“And say what exactly… Fledglings wanted?” Alexi grunted.
“No, but give me a few days to think on it and I’ll come up with an idea,” Jean offered.
“In the meantime we must first address the issue of Vladimir and secondly allow our brother to return to his new mate. The sooner they can get their coupling out of their systems the sooner they can continue their research,” Mikhail had added jokingly, getting the barest cursory chortle.
None of them had much to laugh about these days and losing another brother to consumption only punctuated the gravity of things. Lorn might have found his mate but until more Fledglings were discovered the rest of them were on borrowed time.
***
As Lorn allowed a seething Fatima to slide to the floor he couldn’t help but think there wouldn’t be much loving going on any time soon.
“You should be in the bed. I instructed Pierre to bring you a tray once you’d awaken.”
“I’m not hungry,” she lied. “What I would like are some answers. First, why are my clothes here and what the hell was the whole Conan the Conqueror thing you just pulled downstairs?”
“Your things are here because this is where you belong, with me every night.” His voice dropped seductively, causing Fatima to take several steps back.
“Well, you should have consulted me first before moving my stuff. Did you ever stop to think I didn’t want your staff to know we’re sleeping together?”
“It’s not their business.”
“Well, it’s mine. What if the university were to hear about this? It could compromise the whole credibility of the research.”
“To hell with the research and the university. I’m not going to sneak around with you like some guilty teenager.”
“You don’t get it.” She bit her bottom lip in
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