“PerhapsAnyashould tell her what’s going on,”Isaid.Withthat expression, she definitely didn’t want to hear it from us.
Anyabeckoned forEloiseto come with her toward us.Eloisestared at me with wariness, but took slow steps following her sister.
“It’sokay,Eloise.”Anyanudged her by the arm. “Trustme,Ireacted the same way whenIfirst metHugo, butIwasmistaken.Thegargoyles are protectors and would never harm you.”
DespiteAnya’sreassuring words,Eloise’swary expression didn’t change.
“It’strue,”Istated, addressingEloise. “Myname isDumontandI’mhere to ensure your sister is safe.”Iplaced a hand on my chest. “Yourgrandmother hired us to do so.”
Eloise’sbrows arched high. “Didyou meet her?”
“Yes.Shewas a wonderful woman.”Anda gifted witch.Itook a small step closer toEloise. “Sheasked us to protect you as well.Butwe didn’t know who or where you were.”
Eloiseedged her chin up an inch but didn’t reply.
“Don’tbe afraid of me,”Icontinued. “Iknow my appearance might be jarring butImean you no harm.Youhave my word.”Ibent forward in a small bow.
Herscent reached me—a mystical, floral aroma with hints of the ocean.Everymolecule in my body fired with awareness, andIfroze.
“Whatare you doing?” she asked, her tone clipped with wariness.
Goodquestion.Withshock rattling my systems,Iremained leaning forward in a semi-bow.Iwasn’t sureIcould regulate any part of my body—not when both brain and body collided with recognition of what this meant.
“Dumont, are you all right?”Hugoasked.
WhywasIstill frozen like a fool?LikeI’dsuddenly shifted into my stone form.
Focus.Iwas a commander, a leader, not some silly creature who was easily enamored.Forcingmyself to straighten,Iattempted to respond like someone in control of his emotions.
“Yes,Iwas just contemplating the situation.”Itwasn’t exactly a lie sinceIwas attempting to wrestle with what this unanticipated reaction to her meant.
Becauseall my instincts were telling me one thing: this woman who had just fled from me in fear and eyed me with distrust—she was my mate.
CHAPTER 3
ELOISE
Istared up at the gargoyle who’d just introduced himself and bowed to me.Ripplesof shock and fear slowly receded, and my pounding heartbeat and racing breath slowed.
Anyahad assured me there was nothing to be afraid of, that the gargoyles were good.Theywere protectors.Rationally,Iknew this, since my long-lost grandmother had mentioned gargoyle protectors in her letter.Yetreading words on paper and witnessing a massive winged being flying in the sky toward me affected my brain waves in vastly different ways.Whowould see a creature like that and not run?
“Eloise,”Dumontsaid in a strangled voice, then cleared his throat. “Youwere the one who brought the grimoire to the library, correct?”Hemotioned to the building.
“Yesss,” my voice tumbled asIremembered the reason why.Iraised my chin and added, “Ididn't have much of a choice.”
Hefixed his probing eyes on me. “Whynot?”
Theintensity of his stare was disconcerting.OnceI'dgotten beyond the initial shock of these monstrous-looking creatures,IstudiedDumontmore carefully.Asidefrom his imposing size, he had intriguing aspects to his appearance.Thefascinating slate-gray eyes.Hisimpressive frame.Somany muscles and contours.Undoubtedly, he was capable of protecting others with that incredible physique.Andabs beyond anyI’dseen on a human, even on the cover of a fitness magazine.Fora moment,Iimagined running my fingers over the indents in his torso.
Snapout of it.
Dumontwas watching me from those intense eyes, and my skin tingled in response.Ifelt exposed, vulnerable, as if he were probing my secrets.
Itook a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the grass with a hint of dew, beforeIrevealed, “Iwas being chased.”
“Bywhom?” he asked in a gentler tone, yet still laced with urgency.
Ipursed my lips, not wanting to go back to that dreadful day.Isearched around us, scouring beyond the trees of the campus to ensure no one was eavesdropping.Ithad been weeks sinceI'dlast seen him.Enoughtime had passed thatIfelt more comfortable coming out of hiding to introduce myself to my sister.Yet,Inever imagined our long-overdue reunion to be in the company of two hulking gargoyles.
