Page 48 of Cherished By the Gargoyle
AURORA
The banquet hall blurs around me, voices and laughter crashing together into a suffocating din. It helps that Fiora, Lyria, and Maribel are here with us. They raised me and having them beside me is comforting.
My parents are warm, kind, eager to learn everything about my life in Oakvale. They readily accept my decision to continue using my middle name. After all, it’s the only name I’ve been called for as far back as I can remember.
Everything still feels so surreal, like I’m living someone else’s life. Even as we talk, I find myself discreetly searching the shadows of the banquet hall, hoping to catch another glimpse of Thalric.
I miss him. Desperately. I long for his quiet strength beside me, his reassuring presence that makes even the most impossible moments bearable. But he’s nowhere to be seen.
My heart aches. I worry that he’s changed his mind. That he regrets what happened between us last night.
My breath catches when I see him across the hall. Thalric.
His golden eyes lock onto mine. His broad wings flex once, restless and restrained, before he folds them tight to his back. There’s power in every movement, a storm he’s barely holding back. And gods help me, I feel it too, thrumming in my chest.
“Prince Ryllen should be on his way here even now,” my father says, pulling my attention back to him. “As soon as he arrives, the priest can perform the wedding at once.”
“The sooner it’s done, the safer you’ll be,” my mother adds.
My heart stutters and stops. “What if I don’t want to marry Ryllen?”
“Why would you not?” Mother gives me a puzzled look. She looks at Fiora and the others. “You did explain to her the reason she must—”
“Of course,” Fiora says. “It’s just… an adjustment.”
I open my mouth to speak, but she lightly squeezes my hand under the table—a gentle request for me to remain silent.
She continues. “Everything is still new and… a bit overwhelming, I’m sure.”
Father’s expression softens as he looks at me. “I can only imagine,” he murmurs. “Well, in truth, I’d prefer if we could keep you all to ourselves, Aurora, but we cannot risk delaying.”
“Thalric could keep me safe, could he not?” I ask. I glance back at where he was standing only a moment ago, but he’s no longer there. “I thought—”
“Of course,” my father replies. He calls out to Thalric’s father. “Eldrin, where is your son? We must thank him for all he has done.” He stands and claps a hand on Eldrin’s shoulder. “You’ve taught him well, my dear friend.” His gaze sweeps to me. “Sir Cedric told me about the Ogre attack. He said without Thalric, you might have been captured or worse.”
I nod. “He saved me. I would be dead now if not for him.”
Father turns to Eldrin. “It sounds as though he may not need any extra training to become a protector of the realm. Perhaps—”
“There are still a few things he must learn,” Eldrin says. “But he should be ready to assume his full role in a few weeks.”
His eyes dart briefly to Fiora and the others, and they each nod. My heart clenches as I realize they’ve already discussed this. They plan to keep us apart until after my wedding to Ryllen.
My father’s voice is kind but firm, my mother’s eyes shining with certainty as they continue to speak of Ryllen, of destiny, of curses and safety—as though I am nothing more than a piece on a game board to be moved where others decide.
“I don’t want to marry Ryllen,” I state firmly.
Father’s head whips toward me, confusion easily read in his features.
“But you must,” Mother says again. “It’s already been arranged.”
“No,” I snap. This is my life, and I won’t just stand back and allow others to dictate my future. “I won’t do it.”
Fiora stiffens at my side, her hand tightening around mine again beneath the table in a silent plea. Lyria’s wings flicker anxiously. Maribel’s soft gasp echoes my mother’s.
“Aurora,” Father says, his expression full of concern. “I don’t think you understand.”
“I do.” I meet his gaze evenly. “But I’m already in love with someone else.”
