Brynna (Stone Society) - Faith Gibson Page 0,10

humans will tell the truth of how they were captured?” Brynna asked.

Urijah tossed back his drink. “They never saw us. Even if they are stupid enough to say how they were caught, it won’t matter. We were smart enough to use one of their phones to report them. There’s no way to trace the call back to us.”

“We’ve never needed to post signs before, but I think we need to think about doing just that if you’re going to turn this place into a hotel.” Banyan rubbed his eyes. “It wouldn’t be good for business to have hunters getting too close to the guests.”

“Do ya think this could happen again? I mean how many poachers are out there?” Freyda scowled. “This is supposed to be shifter territory.” She glanced at Travis. “Sorry. No offense.”

“None taken. I know I’m an outsider.”

Brynna grabbed a fresh drink and turned to him. “No, you aren’t. You’re family. Ours isn’t this elite town where humans aren’t welcome. It’s just somehow been kept off their radar with all the other cities who advertise as being tourist attractions. As for the hotel idea, there isn’t a Gargoyle network where I’ll advertise. Maybe this is a bad idea, and I need to just remodel the house to make it somewhere I’d want to stay.”

Travis wanted to take Brynna in his arms and comfort her, so that’s exactly what he did. He removed the drink from her hand and set it on the bar. “Come here,” he urged. Brynna curled into his chest, trapping her arms between them. Travis brushed her long hair with his hand and kissed her forehead. If he didn’t know better, he’d have sworn she purred. The rumble from her throat wasn’t a sigh; it was deeper.

“What a night. This was supposed to be fun,” Brynna muttered against his throat. Her warm breath did things to his body he didn’t want her aware of, so he angled his hips away from hers slightly.

“It was. I enjoyed dancing with you.” Travis enjoyed everything with Brynna. That was the problem.

“Yeah?” Brynna leaned back so she could look at him. Travis nodded, and she smiled. It wasn’t her usual, playful grin. It was full of something he could easily fool himself into thinking of as love. He knew Brynna cared for him but not the way he wanted.

“Travis,” Brynna whispered as her smile fell. She leaned in, and he licked his lips, waiting.

“We’re going to get out of here,” Tabor called out, breaking the moment. Brynna laughed and bounced her forehead on his shoulder a few times before pulling away. He knew how she felt. At least he thought he did. They kept getting interrupted.

After saying goodbye to the older Goyles, Marcie and Lawrence excused themselves to their rooms. Travis had hoped Banyan and Uri would retreat to their wing, but instead, Banyan had other ideas. “Let’s move this party to the kitchen.” Banyan grabbed a couple bottles from the bar and headed to the smaller, cozier room.

Brynna retrieved the half-full pitcher of whatever concoction Lawrence had mixed and followed her brother. Travis excused himself to the bathroom, and when he got to the kitchen, Brynna and her brother were having a fierce, yet almost silent conversation. They moved apart and each grabbed a drink.

Travis pretended not to notice and stepped past them to start a pot of coffee. He was already feeling the effects of all the alcohol, and he didn’t want to pass out at the table. Travis stood at the counter while the coffee brewed, studying the three Gargoyles. He should have felt out of place, but he didn’t. Banyan and Uri had always made Travis feel welcome whenever they were around, and tonight was no different.

Banyan cradled his drink as he spoke to his sister. “I think holding off on the hotel is a good idea. Maybe once you redecorate and make it yours, it’ll feel more like a home than a museum.”

Was that what they were talking about when he came in the room?

“What do you think?” Brynna turned and asked Travis.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Want to help me transform this place into Casa Bryn and Trav?”

“I’d love to help you, but why would you want my input?” The coffee maker beeped that it was finished percolating. Travis turned and poured himself a cup to get his emotions under control. Of course he wanted to help Brynna, but he didn’t understand why she wanted him to.

“We’re going to head upstairs so you two can talk,”