Page 11 of Mated to the Gargoyle
Howstrange to think that.Butthe alternative was that it could have been someone else.Ipictured the creatures who’d broken into the library and winced.
ToensureIwasn’t hallucinating,Ilifted my hand, hesitant, and asked, “CanItouch you?”
Hestraightened his massive body. “Youcan see me?”
Ijerked backward. “Yes.”Whata weird question.
“Oh.”Histail curled around his lower body. “Interesting.”
“Well, you are standing right before me,”Ipointed out.
“ButI’m—”Hebroke off.
“Butyou’re what?”Iprodded.
“I’mcloaked.”
“You’rewhat?”Iheard what he’d said, but he wasn’t wearing any sort of cape.Whatdid he mean by that?
“Mymagic.Toshield me from humans whenI’min this form.”Hemotioned to his body. “Andyet, it doesn’t work on you.”Curiositytinged his tone.
Thatwas yet another mystery, but first,Ihad to assure myself thatIwasn’t hallucinating.Istepped closer and raised a slightly trembling hand beforeItouched his torso.Sohard.WhenItrailed my fingers down his contoured muscles, he inhaled slowly.
“Ohmy god,”Iuttered. “You’rereal, aren’t you?”
“Yes,LittleOne.Verymuch so.”Hecocked his head.
Thenext question nagged at me. “Haveyou been following me?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Ofcourse,”Irepeated with wide eyes. “Whywould you say that?”
“I’mdoing my duty to watch over you,Anya.Especiallynow.”
“No.”Icrossed my arms over my chest, refusing to believe that. “Idon’t need to be protected.Iwas simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Thelook he shot me indicated he felt differently.
Westared at each other andIshifted with discomfort from one foot to the other. “Nowwhat?You’regoing to follow me to the library?”
“Orwalk with you, if you’d like.”
IfI’dlike to walk beside a gargoyle?Thatwas a questionInever thoughtI’dbe asked and didn’t have a clue how to answer.
“Sure.”Wewalked in silence on the pebbled path through campus, side by side, him towering over me.
Aswe approached the library,Iglanced up at the gargoyles perched on the roof, then back down.Werethey watching me too?
Thenthe reality of last night slapped me with a vicious smack. “Whatabout the men?”No, not men, exactly.Hugohad explained them as demon hybrids.Thatfelt strange coming out of my mouth, soIjust added, “Fromlast night.”
Hugonodded. “They’vebeen removed.”Hedeclared it so matter-of-factly, as if talking about the weather and not two supernatural criminals.
Inudged my chin up beforeIasked, “Arethey—dead?”
“Oneis,” he declared.Astatement without emotion.
Icrossed my arms over my chest, my breath coming quicker.
