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Reynard smiled; even with his sharp, shark-like teeth he still managed to look friendly. ‘You can call me Bob.’
‘Hey, that’s awesome. My name is Bobby!’
‘What a coincidence,’ Bob said drily.
‘Greg, can you get Bobby settled in the car?’ I asked. Most people were packed up and moving out. Liam had already called Steve Marley to come and assess the scene; we’d need the Connection’s firepower to do the clear up. The earth was scorched and blackened where the ring of fire had burnt for a good five minutes.
‘What do you want to say that you don’t want Bobby to know?’ Sonia asked flatly.
I looked at Reynard, then back at Sonia. ‘I don’t know how much you know about gargoyles, but they’re made rather than born. Did you know that?’
‘Yeah, so? What are you driving at?’
‘Hamlet went missing when Bobby was one.’
‘Yeah.’
‘And as long as Bobby can remember, a gargoyle called Yorick visited him and kept him safe.’
She stilled. ‘What are you saying?’ she whispered, swallowing hard.
‘I’m sorry; I can’t come out and say it directly. At least, I don’t think I can.’ I slid another glance at Reynard, who shook his head. ‘But what I’m saying is that Yorick is a character inHamlet. Gargoyles are funny about giving out their real names. And Yorick visited you and your son most days.’
Sonia’s eyes widened. ‘But this Yorick … he’s dead.’
‘Yes. He died saving your son.’
Her eyes filled with tears. ‘Hamlet’s really gone, then.’ A sob escaped her. She bit her lip and dashed an angry hand at her tears. ‘I’ve already mourned him so much; he’s already been lost to me. But explain this to me – if Hamlet got turned into a gargoyle rather than going missing, why didn’t he come and explain to me?’ She turned desperate eyes on Reynard.
‘We’re not allowed to explain,’ he said. ‘It’s part of our curse. Plus it takes a while to get a grip on being turned into something else.’
‘What you’re telling me changes nothing,’ Sonia said finally. ‘Hamlet is gone, as he was before.’
‘Bobby said Yorick watched over you, too,’ I said softly.
‘But he wasn’t by my side. He wasn’t in my arms. He didn’t teach Bobby to use a knife and fork, or how to ride a bike. He may have been a spectator, but he wasn’t a participant.’
‘That wasn’t his choice,’ Reynard said firmly.
‘What choice do any of us have? We all do what we must to survive. And I will continue to do so. Now, excuse me. My son is in that car, and I need to wrap him up and keep him close.’
‘Of course,’ I agreed. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night’s rest.’
‘Thank you. And, alpha?’
‘Yes?’
‘Thank you for getting my son back for me.’
I smiled. ‘Of course.’
Sonia nodded and turned to the car. I suspect that she would breakdown later, when she was alone. I waited until the car door was shut before turning to Reynard. ‘That didn’t go how I expected.’
He snorted. ‘Whatdidyou expect, lovey? For her to fall to her knees and thank you for telling her that her husband, who she thought was dead, hadn’t been dead but was now definitely dead?’
I grimaced. ‘When you put it like that… Still, I feel bad for Hamlet.’
‘As do I.’
