Page 85 of Cherished By the Gargoyle
“I could still stay,” he offers. “It would be no hardship for me, Aurora.”
He vowed to Thalric he’d watch over me after he was gone. But I don’t want this. Ryllen is a good man, and I won’t allow him to give up his future for me. He’s already done enough, and I’m strong. I will be fine on my own. “I know, but we’ve already discussed this. I want you to be free to live your life.”
He nods. “You’re welcome to visit anytime you wish.” He offers me a slight grin that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “With no expectations beyond friendship.”
He glances at Thalric’s statue. “He was a good person. They’re already composing songs about his sacrifice and bravery in the taverns.” He sighs heavily. “I’ve sent a raven to our best scholars in my kingdom. We will keep looking for a way to bring him back. He deserves happiness, and so do you.”
His words touch me. Deeply. “Thank you, Ryllen.”
“Of course,” he replies. He turns back to the castle. “I’ll see you at dinner later.”
When he leaves, I turn back to Thalric. His stone form stands proud, wings partially flared, his hand outstretched, frozen in the gesture of cupping my cheek as he turned to stone.
My heart clenches painfully as I step closer. And even though I know he’s stone, I can’t stop myself from leaning my face into his outstretched palm.
I miss his touch so much, I can hardly bear it. My gaze travels over his face, frozen in a mask of devotion.
“I dreamed of that night at the fall harvest in Oakvale,” I smile. “I snuck out because I knew you’d come. You always found me. You always knew exactly where I’d be.”
A tear escapes my lashes as I close my eyes, remembering that beautiful evening. “We danced under the lanterns. You heldme, and we laughed. I remember the way you looked when you tried the candied apple… the way you scowled like it was poison, and I laughed so hard my sides ached.”
I rest my hand over his, on my cheek, curling my fingers around the cold stone, aching for the warmth of his skin. “Before everything changed”—my voice catches—“I used to dream of our future in Oakvale. We’d go to the harvest festival every year, perhaps even with our own children someday. I’m not even sure humans and Gargoyles can have children, but it was my dream. It was so lovely. You were my future, Thalric.”
Emotions lodge in my throat, but I somehow manage to speak around them. “Please wake up. I love you, Thalric. I will always love you. Come back to me.”
Another tear slips down my cheek, dropping onto the stone of his palm.
My heart stops as a faint crackling sound breaks the silence.
Slowly, I pull back. My lips part in shock as tiny fissures spread across the stone. Brilliant golden light begins to seep through, illuminating the growing cracks.
Hope surges, fierce and bright, burning away despair as I breathe out the words:
“Come back to me, Thalric.”
CHAPTER 57
AURORA
Hope sparks inside me as I step back, heart pounding so hard I can barely breathe as the fissures deepen, spreading across Thalric’s form. Golden light shines brightly through each tiny fracture.
“Thalric, please come back to me,” I whisper.
Warmth seeps from under the cold, hard stone as the cracks multiply, spreading faster now before a brilliant burst of light erupts outward, shattering the remaining stone like crystal.
My heart hammers as Thalric stands before me, chest heaving as he staggers forward. Strong, gray-skinned arms wrap instinctively around me, warm and solid, pulling me tight against him.
I clutch him desperately to me, tears streaming down my face as relief and joy flood through me.
“Thalric,” I sob. “You’re here. You’re back.”
“I heard you, Auri.” He cups my face, brushing away my tears with his thumbs. “I heard every word you said to me. Every vow.Every promise...” His voice is rough with emotion. “Your tears… your love brought me back.”
“I thought I lost you.” My voice breaks. “I was so afraid you were gone forever.”
He cups my chin, tipping my face up to his as his golden eyes stare deep into mine. “You’ll never lose me, Auri. My heart is yours. Always.”
He leans in and presses his mouth to mine in a tender kiss, full of reverence and a promise of forever. He curls his tongue around mine, and the world narrows to just him, along with the warmth of his lips and the taste of his breath mingling with my own as he deepens our kiss.
