He pressed his lips into a firm line, his countenance stonier than the gray of his skin. I waited for his explanation, his admittance, his…something, anything! But the big, broody, overprotective gargoyle just stood there like a fucking statue.
“You like it that I’m reliant on you.” I shook my head. “Is that it? Is this some sort of hero complex? Were you trying to get me to stay at Redrock a little longer? Milk Desmon for a few more pennies? Or is it the easy sex?”
An angry growl exploded from my still statue. “Is that what you think of me? That I’m taking advantage of your situation to benefit myself? I’m not the one jonesing to meet a billionaire dragon.”
Where had this come from? This wasn’t the Graham I’d met and known this past week.
“What are you even talking about? There’s a spell, remember? And ghouls?”
“And I said I can protect you!” he roared.
Everything suddenly felt so surreal. I was with a gargoyle in a billionaire dragon shifter’s library, yelling at each other like a dysfunctional couple in need of therapy. What happened to my life?
“For how long?”
“Forever! And you want to know why I didn’t tell you about your ex? I was jealous, okay? I didn’t want to see you cry over him. Didn’t want to see the hurt in your eyes over the death of some other man who didn’t deserve you. He was in your life for years and meant something to you, and I got fucking jealous alright? I thought you weremine! But I was wrong because you don’t need me anymore. So fucking go play house with this dragon who’s promising you a world of riches!”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Did he just accuse me of being a gold-digger? Not that I thought there was anything wrong with gold-diggers—I mean, yeah girl, go get that bag—but it was the way he was saying it. Did he really think I was just going to ditch everything and go play babysitter-slash-bed-warmer to a dragon just because he offered me riches?
Anger blazed red in my vision.
“You know what, Graham? I think I will. Now get out of my face!”
Was it my best moment? Hell. No. But I was angry and stressed, and I was only human.
Graham turned and stomped out of the room. He didn’t even try to fight for me. I guess I had my answer, even though I hadn’t even known I had a question. I was still fuming, his words washing over me, when the door clicked open.
Elana cleared her throat, her no-nonsense voice cutting through the tension like a hot knife.
“It’s okay, sweetie. I see the way he looks at you. He’ll be back. It’s best if you both take some time to breathe and think first. Then when you’re both ready, you can hash it out. You’ve got some things to work out, and so does he. Mateo is heading over to Redrock’s to grab your stuff. You’re in the room next to Q-Tip.”
Before I knew it, I had a Q-Tip in my arms as Elana and Carly bustled around Q-Tip’s room, cleaning up old hay and setting out fresh food.
“Q-Tip’s a great listener. He has a lot of experience being my impromptu therapist. And if you need a friend that doesn’t just reply by flinging food at you, I’m always ready to lend an ear. I’m at the museum today until noon, but call me if you need to talk.”
“Thanks, Carly.”
Iwokeupfightingthe sheets like I usually do, except this time Graham wasn’t there to comfort me. I’d had the exact same dream again.
Did that mean the dream wasn’t magically induced because I was at Desmon’s place? I highly doubted any magic could make it in here.
I reached over to the side table for a sip of water, urging my heart to calm. I was mid-sip when the door to my room burst open. Flame and Blaze floated in, looking like they were ready to lay a beatdown on an imaginary enemy.
“Where is he?” one of them demanded.
When Flame wasn’t flirting shamelessly with me, I still couldn’t tell the two ifrits apart.
“Let’s toast some wizard ass,” said the other one. He reached over and turned on the lights.
It was just them and me in the room. I placed my cup back on the nightstand.
“It was the dream.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“We had an alert for unauthorized offensive magic use in this room, and Seth’s detection grid is never wrong.” The first ifrit started moving around my room, sniffing the air like he was a hound after a scent.
The other ifrit came to me. “You are safe now, beautiful. If you are scared, I can stay here with you tonight. I am very talented at putting fears to rest.”
Aha! Flame located!
