Brynna: A Stone Society Novella Read online

  BRYNNA

  A Stone Society Novella

  By Faith Gibson

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  Copyright © 2020 by Faith Gibson

  Published by: Bramblerose Press LLC

  Editor: Jagged Rose Wordsmithing, Candice Royer

  First edition: November, 2020

  Cover design: Jay Aheer, ©Simply Defined Art

  Cover photography: Adobe Stock

  Dedication

  This one’s for my brother.

  Acknowledgements

  As with life, everything changes. What hasn’t changed is those around me who always have my back. You know who you are.

  Candy, Jennifer, Kerstin, and Nikki – I couldn’t do this without you, and I love you all.

  To my beta readers and ARC team, thank you for taking time to read Brynna before it went live and for giving me invaluable feedback.

  Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art made the cover shine. It’s one of my faves.

  Again, I want to give a shout out to my reader group. I know I can count on you to make my day brighter.

  To the man: I love you. That is all.

  To everyone reading this… Between the pandemic and the election, times have been tough for everyone, me included. I did my best to put aside all the negativity while trying to give you what you expect from a Faith Gibson book. I think I did that with Brynna. I love her and her story. Thank you all for taking a chance on my books and sticking with the Stone Society thus far.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Coming Soon

  About the Author

  Other Works by Faith Gibson

  Prologue

  Norway, 1889

  “I’m bored,” Brynhild complained into the mirror.

  “You are a princess. You are supposed to be bored,” Vanda, her handmaiden, responded to her reflection as she plaited Bryn’s long, blonde hair in an intricate design just so she could sit around their home looking pretty for the help.

  “No, I am supposed to be mated to a handsome Gargoyle and have a life outside these four walls,” Bryn whined. She knew she was too old to be carrying on like a petulant child, but Bryn was beyond caring. Her father, Asmund Holgersen, King of the Norse Gargoyles, refused to allow Bryn to roam the village and meet possible suitors. She couldn’t find a mate if she was never around any of the males. Rarely did any of their Clan come calling. If they did, the King met with them in private. “It’s like Faðir doesn’t want any grandchildren.”

  “That is exactly what he is trying to prevent,” Vanda muttered under her breath.

  Being Gargoyle, Bryn heard her easily. “That’s not going to work for me much longer, Vanda. Faðir sent Banyan away to have adventures while I sit here and turn into an old maid.”

  Vanda secured the last pin in place before setting her hands upon Bryn’s shoulders. The older woman sighed. “Your faðir sent your brother away to keep him safe. Banyan will come back when it is time to take his rightful place on the throne.”

  Bryn stood and faced her best friend – her only true friend. “By the time that happens, too many years will have passed, and I will still be sitting here. I don’t even know what he looks like. I doubt he would even know me now.”

  “Nonsense. You are the spitting image of Banyan, just in female form. There is no denying the two of you are brother and sister. You could easily pass for twins.”

  Bryn narrowed her eyes at her handmaiden as an idea swirled in her brain. “You are the best,” Bryn said as she kissed Vanda on the cheek and rushed out of her room. Banyan had been sent away as a small boy, so she couldn’t scavenge his room for clothes. That didn’t mean there weren’t other males who lived on the estate.

  Being left alone for hours on end had given Bryn too much time to get into trouble. To teach herself the art of sneaking around the large house, spying on others. Listening. Learning. She knew the schedules of every male and female. When they would be out of their rooms and for how long. Sneaking into one of the gardener’s rooms, Bryn dug through his clothing and grabbed what she needed. She didn’t take too many from him, lest he discover them missing. Instead, she took a few items from each of the males. Taking the pieces back to her room was too risky. Vanda was loyal to Bryn, but Bryn wouldn’t burden the female with keeping her secrets. So, she took the clothes to Banyan’s old room, which nobody entered. Ever. It was the same as it had been when he’d been sent away.

  Bryn returned to her wing where she gathered the items she needed. It would take a while to bring her plan to fruition, but that was something she had plenty of. Every morning, she met her parents downstairs for breakfast, and after, she returned to her brother’s room where she altered the helps’ clothing to fit her smaller frame. After a couple weeks of sneaking around, Bryn was confident she could put her plan into motion.

  Her parents kept to their wing of the monstrosity they called home, and Bryn was able to leave without either of them being the wiser. Getting past the help was another story, but after spending weeks watching and making note of everyone’s schedules, she managed to leave via a side door, disappearing behind the gardener’s shed. If only horses weren’t scared of Gargoyles. It would have been much easier to ride into town atop one of the beasts. Since her family owned none, Bryn took off on foot one early fall morning.

  Autumn was Brynhild’s favorite time of year. Too bad she didn’t have anyone other than Vanda to share it with. The red moss drew Bryn’s eye to the ground as she made her way through the early morning fog. By the time she reached the middle of town, the fog had lifted, and Bryn was as giddy as a child on Christmas morn. At least how she assumed children would feel. Being the daughter of King Asmund Holgersen, Bryn wasn’t treated like a normal child. She was raised with a handmaiden to cater to her every whim. She was schooled by tutors, both human and Gargoyle. Christmas and other human holidays weren’t celebrated in their home. Presents weren’t given except on her birthday, and those were usually things her mother had chosen according to her own tastes. Tastes Bryn didn’t share.

  As she took in the sights and people, Bryn had to remember who she was. Or wasn’t. Dressed as a man, with her breasts bound and her hair tucked under a cap, she was no longer royalty. The towns surrounding Åsmundnes were filled with mostly other Gargoyles, but Bryn had been hidden away for so long no one would have recognized her except for her likeness to her mother. Today, however, she was just another peasant. No one special. Using her shifter hearing, Bryn listened in on conversations as she strolled past the various shops and eateries.

  A French accent caught her attention, and Bryn sidled closer for a better listen. She knew it was French because her last tutor had spoken the languag
e, teaching Bryn without her parents knowing. Brynhild had grown bored with numbers early on, but languages – now there was something intriguing to her. Never before had Brynhild appreciated her Parisian tutor as much as she did in that moment.

  Exposition Universelle. Bryn knew of the world’s fair, but she’d never been allowed to attend. The more she listened to the two foreign women speak of the fair, the more she wanted to go. All she had to do was sneak into her father’s office and grab some of the money he kept hidden in a safe. A safe she wasn’t supposed to know about. But Bryn had always been restless, and restless meant nosy. She remained hidden as the women talked about their friends in France. Bryn wanted that desperately. Not necessarily a home there, but somewhere she belonged where she had friends to do things with. As much as she loved Vanda, the woman was ultimately loyal to Bryn’s parents, considering they were the ones who paid her salary. Bryn made her way back to the house and put her next plan into place.

  Two weeks and an ocean liner cruise later, Brynhild found herself at the Exposition Universelle. It was unlike anything she could have ever imagined. People from around the world had constructed buildings and expositions that boggled her mind. The newly built Eiffel Tower was amazing all on its own. The Rue de Caire, or The Streets of Cairo, was filled with belly dancers, artists, and all sorts of Egyptian foods and delicacies. The Grand Pavilions depicted countries from all over, but Bryn’s favorites were those from Latin America. The fountains and reflecting pools were also a favorite, but the most fascinating of all the sites was Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. A short woman named Annie Oakley was what Buffalo Bill called a sharpshooter, and Bryn was in awe. She watched every show the woman participated in, and Bryn knew she had to meet her.

  “Mademoiselle! You can’t go back there!”

  Bryn put on her fiercest face, planted her hands on her hips, and growled. The man took a step back, and Bryn pushed through the slit in the heavy curtain. Annie Oakley was sitting off to the side eating an apple when Bryn burst through the tent. Annie crunched the fruit, her eyes full of mirth. Bryn smiled and said, “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Can you teach me to shoot a rifle?”

  Annie stood, wiped her hand on her embroidered, fringed skirt, and said, “I sure can.” She held out her hand. “Annie Oakley.”

  “Brynhild Holgersen, but you may call me Bryn.” Bryn shook the smaller woman’s hand.

  “Well, Brynna,” Annie replied, “It’s a pleasure to meet ya.”

  Chapter One

  Norway, 2048

  Brynna tugged on Travis’s hand, leading him up the steps and into the monstrous house, not bothering to wait on Banyan and Urijah. “Welcome to my humble abode.” After a couple weeks touring Norway, showing Travis her homeland, they were finally at the manor. If Brynna’d had her way, they would have stayed somewhere else.

  “Humble?” Travis stumbled to a stop once they were inside. His eyes were wide as he took in the gaudy extravagance of the house she had grown up in. Brynna chuckled at the human’s expression.

  “Don’t tell me you can’t discern by now when I’m being sarcastic.”

  Travis blushed as he often did when Brynna’s focus was on her mate. Her mate who had no idea what he meant to her. It had been six months since he lost his girlfriend but less than two months since Brynna had bounced into his life.

  “You already told me what to expect.” Travis stepped farther into the foyer after Brynna. “Wow. This is… uh,” he stammered, looking all around the entrance hall. Before they got any farther into the house, Marcie was heading to greet them from the kitchen.

  “Brynna! Welcome home!”

  “Hey, Marcie. It’s good to be home. Well, back in Norway. This place? Not so much.” Marcie snorted as Brynna hugged her tightly. When she released her friend, Brynna turned to Travis. “Travis, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Marcie. She runs this place. Marcie, this is Travis.” Brynna had already told Marcie all about her mate, so there was no need to give him a title or label.

  Travis shook Marcie’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Brynna talks about you all the time.”

  “Likewise. I feel as if I know ya already.” Marcie gestured for them to follow. “Now, come on in. I’ve got lunch ready.”

  Brynna grabbed Travis’s hand again, tugging him toward the kitchen. She never hesitated to touch her mate whenever she could, even if it wasn’t in a sexual manner. She was trying to get him used to being around her. She was also trying to sate her beast in the smallest of ways until she could claim Travis. Sometimes, Brynna could feel the stirrings of lust from Travis, but just as quickly, he would shut it down. From guilt or something else, she couldn’t be sure.

  Banyan and Urijah followed them into the kitchen, both males hugging Marcie. Lunch was filled with laughter and catching up. Travis sat quietly, taking it all in. Brynna had spent as much time with Travis as he allowed after work hours and on the weekends. She told him all about growing up in Åsmundnes, about returning when Banyan took over the throne from their father, and about her plans for turning the house into something other than its current rendition; therefore, most of what they were talking about, he already knew.

  Afterward, Brynna showed Travis to the room he’d be staying in for the duration, unless she got up the nerve to tell him he was her mate.

  “This is your room, and mine is right across the hall. Banyan and Uri are on the other end of the house. Trust me. It’s for the best. Those two can get loud.” Travis turned his head, but Brynna didn’t miss the way he blushed. She couldn’t help but grin. He really should be used to her lack of filter by now.

  “Wow,” Travis muttered, taking in the large suite. It was bigger than his apartment, but it was gaudy as hell, so she wasn’t sure which his surprise was directed at. Possibly both. He stepped into the middle of the room, turning around to see it all. “You weren’t kidding.” Ah, the latter.

  “Nope. This place could be a five-star establishment if it weren’t for the décor.” Brynna crossed the room and flopped back on the bed, tucking her hands behind her head. She wiggled a little, then quickly sat up. “Oh, this won’t do. What was Marcie thinking?” she mumbled.

  “What won’t do?”

  “This bed is too hard. Your back’s going to seize up after one night. Nope. We need to find something better.”

  “Brynna, it’s okay. I’m not that picky,” Travis said.

  “Well, you should be. And if you won’t be, I’ll be picky for you. I won’t allow you to sleep on this.” Brynna rose from the bed and headed out of the suite, but Travis grabbed her hand. Without thinking, Brynna linked their fingers together.

  “Bryn, stop.” Travis sighed as he searched Brynna’s face, and she held her breath. She knew she was overbearing, but she only wanted the best for him. Travis glanced at her lips, but it was just a glance. He released her hand, then turned and picked up his suitcase, taking it to the bed in question. He looked over his shoulder at her, smiling. “This room is fine. I promise. I’m not a princess like some people I know.” That was one thing about her human; Travis wasn’t afraid to joke with her. Even with his quiet demeanor around most others, he was comfortable giving her shit. Shit she gave right back.

  “Hey, I’m the queen,” Brynna huffed, tossing her long, blonde hair over her shoulder. Instead of arguing further, she took a stack of Travis’s button-up shirts and hung them in the closet while he put his other clothes in the dresser. Banyan’s voice carried to Brynna from downstairs, asking if they were ready to go. Her brother and Urijah were ready to get things underway with their new home.

  “Coming,” she responded softly knowing he would hear her. Travis was well aware of Gargoyle hearing, but she still explained, “B and Uri are ready to go to the clearing.”

  “I can’t wait to see it,” Travis said. When he had been tasked with designing the males’ home, Travis had been reluctant, but Brynna had talked him into at least getting a free vacation out of the trip. He h
ad argued about not having the money for a trip abroad nor the time away from his fairly new position with Stone, Incorporated, but Banyan explained how he would be paying Travis for his time. Rafael hadn’t hesitated in giving Travis the time off because the King knew Travis was Brynna’s mate.

  “It really is amazing. I’m a little jealous they found it first. I mean, they get this stunning haven in the woods while I get all this.” Brynna gestured to the badly decorated hallway.

  “Why don’t you buy your own property?” Travis asked as they headed downstairs.

  Brynna didn’t tell him it was because she was waiting to see if he wanted to be her mate. She didn’t want to live alone in the middle of nowhere. Banyan had offered to build Brynna her own home on the property since it comprised of thousands of acres, but what was the point if she had no one to share it with? If she and Travis ever got to the point where they were actually mated, then she would build something for the two of them, whether that be in Norway or New Atlanta, because Brynna didn’t see Travis wanting to move away from Trevor. For the time being, she had Uri’s old house in New Atlanta.

  “Mostly because I have to figure out what to do with the manor. If I can’t turn it into something profitable, I’ll sell it. Until then…”

  “And what happens if your parents decided to come back?”

  “They won’t. When Banyan became King, everything transferred over to him except for the money our father had set aside for their lives away from here. They’ll be in Switzerland until the doctor either finds a way to help my mom, or they’ll go off and live the rest of their lives in solitude. At least that’s what he said they had planned.” Brynna didn’t miss her parents at all, and she found that a sad testament to her relationship with them.