Page 14 of Married to the Devil

She didn’t do anything wrong.

He’s the one who is missing.

“I don’t have any supplies,” she says, snapping me from my contemplation. “The clothes that were supposed to be here, the damned towels even, are gone.”

I frown.

“Stoneheart?” I ask, even though that doesn’t jive with what I know about the gargoyle.

She shrugs. “Probably not.”

“Where is he?”

“He left after—” She breaks off and blushes. It’s a breath before she starts again. “Uh, there was an interruption, and he took off afterward.”

An interruption? I must look confused because Stella inhales before explaining.

“The Council had someone interrupt us to ensure that we were…busy.”

I grit my teeth at the nerve of the Council and our damned gargoyle ally. It would have served his purpose to let such a thing happen. I knew he was callous. I didn’t think it would extend to this. Gargoyles are supposed to be protective of mates.

“I can get you supplies, but do you want to stay here?” I ask.

She sighs and stands shuffling with the sheet wrapped around her.

“Honestly, I want to take a shower.”

The willpower it takes for me to not entertain the visual of that with her half-dressed in front of me is shamefully high. I grit past the urge to clearer thoughts.

The wedding makeup tries its best, but it doesn’t disguise her weariness. She’ll be needing to sleep along with that shower, but she can’t trust Stoneheart’s guards. Can she even trust Stoneheart at this point?

“I’m so sorry, Stella.” It slips from me without my meaning to.

Her eyes water for a moment, making them seem bluer. “It’s not your fault.”

But it is. I take a step toward her without meaning to.

The mix of energies and scents on her don’t make me long for her any less.

“I wish this could have been different.” It’s a selfish thing for me to say. Littering her wedding with forget-me-nots is one thing. Saying such a thing now that it’s impossible is another.

“I know…me too.” She takes a step toward me.

It’s been a difficult night. That’s the only reason she’s as close to me as she is. If she hadn’t just been humiliated by the Council and abandoned by her mate, she wouldn’t be looking at me like she is right now.

I step back. Not from self-preservation, though, if I touch her, Stoneheart will undoubtedly take issue, but because she is looking for comfort. It’s something I’d love to give her, but even though Stella’s nature is chaotic, she’s loyal.

She’d regret it if anything happened between us. It doesn’t stop my heart from throbbing.

She shakes her head as if realizing the way her body was swaying toward me. “I’m so sorry?—”

The doors to the balcony break open. We both jump and spin at the sound of metal snapping and glass shattering.

A monster enters from the night. Or rather, an angry gargoyle.

Stoneheart’s gaze burns on me, ignoring his mate in a way that makes my fists clench. The sound emanating from the Devil is vicious, meant to warn me away by the fear it strikes. It’s a type of growl I’ve never even heard from a dragon, but I understand it’s meaning.

It’s a statement that unless I leave, he’ll follow through on my obvious death wish.

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