Was he... sleeping?
Poor omega. He must have been so tired.
I watched over Florian like a guardian as he dozed off beneath the slowly setting sun. I itched to return to my human form, and soon the last rays disappeared behind the forest. The courtyard emptied until we were the only ones left in it. My stone shackles cracked as my soul fought to be free.
It happened instantaneously, as always. One moment I overlooked the fountain, and the next I stood on the cold cobblestone. Excitement rippled through me. Finally! And the best part of all was that Florian was still here.
In my human flesh, I felt sensations with vivid intensity. My heart thumped rapidly against my ribs and warmth pooled in my cheeks.
My fingertips twitched. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I did not want to frighten him.
"Florian," I called out.
He made a soft sound but did not rouse. I smiled, then lifted a hand to touch my own face. The sensation was foreign but nice. I did not smile often—I had no reason to as a human, and it was impossible as a gargoyle—but when I was around Florian, my muscles moved on their own, like he put a spell over me.
Not wanting to scare him from behind, I walked in front of him and kneeled down.
"Florian. I'm here."
My voice reached him this time. His dark lashes fluttered and opened to reveal those beautiful dark brown eyes that were so quickly becoming my obsession.
9
Florian
A familiar voicetugged me out of my sleepy daze. Even before I fully opened my eyes to see who was in front of me, I could've guessed from the way the voice made me feel. My chest tightened, not with pain but pleasure, and my heart fluttered whimsically.
Devereaux was right in front of me. My breath caught in my throat. Even though I knew he was a gorgeous man, it felt like I’d forgotten that fact until I laid eyes on him again. Seeing him up close like this reminded me just how extraordinary he was. With his skin like white porcelain, his silky black robes, and the strip of black fabric across his eyes, he was a work of art come to life.
His presence made me weak in the knees, and I knew it wasn't because of the physical exertion alone.
"Devereaux," I said in surprise. "You're here."
Despite not being able to see his eyes, the warmth in his expression was clear. He wasn't a man who hid his feelings. I liked that about him. He was genuine and real.
"I am here," Devereaux agreed. "But I must beg for your forgiveness."
"Why?"
He turned his head away, as if ashamed of himself. "I am late. I made you wait here far too long before I could finally make my appearance."
I couldn't help but smile. His odd way of speaking and polite mannerisms were so endearing.
"You're not late. You're right on time," I said.
Devereaux raised his head. "But the sun has gone."
I blinked, realizing he was right. It was cool and dark in the twilight. I must've dozed off for longer than I thought, but the stress from the day and the long walk exhausted me. My body needed the rest.
"Ah, yeah," I said. "The courtyard's closed right now, isn't it? I'm technically trespassing again..."
Devereaux frowned. "You are doing no such thing."
His vehemence took me off guard. Was he worried that I'd leave? That couldn't be it. Why would Devereaux concern himself with a poor orphan like me?
It was when Devereaux offered his hand that I realized I was still sitting on the cold cobblestone ground. I placed my hand in his, shivering pleasantly at the cool touch of his skin, and let him lift me to my feet. My legs were sore and my body hurt. My nerves were angry with me for the strain I put them through to get here, but I'd make that trade any day. The discomfort was worth it to see Devereaux again.
As I trembled on my legs even with the help of my cane, Devereaux saw I was struggling. He put his hand on my back to keep me steady. Though his skin had a cool tinge, the large surface area of his palm radiated warmth. I sighed contentedly.
