Page 13 of Mated to the Gargoyle
Ishrugged.HowcouldIexplain that? “Wejust do.It’sin our nature.Partof our magic.”
“Magic,” she repeated with awe.
CHAPTER7
ANYA
Oncewe entered the library,Istopped at the bottom of the stairwell and stared up.Allthe events of yesterday rushed back to me and with it, my throat clenched.Thegirl, the book, the intruders, the gargoyle statue coming to life who now walked beside me.He’ddropped one intruder on these stairs, yet no sign of that violent incident remained.
Iblew out a rough breath and gazed up at the ceiling.Thegunshot didn’t leave any visible damage to the murals above.Hadit just bounced offHugo’swing?Oncewe climbed the stairs,Iturned my focus to the ground.
“Areyou looking for something?” he asked.
“Thebullet.Whathappened to it?”Icouldn’t exactly have patrons finding one on the floor of the library.
“Ah, yes,”Hugosaid with a nod. “Theothers cleaned it up when they came for the intruders last night.
“Oh.”Isqueezed my eyes, not wanting to envision all the chaos that had happened on the first nightIwas left in charge.WhenIreopened them,Iasked, “Okay, what now?”
“I’llcheck in with my commander and remain on watch while you prepare to open the library.”
Ibit my lower lip asIconsidered this odd situation.HowcouldIact like nothing strange had occurred last night?
Thenagain, what else wouldIdo?Callthe police and tell them demon hybrids broke in, but a gargoyle statue came to life and stopped them?Notan enticing idea.
Hugoaccompanied me into the special collections whereIchecked on the book and ensured it was still there.
“It’squite remarkable,”Ipointed out. “Thishas to be the book they demanded last night, but why?Itmust be valuable.”Imotioned around us. “Butso are many pieces of art in the library.Itdoesn’t make sense.”
Hugogrunted in reply. “It’sconcerning indeed.Wedon’t know their reasons.Butthey were criminals.”
AfterIlocked up the room and went upstairs,Hugosaid, “I’llbe on watch.”Hemotioned to the gargoyle statue, an eerily similar, stone-still version of him, and then walked towards it.Withina blink, he’d disappeared into it.
“Wow.”Imarveled and then walked over to it.Igaped asIstared up at him beforeIsnapped myself to get to work opening the library.
Itwas very disconcerting asItried to continue as normal when nothing could ever again be normal after last night.Librarystaff, including a security guard, arrived.Washe even needed whenAdelaidehad the gargoyles here?Perhapsit was meant as a deterrent more than anything else.
AlthoughIwas scheduled to leave earlier today,Istayed past closing to ensure that everything went smoothly on my watch—andIwanted to take a closer look at the book.
Thehours went by both quickly and yet dragged on.Onceall the staff left andIlocked up,Hugomoved off the pedestal.Asthe statue appeared to come to life once more,Istifled a gasp.Steppingbackward,Iplaced a hand on my heart.
Hisstony expression turned dour. “Youfear me still.”Painflashed in his gray eyes.
“Iwasn’t expecting it,”Iexplained.WouldIever?
“It’snot my intent to scare you.”
“Iknow.”
Heslanted his head down an inch. “Mycommander assured me that other sentries are out front and will stay there to guard against intruders.Ican accompany you back to your apartment to ensure you get back safely.”
Irolled my shoulders back, trying to work out the tension that had rooted there since last night. “Okay.”
Aswe headed for the front door, he pulled his wings in, and they disappeared from behind him, and next went his tail.
“Wheredid they go?”Iasked.
“Mywings and tail?”
