“Then why did you come in here and tell me and then run?”
“Because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing?” She threw her hands up in the air, needing physical movement to dissipate the tension building. “You think I don’t know how it looks to you, or that I like you’re not happy about who I love? Of course I want your approval. Never thought it was a possibility I’d ever be without it.”
They were toe-to-toe, prize fighters eyeing each other from their corners, each breathing a little hard as if they had gone a round. Long, still seconds, and then Jack broke off the stare, plunking down into the leather chair behind the desk, a long, low exhale accompanying the movement.
Larissa pushed her hair behind her ear, watching as her father let his head fall back against the top of the seat. His age was showing, lines and grey hair somehow more pronounced than they were even a few weeks ago.
How would Laura Miller look now, if that hellish moment never happened? How much grey would streak her hair? How deep would the lines around her eyes be? Would her mom feel differently about Terak, defending her daughter’s choice to her stubborn husband? Maybe it was self-interest talking, but something deep inside Larissa warmed, and there was no doubt in what her mother would say. Laura Miller knew all about love – great, deep, abiding love. She experienced it with this stubborn, ornery man sitting behind a desk. Laura Miller would tell her without reservation to stand beside Terak.
Larissa stood before her dad and held nothing back. “I know how I feel. What I feel is eternal, and it’s only him. Part of the reason I love him is because he is a gargoyle, and that honor and nobility he possesses because of it, the way he’ll stand between me and anything that would come after me. I find him beautiful, no matter what. But that doesn’t mean I know how to explain this. This love, this attraction, how I went from being a sheltered girl and a low-level teacher to being the mate of the Clan Leader of the Gargoyles, responsible now for this Clan that isn’t even my same species. It’s too big sometimes for me to think about. I realize you have doubts, Dad, and I understand why, because looking at it from the outside, it’s impossible.”
Jack hunched forward, his elbows resting on his thighs while his hands hung loose between his knees. Whole conversations took place behind his eyes, his mouth tight while the debate as to what he should say played in his head. “I don’t doubt you when you say you love him. I see it, Larissa. And if I was young and idealistic, I would send you off with blessings and pretend that was all that was necessary. But you have to know somewhere inside you, this situation is wrong.” He leaned up then, a fierce resolve playing over his features. “You cannot stay with him. It’s only going to end up bad for you. And if that truth isn’t enough to make you walk away, then the fact it will end up bad for him should.”
“Dad, we discussed-”
“You discussed like two people in love discuss, which means jack shit.” His words cut across hers like a sharp blade. He stood then, facing her fully. “Do his people really want you there? Don’t bother to answer, because we both know they don’t. They wouldn’t want you there, as the mate of their leader, even if you had grown up with them. You think they’re thrilled a human is wandering their compound and in charge of them?”
No, they weren’t. Malek, a few others were openly supportive and true friends and allies. The majority were reserved with her, still judging and waiting. Then the final portion, a vocal minority, and their contempt could be felt through the grey walls of the keep.
It wasn’t the easiest situation, but being with Terak was worth it. If he was worth dying for, he was worth fighting for.
And she had already proved he was worth dying for.
“It doesn’t matter what they think. They asked for Terak to be their leader knowing I was part of the deal. They may not be joyous over me, but they’ll accept me.”
“You think so? You are a risk to them. With this weird power you have, you’ll never be safe from the necro-” Jack’s voice faltered, stuttered over the word that was the greatest threat to her safety. For one moment his eyes grew round and haunted, the knowledge of what the death of a beloved truly meant stark in those eyes, before he cleared his throat and continued. “You will always be targeted, and you will always represent a risk to their safety. If things heat up like this Fallon woman claims they will, what do you think the gargoyles will do in order to protect their Clan? What do you think they’ll do to Terak if he tries to stop them?”