Page 31 of The Gargoyle's Grace
Even Vassago couldn’t escapethe blood spatter this time.
Ophelia had been safe from the horde, thankfully, but it had been larger and more aggressive than any of the others.
Rylan had arrived to help us not long after we’d started the assault in earnest, though he didn’t stay longer than a few minutes to talk once the deed was done. He flew back toward his country manor where his mate was waiting for him, still covered in gore from the fight. I was always glad to see him, and his help served to make much shorter work of our day, though we’d had the upper hand with the number of soldiers who’d turned up anyway.
A distinct impression had been made on many of the stone kin soldiers, young and old, seeing two demon princes fighting beside us. I could almost feel the shift in their viewpoints happening.
Gaius seemed even-keeled after the fight, more so than I’d seen him in recent days. We planned to talk in the next week, and I was hopeful we could come to some kind of tentative friendship after all was said and done. He mentioned quite a few points of interest about the council, and I couldn’t wait to learn all the things he wanted to share.
Things were going to change soon; I felt it in the way the earth was waking up beneath my feet. I hoped we’d be together in the change and not at odds.
We left the cleaning up to the young men still in training, and flew back to d’Arcan.
“Thank you for your assistance,” I said as we parted ways in the upstairs hall.
“It was my pleasure.” The demon smiled. “It’s been quite some time since I’ve done something so productive with my blade.”
I barked a short laugh. Vassago was every inch the well-put-together gentleman. He might look like an angel, but I’d seen his demon out today. He’d used his fangs to tear throats out with abandon. He’d also been an absolute menace wielding a borrowed Light blade. He’d used it with such skill and confidence it might as well have been a permanent appendage.
“Well, now that I know how much fun you had, perhaps I’ll invite you more often.”
He bowed his head and disappeared behind his apartment door.
I cleaned myself up, growing more and more nervous. I felt like a man many years my junior as I fussed with my hair, making sure to put on the green shirt I knew Grace loved before anxiously heading back downstairs to let her know I made it back unscathed.
Chapter15
Grace
I’d been expecting a knock on my apartment door for over an hour.
The pair of winged men had landed in the courtyard covered in demon gore but whole. Little Sara had let me know they were coming after leaving the dining hall after dinner. I hoped she hadn’t seen more than their bodies winging their way into the yard.
I had spent the time between then and now driving myself quite mad. I’d set up a spread of food for us—him, mostly—on the little table I used for writing in my supply ledgers. I’d changed into and out of three separate dresses, only to go back to the first one again. I paced. I had conversations between the two of us all by myself and then flopped face down onto the bed.
I was not this person. This person was half my age and a fool.
Finally, the cautious tap sounded out. Patience expired, I rushed to the door and threw it open, only to immediately fling myself into the waiting gargoyle’s arms.
“That’s quite a welcome,” he chuckled, but his arms were tight enough I knew he’d needed it too.
“You’re fine?”
“Right as rain.”
“Good.” I let him go and invited him in. “I thought you’d be hungry.”
He immediately went to one of the plates, selected a treat, and popped it in his mouth. “Always,” he answered as he slid into a chair. “Join me?”
I did, but I had no appetite. I watched as he made short work of most of the things I’d brought up—which was impressive, even for him.
“Did Rylan come?”
“Yes. Vassago got quite messy, even.”
“It’s a miracle,” I laughed. “I really was starting to wonder if that was one of his special abilities. Not getting blood on his clothing.”
Magnus grunted, amused. “It is odd, right? That he never does?”
