Page 42 of Protected By the Gargoyle
“I don’t know how to deal with this. It’s too much.”
When he sat up and exhaled, his shoulders sank. “And too soon?”
“Yes… No.” She pulled her shirt over her head and tossed her hair back. “Maybe?”
Arto climbed out of bed. She forced herself not to gape at his impressive body as he pulled on boxer shorts. “Did you just want us to be casual? Temporary?”
She couldn’t think that far ahead. Since the demon threat, she’d been hoping to get through each day, but here Arto was talking about something epic. A lifelong connection.
“How long have you known? How long have you kept this from me?”
His jaw twitched, but he didn’t reply. Now they were both avoiding each other’s questions.
“This is something big. Huge.” She spread her arms wide. “Don’t you think you should have told me before now?”
“How?” His voice edged up, and his expression contorted with torment. “You’d gone through hell with the demons. You were likely traumatized and in shock. What good would have come if I told you back then?”
She didn’t know how to process this. “I’ve known you for months. And I trusted you. But now…”
What else was he keeping from her?
“You told me you just wanted to be friends. What could I do?” He placed his hand on his heart. “But love you from afar.”
Love? She pressed her fingertips on the bridge of her nose. “How can you feel things so strongly?” She shook her head. “This would never work, Arto. Larissa—she has magical powers. Me? I have nothing.” She pointed to her chest. “I’m just a human, and I don’t belong here. We’re dealing with the dangerous repercussions of it right now.”
He stepped closer and took her hand. “To me, you belong here more than anyone.”
A part of her crumbled, wanting to stay with him. Another part…
Her skin turned clammy, and her lower lip trembled. “I can’t do this. It’s too much.” She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms around herself. “I just want us all to survive this mess and can’t deal with anything else right now.”
She opened the door.
“Janie, wait—”
She didn’t. She rushed away from him before she broke down.
ARTO
His wings never weighed so heavy, so laden with regret. A light snow fell over the city, not enough to stick for long on surfaces, but cold and breezy enough to add to his misery in flight.
While Arto searched for the demon with the aid of the full moon, he lamented his mistakes. What should he have done differently? When should he have confided in Janie that she was his mate?
Now, he feared his withholding had ruined her trust. Could she ever forgive him? The simple reality of their connection might be enough to scare her away forever. She was right—it wasn’t just big, it was monumental. If he never held her in his arms again, it would be the greatest regret of his life.
After hours of yet another futile search for an elusive being, Arto flew back to the compound and met Roman on the rooftop.
“Any updates?” Roman asked.
“No, Commander,” Arto said.
Except for his personal situation. He should’ve taken things slower with Janie. After all, that’s what he promised, yet he’d blown it by revealing something that clearly shook her. He should’ve waited longer. No, she thought that was the problem since he hadn’t told her sooner.
Hell, he didn’t know what would have been the best course. All he wanted to do was cherish her and love her and not keep any secrets from her. But once he revealed his secret, caught up in the moment, he witnessed the array of conflicting emotions on her face. It was too much for her. Too intense. Too soon.
Now, not only was she dealing with the return of a monster from her darkest nightmares, but she also had to deal with a possessive shifter with intense feelings. No wonder she needed space. Arto should slap sense into his stone-hard head.
“What is it? You look distressed.” Roman assessed him with a keen gaze.
