Page 7 of Incurably Cupid

He nodded again.

What was happening here? This shouldn’t be possible. He shouldn’t be able to see me. Granted, I’d never been assigned to a gargoyle before, so I wasn’t aware of all their capabilities, but I’d been assigned to many other paranormals, and they’d never been able to seeorhear me.

“I have no idea what’s happening right now. You shouldn’t be able to see me.” I moved closer into his space. It was a pity I only came up to his collarbone, which wasn’t all that impressive, but I couldn’t do anything about my vertically challenged height and his massive gargoyle size. He was close enough for me to smell his natural scent—snow and pine, with the faintest hint of stone warmed in the sun. I watched his light gray eyes for the slightest flicker that he could feel the warmth of my body in his space bubble.

His eyes flicked down to me, perfectly tracking where I was and then away, and I gasped.

“You can really see me! I have no idea how that's possible! How are you doing this?” I demanded, stepping back and placing my hands on my hips. “No one can see cupids when they’re enmeshed in the ether. I’ve been here a year, and you’ve never hinted that you could see or hear me!”

He cleared his throat and glanced at King Draven and Consort Mia to remind me that we were in a room with other people. A servant was bringing Consort Mia a glass of something fizzy—I would bet ginger ale. But I didn't care about them at the moment. I glared at Mesmer.

“Answer me,” I growled.

He sighed, seeing that I wasn't going to drop it. “You never interrupted my work, so I never interrupted yours.” His voice was deep and gravelly, exactly what you’d expect from a being that could turn to stone. For a brief moment, vulnerability washed over his features. “Besides, I want a mate, and I didn’t want to distract you from finding one for me. I know you’ve been working hard on that for the past year or so.” His piercing eyes met mine. “Thank you for trying. I appreciate your efforts.”

I swallowed hard. He didn’t seem very hopeful that I’d find his mate, and I knew it wasn’t because he doubted my cupidskills. My eyes stung slightly, and I cursed as I glanced at the ceiling, blinking rapidly.

“Mes, who are you talking to?” Consort Mia peeked over the sofa, looking at him in confusion. She didn't look well. Her face was pale, but her cheeks were flushed.

“My cupid, Consort Mia.”

“Mes, don’t call—what? Your what?!” She stood up quickly, too quickly, evidently, because she swayed on her feet, her eyes rolled back in her head, and she dropped like a stone. King Draven caught her before she could hit the floor, holding her tenderly to his chest, his face etched with concern. “Sweetheart?” He patted her flushed cheeks gently.

Mesmer moved to help them but halted mid-step, jerking toward the huge window behind us. The long curtains were closed for the evening, but he must have heard something outside because he practically flew toward the two monarchs. “Your Majesties, take cover!”

I gasped and moved to follow him, but I had only taken a single step when the window behind me shattered, peppered with bullets. The bullets struck Mesmer mid-transformation, hovering protectively over his monarchs, who were crouched behind the couch.

He grunted, staggering to his knees as several bullets pierced his broad back, exiting his chest in small sprays of blood before he completed the change to his rock form. After that, the bullets pinged off him, scattering in all directions until finally, there were no more bullets, and everything fell silent.

I raced to Mesmer, going corporeal, and tried to catch him as he fell sideways to the floor. But even though I was strong, I wasn’t as strong as a gargoyle in full rock form, so he fell with a hard crunch against the hardwood floor.

King Draven gently laid his unconscious wife on the couch and was beside us in the blink of an eye. His gaze flickedto me and away, dismissing me as a threat. His vampire eyes were blood-red with rage. I removed my shirt, leaving only my cami underneath, and started applying pressure to his wounds, leaning into them with every ounce of strength I had. Mesmer had managed to revert back to his skin form after he fell to the ground, which meant his blood was flowing out of him at a faster rate now.

I swear I only blinked once and King Draven suddenly held a phone between his ear and shoulder, using both hands to pack the wounds I couldn’t reach with his jacket. “I need an ambulance. Mesmer’s been shot.” He let the phone fall to the floor without bothering to disconnect, coming up onto his knees for more leverage to apply additional pressure on the wounds. I did the same, cursing Mesmer the entire time under my breath.

Stupid heroes. Always getting themselves killed.

The whole villa had become a beehive of activity as security swarmed the room. I could hear dogs barking outside, probably trying to sniff out the shooter. There were likely shifter security out there in their shifter forms doing the same.

“Your Highness, the villa is being swept. Until the perimeter has been cleared, we need to get you and Consort Mia to the safe room,” a large male said, hovering over the king uneasily, his eyes constantly shifting around the room.

“I’m not leaving Mesmer,” the king answered firmly.

“But, Your Highness?—”

The king’s blood-red eyes flashed to the man standing over him. “I will not. Leave. My friend.”

The security officer backed down instantly. “Yes, Sire.”

Consort Mia regained consciousness and sat up, blinking dazedly. Her expression cleared when she saw her husband and bodyguard on the floor. “Draven? Oh my gosh, Mes!” She ignored her husband’s command to stay down behind thecouch and crawled over to Mesmer, the king, and me. “What happened?” she cried as she touched Mesmer’s face.

It was obvious, wasn’t it? He’d been shot.

I could faintly hear the sound of a siren making its way up the long, winding road to the villa.

“How did he get shot? He has an impenetrable stone body, for heaven’s sake!”

It must still be the wooziness because she was not winning any points for piecing things together quickly.

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