Page 34 of The Gargoyle and the Maiden (Nightfall Guardians #1)

Idabel

D usk came gray and bitter, matching the ache in Idabel’s chest. She’d barely slept the night before, replaying Brandt’s words over and over.

She’d lain awake, listening to Lo?c’s soft breathing, and tortured herself with the words until she wondered if she should even be his mother.

At work, she’d put on a brave face for Betje so she didn’t worry, but all Idabel could think all day was your love is poison.

She was making stew for supper when the firm, familiar knock came. Ghantal to pick up Lo?c for flying lessons.

“He’s not ready yet,” Idabel said as she opened the door to let her in. “He still needs to eat.”

But Ghantal’s expression stopped her cold. The older gargoyle’s face was haggard, her usual composure cracked. She looked like she hadn’t rested at all, either. For that matter, she was still wearing the clothing she’d had on last night.

“Eat with us?” she offered, adding another bowl and spoon to the table.

Ghantal nodded, sinking gratefully onto a stool. She tucked her wings neatly behind her and rubbed her forehead between her elegant horns, her shoulders slumped.

“Anything I can do for you?” It wasn’t like Ghantal to mope and sigh or even accept an invitation to dine with them. Something was really wrong. She could guess what, given the mood she’d left Brandt in last night.

Ghantal looked up. “Can you come to lessons today?”

Idabel frowned as she salted the contents of her cookpot. Ghantal usually preferred not to associate with her in public, for obvious reasons. “Why?”

“We have to talk. Preferably while little ears are occupied.” She glanced toward the bedroom, where the sounds of Lo?c playing drifted out. “It’s important.”

Idabel’s stomach dropped. “Did something happen to Brandt? Is he all right?”

“He’s fine, don’t worry.” Ghantal’s wings rustled with agitation. “Just come if you can.”

An hour later, they stood on the flying platform watching Lo?c attempt glides between the practice posts. He managed three wingbeats before landing hard, but his triumphant grin made it seem like he’d conquered the world.

“I told him,” Ghantal said quietly, her eyes fixed on her grandchild.

Idabel’s knees nearly buckled. “About Lo?c?”

Ghantal gave a single nod.

Relief and dread tangled in Idabel’s chest. “How did he react?”

“I’m sure you can guess.” Ghantal watched Lo?c climb back to the launch point, determined despite his struggles. “He’s furious.”

“At me?”

“At all of Tael-Nost, I think.” Ghantal’s laugh was bitter. “At you for the betrayal. At me for helping you break the mate bond. At both of us for keeping Lo?c secret for him. At the world for stealing five years of his son’s life from him.”

Idabel watched Lo?c spread his wings, gray-gold in the lamplight. So like his father’s. “I can’t blame him. I’d feel the same way. We’ve had six years to process our anger about everything that has happened. He’s had one night.”

“He threw me out.” Ghantal’s voice was cool on the surface, but there was a quaver underneath. “Told me never to return.”

“Oh, Ghantal, I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”

“He did. I know my son. He most certainly meant it.” She turned to face Idabel directly. “The reason I wanted to talk to you is because I’d like to bring Lo?c to meet him tonight.”

Idabel’s heart stumbled over itself. “Is he stable enough?”

“He would never hurt his son. Whatever else has broken in him, that protective instinct remains. Seeing Lo?c might be the only thing that can calm him now. And I think we owe him the chance.” Ghantal seemed certain, but Idabel wasn’t.

The feral hatred in Brandt’s gaze last night made her doubt everything she knew about him.

She did owe him a chance, though. She took a deep breath and blew it out in a rush. “Okay. But I need to be there.”

“Of course.” Ghantal’s expression softened slightly with a mother’s compassion. “The boy deserves to know his father. And Brandt... he deserves whatever pieces of fatherhood we can give him.”

Lo?c managed five wingbeats on his next attempt, earning cheers from André. His joy was infectious, and Idabel found herself smiling despite everything as she watched him climb triumphantly out of the net.

“Mama! Did you see? I flew! Really flew! All the way to the second post!”

“You did, sweetheart. I’m so proud.”

He ran to them across the platform, wings dragging with exhaustion but eyes bright. “Ghantmère, did you see?”

“I did. I saw everything.” Ghantal smoothed his wild hair, swiftly unpicking the knots that had formed.

He rested his head on her shoulder while she worked, his cheeks still bright from the exertion of his lesson.

She finished and patted him on the head.

“How would you like to meet someone special tonight?”

“Who?”

Idabel knelt beside him, heart hammering as she took his little hands in hers. “Your father.”

Lo?c went completely still. “Papa? He wants to meet me now?”

“Very much.” The lie came easily. She had no idea what Brandt wanted, but Lo?c needed to believe it. “He’s been waiting to meet you for a long time.”

“Can we go now?” He was already bouncing, exhaustion forgotten. “Right this minute?”

They climbed to Brandt’s tier, Lo?c chattering excitedly the entire way.

The eyrie door stood slightly ajar, and through the crack, Idabel could see destruction.

Splintered furniture was strewn about the room, torn cushions lay limply in the corners, and there were claw marks in the stone doorframe.

Ghantal pushed the door open gingerly. “Brandt? We’ve brought someone to see you.”

He emerged from his nesting chamber like a thunderstorm given form, then froze at the sight of Lo?c.

Idabel’s exuberant son had gone suddenly quiet, pressing against the back of her leg.

Hiding. Slowly, he leaned around her to look at his father, but he didn’t let go.

She could feel his little fingers gripping the fabric of her skirt.

She swallowed hard. This was the right thing to do. “This is Lo?c,” she said. She reached back to stroke his head, give him courage. “Your son.”

“Papa?”

The word broke Brandt. He dropped to his knees, bringing himself closer to Lo?c’s height. “Yes. I’m your papa.”

Lo?c studied him for a long moment, then stepped forward, out of Idabel’s reach. Solemnly, he said, “You have scars like Ghantmère said. From fighting bad goblins.”

“Yes.”

“Do they hurt?”

“Not anymore. They are healing.” Brandt’s voice was gruff, but his eyes were shining.

That was all the encouragement Lo?c needed. He launched himself at his father, small arms wrapping around Brandt’s neck. “I knew you’d come back. Mama always said you would, and you did! I knew you were back before anyone because the moths told me. I’m really good at listening to moth talk.”

Brandt’s arms came around his son carefully, like he was holding spun glass. His eyes shut, and Idabel saw him draw a deep breath, learning Lo?c’s scent.

“Tell me everything,” Brandt said, his eyes opening again. “Every single thing about you.”

Lo?c needed no further invitation. He talked about his friends in the rookery, his flying-lesson success, about the things moths had told him recently.

He showed Brandt his horn buds, demonstrated his wing flexing, and recited a nursery rhyme in the gargoyle language that made Brandt’s eyes go wide.

“You speak the old tongue? I didn’t know anyone spoke it in the city.”

“Ghantmère teaches me. She says it’s important to know where we come from.” Lo?c yawned, rubbing his eyes. When Brandt chuckled, he added defensively, “I go to two schools, remember? Human in the morning, gargoyle in the evening. It’s hard being a halfling.”

“I bet it is.” Brandt shifted to sit against the wall, Lo?c curled in his lap like he’d always belonged there. “You’re remarkable.”

“Mama said you’d love me just as I am.” Another yawn, and his tail curled around Brandt’s wrist. “Even if I can’t fly as good as the others yet.”

“Your mother was right.” Brandt’s eyes found Idabel’s over Lo?c’s head, and the fury there made her step back.

Within minutes, Lo?c was asleep, worn out from his exciting day. Brandt held him like a treasure, eyes tracing every detail of his small face.

“Five years,” he said, voice low enough not to wake the boy. “I missed five years of his life.”

“I’m sorry—” Idabel started. Every time she said the words, they felt even more true. There wasn’t a thing in her life she wouldn’t give up to erase the past and begin again. Erase it all the way back to the beginning.

“Sorry?” He stood carefully, cradling Lo?c against his chest. “That’s what you have to say? You’re sorry for stealing my son?”

She wanted to wail, but she had to keep her voice soft to avoid waking the small gargoyle in his arms. “I didn’t steal him. He’s mine, too.”

“You hid him from me. Both of you.” His glare included Ghantal, who’d been making herself as unobtrusive as possible.

“We just wanted to keep the child safe,” his mother murmured. “We wanted to protect your mind.”

“Look at me,” he demanded. He cradled Lo?c against his broad chest, the fledgling’s head tucked under his chin. “Do I look hurt? Do I look like I would hurt him ?”

“No.” Idabel had never seen him look more powerful and protective than he did holding their son. “No, you look like his father.”

“A father who missed everything. First words. First steps. First flight attempt.” His voice cracked.

“You took that from me. I would have been back in six moons without your treachery. I would have seen your belly swell and celebrated my son’s birth.

I would have put flowers in your hair and fed you honeycomb. ”

“I know.” Tears ran down her face. “I know, and I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you the moment you returned, but everyone warned against it. Said you needed to heal first.”

“What I needed was the truth. My son. My family.” He looked at Ghantal. “Not lies and manipulation from the people who claimed to love me.”

“We do love you,” Ghantal began.

“Leave.” The word was quiet but final. “You’ve done enough.”

Ghantal’s wings drooped, but she left without argument. Idabel started to reach for Lo?c to take him home, but Brandt’s voice stopped her.

“No. He lives with me now.”

The words made her blood freeze. Her thoughts thawed one by one. “With you?”

He shifted Lo?c gently. “You’ve had five years. I deserve the same.”

“Of course you deserve time with him.” The agreement came out strangled.

“We can share. Whatever you want. Just—” She pressed her hand to her chest where panic bloomed.

“Please don’t take him away entirely. I know if you go to the Council, they’ll rule in your favor.

A gargoyle child should be with a gargoyle parent.

But please—don’t take him away entirely. I might die.”

I might die.