“What’swrong?” he asked.
“Youkilled someone to save me.”
“Yes.Theyattacked you.”
Mystomach churned, andIplaced a shaky hand on it.
“Areyou okay,LittleOne?”
Adozen emotions ping-ponged inside me, andIgrimaced. “Idon’t know how to feel about that.”Iraised my gaze to meetHugo’s. “Grateful, yes.Guilty?”Iwinced. “Perhapsa shard.Someoneis dead.CouldIhave prevented it?”Ishrugged.
Hugoraised his chin, showing more of his sharp jawline. “Heattacked you.Hecould have killed you.Don’tgive him a single thought.Theyboth deserve the fate they brought on themselves.”
Itook a deep breath and exhaled slowly, hopingIcould believe that and shake off the weighted sense of responsibility. “Whatabout the other one?”
“Heis—”Hugo’slips curled with distaste. “Recovering, unfortunately.”Thenhe exhaled. “Butat least we may be able to question him.”
“Who’swe?”
Hugostared at me from questioning dark eyes, as if gauging what to tell me.
“Tellme,Hugo,”Idemanded. “Aftereverything that happened,Ideserve to know what’s going on.”
HUGO
Anyawas right.Shedeserved to know the situation.Thatdidn’t make it any easier to reveal more.I’dalready told her more thanI’dtold any human.
Iexhaled. “Okay, what do you want to know?”
Sheinhaled while she glanced at the library ahead. “Adelaidehired you to protect the library, right?”
“Yes.”
“Sinceit’s not just you and you mentioned your commander, who exactly is that?”
Ihesitated.TheorganizationIworked for operated undercover, protecting the world and humans from forces they remained blissfully ignorant of even existing.ButifIwanted her to trust me,Icouldn’t lie to her.
“TheStoneSentries,”Iadmitted, holding my chin up a notch higher.
Sheblinked slowly before giving me a deadpan gaze. “I’mguessing it’s exactly as it sounds,” she stated in a light tone.
“Yes.”Ichuckled despite the seriousness of the situation.Herreaction relieved some of the tension. “Weare guardians, sentries who protect from stone.Andwe do so inconspicuously as most humans believe us to be simply ornamental sculptures.”
Herlips parted as her gaze traveled up toward the roof. “Thatmeans there are more of you?”
“Thereare.”
Shenudged her chin up. “Theother gargoyle statues?”
“Notall.”Ishook my head. “Theones you see there routinely alternate shifts with me, but they generally stay out here on the rooftop.”
“But—but…”
Shelet out a low and somewhat exacerbated sounding sigh. “Ifthey take turns, does that mean their statues disappear?HowhaveInot noticed it before?”
“Youwouldn’t,”Iexplained. “We’reable to leave a stone shell behind that makes it appear as if we’re still there as gargoyle statues.”
“How?”Hereyes widened with awe.
