Page 36 of Mated to the Gargoyle
Howwould this envelope in a book out of place suddenly appear to float and have my name scrawled on it?Couldit be enchanted to read the name of whoever found the envelope?Orwas it specifically meant for me?
Onlyone way to find out.
Withtrembling fingers,Iopened the envelope.AsIpulled a letter out, my palms were heated, sweating.Theletter was written on parchment.Likethe envelope, it was blank at first, but then handwritten letters began to appear in ink.
MydearAnya,
I’msorry that it all had to be done in this way.I’msorry that we weren’t able to have a close relationship as you grew up, but it was whatIthought was best for your safety.
Ipaused and glanced around me.Thesudden sensation of being watched left me wary.
Whenassured nothing was noticeably watching me or about to jump out,Ireturned to the letter.
Youdescend from a long line of powerful witches.Unfortunately, soon after you were born, our family was targeted by nefarious beings who wanted to exploit our gifts for their personal gain.
Yourparents were the first ones targeted.Adark sorcerer attempted to get to your mother.Yourparents fought him spectacularly, but then he retaliated by burning your house.
Shewas able to hide you using her powers, getting word to me.
“Theymust be hidden,” she’d said before her death. “Ifhe knows they’re still alive, he’ll come for them.”
Thenshe went silent.Iknew she was gone.Theonly light in my overwhelming grief at my only child’s death was that my granddaughters had survived.Iwanted to get you and care for you, butIknew what your mother said was right.Thesorcerer would do whatever it took to find you and exploit you to do as they wished.
Ipaused and looked away from the letter.Granddaughters?Wouldthe rest of the letter explain what she meant by that?Iwent back to the reading.
Yourmother knew what was best.Ihad to let you go.Icouldn’t lose you too.
Ilet the world believe that we all died in the fire—your parents, you, your sister, and me.AndthenIgave us new names, new identities.Ishielded you with a charm that would block your abilities until your twenty-fifth birthday.Bythat time, you’d be better able to handle the truth of your background and make the decision as to what to do.Ikept my distance to keep you safe, but kept watch over you from afar for all these years.
You’vegrown up to be a wonderful woman and made me so proud.
Ipaused to center myself.WhileIhad been ripping through the letter so quickly,Icould barely take in the astonishing thingsI’dbeen reading.Itook some deep breaths and attempted to refocus.
Trustthe gargoyles.Ihired them for protection as they are the best at what they do.
Whathappens now is up to you.Youcan learn more about your abilities and develop your magic in this family grimoire.
Oryou can close the cover and return to the life the way you’ve known it until now.
Justknow that either way,Ilove you.Justas your parents loved you.AndIwish things could have been different, with us being able to live as a family, but the fates decided it wasn’t to be that way.
I’mincredibly proud of all that you have done.
Ihope that one day you’ll understand whyIhad to keep my distance.Icouldn’t bear losing you to the darkness.Theyalready stole your mother from me.AndIwould do anything in my power to keep you safe.
Withall my love.Always.
Adelaide, neeVictoria
Wow.Myhands trembled asIheld the letter in them.Istared at a wall asItried to process whatIjust read.Afterseveral minutes,Ireread the letter, more slowly this time.
Adelaidewas my grandmother.Andit sounded likeIhad a sister.Wherewas she?Nothingin the letter indicated who she was or where she might be.
Isat dumbfounded for several more minutes.ThenIforced myself to get up on wobbly legs.Thiswas so much to deal with.Ineeded to get back to work and then maybe—maybe—I’dbe able to start to untangle whatI’djust read later this evening.
Afterhiding the letter back in the book,Icurled up on the sofa.Tearspricked at my eyes, andIclosed them.Still, they fell, rolling down my cheeks asIsobbed and sobbed.
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