Page 44 of Fated to the Gargoyle
Herpraise warmed me, filling me with hope.Iexhaled and tension drifted out of my taut muscles.
“Youalready showed how incredibly courageous you are.”
Herface broke into a luminous smile, one brighter than any full moon guiding my way during a night flight.
“I’mnot going anywhere,Dumont.”Shereached forward and touched my cheek. “EverythingIwant is right here.”
Istared at her with amazement.Couldshe really be saying this?
“Now,I’mthe one wondering ifI’mdreaming.”Ilaughed.
“No.It’sthe truth.”Shegazed at me with such warmth, it leveled me. “Ifeel the same way about you.Ilove you.”
Myheart swelled and joy threatened to burst out of me.Shelovedme?Agargoyle.
“Youdo?”
“Yes.Completely.AndalthoughIknow it might not be easy for a gargoyle and a woman—or witch—Ido know thatIwant to be with you.”
“Yes.”Itook her hand and kissed it.Thebriefest contact of my lips on her skin stirred the instinct for more, andIkissed up her forearm. “Mymate,”Iwhispered with reverence.Euphoriaroared through meIcould cry to the skies. “We’llfigure everything else out with time.Allthat matters is that we’re together.”
Yes, we’d find a way to live together.Andlove each other.
I’dbeen given the most important gift in the universe to haveEloiseas my mate, andI’ddo whatever it took to be with her, protect her, make her happy.
Mywondrous mate gazed at me with her beautiful eyes and then cupped my cheek.
“Absolutely.Agargoyle and witch starting a new chapter together.”Thenone side of her mouth slanted up in a sly smile. “Nowthat’s one storyInever thoughtI’dbe a part of.”
Ichuckled and enclosed her in my arms.
EPILOGUE
Threeweeks later
ELOISE
“It’samazing,”Anyagushed as she put down our grandmother’s journal. “Allof it—her story.Ourfamily history.”
We’dfound this journal hidden in a dusty dresser in the attic of her home, which she’d left to us, as well as the rest of her estate.Nowwe sat on matching maroon armchairs in the living room of the stately lilacVictorianin the suburbs ofMontreal.Wehadn’t known about this residence until afterCalixwas destroyed but then heard from her attorney.Weguessed it to be yet another one of her safeguards.Ifhe knew about the two of us being twins and her granddaughters, he might have realized our true identities.Yet, somehow, he’d figured it out.Itcould have been onceIopened the grimoire or after we turned twenty-five and regained our magic—something he may have recognized.
Herjournal corroborated that she andCalixhad been lovers long ago.Sincehe appeared decades younger than she wouldhave been, it must have had something to do with his dark magic or ability to regenerate.Onthe last page, it read:
Oncehe ventured down a dark path in pursuing greater magical abilities, it destroyed us.Itried to stop him.Wewent from being fiercely in love to a fierce power struggle.Hewanted the grimoire.I’dfoolishly showed it to him long ago, and he demanded it.I’dnever let him have it.Ithad contributions from many generations of powerful witches in my family.Icouldn’t let him exploit it.Hethreatened to go after everyoneIloved ifIdidn’t give him the grimoire and join him—and he almost did.Hewent after your mother?—
Thesentence cut off abruptly as the handwriting on the rest of the page was blurred by what looked to be tears.Pagesthat followed had been torn out.Whatmemories would have led her to tears or to rip those final pages in the journal?Itmust have been incredibly painful for her.
“Doyou think it was about the fire?”Ileft out the part about it killing our parents.Anyawould know exactly whatImeant as that incident had left such an impact by destroying our family.
Shesighed. “It’spossible.”Hershoulders sagged. “That’swhen he tore our family apart.”
“Howdid things go so badly between them that he’d turn so vindictive?”
Irubbed between my eyes. “Andwhat an incredible, emotional battle between them—a powerful witch and super-dark sorcerer.”
Shegrunted and ran her hand through her hair. “It’sthe opposite of whatI’veread in many romances.Theywent from lovers to enemies.”
“Indeed.”Aftera few seconds of contemplation,Istood. “Comeon, let’s go explore the house again.”We’ddone a quick walk through of the spacious three-level home before we sat down.
