Page 8 of Enchanted By the Gargoyle

“I was embarrassed. And then, well, I ran into Ezren later and he told me his story so I did my thing, you know. I was able to disconnect him temporarily from the binding, but then I collapsed again. Every time I touch him, my magic goes kinda haywire, it’s very strange.”

“What do you mean by ‘every time you touch him’? Are you getting in on with Ezren the Gargoyle?” The mirth is evident in her voice, and I can just imagine her face as she cracks a smile.

“Merna, the man is hot! And I’m in the worst dry spell of my life, punnotintended. And…he’s sweet and super kind. I…like him. There’s something about him.” I’ve admitted too much already, but it’s Merna, she’ll be supportive.

“Totally get it, I’ve had naughty thoughts about him when I drive by sometimes. Not gonna lie!”

“Merna!”

“What, you’ve hooked up, and you’re the only one who can think a gargoyle is hot now?”

“No, and we didn’t ‘hook up’ yet. You’ve been hanging around Sybil too much. We were…fooling around, I guess, and got carried away and then, well. Mini quake.”

“YOU TWO CAUSED THE QUAKE?!” I hold the phone away from my ear as Merna shouts. Ezren peeks over at me, eyebrows raised. I shake my head at him.

“Damn, you don’t have to shout at me. Be happy I told you at all. And yes, pretty sure, unless it’s an ill-timed coincidence from the malfunctioning ley lines or something, or maybe they’re mad Ezren left? Or…I don’t know. You’re the expert here,” I sigh, already exhausted by this conversation.

“You both need to go back to the node on his property and check it again. See how you feel then, and just take it slow. Take some protection with you as well, just in case.”

“I don’t think Ezren can get me pregnant, Merna. He’s made of granite.” I wait for my joke to land, clapping at hand over my mouth to stop laughing.

I hear her exasperated sigh on the other end. She’s fully sick of my shit, but it only makes me laugh harder. “Goddess help me. That isn’t funny. And that isn’t what I meant. I mean one ofyourprotection necklaces.”

I can’t hold back any longer and start cracking up.

“Okay, love you, Tamsin, but also bye. Call me when it's done!” She hangs up with a clatter.

I turn to Ezren, and my mirth slides off my face as I see that Beryl is cradled in one of his hands, all her feet in the air, entirely asleep as he strokes her tummy, cooing.He really is a gentle giant. A gentle giant who launched himself at me like someone who was starving. For several minutes, I was fully hoping he was going to tear my clothes off. My body shivers.

“Ezren, we have to go back to the node at Wyrdwood,” I whisper, hoping to soften the blow. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to look around town, but I know we will get another.”

He stands up stiffly, transferring a sleeping Beryl into my arms. “I would like that. I’ll do anything you need. I want to be there anyway, I don’t want you to get sick again.”

“Well, you can start by putting that necklace on me, it will help to ward off anything negative. I have protection spells embedded into many pieces of my jewelry that I make.” Turning around, I pull my hair over my shoulder, exposing the nape of my neck to him.

He steps close to me, so close that I can feel his solid chest. His hand loops over my head as he clasps the necklace securely around my neck, and gives me a light kiss there, sending shivers down my spine. I wish we could stay here together, but duty calls.

???

The behemoth of the boulder juts out from the earth, almost mocking me with its strength and sheer size. Ezren stands near me, arms crossed and staring down the boulder as though it were sentient and had done something to me personally. It's endearing.

“Alright, might as well get this over with,” I sigh, rubbing my hands together and taking a few steps closer.

“Wait!” Ezren flings out an arm to stop me. “What do I do if something happens to you? Should I call someone? I don’t want to leave you here, so should I carry you, or is that bad?”

I smile at him and rub his arm in soothing circles. I remember his words from yesterday, to be honest and direct. “If something happens, carry me to the office and call the bookstorein town and ask for Merna, and if she’s not there, then Kate. They’re listed in the phone book. It will be okay to carry me, but I’ll also be fine to stay here while you make the call, it’s up to you, okay?”

He nods, a look of pure abject worry still lining his face. I turn back toward the boulder when I feel Ezren’s hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll just hang onto you, just in case, okay?” His voice small.

I squeeze his hand. “It’s gonna be fine,” I hear myself say, more for me than for him. I have to admit Iama little nervous to be back here. The ground has this zingy energy to it, like it's been waiting. For what, who knows, but I’m about to find out.

Chapter 7

Tamsin

Closing my eyes, I let the connection to the earth ground me, and I focus an extra second on making sure it's secure before I turn my attention to entering the node. In reality, this node is buried deep below the surface, and not something any mortal can dig to or access, but, being an earth witch I can astral project myself just about anywhere with a strong enough tie to rocks, crystals, or soil.

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