Page 6 of Mated to the Gargoyle
Anyablinked at me. “What?”
“Myname.It’sHugo.”Icocked my head. “Youlike to call mePierre, but that’s not my name.”
Hermouth dropped open and closed.Sherubbed her forehead. “So, it’s true?You’rethe statue perched near my desk—and you’realive?”
“Yes.”Itook a step closer to her.
“Stayback,” she warned and stepped backward as she raised her hand in a stop gesture.
Iwinced.Herfear of me lanced more than the bullet that smashed into my wing.WhatcouldIdo to convince herIwasn’t a threat?
Theonly thingIcould think of was to alter my appearance to one she was more familiar with. “I’mgoing to shift.”Usingmy magic,Itransformed into a more human form.Asthe vibrations moved through me, bones reshaped and reformed.Myskin wasn’t as tough as it took on a more humanlike texture with softer, more vulnerable flesh.
Shestared at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. “Howdid you do that?”
“Ican shift forms, just likeIcan shift from stone.”
Shetipped her head slowly as she gaped. “Thatcan’t be.”Hervoice lowered to a near whisper. “Whatare you?”
“Agargoyle.”
Shehuffed and then straightened. “Ican see that but…”Sherubbed the side of her nose. “Howcan you change like that?”
Ishrugged. “It’snatural to me.Ishift to different forms, from stone to flesh, depending on whatIneed to do.”
Hereyes narrowed. “Likewhat?”
“Watchfor danger.Takeaction when necessary.Protect.”
“Idon’t—”Sheran a hand through her hair. “Idon’t understand any of this.”Shetook a deep breath and exhaled with a huff. “Whyare you guarding the library?”
Sheneeded time to process what happened here tonight.Noway couldItell her any more—not without her shutting down.Shemight refuse to listen to the truth.Turnaway from it and reject me.I’dlose her forever.
“I’lltell you everything in time,Iswear.”AlthoughIyearned to step closer to her,Ididn’t dare risk a repeat of the last timeI’dapproached. “Fornow,Imust tell my commander what happened.”
“Oh.”Shestraightened. “Ineed to call the police.”
“No,Anya.”Istopped her. “Thereason gargoyles are on guard at the library is that what’s within its walls is beyond what humans can understand.Humanpolice would just be a hindrance.”
Hergaze scanned beyond me as she appeared to assess her options.Thenshe met my gaze once more. “HowcanIbelieve you?Ididn’t even know you existed until minutes ago.”Thenshe planted her hand on her hip and added, “Hugo,” in a pointed tone.
Iwinced.Howdid this tiny human manage to affect me with just a few words?AlthoughI’dlonged to hear my true name voiced from her lips, the way she’d said it with disdain was not howI’dfantasized.Andto add to the barb, she jabbed me with whatI’dfeared—she questioned whether she could trust me.Shereinforced how she didn’t even knowIexisted.Eachword hit me like an ocean wave crashing against a cliff.
“Please.I’llexplain.ButIneed you to hold on a minute.It’simportant thatIlet him know what happened.”Iraised my hand and opened a communication link to my commander.
Dumont, two men broke into the library.
Beings?he replied.
Ibelieve they’re human hybrids with lesser demons.Theygrabbed a librarian and demanded a book.
Whatbook?Dumontasked.
Idon’t know yet.Ihaven’t had a chance to ask her, butIwanted to let you know what’s going on.
Whereare they?
Inthe library.Ishot a quick look back at the library to ensure they hadn’t recovered from the fall and burst out of the building.Oneattacked her, and the other shot me.
