Page 27 of Loved By the Gargoyle

“But what’s his job?”

At that question, every head turned in my direction. The humans all seemed to stand on the tips of their toes, leaning in my direction and waiting for my response.

“I am Spymaster of Shadows, servant and informant to my King of Hell, and Second General of the Legions of the Underworld.” I took a bow, the same way I had done when revealing my title to Mia.

Silence followed.

A young human male at the back blurted out, “So, like, the CIA?”

“I do not know of this see I a.” Humans had many strange expressions.

“He’s a soldier?” someone else commented, looking my body a thorough once over from the tips of my horns down to the claws at my feet. “Yes, a soldier.”

“Ooooh,” sounds echoed through the room, though I could not ascertain if they were positive or not, or if I had made an impression upon Mia’s family as she wanted.

My eyes sought hers, looking for that confirmation that I had pleased her and them. When our gazes collided, she smiled warmly at me, and my chest began to glow.

“Ooh, he comes with a night light!”

“Congratulations, Mia!”

“You found yourself a soldier!”

“A CIA agent, so cool!”

“But is he rich?”

Heads turned to look at me once again.

“Rich?” My head turned to the side.

“Yeah, like money? Jewels? Inheritance?”

Ah, I understood.

Humans put much value upon materialistic things. Nazzar had commented this, and I had prepared myself for the eventuality.

“I have gold,” I told them. “And jewels, coins and currency hoarded away from my travels. It is Mia’s, should she wish it.”

They all cooed over that information, seeming even more delighted at those words.

Their voices rose around us, and I suddenly found myself being pulled into the center of many people. I towered over them all and closed my wings against my back to avoid harming them with them.

Within moments, I was being pushed towards a table, hands pulling me down so I sat in a chair that was uncomfortable for my wings and tail, causing me to hunch in place.

Mia was placed at my side, and suddenly, as if by magic, food began to appear before us. The elder women of her family placed plates and trays of spiced food, rice, meats, and soups all around us.

Mia’s hand reached for mine and she smiled up at me. My wife.

“They accept you,” she whispered. “And our marriage.”

I flashed her a smile, feeling elated at the very thought.

“They did not say so.”

Mia’s lips softened and she gestured at the feast before us. “They won’t,” she said. “They’ll tell us in other ways.” Then she was reaching for long, thin metal sticks that she slipped between her fingers and used to grab food and place it upon a smaller plate. “Now,” she said. “Let’s eat.”

“I would like to show you my home as well.”