Page 7 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

As head of both our clan and the personal protection agency we run, his expectations are sky high. For me, there’s no real satisfaction in meeting them. I know what’s coming next—the same damn conversation we’ve been having for months now.

“Good,” Alvric says. “Then it’s time to come home.”

My grip tightens on the phone, knuckles darkening.

“Your duty is to our clan, Graeme,” he continues, the words a familiar refrain. “To our legacy. It’s time you took your rightful place as my heir.”

His words slice through me like a blade, precise and ruthless. The suffocating weight of his expectations settles over me, and my stomach twists at the thought of returning to the stronghold.

Of being trapped in a role I never asked for.

I blow out a breath, struggling to keep my tone even. Respectful.

“I understand the importance of our legacy, Uncle. However, our reputation in the human world is just as vital. For now, I can best serve the clan by continuing my work here.”

Alvric raised me after my parents were killed on an assignment when I was a kid. He made me his de facto successor. But something about returning home and taking over his position… just doesn’t feel right.

Not yet.

The line goes quiet, heavy with Alvric’s disapproval. I brace myself for the tirade I know is coming.

When Alvric speaks again, his voice is surprisingly calm. “Very well. As it happens, we had a new client reach out in an emergency last night. A management firm needs protection for a rising pop star with a stalker problem.”

I’m interested, of course. A celebrity client could be a chance to further cement the Grigori reputation.

And I’ll take any assignment that helps me delay the inevitable.

“I’ll send you the details,” Alvric continues. “You must consider this your final field assignment, Graeme. Once it’s concluded, I expect you to return home and take your place as my successor. No more excuses, no more delays. Understood?”

My throat tightens. I know there’s only one thing I can say to maintain the fragile peace between us.

“I understand, Uncle. I won’t let you down.”

The words sound like surrender.

A short while later,I pull up to a sleek high-rise, double-checking the address Alvric sent to ensure I’m in the right place. As I step out of my car, I’m greeted by two women. One, a polished blonde in a sharp blazer.

The other...

My breath catches.

She’s stunning. Curves for days, porcelain skin, and shimmering blue hair that frames her face like a halo. Her face is flushed from what I’d guess was a run, judging by her workout gear. The pink in her cheeks and light shine of sweat only make her glow.

It’s more than just her looks, though. Power radiates from her, an aura that practically hums with magic.

I’ve met countless beautiful women in my line of work. None have ever affected me quite like this.

Heat unfurls low in my gut, primal and insistent.

I lock the sensation away with the rest of my inconvenient emotions. I’m here to do a job, not get distracted by a pretty face. No matter how alluring.

The blonde steps forward, hand extended. “Mr. Grigori, I presume? I’m Natalie Russo, Ecco’s manager. I spoke with your uncle last night.”

I take her hand, shaking firmly. “Pleasure.”

I turn to the blue-haired siren, keeping my expression carefully neutral even as her gaze sends another jolt of awareness through me. “And you must be Ms. Waverly.”

Her manager says something else, but the words fade into the background as Ecco’s eyes meet mine, lips parting on a soft inhale.

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