Page 14 of Outcast

“I saw enough of them in the wastes,” Hiro grumbled.

“Zetta!” Drake startled us but a ghostly girl came in a moment later, giving him a bow.

“Yes, Mas... Drake?” Drake grinned at her using his name.

“This gargoyle and... man? They’re two of the queen’s mates as well,” he explained. “I wanted you to meet them. There’s another gargoyle in the castle, Achar, he’s awaiting the queen’s arrival.”

“Pleasure to meet you. Let me know if I can help at all,” she said, giving us each a bow before disappearing again.

“Imagine coming to the afterlife and being a servant,” Hiro said with lowered shoulders.

“I asked her the same, but she said this is her purpose and she takes pride in it, don’t pity her, she’s more powerful than she lets on,” Drake said as he pulled him in for another hug. It was like he couldn’t help touching him, and I couldn’t blame him. I’d be the same with Harlow.

“And the god?”

Drake turned and led us through the empty stone hallways until he reached a library of sorts. Seeing a bright orange fire burning seemed so out of place here in a world of whites, grays, and blues, but it was like a beacon, gravitating us to it and we basked in its warmth.

“Like moths to a flame every time,” someone said with a chuckle. “Are these two of the queen’s mates?”

“We are,” I confirmed as I turned to face the god.

“I am Valgri, God of Justice and Balance.” It made sense. The god was a mix of male and female, light and dark, the perfect balance of anything you could imagine.

“I’m Roman, this is Hiro,” I greeted back.

“And you’ve missed the illusive queen. I assume you’re going after her?” This time he turned to Drake.

“That’s the plan. If she’s in the prison with Monty, she’s among possible enemies,” Drake confirmed. That thought had my chest tightening and a low growl escaping. I shifted and my body cracked and all eyes were on me.

“Aw, the baby gargoyle grew into a big one.” Hiro laughed. “You’re bigger now, Roman, so are your wings.”

“Good,” I said in a deep rumbling that caught me by surprise. Power thrummed through my veins and infused my words. I was ready for battle with only the talk of harm to my mate. Now I understood better how Kol felt when he woke up.

“You can’t leave yet,” Valgri pronounced.

That had the fight draining from me, and my body changed again. Drake, however, was livid.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re needed here,” he said. “Harlow isn’t ready for you yet.”

“How do you know?” I demanded.

“The same way I know everything. How can I judge what is true justice if I can’t see it all?” Valgri asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Then what needs to be done in order for us to leave?” Hiro questioned much calmer than the two of us.

Valgri grinned. “That’s the real question. You need to figure out what you are because it is not human, demon, or gargoyle. It’s a mystery to me and I’m intrigued, but you cannot enter that prison with nothing to wield.”

“So, we’re waiting on me?” Hiro asked, gesturing to himself.

“Partly,” he confirmed. “But you need to be here when Harlow’s first enemy arrives. A presence in this castle is necessary, we cannot leave the castle defenseless.”

“We aren’t just humans or hybrids anymore,” Drake said as if he were convincing us and himself. “We have a duty to Harlow to see this through. If Valgri says we wait... we wait.”

I wanted to protest, ask how this one god could predict so much, but I kept my mouth shut. My anger wasn’t with him but the situation. For once I had the means to protect but was being told to stand down.

“You trust this god?” I asked Drake. Valgri let out an amused snort as I waited for his answer.

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