Page 1 of Fated to the Gargoyle
CHAPTER 1
ELOISE
Mylong-lost sister gaped at me with a bewildered expression from behind her reference desk in the library.Shesearched my face as if assessing ifIwas telling the truth.Itwould have been easier for her to believe it if we were identical, but she was shorter than me and had auburn hair while mine was blonde.
Anyablinked slowly.Heralmond-shaped eyes reminded me of my own, although they, too, were a different color—hers were blue and mine green.Shetilted her head and scrunched her face, revealing a dimple on her cheek that mirrored mine.
“Twins?”
“Yes.”Tearspricked my eyes asInodded, andIsqueezed them back, breaking eye contact to scan the library inMontrealwhereAnyaworked.I’donly found out about her a few weeks ago.Revealingthis monumental news to her struck me with moreemotions thanIexpected.Ihad a sister in the world.Family.Iwasn’t completely alone the wayIthoughtI’dbeen for the past twenty-five years.
“How—how do you know we’re sisters?” she stammered.
Alump welled in my throat, andIglanced away to keep from bursting into tears.Peoplemilled about in the library, one that our grandmother had filled with books and art.Iwasn’t sure howAnyawould react to the news, but my greatest fear was that she’d reject me.Afterall, we were strangers.Iattempted to swallow the lump beforeIbrought my gaze back to her strangely familiar one.
“Isthere somewhere we can talk in private?”
Sheran a hand through her hair and her gaze wandered to the gargoyle statue near her desk.Wasit one that my grandmother had mentioned?Trustthe gargoyles.Ihad discovered all sorts of new revelations sinceI’dfound the family’s grimoire and learned there was more thanIever expected in the world—including that mind-boggling discovery that supernatural gargoyles were real.
“Yes.”Anyatook a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “Comewith me.”
Ifollowed her as she strode past massive bookshelves in her sensible black flats, her gray slacks swishing as she walked.Theonly splash of color was her light-blue shirt.Shetook quick steps toward a giant staircase and led us down them, then turned to a door with a sign noting it was restricted and for staff only.
Shehmphed. “Rememberthis room?”Sheglanced over her shoulder at me.
Iflashed her a sheepish smile. “Yes.”
Afew weeks ago,Anyahad found me trying to access the room.I’dbeen frantic.Ihad to hide the family spell book and fearedIwas being followed.Whenshe’d confronted me,I’dbegged her to hide it and ran.
Ran.That’swhatI’dbeen doing for so long.WheneverIwas afraid,Ifled, which was whyI’dnever stayed anywhere for long.ButIwas tired of running.Tiredof starting over in new cities.
Maybethat could be different now.NowthatI’dfound outIhad a sister, it meantIhad family.Sinceshe was here inMontrealwhere we were born, couldIfinally settle down somewhere and plant roots?
Anyablocked the view of the key code with her hand as she punched in numbers with her other hand.Ofcourse she didn’t trust me.Shemight not even believe me.Andif so, then coming here to find her only to be rejected would be crushing.
Thedoor clicked and she pushed it open. “Wecan talk in here.”
Shegestured for me to precede her into a room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, an attached ladder that traveled along them, and additional books protected under glass cases.Theroom smelled of old books.Onceshe stepped in after me, she closed the door and it shut with a click.Thedin of patrons in the library gave way to sudden silence.
Iturned and facedAnya.Herbrows drew together in a worried expression, and she bit her bottom lip.
“Don’tworry,”Iassured her. “I’mnot here to ask you for anything—or put you in danger.”
Shesearched my eyes. “Likewith that book?”
Ishifted my stance. “Yes,I’msorry about that.Iwas desperate and didn’t know where else to turn.”
Shenarrowed her gaze and her lips parted slightly. “Butyou didn’t explain anything.Youran.Why?”
Theterror of being chased that day returned, andIheld in a shudder. “Iwasn’t sure what else to do.Ididn’t know much about our family or of anything—well,magical—until just before that night.AndIwas afraid.”
Anya’sexpression softened. “Why?”
Itook a deep breath and revealed, “Ididn’t know anything about you or my family untilIfound that book.”
Thedoor to the special collections room clicked open. “Anya, canItalk to you for a moment?”
Iturned toward the man’s deep voice and gasped.Amassive being well over six feet tall with horns, gray skin, wings, and a tail walked in.Thedoor closed behind him with a solid thud.
