Page 43 of Never Been Gargoyled
“When was that?”
“When Helga was younger. Before she went into the nursing home. She loved this house, spent years bringing it back to life after she inherited it.” His expression grew sad. “Then she got sick, and it was too much for her to manage alone. And I was…” He paused. “Overseas too often. Our parents…”
I waited to hear what he’d say, but he didn’t finish, and I wasn’t sure I dared press.
“When I returned, she was gone, and I had to sleep.”
“Sleep?”
“Gargoyles are guardians. When no one lives in the building they protect, they enter a dormant state. Likehibernation, but it can last a lot longer. I spent years in stone form on the roof, waiting.”
“Years?” I twisted in his arms to face him fully. “You were awake when I arrived.”
“You woke me up.”
Something in his voice made my pulse quicken. “Iwoke you up? How?”
“I don't know.” He glanced away from me, and I had the feeling he was hiding something from me, but what could it be? “When you claimed this place as yours, I couldn't stay dormant anymore.”
As simple as that? It must be.
“Are you saying it's my fault you fell off the roof?” I teased, trying to lighten the suddenly heavy mood.
His mouth twitched. “Entirely your fault.”
“I'll try to be less surprising in the future.”
“Please don't.” His arms tightened around me. “I enjoy being surprised by you.”
We sat together for a while, watching the sun climb higher over the town. From up here, with Feydin's arms around me and the whole world spread out below us, it was easy to forget about Rebecca Hartwell and her legal threats.
“This is nice,” I said softly. “Thank you for bringing me up here.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I've never sat on a roof before.”
“Most people haven't.”
“I guess sitting up here is a gargoyle thing.”
“We call it perching,” he said sternly, though humorcame through in his voice. “And yes. We're made for high places.”
“Well, I can see the appeal.” I gestured toward the view. “Though I think I prefer it with company.”
“Me too.”
The simple admission made my heart surge. There was something about the way he said it, like he'd spent a long time alone and was only now remembering what it felt like to share something beautiful with someone else.
“Feydin?”
“Mmm?”
“Thank you for all of this. For helping me with Rebecca, for fixing things around the house, for making me feel like I'm not facing everything alone.”
He was quiet for so long that I started to worry I'd said something wrong. Then he pressed his face into my hair.
“Thankyou,” he said quietly, “for letting me help.”
