“But—”
“Does he make you happy?” Dad asks. “I mean really happy?”
I nod, not allowing myself to cry the happy tears that threaten to ruin my makeup.
“I know he does. I can see it in how you light up just thinking of him.” Dad pulls me into him. “Okay, little girl. It’s been explained that this must happen before the sunsets, so lets make our way across the street.”
“WHY DID YOU HAVE TOwalk here barefoot?” Mom asks.
“To connect with Stone with the fewest barriers possible.”
The roof of the bank has been transformed. Potted trees are dotted along the perimeter decorated with white lights. A lit fire pit sits in the center of the roof, with a four foot pedestal on one side, beneath a stone arch with vines of ivy wound around it and white orchards appearing to grow from the vines.
I know without a doubt who designed this. For someone made of Stone, my gargoyle is very romantic with a huge heart. I stand between my parents waiting for my groom.
“Look at that,” Mom whispers. “They decorated the area with gargoyle statues.”
“Mom, I don’t think—“ The sound of rock scraping against rock interrupts me. Cracking and grinding sounds follow as the statues around us wake from their sleep. Wings spread as one by one, the statues, who I’m guessing are really Stone’s family, make their attendance known.
All at once, they leap into the air, their wings flapping together can be confused for thunder. Three gargoyles, large and majestic, fly in a circular pattern high in the sky. I gasp as the first one dives low and circles me, maybe only a foot or two higher than I am. A second joins. Finally the third.
The flames in the fire pit are fanned and grow in height and intensity. My first instinct is to take a step back but I stop myself. Stone would never let anything happen to me. With my heart thundering like a horse’s hooves, I take a breath, roll my shoulders back and breathe. The gargoyles land behind me, each placing a hand on my shoulder.
“We approve.” A deep voice rumbles behind me.
I open my eyes and find Willow standing on the other side of the fire pit. “Will you place a hand on each of Camilla’s arms,” she addresses my parents. The moment they do, I look to the sky. I don’t see him, but I sense that Stone is nearby. I hear his approach as his wings flap in time with my heart.
Mom and Dad express their wonderment as Stone slows and lands on his feet beside me. His eyes lock on mine and the love and peace that fills me spills out in my smile. Lengths of silk hang from his arms the way they hang from mine.
“Stone, Camilla, please face each other as your family ties your ribbons together to represent acceptance of their choice of mate and the joining of the clans.
“You’re mine now, Camilla Ramos.” Stone squeezes my hands and wiggles his eyebrows.
“As you’re mine.”
“Happy to be so.” He winks at me with a smile.
“May I have the blessings?” Willow asks, picking up a large stone bowl from behind her.
“Sugar,” the older female that I’m guessing is Stone’s mother, steps forward with a tiny bowl. “To keep your life together sweet and bountiful.” She smiles at me with a nod of her head and takes her place behind Willow.
“Ash,” The older male gargoyle booms in his deep voice. “A protection that any evil that seeks you out shall be put to flame and transformed into purity.
He pats Stone on the back, hands Willow his bowl and joins his wife behind Willow.
“Lavender, rosemary and thyme,” says a younger female gargoyle. I had no idea that Stone had a sister. There’s still so much to learn about him. “For calm, courage and loyalty.” After handing her bowl to Willow, she joins her parents.
Willow incants some words I don’t understand as we stare into each other’s eyes. Stone’s eyes never leave me. Even when I look to the side to see what Willow’s doing, he’s focused solely on me.
“I invite the rest of our guests to come stand on this side of the fire. Once my parents and our friends join Stone’s family, Willow continues.
“Join me in silent prayer as we unleash our protections and allow them to burn as Stone and Camilla make their vows to one another privately.” Willow tosses the contents from the bowl into the fire, igniting the flames to shoot higher and brighter once again.
“Intense huh?” Stone says.
“Very,” I take a deep breath as Stone’s tail snakes around my waist and draws me up against him. His wings unfurl and wrap me inside.
“You’re shaking.” Stone looks worried.
