Page 51 of Charming Her Monsters

“I thought not talking about it would make it go away. But it did the opposite. I’ve relived the tragedy over and over, allowing it to shape everything in my life.”

His thumb moves, stroking my biceps ever so slowly and softly. I don’t draw his attention to it. I want him to get his words out. Give him space to lance the wound that has festered for hundreds of years. I don’t expect it will be easy for him.

“She was the first person I killed.” Flint glances away, unable to look me in the eye anymore. Likely thinking I’ll judge him.

“She was also the first human I saw. I was young, only eighteen years old. Marie was so pretty and sweet. She’d sing while I’d watch her gather wild fruits and berries, never knowing I was there since I used my gargoyle camouflage. One day, I decided to be bold and speak to her. For the first time, I used my glamour and appeared to her as a human. She was taken aback by my size, but otherwise was friendly to me. I told her a lie, that I was traveling through her area and would only be around for a short while.”

He takes a deep breath and gains more courage when I nod for him to continue. “Marie invited me back to eat with her family behind the castle walls. I accepted because I was curious to see how the humans lived. I expected it to differ greatly from living in Elfhame and the rocky cliffs where my people are from.”

I’m itching to know more about his people, but I file away the million questions I have for a more appropriate time.

“I met her mother and father. They were kind and friendly to me. However, no one knew what I was. Marie invited me up to the top of her liege’s castle. It wasn’t as fine as the ones in Elfhame, but the tower she took me to was high enough. As we climbed the stairs, I sensed magic, but it didn’t feel like fae, so I ignored it.”

I bite my lip. I fear what he’s about to tell me next. And my guilt swells again.

“There was a witch in the tower, and she immediately sensed I was not human. She cast a revealing spell to force my glamour to drop. I was young and untested so I didn’t react quickly enough to stop her. When Marie caught sight of my gargoyle form, she stepped backward. I reached out for her, but she was scared of my appearance, and she slapped my hands away. I failed to grab her. She fell…”

Flint’s voice chokes up, and he doesn’t continue.

“In her surprise, she fell down the stairs and died?”

He nods, his body shakes with his held back tears.

“My sweet gargoyle, that wasn’t your fault.” I place my hands on his forearms, the only thing I can reach with his tight hold on my biceps.

At my words, and touch, his floodgates are released. His body softens and almost his entire weight pushes me against the wall. His hands let my arms go, and he slides them around my waist in a hug, lifting my feet off the floor.

I return his embrace, feeling as if I’m holding him together, even if my arms don’t reach all the way around him.

I’m not even sure if he knows he’s doing it when he presses his forehead to mine. Not wanting to break the spell of the moment, I don’t tell him he is almost crushing me, and take in shallow breaths instead.

His eyes pop open, and they seem brighter—glowing. He also appears a bit shocked by what’s happening, being able to touch me without freezing up.

He pulls back enough for me to breathe again, but my feet are still dangling off the floor.

“I…” He loosens his tight grip around my waist. “Did I hurt you?”

Thankfully, he doesn’t drop me out of instinct. “I’m okay. How are you?”

“I’m touching you,” he says with awe, and looks down to see our hips are pressed together. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

He moves to pull away.

I don’t easily let him go. “This is all okay. Unless you’d rather not be touching me.” He stops moving.

“But our lower halves are…,” he whispers.

“Does that make you feel bad?” I ask. “Or good?”

“Good, but…” His skin flushes that beautiful peach color, and I can’t help but wonder how far down it goes.

“What is it? You can tell me.” I realize he might not know he can ask for what he needs. “If embracing me makes you feel weird, we can stop hugging whenever you want.”

“It’s not that… not exactly. It’s just… you don’t know the real me yet. My true appearance. How ugly I really am.”

“I feel like I know you in many ways already. As far as your looks are concerned, I doubt I will find your appearance unappealing. Do you want to show me? Would that make you feel better about being near me? If I know the real you?”

“Uh, I think it would, but maybe not…”

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