Page 33 of The Gargoyle in the College

It can’t be that simple. He’s just making things up.

I down my drink and get off the seat. Coming here is the worst thing I could have done for the evening. I have to fix that quickly.

Mckur yells at my back. “Where’re you going?”

“Somewhere.”

“But we haven’t done the chanting yet!”

Ah... right...

I stop at the door and turn back. I don’t think humans have something like this, maybe Laura could have sneaked out of her bar trip, but I can’t. “When will it be?”

Mckur eyes me up and down with an annoying smirk. “Are you in a hurry?”

“Yes.”

“Hm... Someone’s waiting at home?”

I roll my eyes at him. “Can you just stop that stupidity?”

“Fine, fine.” With that smile still hanging on his face, I doubt he’s going to stop. “Just so you know, I’m more than happy for you.”

I hiss at him and flex my wings. If he keeps talking about that, I’ve warned him. I’m not going to be ashamed of having a mate or embarrassed by that, but Laura and I aren’t mates and we aren’t even dating. It’s not fair to both of us.

Mckur says, “Just enjoy your time here, okay? We’ll start the chanting...” He checked the candle that was flickering at the side of the bar. “Probably in ten minutes.”

“Okay...”

Mckur is the one responsible for figuring it out and doing the chanting with everyone. It’s not like we must do that or everyone will be dead, but as gargoyles, we still do that in every gathering. I don’t even know how he determines the starting time, but he has his way of doing it.

I take a seat at the bar table again, but this time, I lean against the table and watch everyone in the bar.

Some of them are chatting around tables, some are drinking and playing some kind of card games.

At least this place smells like gargoyles and partially, like home.

My heartbeat races and there are tingles in my wings. If Laura becomes my mate, I’ll get to bring her along and show her the things here. She seems to be interested in statues or something, as seen from books on her bookshelf. While gargoyles can act like statues, we have actual statues that recorded the war thatwas around, which I doubt humans know about. Maybe she will be interested too.

I want to share everything with her, but I don’t know whether she’ll be interested. I don’t like the guessing game, maybe I have to end it.

What’s she doing?

Does she...

I grit my teeth when a surge of fire lights in my stomach. She’s an attractive female, if she’s in the bar, will some men from somewhere try to get their hands on her?

Fuck that... If I find that male, whatever species that thing is, I’m going to smack him. I don’t even care. Laura and I may not have agreed to be mates, I’m always going to protect her.

“Champ... It’s time. I thought you couldn’t wait.”

I shudder when Mckur’s voice yanks me back to reality. “I’m just getting ready.”

“Yeah, are you ready by now? Everyone’s waiting for you or is already moving over to the chamber.”

I get off the chair and roll my eyes at him. He chuckles and doesn’t seem to care.

It is the thing again... I’m so indifferent about it... I’d much rather be at Laura’s place, but who knows whether she is back already?

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