Page 19 of The Demon's Discovery
Behind Vassago stood a virtual mountain of a man. If I’d ever felt too tall at the manor, I was positively small in comparison to either of these men—the one behind my host, in particular.
“I’m so glad you could make it, Greta. This is a… friend.” His eyebrows dipped, as though the word felt wrong.
“Yes, we’re something like friends, devil.” The man grinned.
“Right, yes. In any case, Greta, this is Magnus. Magnus, Greta. She’s the chemist I mentioned.”
“Pleased to meet you.” He stuck out a giant hand for me to shake but changed his mind and pulled me into a brief hug instead, smiling broadly. “Which house do you claim, Greta?”
I glanced between the two men, confused. Vassago saw my hesitation and inclined his head slightly, indicating I could trust Magnus. I also had a niggling of recognition when I looked at him, which was odd. “Sorry?”
Magnus tilted his head to the side. “Which house? Gargoyle or grotesque?” I shook my head even more confused. “What is your family name?” Clever brown eyes searched my features as though he were trying to puzzle it out himself.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.”
The massive man’s face fell, surprise replacing the boisterous joy. “Who is your mother, child? Do you know her name?”
“Rowan.” I barely whispered the name; the only thing I had left of her. I hadn’t dared speak it in years.
Magnus faltered. It was odd seeing such a powerful man sag, but his whole body lurched as though I’d punched him. A sad smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “Oh, little Libelle. Is it really you?” His broad hands cupped the sides of my face, his own eyes moist. Air hissed between my teeth. Fear chased through my veins alongside several other messy emotions.
Vassago, who had been quietly watching from a reasonable distance, was suddenly several paces closer and appeared almost fuzzy around the edges. I blinked several times to clear my vision, confused as to how I’d not seen him moving.
“Rowan is my sister. I have missed her very much these many years. Oh, little niece. I am so happy to see you! I thought you were lost to us, the same as her. You must tell me everything.”
And then I found I couldn’t breathe at all thanks to the massive arms wrapped enthusiastically around my body, my cheek pressed into a chest that might as well have been made of granite.
“Easy, statue,” Vassago chided gently, a frown on his mouth.
Grace popped out of the kitchen at that moment, doing a double take as she spotted me being smothered with affection. “Magnus, please don’t break that lovely woman.”
He rumbled a deep chuckle, loosened his grip, and took a step back, though his hands remained on my shoulders. “Saints be. I can hardly believe it. Grace, this woman is my niece! We must celebrate!”
“Right,” she said, drawing out the word as she glanced between us. She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully at the large gargoyle, then clapped her hands together and strode back toward the kitchen with a broad smile. “I’ll get the wine!”
Chapter 9
Greta
Nervousness quickly gave way to a surprisingly deep hunger for stories about a mother I barely remembered. As we made our way through fresh bread, stew, and a chocolate cake that might have been the most delicious thing ever made, Magnus relayed several of his favorite memories. It was far and away the most magical meal I’d ever eaten.
He’d also given me a brief explanation about the difference between gargoyle and grotesque—not much, all told—after I’d come to grips with the fact that such creatures as stone kin were real at all. While I’d felt a little numb during the conversation, something about what he said rang true within me in a way that I knew immediately he wasn’t making things up. I’d always been fascinated by stories about beasts and creatures, while at the same time feeling an odd kinship with them, and it was thrilling to know that perhaps not every part of my favorite tales were fabrications.
“When you were born? Everything changed. Rowan never took her eyes off of you. She was so worried you would break, like a fragile little egg. You were little bitty, granted, but all babies are like that. And stone kin ones bounce better than mostif dropped.” He boomed another laugh, and I sank further into the warm nostalgia that both his stories and the wine had given me. It was the first time I’d had a real connection to any kind of family, even the hope of one. “Besides, we have wings! We’re built for sterner stuff than that. But she wanted to protect you.” He waved a broad hand as he chewed. “I was the same way with all of mine.” He paused, tone going soft, his eyes crinkling at the edges like the idea brought him pain. “Have you been here, all this time, Libelle?”
“I’m not sure. We only come into Revalia during the summer months,” I explained.
He frowned. “What should I call you? I knew you only as Libelle, but if it’s Greta you prefer, I shall use that name instead.”
I tested out both names out in my mind, seeing how they felt. I’d always felt Greta was harsh on the tongue, but it had been my name as long as I could remember.
“I don’t mind which you use, but I’m far more likely to answer to Greta. Libelle is very beautiful, though.” I found myself blushing, ashamed that I was ready to switch names on a whim just because of how it sounded to me.
Magnus glanced between Vassago and I. “When you say ‘we’ only come into the city during the summer, who iswe?”
“She’s a member of the Belette household,” Vassago told him, lifting his wineglass. Vassago had been silent but watchful as Magnus took up my attention and told his stories. I appreciated that he hadn’t seemed at all upset by the change in our visit plans. He and Grace had also both given me reassurance that Magnus was being truthful about everything as he explained about the stone kin. Grace and Magnus were also very obviously a couple, which put to rest any lingering doubts I had around the rat situation.
I was glad to be able to put several of the stressful thoughts I’d been dealing with aside, even if that meant being presented with something new, like being stone kin.
