Chapter 4
Anyablinked at me. “What?”
“My name. It’sHugo.” I cocked my head. “You like to call me Pierre, but that’s not my name.”
Hermouth dropped open and closed. She rubbed her forehead. “So, it’s true? You’re the statue perched near my desk—and you’re alive?”
“Yes.” I took a step closer to her.
“Stay back,” she warned and stepped backward as she raised her hand in a stop gesture.
Iwinced. Her fear of me lanced more than the bullet that smashed into my wing. What could I do to convince her I wasn’t a threat?
Theonly thing I could think of was to alter my appearance to one she was more familiar with. “I’m going to shift.” Using my magic, I transformed into a more human form. As the vibrations moved through me, bones reshaped and reformed. My skin wasn’t as tough as it took on a more humanlike texture with softer, more vulnerable flesh.
Shestared at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. “How did you do that?”
“I can shift forms, just like I can shift from stone.”
Shetipped her head slowly as she gaped. “That can’t be.” Her voice lowered to a near whisper. “What are you?”
“A gargoyle.”
Shehuffed and then straightened. “I can see that but…” She rubbed the side of her nose. “How can you change like that?”
Ishrugged. “It’s natural to me. I shift to different forms, from stone to flesh, depending on what I need to do.”
Hereyes narrowed. “Like what?”
“Watch for danger. Take action when necessary. Protect.”
“I don’t—” She ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t understand any of this.” She took a deep breath and exhaled with a huff. “Why are you guarding the library?”
Sheneeded time to process what happened here tonight. No way could I tell her any more—not without her shutting down. She might refuse to listen to the truth. Turn away from it and reject me. I’d lose her forever.
“I’ll tell you everything in time, I swear.” AlthoughI yearned to step closer to her, I didn’t dare risk a repeat of the last time I’d approached. “For now, I must tell my commander what happened.”
“Oh.” She straightened. “I need to call the police.”
“No, Anya.” I stopped her. “The reason gargoyles are on guard at the library is that what’s within its walls is beyond what humans can understand. Human police would just be a hindrance.”
Hergaze scanned beyond me as she appeared to assess her options. Then she met my gaze once more. “How can I believe you? I didn’t even know you existed until minutes ago.” Then she planted her hand on her hip and added, “Hugo,” in a pointed tone.
Iwinced. How did this tiny human manage to affect me with just a few words? AlthoughI’d longed to hear my true name voiced from her lips, the way she’d said it with disdain was not how I’d fantasized. And to add to the barb, she jabbed me with what I’d feared—she questioned whether she could trust me. She reinforced how she didn’t even know I existed. Each word hit me like an ocean wave crashing against a cliff.
“Please. I’ll explain. ButI need you to hold on a minute. It’s important that I let him know what happened.” I raised my hand and opened a communication link to my commander.
Dumont, two men broke into the library.
Beings? he replied.
I believe they’re human hybrids with lesser demons. They grabbed a librarian and demanded a book.
What book? Dumont asked.
I don’t know yet. I haven’t had a chance to ask her, but I wanted to let you know what’s going on.
Where are they?
In the library. I shot a quick look back at the library to ensure they hadn’t recovered from the fall and burst out of the building. One attacked her, and the other shot me.
Are you all right?
I’m fine. How’s the fire?
Contained. The humans have all been flown to safety.
Iwinced, trying not to let the memory of my failure replay now, but it still crept into my mind, assaulting my thoughts. I struggled to focus on the present. The beings appear dead, but with demon blood, who knows?
I’ll send Luc and Marc back over. Which librarian did they attack?
Mythroat tightened and I swallowed. Anya.
Ah, the one.
Yes. He meant the one who we were entrusted to protect. He didn’t know that for me, she was also the one.
Where is she now?
She’s outside with me. WhenI glanced at Anya, she was staring at me with moon-wide eyes. Shaken up.
I see. Can you ask her about the book?
Iasked her, “Where’s the book they demanded?”
Heralready wide eyes bulged, terror-stricken. “How did you know about that?”
Itook a long, slow breath before I revealed my secret. “I can see while in stone, Anya. AndI can hear. Better than humans, in fact.”
Shestudied me with a wary gaze. “Are you telecommunicating with someone?”
“Yes. My commander.”
“For the love of stars,” she exclaimed with an awed expression.
“I’ll explain later. What can you tell me about that book?”
Shegulped. “I don’t know. A woman. She came in and thrust it into my hands, saying not to let ‘him’ get it.”
“Him?”
“Right. I have no idea who he is, or her, for that matter. I’d never seen this book before.” She cocked her head. “Wait, why should I tell you any of this? I don’t know if I can trust you.”
Ouch, that hurt. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Anya, I’m in the library to protect it and what’s within, including the books.” And her.
Sheassessed me for several seconds. “Did you see it when I showed it to you?” She grimaced. “WhenI thought you were just a statue?”
Whatwas that expression on her face? Revulsion? I tried not to let it affect me and focused on the situation. “Yes. It appeared to be bound in leather with gems on the cover.”
Shenodded. “Inside were what looked like—” She paused. “Spells.”
Ourgazes locked for a few seconds before I repeated the information to Dumont. ThenI asked her, “Where is it now?”
Sheraised her chin and said, “I hid it in the special collections room. It’s locked in there.”
Iexhaled with relief. “Good.” ThenI shared the info with Dumont.
Stay there until Luc and Marc arrive, and then they’ll deal with the demons. You need to stay with Anya, especially after what happened tonight. Remember what Adelaide said.
Thewise witch’s words echoed in my head. I remember.
Anyawas circling around me, studying my form.
I’ll come there as soon as I’m able. I need to go. Dumont ended the connection.
Returningmy full attention to Anya, I asked her, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“He shot you. I saw you recoil. He must have hit you, but I don’t see any wounds in your body. Your wings… They’re still—” Her expression turned wondrous. “Beautiful.”
Mychest puffed out at that one word. Gargoyles were never described that way. Hideous, grotesque, terrifying were what I often heard. “My flesh protects me. And my wings are like armor,” I explained.
“Like a shield?” she asked, furrowing her brows.
“Yes.” A part of me was as stunned by this conversation as Anya. Earlier tonight, I had no reason to expect that I’d reveal my true self to her, let alone talk to her about my abilities.
“There’s only a dent here.” Her hand hovered a few inches before the part of my wing where the bullet had scraped.
“That will heal quickly.”
Shetipped her head. “How?” Wonder edged her tone.
“The same magic that flows through my body, allowing me to shift from stone to flesh, also helps me heal quickly. My wing should be healed in a day or two.”
“Does it hurt?”
“It stings,” I admitted with a one-shouldered shrug.
Hergaze raked over me with gratitude. “You were shot while protecting me.” Her tone was so low that it was almost a whisper. “Thank you. Is there something I can do to help you?”
Theneed to get her to a safe place was the first thing that came to mind. “Yes. Don’t fear me.”
Herexpression turned surprised. “I’m trying not to.” She gave me a sheepish look. “It’s not easy considering…” She trailed off and I filled in the gaps.
Considering she thinks you’re a monster.
Focus. Duty, I reminded myself. “Good, because my orders are that I stay with you.”
Sheblinked so slowly I thought she wasn’t going to reopen her eyes. When she did, she asked, “Why?”
Itook a deep inhale and exhaled from my nostrils before I admitted what might shock her even more. “Because we weren’t just hired to protect the library, LittleOne. But to protect you.”