Page 23 of The Gargoyle's Grace
“I’m not.” He wiped at my face with his broad thumbs, removing the remnants of my tears. “Though I will say, I was mightily prepared for a tongue lashing, not crying. The tears are much more terrifying.”
I choked out a wet laugh. “Why do you have to be so kind?” I complained half-heartedly.
“It’s a curse, truly.”
I swiped at my eyes again, the laughter pushing a few rogue tears out. “It would be much easier if you weren’t so detestably nice. Handsome. Strong.” His chest puffed out as I continued. “Shame you’re so full of yourself, though it does balance some things out.”
He held his breath for a beat but then chuckled. “There you are, feisty Little Rabbit. Come. Let me make you dinner for a change.”
I took his hand, feeling wildly irresponsible for leaving the collegium again, though I had no duty to stay. Once we were in the yard, Magnus scooped me up against his body.
“Up you go,” he said before pressing his mouth to mine as he squatted down to grab my thighs. He situated my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck to his liking, all without breaking the kiss.
“Wait. What are you—” Launching into flight from standing stock-still was absolutely terrifying. I screamed into the stout muscles of his chest as Magnus’s powerful wings lifted us high into the sky.
His arms kept me banded safely against his body as he carried me over the dense forest. My heart fluttered fiercely behind my ribs, the wind tangling in my hair as we moved above the trees. The heavy beat of his wings, the way the air responded to him… it was so effortless and foreign I could barely wrap my thoughts around what was happening.
I’d never traveled this direction before, especially not so deep into the woods as he was taking us. My heart thudded against my ribs, a flash of anxiety taking root. I breathed over it, however. Magnus wouldn’t hurt me. I had to trust in that.
When he finally made his descent, I was thankful. My ears and nose were icy, and I needed a moment to collect my thoughts with my feet solidly on the ground.
He landed us in a small grassy clearing in front of a round wooden hut.
“What is this place?” I asked, swaying as gravity owned me once again.
Magnus opened the door and gestured for me to enter in front of him.
“This is one of our way stations. There are a few scattered throughout the city and the area beyond. If we’re too far from an encampment, we can use a station for food, shelter, clothing… whatever is needed.”
My eyes brushed over the simple decor and sturdy furniture. There was a small but very functional kitchen with something fragrantly savory cooking in the oven. To one side, there was a large bed near a lit fireplace, and close to the door sat a small dining table. I guessed there was a bathroom as well, but couldn’t see it from where I stood.
“Is someone else here?”
He frowned. “No. Why?”
“Because a fire’s lit and there’s food cooking,” I said, eyes narrowed at him.
“Yes, because I left them like that before coming to fetch you.”
“Fetchme?” Blood stirring again, I balked at the notion that the evening had all been an elaborate setup.
Magnus inhaled slowly, setting his heavy hands on my shoulders. “Yes. I planned to bring you here tonight well before I happened upon Gaius and Caster in the city. I saw them while I was buying the supplies for this meal.” He walked me backwards until my knees hit the side of the mattress and I was forced to sit. “You and I having a quiet evening to ourselves was always the plan, Grace.” I was distracted by him dropping to his knees. It put him nearly eye level with me for a change. “Running into them was simply good fortune. I took advantage of the opportunity.”
“You paid my debt because the opportunity presented itself?” Something about that didn’t sit quite right.
“Yes. Though I would have done it anyway.”
I stiffened, but he was undeterred, placid as a still lake as he carefully unlaced and removed my boots. “Knowing how I felt about it?”
“Yes.”
I didn’t know whether to be impressed or angry. “Why?”
As my second boot came off, he sat back on his heels, hands flat on his broad thighs. “Because, Grace. As I said, I take care of what’s mine.”
“And I’m yours?”
He grunted, hands teasing up my legs, my skirt traveling upward with his nimble fingers. “Damn right. You know you are.”
