Page 3 of Fated to the Gargoyle
“Yes, but for some reason, the magic that conceals their true nature doesn’t work on us.”Sheslanted her gaze. “I’mguessing because of our blood.”
Movementin my peripheral vision turned my attention to the dark sky.Mymouth fell open.Awinged creature soared past the moon, appearing to grow larger as it flew in our direction.
“Ahh!”Iraised a shaky finger to point up.
Myheart pounded in my rib cage while goose bumps flared over my body.Myskin turned icy-cold with clammy fear.Ifroze like a statue.
I’dseen beings fly like this before.They’dchased me, trying to get the book.AndI’dfled here to this very library to hide it.
Survivalinstinct kicked in andIran.
CHAPTER 2
DUMONT
Whywas that tiny human in the yellow sundress running away from me?She’dpointed up at me and trembled in fear before she took off in a sprint.Iwas cloaked with my magic, so she shouldn’t even be able to see me.Scanningboth land and sky for any discernible threats revealed nothing.Whichproved what she feared was me.
“Eloise, stop,”Anyashouted as she ran after the blonde woman, who soon slowed and turned back toAnya.
Iflew over here to ensure thatHugogotAnyaback safely.Afterreports about possible demon sightings—with them flying towardMontreal—Iwouldn’t leaveHugoalone to protect her.Twosentries on my team,LucandMarc, were on watch in stone form mounted outside the library.Weknew better than to leave it unprotected.Myduty as commander of theStoneSentriesinMontrealwas to protect this city and its people, most especially with this library and those within it.
AsIapproachedHugo,Islowed my descent asIput my feet down and landed. “Whois that woman and why is she running like that?”
“That’sAnya’ssister,Eloise.”Hugo’sgaze followed the two women darting across the tree-lined paths of the campus, which was quiet this time of night. “Apparently, she can also see through our magic.”
“Huh,”Igrunted.Notonly could we cloak ourselves to fly without being seen, we could also shift to appear human.Otherwise, they’d all react in fear the way this woman did. “Interesting.”
WethoughtAnya’sability might be because she had witch blood or due to beingHugo’smate.Sincethis woman was related toAnya…
“Maybeshe has her family’s magic as well,”Inoted.
Hugonodded slowly. “Perhaps.That’swhatAnyasuggested.”
Inrecent weeks,Anyahad learned she wasAdelaideLebonne’sgranddaughter.Adelaidehad hired us to protect her beloved library.She’dalso wanted us to watch over her granddaughters—except we’d only found one.Theother—presumably this woman who had finally stopped running and listened toAnyawhile casting frightened glances over atHugoand me—had been impossible to find.
Untilnow.
“Haveyou toldAnya?”IaskedHugo.
Withthe recent intel, we needed to getAnyato safety.
“Yes.Thenwe realized this might affectEloiseas well.Shewas the one who brought the grimoire here to get it to a safe place.Shewas being followed.”
Irubbed my jaw asIput the pieces together.Wehadn’t known the identity of the mysterious woman who had brought the book to the library.Now, not only was she here, but she wasAnya’ssister andAdelaide’sgranddaughter.
Whichmeant…
“Shit, she could be in danger as well.”
Hugomet my eyes and gave me a somber nod. “Iagree.”
Iexhaled. “Doesshe know?”
Heshook his head. “No.Wehaven’t had a chance to tell her yet.”
Iglanced over at her, now dozens of feet away on the campus grounds.Pretty.Longblonde hair tousled from running.Chestrising and falling from escalated breathing.Attractivecurves.Andnarrowing her eyes with suspicion as she stared at me from behind black-framed glasses.
Wonderful.
