"Then how are you not disgusted and afraid?" I blurted out.
"Why should I be either of those things? You're still the same person I know."
His hands were still entwined with mine.
"But I am a monster, Florian. How could you love a monster?"
Florian's expression turned serious while still keeping its tenderness. "You are the kindest man I know. If that's what being a monster is, then I wouldn't want you to be anything else."
"But my eyes..."
"What about them?" Florian countered. "They're beautiful."
An emotional flutter seized my chest. Not only did Florian not find my eyes abominable and off-putting, but he actually thought they were beautiful?
The warmth of Florian's love melted over me. My hands, which were holding his very tentatively, now felt confident enough to grasp his properly. I laced my cool fingers between his warm ones. Our hands slotted together perfectly.
Florian's warmth seeped into my skin like a living thing, moving through me and igniting that passionate flame within me. Florian was everything I wanted. To hear him say he loved me felt surreal, dream-like. But it was no dream. He was standing before me with that perfect smile and holding my hands and telling me my sapphire gargoyle eyes were beautiful.
An odd sensation prickled beneath my skin. It almost felt like something was trying to break free. I ignored the feeling, too busy enjoying this moment with Florian.
"I do not know what to say," I murmured. "I never expected someone like you could ever fall for a monster like me."
Florian laughed, clasping his fingers tighter against my hand. "You're still calling yourself that?"
I was suddenly aware of Florian's proximity. Our chests were nearly touching. Warmth flooded my body.
Again, the prickling sensation beneath my skin flared up. What was that? I wished it would go away.
"If you are sure," I murmured, feeling heat flood to my cheeks.
"I'm sure."
Neither of us could tear our gazes away from the other. Our eyes—human and not—were locked together, the same way our fingers were. We were connected in so many ways and yet I still wanted more. I craved closeness to Florian like a physical pain. There was a hole in my soul that only Florian could fill—did he feel this way, too?
To my great pleasure, my suspicion was confirmed as Florian rolled up on the balls of his feet. He slowly closed the space between us. His lashes fluttered as he closed his eyes. My heart nearly exploded.
Florian was going to kiss me.
My excitement flared. Would this finally break the curse and turn me human forever? I could have cried with joy. To live in my human flesh full-time, without worrying about turning back to stone come sunrise, was what I yearned for, second only to Florian's love.
Florian's lips looked so soft—I could have melted into them like a warm blanket. I shakily put my hands on his hips, loving the way his body felt in my grip, and leaned in closer, desire and love swirling around my heart.
A flurry of horse footsteps pounded frantically against the cobblestones. Florian and I were jolted apart by the sudden loudness. The sleek black horse banked, stopping in front of us. Not knowing who this sudden intruder was, I growled and stood in front of Florian in case the situation was about to turn ugly.
But then a familiar hooded figure swung off the side of the horse. Argon breathed hard as he clutched the reins and thrust them at Florian.
"Florian, you have to go to the orphanage," Argon said between heaving breaths.
"What?" Florian asked.
Irritation burned my insides. Not only did Argon just interrupt our kiss, but now he was trying to force us apart again?
"Why?" I demanded.
Argon shot me a sharp look. Under the shadow of his hood, his yellow eyes seemed to glow.
"I have a suspicion that something is terribly wrong," Argon muttered. "You and I can't leave the grounds, Devereaux. It has to be Florian that goes."
