Page 8 of Cherished By the Gargoyle
My eyes snap open and I jerk up to sitting. Leaning forward, I press a trembling hand to my chest, my breathing ragged as my heart hammers in my chest.
I shiver as an echo of remembered fear moves through me. My nightmare felt so real.
I can’t stay here. I can’t bear to be alone in the dark. Not tonight.
Glancing at my bedroom window, I notice the faint glow of Fiora’s red magic around the opening. She placed a ward to prevent me from leaving, but I will not be deterred.
Quietly, I slip into the hallway and then out the back door, pulling my cloak around my shoulders.
The path to our secret place is familiar even in the darkness, my feet guiding me effortlessly toward the small cave hidden near the waterfall. Thalric and I used to play there when we were children. It’s the place he always goes whenever we’ve gotten in trouble in the past.
The waterfall roars nearby, mist drifting across my skin. When I reach the tree near our cavern, I carefully climb up. The entrance is hidden by hanging ivy that I carefully push aside as I slip into the cave. I immediately spot Thalric’s familiar silhouette, curled against a makeshift bed of furs.
His head snaps up, golden eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. “Auri?”
My throat tightens, but I don’t bother answering. I cross the cave in a few quick steps and sink into the furs beside him, tucking myself against his warm, solid chest like I’ve done so many times before. “I had a nightmare,” I murmur, clutching his arm.
His expression softens instantly, wings curling protectively around me. “Then stay.”
CHAPTER 4
THALRIC
Fierce protectiveness floods my veins as Aurora crawls into the nest of furs and immediately snuggles into my chest. I fold my wings around her, holding her close. Running my hand lightly up and down her back, I breathe deep of her delicate scent as I whisper into her hair. “Your nightmare… was it the same one you’ve had before? About that strange wheel and dark threads?”
She nods against me. “In my dream, I tried to move.” She draws in a shaking breath. “I wanted to call out for you, but I couldn’t. I was so scared, Thalric.”
I curl my wings tighter around her trembling form and nuzzle her temple. “It was just a dream,” I murmur. “You’re safe.”
“It felt so real, Thalric,” she says, voice shaking. “I’ve had this dream several times now over the past few months. Maybe I should tell Fiora and the others. What if it’s some sort of warning? What if—”
“It was a nightmare, Auri. Nothing more.” Gently, I brush the hair back from her face as I meet her eyes evenly. “I won’t let anything harm you. My vow.”
I hate seeing her so afraid. Aurora is bold—brave, headstrong, and impetuous. She’s impulsive to the point of recklessness, and it’s rare for anything to truly shake her. But this recurring nightmare terrifies her.
“Thank you, Thalric,” she whispers, tucking her head under my chin. “You always make me feel safe.”
A rumbling purr begins low in my chest, and I feel her beginning to relax. I’m told humans do not make this noise, but it always seems to settle her.
A cool wind blows through the cavern, and I make a mental note to gather more furs. Winter is coming soon, and while the cold doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it does Auri, I don’t want her to experience any discomfort.
As this thought crosses my mind, realization washes over me with sparkling clarity. This isn’t just a cave anymore. It hasn’t been for a long time. Gargoyles build nests for their mates.
And I built one. For her.
Gods, I’m already hers, and she doesn’t even know it.
Warmth floods my veins at the thought. I’ve loved Aurora since childhood, long before I understood what it meant to love someone with every piece of my heart. And here she is, curled beside me, seeking comfort as she always has.
But this time… this time is different.
Aurora shifts closer, her small body pressed against mine. Her soft breath feathers over my chest, and gods, it nearly breaks me.
“Is it okay if I stay here tonight?” she whispers.
Normally, she only stays a few hours before I fly her back home. Fiora and the others would be upset if they knew she’dsnuck out again. And to say my father would be even more disappointed in me, would be an understatement.
If she stays, we run the risk of being caught and in trouble, but when it comes to Auri, I can deny her nothing.
