Page 54 of Bite of the Gargoyle

I gasp in horror, but Derith holds his hand up, directly in the sun’s rays.

“I’m okay.” He pauses, wonder overcoming his expression. “I suppose that confirms it.”

“You’re human?” I ask as he nods. “But… how is that possible?”

“I don’t know.”

I can’t be certain, but I suppose that somewhere in this castle the witch’s jewel just exploded. It’s hard not to wonder who the old hag was and what the nature of her grudge was, but a man like Balor makes many enemies.

Derith sits up and looks over to the ashes of his brother. “I suppose our fates were tied together in more ways than either of us ever realized.”

Is there a hint of sadness there? Perhaps. It could all have been so different if only his brother hadn’t… But the past can’t be changed. Or at least… generally not.

I help Derith to his feet.

“You’re hurt,” he says, seeing the blood on me.

“I don’t feel any pain.”

“Me neither.”

I look around at the chaos of the hall. “This is going to take ages to clean up.”

“Did you have some place you’d rather be?”

I look at him again and this time, I really see him. I see him in a way I’ve never seen him before—as he was when I first met him all those years ago—when I was meant to marry his brother. “Absolutely not.”

“Good.” He looks me in the eyes and seems to study me the same way I’m studying him. “I love you… I always have.”

Such simple words, but there really is no substitute. “I love you too, Derith.”

“That’s a good point.”

“What’s a good point?” I ask.

“My name and your name,” he answers on a laugh. “So… what do I call you now?”

I smile. “I think I like Jo.”

“Me too.”

The End

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Chapter One

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