Page 29 of Protected By the Gargoyle
Arto brought his gaze to meet Talia, the only female sentry in their Boston team, and then Diego. “I apologize for my role in this situation. It wasn’t my intention.”
“Of course not.” Talia brushed it off with a wave. “It was an accident.”
Diego grunted. “Could have happened to anyone.”
Their responses appeared genuine. Did they not blame him for his role in bringing out the damned book?
“I talked to the Council in Paris, and they suggested another alternative,” Roman said. “A demon was already here.”
Arto furrowed his brows. “Meaning we didn’t summon one?”
“No, meaning it was already in this realm and pulled to Boston.”
Arto nodded. “That makes sense.” Unfortunately, that still made him responsible for luring one here and endangering Janie. He inhaled to sense the familiar, horrid scent he’d detected outside of Janie’s place.
After Talia and Diego took to the sky, Roman fixed a pointed stare on Arto. “Are you alright?”
“Fine,” Arto dismissed.
Roman tipped his head. “Arto?” The way he stretched his name out indicated he knew Arto was definitely notfine.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Just anxious.”
“Trust me, I feel the ache to return to Larissa and protect her.”
Roman was the only gargoyle Arto had confided in about Janie being his mate.
He exhaled, and it ended with a low groan. “I’m torn.” He lowered his head. “I feel responsible for what happened and want to hunt every inch of Boston to capture the monster before it can do any harm.” If it hadn’t already. “But I’m also in agony knowing that she’s at the compound without my protection.” He pointed to his chest.
“I understand that.” Roman squared his jaw. “We must find this demon as soon as possible. The sooner we do so, the sooner we can return to our mates.”
CHAPTER8
JANIE
“With the way you’re pacing in front of that window, I’d think you were on patrol,” Larissa quipped.
Janie had been unable to sit and kept returning to gaze outside as twilight set over the city, lights twinkling all along the harbor. She searched for signs of Arto returning.
Or of the demon.
Like Larissa, she had that rare ability to be able to see the gargoyles even when they cloaked themselves with magic.
“I can’t sit still.” Janie ran her hand through her hair. “When are they coming back?”
Larissa’s brows furrowed. “I don’t know.” Her voice dropped to a lower tone. No doubt she was as worried about Roman. “They’re going to be fine. They’re brave, capable warriors.” She nodded as if certain of it, although she might also be trying to convince herself they’d be safe. “And Arto? He’ll be okay. That’s why he’s second-in-command of this entire unit.”
True. He’d taken on countless demons in Boston and the realm. Janie had seen him first-hand. She blew out a rough breath. “Yeah, he’s pretty amazing.” She rubbed her jawline as she thought. “What can I do to help?”
“Just stay put,” Larissa insisted. “The sentries are out searching. I’m not even sure what I can do yet. Everything I’ve done this far has pretty much been through winging it.”
“Or intuition,” Janie suggested.
With a slight nod, Larissa said, “Possibly.”
She threw her hands up. “Okay, I understand that I need to stay here, but that doesn’t mean I have to be helpless. There’s got to be a way I can help them, Larissa. I’ve gotten us into this mess; I should be a part of getting us out of it.”
Larissa exhaled and then shrugged. “If I knew, I’d tell you.”
