Chapter 8.

GAbrIEL.

I lay in the huge king bed with Angelique in my arms, her girls Lotti and Piper fast asleep on the other side of the mattress. They were practically sleeping on top of each other, arms and legs thrown about in a tangle of blankets.

"Sorry about this," Angelique apologized again. "They're not used to being away from home."

"Don't apologize," I whispered to her, kissing her cheek from where I lay behind her. "They're absolutely beautiful. And you're such a great mom."

Angelique chuckled, "You know, I'll never get sick of hearing that."

"Why's that?" I asked, making a mental note to make sure I told her that all the time.

She was quiet for a while, then said, "I suppose it's because no-one tells me that. I don't... or didn't have a partner when I adopted all the kids. Sharon's great, but she's an employee. And my parents are gone, so... yeah. It's a nice thing to hear."

I rolled her onto her back again so I could look down at her. "You are the most generous, wonderful, amazing woman in the world. And I am so grateful you're mine."

She reached up and cupped my face, drawing me down so that we could kiss. Softly, gently. Because there was nothing else happening while I had children sharing our bed.

I lay down beside her and held her tight, wishing the night would never end.

Angelique turned towards me, "While you're sleeping today, I'll get moving on the plans to fly to Whitehorse for the winter months."

"Oh... that would be great. Though let's confirm with everyone first." That sounded like the best plan. Afterall, anywhere I could be with my Beloved for most of the day sounded like the best idea.

"No problem." She snuggled in again until her breathing evened out and I was pretty sure she was asleep.

I just lay there and held her, only too happy not to move. My brothers and I had been alone for so long, until Roman found Chrissy. From that moment our lives had changed forever, and I would be forever thankful to the Fates for sending us our Beloveds when they did.

None of us would have fought this hard to stay alive without our women. They made the fight essential, and real. We'd flirted with danger before, too often. Because our lives hadn't meant much when no-one had loved us.

But now... we had everything to lose. Fated mates that would stay with us for eternity, and thanks to my Beloved we also had children to adore and raise as a family.

We would be happy, and safe. I was certain.

I must have dozed off too, which was rare, because I woke to pain coursing along my limbs.

"Shit!" I rolled out of bed and ran for the window. The sun was almost up. I only had seconds.

I leapt for my stone circle, landing with one foot as the sun hit my face. I turned to stone immediately, in the strangest position I'd ever been frozen in. Standing on an angle, one leg up in the air.

It didn't matter really. I'd made it. And wouldn't need to spend the day writhing in pain, which is what happened if we didn't make it back to our stone circle in time.

Rafael was the only one of us who'd ever tried such a thing. After he was attacked in gargoyle form, he'd been terrified of it happening again. So, he'd hidden in our apartment one day. That night he told us that he'd screamed for most of the day, his whole body feeling as though he was being dipped in hot oil. Not something I ever wanted to experience.

The punishment did not fit the crime, but everything about our curse was unfair. Except maybe the immortality part, that was awesome. We were nearing one-hundred and thirty years old and still looked the same as we did the day we were created.

The legend went that as long as our Beloveds and us were linked, they would share immortality with us also. And as long as I had Angelique by my side, I would be happy to live forever.

The day stretched on until midafternoon, when Jenni popped her head into the room and walked around the front of me.

"Um.... You look different today."

She was pacing and fidgeting, unlike the confident 16-year-old I knew.

"I have to tell you something," she said. "I've been listening in on your conversations with Mom, and well... I can't believe it's really you... but it is. Isn't it Gabriel?"

She stared at me long and hard and even though I couldn't respond, I wanted to. Desperately. Poor kid must have been so confused.

She went on, "I wondered where you all went in the day, and I started snooping, don't tell Mom. But you know that there's a stone gargoyle in every adult's bedroom during the day, but none at night? I was shocked. Like... how and why would someone move a heavy stone statue? But I think I've worked it out. And I'm going to ask Mom, I promise, I just.... Can you move?"

I couldn't and I hated that I couldn't tell her that.

"Never mind," She said, "Even though it sounds totally cray cray, I know I'm right. So... I'm gonna ask mom. Okay? I'll be back."

She was gone for what felt like hours, then she bounced and skipped into the room like bunny rabbit.

"I knew it!" She cried. "I knew it! I mean... mom told me I wasn't allowed to tell anyone, or the other kids yet, but this is awesome! Like... so cool. So, you can hear me, but you can't respond, right?"

She waited a long moment, then giggled. "Sorry, that was stupid. Anyway... I'll see you at dinner, okay?"

If I'd been able to nod and grin, I would have. But instead, Jenni walked up and put her hand out. She didn't seem to know where to touch me, my claw or my ugly face. But in the end she just waved, and left again.

Laughter bubbled up inside me, unable to get out. I would never have thought, in a million years, that I'd end up a stepfather to seven kids. I'd also have put money down on a bet that I'd never look forward to leaving New York. It was our home after all.

But here I was. Ecstatic with the way my life had turned out, and I couldn't wait for our future to begin.