“Have you forgotten my weakness?” His arm swept in a dramatic half circle. “The whole reason why I am here and not in my rightfulplace?”
“The way we figure, either Surah will fix you and it won’t matter any longer–or she won’t, and you’ll have our muscle to make up for the lack.” Kausar’s expression was grave. “We don’t need the body of a warrior on the throne. We need his mind, and his heart. We can do therest.”
“AndGeza?”
“You know ourway.”
He did. Rule, or die. Malin had gotten a pass because he was defective. It would kill Surah. She loved the boy Prince, though it was hard for an outsider to see under all that broody, sardonic, scientistangst.
“I’ll think about it.” He wasn’t ready to kill Geza–not yet. He loved the boy Prince as well, in his ownway.
Kausar rose, his men with him. “We’re ready to move. Don’t think too long,eh?”
But his weapons master lingered after the others left. “You talk to Surah yet?” His look wasmeaningful.
Malin stilled, suppressing the urge to squirm…he was a former ruling Prince of a gargoyle Host, damnit. “The matter is inprogress.”
“Huh. That doesn’t sound good. I can put in a good word foryou.”
“Go,Kausar.”
* * *
“You’re not hungry?”Malin asked, voice pitchedlow.
Surah looked up from the steak and gorgonzola salad. The sun beat down over head, an unusual brightness for this time of the year, and was only aiding in her foul mood. She wanted the rain and the shade. She wanted thenight.
“The sun,” she saidshortly.
His look was considering. “It bothers you more and more as you grow older.” He smiled, a little ironic. “I become more human, while you become moregargoyle.”
She stabbed a cherry tomato, trying not to take his words personally. She’d chosen the rooftop cafe for lunch because she knew he hated to be on ground if he could help it. And with the clear glass floors giving them a view of the city at least six stories down, a gargoyle felt right at home. As if he was in air. “Damnit, Malin, I’m working as fast as I can. We’ll find a cure. It’s just a matterof—”
He reached across the table, touched the back of her hand with his finger. “That’s not what I meant. I know you’re working—and even if nothing comes of it, I’m grateful.” She opened her mouth to speak, and he shook his head. “No, Surah. You are not responsible to cure a condition that has plagued my line for a millennia. You don’t have to prove your worth to me.” He held her eyes, oddlyintense.
Surah paused. “I’ll figure this thing out, or I’ll dietrying.”
Malin’s expression hardened, a fleeting look she’d seen him pin on males while contemplating death. “No. You willnotdie trying. You have a year, Surah, and then we endthis.”
She threw down her fork, furious. “You’re giving me a deadline? Youbastard.”
He grimaced, muttering something. Humans glanced over when she raised her voice. She wasn’t speaking English, and the only way a human could tell a gargoyle in daylight was by their tongue–or if one happened to run into a gargoyle fist, for somereason.
“That’s not what I meant.” His mouth firmed. “I don’t want you wasting your life on this. I want you to live. To find happiness. I want to live. And if I have to live as a human–it is stilllife.”
“But Malin….” she struggled, words ashen in her chest. “How are you going to have any quality of life as ahuman?Status,garlings….”
“I don’t care about status in the court.” He reached out, grabbed her wrist, leaning forward. “Surah, no one can take my line from me. I am Ioveanu. I will always be Ioveanu. And…there is a female who I think will mother garlings forme.”
“But…a noblewoman?” What woman of high rank would mate him when he was bound to the land? Even his riches wouldn’t be enough of a carrot. A common woman, yes–but Geza would never allow it. She became aware Malin hadn’t let go of her hand, hadn’t lowered his eyes from hers. The quality of his silence…changed.
“There’s a female of worth I have known for a long time,” he said, voice quiet. “Of good family, noble character. A strong warrior, and beautiful. Who won’t hold the defect of my line againstme.”
Surah tried to smile, heart beginning to work overtime. She knew he would feel the increase in her pulse. “She sounds great. Is she rich,too?”
His brow rose. “I would suppose so. I’m certain her brother will dower herwell.”
“Dowries are antiquated,anyway.”
