Page 8 of Bewitching the Dragon
“Youdidbreak the concealment spell.” Argyle’s body started to shimmer again, and Rahu took a step back, just in case. Because all that anger seemed to be directed at him.
“Dude, I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.”
“This spark of magic. Describe it,” Argyle barked.
It had felt like his skin was sizzling, but not in a bad way. He was a dragon, after all, so he tended to like things hot. Especially the attraction between two people. A pull so intense it literally caused sparks to dance along his skin. A chemistry that was—
“No,” Rahu said, his eyes wide. No way was he telling this guy about a bizarre allure that, if Becca were a dragon, would have made him wonder if he hadn’t just connected with his fated mate.
Argyle’s mouth thinned until it almost looked like he didn’t have lips. “This concealment spell is incredibly sophisticated magic. Pacey and I had to work together to create it.”
“Pacey? Becca’s aunt?” Her aunt and this gargoyle created a spell to conceal her supernatural self from even herself?
Without confirming Rahu’s question, Argyle said gravely, “There is only one way that concealment spell could be broken, other than by myself or Pacey.”
When he did not elaborate, Rahu finally asked, “How?”
“Physical contact between Rebecca and another with whom she is highly, mutually attracted.”
“Huh?” Rahu stared blankly.
Argyle sighed. “It is obvious you are charmed by her. She must also be interested in you. It is, unfortunately, a terrible fault of this spell, and another reason we chose to allow her to believe she was human. She would not have felt this sort of attraction to another human, at least not to the degree that could have broken such a powerful spell.”
“Wait. You’re saying I really did break the spell that was protecting her from the warlocks?”
Argyle’s glare was practically a living thing, and Rahu was certain that if he could have, the gargoyle would have burned him to a crisp with that look alone. Luckily, dragons withstood great degrees of heat, and a withering look simply glanced off his dragon’s scales.
“Speaking of being so vested, why the hell do you care so much what happens to her?” Rahu demanded.
Argyle’s body shimmered once again. And then he straightened his spine and looked Rahu in the eye.
“She is my daughter. And you’ve just ensured that the warlocks intent upon destroying her now know how to find her.”
Chapter Four
When Becca carried her morning coffee outside to sit on the patio, she noted that Aunt Pacey had added a new gargoyle statue to her collection.
Her aunt had quite the eccentric taste in lawn ornaments. She’d add a new gargoyle for a few months or years, and then it would disappear and another would replace it. The oddest part was, they were all so similar in style and coloring and features, why did she feel the need to upgrade so frequently? And why not try something different each time?
Becca studied the nearest one while sipping her coffee. Maybe her problem with the gargoyles was how boring they all looked. Gray, roughly hewn stone creatures that didn’t even resemble any animal in today’s world.
Maybe she needed to dress them up somehow; make them perky or pretty or something. When she went into work, she’d sort through the inventory, see what struck her. These stone statues were about the size of a small child; surely, she could find some cute kids’ clothes that would make them look less…drab.
Decision made, she sat on a cushioned chair and checked notifications on her phone. A text from Charlotte, letting her know that, according to news reports, no one from the brawl at the club was arrested or hurt enough to warrant a hospital visit last night.
That fight had been three, no, four on one, and the fact that Rahu had escaped without serious injury was both a relief and, frankly, damned impressive.
Not that she cared. Not that she should care, at any rate. She’d probably never see the guy again. And she didn’t want to. She wasn’t attracted to the jealous type, weird sizzling sensation notwithstanding.
Ignoring the uncomfortable pang in her chest, she began to make mental note of everything she needed to do today.
Clean the house, take inventory of the fridge to determine what I need from the grocery store, shower, tame the hair, dress, go to work…
“Hey.”
She jumped in her seat and upset her coffee cup.
“Oh crap, I’m sorry.” Rahu hurried over as if he would be able to do anything about the spreading brown stain on her pajama bottoms.
