Page 33 of Mated to the Gargoyle
“Hugo?” she prodded, placing a gentle hand on my forearm. “Whatis it?”
Myhands were clammy.Thiswould amplify our connection to a bizarre level.Withthe wayIwas reacting, no doubt she noticed something was wrong. “Sit, please.”Imotioned to one of the plush seats.
Shewatched me for a few seconds before sitting.Isat beside her in a matching cushioned chair, rather than across from her.Witnessingthe reaction in her eyes would be too painful.
Itook a deep, shaky breath and closed my eyes.Myheartbeat echoed in my ears, andIstruggled to slow it.WhenIreopened my eyes,Iglanced down at the rooftop, fixing my gaze on an iron chair leg.
“Anya,”Ibegan. “IbelieveIwas the one who found you that night.Aroundtwenty-five years ago,Irescued an infant from a home near the stadium and brought the baby to a fire station.”
Sheshuddered with a gasp, and her eyes bulged wide. “Itwas you?”Hervoice was just above a whisper. “How?Youdon’t look much older than me.Youcan’t be even thirty.”
Igrunted. “That’sbecause shifters age more slowly.Wedon’t gauge our ages the same way as humans, but in your world,I’dbe forty-three.”
Hereyes appeared dazed, unfocused.Sheblinked a few times and then stared at me. “Yousaved me from the fire?”
Thesearing memory of rushing into the bedroom, taking the baby out of her crib, and flying her to safety returned.ItwasAnya.Anya.Howcould that be? “Yes.”Inodded slowly.
Shepursed her lips and then swallowed. “And—and my parents?”Hervoice trembled.
Ouch, the agony of that night sliced at me asIrelived it.Theblinding fire.Theexcruciating heat.Ididn’t have the protection fromAdelaideback then.EvenifIdid, it would only protect my flesh.Itwouldn’t have prevented the inhalation of smoke, which had been so dense that night, so suffocating.
Igulped, attempting to swallow the lump wedged in my throat. “Itried—Itried to save them.”Ishook my head. “Icouldn’t.”Loweringmy head in shame,Iadded, “I’mso sorry.”
Asudden sob escaped her. “Ohmy god.”Hervoice sounded shaky.
Ilifted my gaze to meet hers.Herexpression was frozen with shocked horror. “Itried to reach them,Iswear—butIcouldn’t.Ifailed.It’shaunted me every day since.Thesmoke was too dense, the fire?—”
“No,” she cut me off with a strangled sound. “Pleasedon’t tell me the details of how they died.”
Inodded, dropping my gaze.Myfailure sliced me anew.
Anyastood, her hands shaking at her sides. “Thisis—”Hermouth opened and closed as she appeared to find words.Shegestured at me with bewildered eyes. “Witheverything going on and what you said about mates.”Herjaw clicked shut and she ground her teeth. “It’s—it’s too intense.”
Iwinced.AlthoughI’dworried about her reaction and braced myself for her rejection, seeing how my revelation affected her beat me like hail on wings.Iwas the reason she grew up without parents, an orphan.
“Iunderstand,”Isaid with a solemn nod. “I’llback off so you process this.”
Sheplaced her hand on her chest, her breath coming quick. “Ican’t deal with this now.”Sheshook her head rapidly. “Ineed to go.”
“Where?”Fearfor her safety climbed skyward.
“Anywhere.”Shegestured outward. “Anywherebut here.”
Thepain sawed in my chest.Inother words, away from me.
“Butthe danger?—”
“Whatdanger?” she cut me off with a humorless laugh. “Thedemons are both dead.Thedanger is over.”
“Therecould be others.”Iexhaled. “I’vebeen assigned to protect you.”
“AndI’mexcusing you from those duties,Hugo.”Sheraised her chin with a determined expression. “Thereare no indications that anyone else was involved other than the two intruders—who are now both dead.Ican’t hide out here forever.Thankyou for taking care of me, for protecting me, but it’s timeIget back to my life.”Shemotioned between us. “Doyou understand?”
Ihung my head. “Ido.”WhenIlifted my head,Anyawalked away from me.Shewas going to leave.Walkout of my home.Outof my life.
Icouldn’t force her to stay.AllIcould do was watch her go.JustasI’dhad to watch her from afar for all these months.
CHAPTER13
