“Of this. Of how you’re reacting. I’m telling you now. Before we get in any deeper. I don’t want either of us to get hurt.”
“When I asked, you said people around here like to wear costumes,” I hear the betrayal in her voice.
“You didn’t ask,” I remind her. “You mentioned costumes—no, you declared it. Not me.”
“But I don’t understand. The people—things we saw tonight. They aren’t entirely mons—ehm,” She clears her throat. “Whatever they’re supposed to be.”
“We have the ability to disguise ourselves as humans or be in our halfling forms, which is what you saw tonight. Or we can be our full supernatural selves.”
She looks me up and down. “You’re even bigger than you were before.”
I nod, hoping that isn’t the final nail in the coffin. “Nothing’s changed, Cami. I’m still me, just with wings, a tail, and a hard outer shell. I’m still over the moon about you. The only difference is that there are no more secrets between us now. Do you think you can accept me as I am?”
Her face softens. “I don’t know. This is a lot to take in.”
“I know. But you’re more than my girlfriend. You’re my fated mate. I think I knew from the moment I saw you. That’s why I was so out of sorts, constantly saying and doing the wrong thing.” Still nothing. I wait a few beats of her heart. “I’ll leave now.”
“Don’t.” She takes a step closer.
“You can come near me. I’m not a monster. I won’t bite. If you want to touch me, I’ll stand perfectly still. I promise.”
As the minutes tick by, Camilla inches closer to me. That’s fine. I’ll wait if I have to. For as long as it takes.
“Is everyone here a... a...” I can see her searching for the right word. One that will describe what we are without offending.
“Supernatural?” I help her out. “No. Cayden’s dad is human.”
“What about Celeste?”
“She’s a di—a human, too.”
Cami takes a breath and seems to feel a little more at ease with this knowledge. “What were you about to say before you stopped yourself?”
I pause. I don’t want Cami to feel like I think less of her because she’s not a supernatural. “She’s a dimmer. It’s a slang word we use for humans because as they age, their fire and light dims until it’s extinct.”
“Until they die.” I nod. “No wonder this place was so affordable. It was to lure people in. Do supernaturals eat humans?” She sounds like she’s on the edge of hysteria. “Use us for energy? Do you? Am I in danger?”
I try to keep the corners of my lips from curling into a smile as she shoots off question after question. I need to think before I speak. No blurting things out. But my answers must be truthful. This is the time for honesty.
“Unfortunately, some supernaturals are dangerous to humans. Especially to humans that don’t have a supernatural attachment.”
“And being with you gives me an attachment?”
“Yes. If you were someone special in my life, and I claimed you, you would have an attachment.” I want her to be with me because she likes me, but I’ll take her anyway I can.
“Special as in girlfriend? Or would we have to be married? Because marriage is not in the cards.”
“For now, girlfriend works.” I don’t want her to feel like I’m pressuring her to marry me. Then she may think of me the way she thinks of her parents. “But it’s really curious that you’re here. There are certain spells and protections over this community to keep us safe from prying humans and to keep humans safe from the evil-doers that live here. You shouldn’t have had any memories of this town a few hours after you left.”
“This is crazy. You can’t be a gargoyle.”
“I’m not crazy, and neither are you. I can pretend for you, most of the time, but in the end, I am what I am.” I shrug. “That’s all I can ever be.”
Another silence, but this one doesn’t have me on edge. It doesn’t feel as nerve-racking. I think it’s starting to sink in.
“How are you standing so still?” She asks, taking a step closer.
“I’m a gargoyle,” I smirk. “It’s kind of my thing.”
