Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Avalon
I kiss him.
I don't even think about it.
I just do it.
His lips are warm and solid beneath mine, and for one precious moment, the world stills around me.
When I pull back, I realize I'm trembling. Some of it is from the cold night air... but mostly from him. From what I've just done.
Most importantly, from everything that's happened in the last five minutes.
I kissed a gargoyle.
A stone creature made to stand vigil and guard.
I blink up at Jodrick, and his expression is something I'll never forget. It's not awe... it's closer to reverence.
He's looking at me like I'm something precious. Something to be protected, cherished, cared for.
Jodrick is looking at me like I'm his.
My heart flutters so hard I feel lightheaded all over again.
"Uh... I kissed you," I whisper, stating the obvious because my brain is doing somersaults. "Wow... okay. I did. I kissed you."
He grins. "Yes, you did," Jodrick responds, his voice low and warm. The sexy smile makes my stomach flip. "I quite liked it too."
"Well, that's a relief," I say, trying to laugh away the nerves. "I wouldn't want to risk all the gifts you've been leaving me. I have to say I quite liked the tea, bubble bath and lemon tarts left to me by my fairy godfathers."
Jodrick chuckles, and I swear he leans in just the tiniest bit like he's about to kiss me again... but then—
"I'm not some damn fairy godfather," Viraat grumbles from a few feet away.
I turn to look at him, and my heart squeezes. He's standing there, arms crossed over his chest like he's trying to protect himself from me.
The gargoyle is protecting himself from me, the tiny human girl.
The idea is as ludicrous as it heartwarming.
His wings twitch behind him, his eyes narrowed like he's waiting for me to scream, faint or call him a monster.
Or, maybe attack him with one of my sneak attack kisses.
But I don't want to do any of those things... Okay, I guess I really would like to do the last thing.
There's something about him... despite his grumpy 'don't even look at me' vibes, I like him. Even if he's all sharp edges. That just makes me want to get through to him even more.
"Well... You have wings, you both give off sexy Daddy vibes, and you've been granting me gifts. That sounds like a fairy godfather to me." I shrug and the grumpy asshole growls, sending a shiver down my spine.
"We're not fairies, sweetheart."
My grin grows wide. "You say that, god-daddy, but you're the closest I've ever come to a fairy."
Viraat grows bigger somehow and I would be scared if I wasn't so bloody giddy with excitement.
"Oh my goodness! Are fairies real? Can I see them? Is it a thing?" A laugh bubbles out of me without permission.
Viraat rubs his hand over his face, and it sounds like boulders rubbing together. He looks at Jodrick through his fingers. "I can't deal with her. You showed yourself. You handle it." He turns around and walks away from us, but stays on the roof.
Jodrick chuckles, reminding me I'm still cradled in his embrace. I twist a little in his arms so I can peer over his shoulder at Viraat's retreating form. The poor gargoyle is doing a terrible job of pretending he doesn't care. His wings are still flared wide, but it's not with any scary emotion.
It's more like he's shielding himself from me... again, like he's protecting himself.
"Will you put me down?" I ask Jodrick quietly.
He raises a brow. "Go get him, tiger."
I smile as he gently sets me down on my feet like I'm made of spun sugar.
I give him a small nod, then tiptoe across the roof, my bare feet cold against the stone.
Viraat hears me coming, of course. He glances over his shoulder, brow furrowed, probably expecting a lecture or some sort of human dramatics.
Instead, I stop just in front of him. I tilt my head to one side and say, "Thank you. For watching over me. For the gifts. Even if you're being all grumpy about it."
He opens his mouth—probably to deny it all—but I stand on tiptoe, gently grab one of his massive, clawed hands, and tug him down just enough so I can reach.
And then I kiss him.
Just a soft press of my lips to his.
Chaste and warm, and full of gratitude.
His lips are soft and shocked under mine, and I will pull away before I can overthink it.
He stares at me, utterly stunned, like I've just short-circuited his entire ancient brain.
"Consider that a thank you," I whisper, patting his chest with a wink. "Even if you don't see yourself as my fairy god-daddy."
Behind me, Jodrick barks a laugh, and I turn to him, grinning from ear to ear. I reach out, grab his hand, and lace our fingers together.
"Come on, big guy," I say brightly. "Let's go back inside where it's warmer and you can tell me everything I need to know."
Jodrick squeezes my hand, his smile warm and inviting.
Viraat stays silent behind us, but I feel his gaze on my back as we descend into the manor.
The house is quiet as we walk down the winding stairs, but I can feel Viraat following us.
I squeeze Jodrick's hand, just to remind myself this is real. That they are real.
Mostly to remind myself that I kissed not one, but two living, breathing gargoyles.
When we reach the library, I don't hesitate. I pull Jodrick straight to my big settee and push him down into it with a playful nudge. He goes easily, clearly amused.
"You're awfully bossy for someone who's normally a submissive," he murmurs, telling me just how much they have been watching me.
I know I should be embarrassed or... something, but instead it only makes things easier, knowing I don't need to explain who and what I am.
I climb into his lap without a second thought, curling into him like I've done this a hundred times before. His body is warm, solid, and oddly comforting for something made of stone. I tuck my legs beside me and rest my head against his shoulder with a little contented sigh.
"I can be bossy when I meet real-life gargoyles," I whisper, and his arms tighten around me as he chuckles.
"I guess so," he responds, equally as quiet.
"I like being here, in your arms," I tell Jodrick. "It feels... like coming home. Natural."
"I like you," Jodrick responds, his voice so low it vibrates through me. But his sentence feels incomplete somehow, like he's leaving something out.
Before I can ask what, there's a soft scuff near the library door. I don't turn around, but I know it's him.
The other dauntingly dark gargoyle.
I can practically feel him glaring at us, and somehow that only makes me smile bigger. And feel braver.
"Do either of you care to tell me why it feels so natural? I mean, I just met creatures from fantasy stories. There's probably a rule somewhere that says I should be freaking out, but the only emotion rolling through me right now is happiness."
Jodrick tenses, but after a beat I feel his hand come up to gently stroke my back.
"You sure you want to hear it all?" he asks.
I nod into his shoulder. "I think I better."
A low, warning growl rumbles from the doorway.
Jodrick huffs a low chuckle that vibrates into my body. "Ignore the grump, little human."
I nod before looking up at Jodrick's face.
For a creature of the night, one made of stone, he's surprisingly... clean-cut.
If it wasn't for the horns and wings, I'd say he was almost... classically handsome.
"The reason everything feels so right," Jodrick starts before taking a breath, "is because..."
"You're our fated mate, Avalon."
The words—from Viraat—land about as softly as a precious china vase.
My heart skips.
Once. Twice.
Then starts racing.
"I told you," Viraat bites out as he storms into the room and crouches down in front of me. "Now the fragile human's heart's going to stop and we'll only have ourselves to blame for it." His large, dark hands cup my face, as he forces me to look straight at him.
He's rugged, dark, and enticingly exotic.
And frowning at me like he's trying to force me to breathe with some kind of mind control.
"Fated mate?" I finally manage to push the words out.
Viraat nods, his gaze is full of an emotion I can't quite put my finger on.
"You don't look very pleased about that, Viraat," I accuse.
"Ah, for fuck's sake," he bites out before pulling me close and landing a hot one on me.