Dani pasted on a smile and held up her purple markers. "I'm ready."The woman nodded then left."Do you just sign your name, or do you say something?""It depends on if the person chats. Some just want the signature and others want to connect. If they connect, I will write a quick phrase."He nodded. "What do you need me to do?""Just hand me books. Open them to this page."She showed him what she needed."Okay.""I don't know how busy I will be," she said.It was only the second signing she'd ever done. The debate would have gotten her name in front of people. She doubted that anyone remembered what happened. Or that the event had taken place. Maybe her students would attend."I'm fine either way, Dani. I'm here for you."She didn't know how to take that, but it made her a little uncomfortable. Not in a creepy way; it was just that she was used to being on her own. Her parents had died when she was in college, so she'd been doing things for herself for a long time. It was probably her

Ben looked around the table at the other gargoyles, and suddenly this didn't seem so simple. Their way of life was going to be threatened. Maybe he wasn't doing the right thing.Dani squeezed his hand and that settled his thoughts. He had to do this.His gaze went to each of his business partners, the wives that could make it on such short notice and the three Foley brothers. What he was asking was huge. He knew this, but he couldn't see any other way. They hadn't made any headway with the goblins, and they were always on the defensive.They needed something to tip them to the offensive. They would lose this battle, and waking up the normies was the only way he could see going forward.Everyone looked back at him. He cleared his throat. "I recognize that what I'm about to say will not be popular, but think it through before you tell me not to do this."A few glanced at each other then back at him. "What's going on?""I want to use my YouTube channel to show the public about supernatura

"How much do you know?" Ben asked."Well, I know that goblins invaded the venue. We have several videos of that. And now that you put out that video of you changing to a gargoyle my boss has told me to step up our investigation of the goblins.""You've known about what is going on?" Ben said.He shifted in the chair he'd chosen. Dalton nodded. "They've been on our radar for a while. With you exposing them we suspect they will get more violent.""I certainly hadn't expected that reaction.""Don't feel guilty. You did what you thought was right. I get it. I'm sure it was cathartic to come into the light about who you are."Ben nodded. Dalton had said that wistfully. "You a supe?""Gargoyle, like you, except I'm of French ancestry not Irish. My family has been in the United States for years.""I had a buddy in the service whose family was from France. Paris. He was the first generation born here. Frenchie, we called him. He'd swear at us in French so we'd have no idea what he was saying."

"Give them to me, and I'll not have you escorted off campus by security."The woman was a goblin. How hadn't Ben noticed that from the other end of the lecture hall? Maybe they were getting good at covering up their stench. "Let's go, Dani.""I'm not going to be run off campus that easily.""It's better if we go now."The dean shot him a glowering look. She knew what Ben was, and he didn't want an altercation in case any of the students were still lingering. Dani frowned then packed up her briefcase. "This isn't over.""Yes, it is."Wyatt was waiting outside. "Professor Walsh? What's going on?""I guess I'm suspended. Do me a favor? Keep questioning things," Dani said to him.Ben put a hand on her lower back. "It was worth a try, Dani. This place is crawling with goblins, so I guess they have infiltrated here also.""Let's talk when we get to the car," she said.Ben had to agree. He couldn't get them out of there fast enough.***Ben received the notice from YouTube the next day. They

Dani's thoughts immediately went to her friend with cancer. That was the biggest incident. It wasn't the only one. A few more flooded her brain. "Yes.""Well, those are your fairy powers. You can wish something for someone else and it comes true. Something good of course. You are unable to use your powers for bad things."Powers? She had powers? "Can I wish Ben back here?""It's not that simple," Sean said, taking up the explanation. "Because goblin magic is strong, you can't overcome it. Well, not alone."She sat straighter. "So, how can I?""With your gargoyle."She looked around the table again. "Ben?""Yes. Ben's your gargoyle," Sean said.Okay. She needed a little more. "Can you give me some background?""Back before humans—or we think humans with goblins' help—ruled the world, there was magic. Gargoyle and fairies formed an alliance against goblins. A few elite families of gargoyles were assigned to protect a specific fairy. That is still true, but most fairies have no idea they