Page 6

My heart starts racing. Those cliffs are so high up. I’d die if I saw my father push him over.

“Do you want to come?” he asks as he grabs his coat.

“I’ll… stay here,” I say, shooting a glance at the statue.

“Since when do you not take every opportunity to go to the library?” he says as he slides his coat on.

“I, um, got books this morning.”

“So, that’s why you were late,” he says with a furrowed brow. “Keep an eye on this guy. If he wakes up, take the crossbow and shoot an arrow into his gut. That should solve all our problems.”

“Yeah,” I say, swallowing hard. “Arrow in the gut. Got it.”

He leaves, and after I make sure he’s disappeared down the road, I take a good long look at the petrified creature.

I run my palm over his giant hand, feeling the rough gray stone while I wonder how this works. Is he like in there with a rock crust over him? Or does he turn into pure rock? Can he hear me or see me? Can he feel me touching him?

I stare into his stone eyes and wonder if he knows I’m here. He is quite handsome. That mouth is very kissable.

With my pulse galloping, I look around to see if there’s anyone around watching me. I wouldn’t put it past that weirdo Korrick to be spying on me. I’ve caught him doing it before.

But there doesn’t seem to be anyone.

“Hello, Mr. Gargoyle,” I say, fanning my face. “What’s that? You love my hair? You think I’m the most gorgeous girl you’ve ever seen? Oh, you’re too sweet.”

I let out a flirtatious laugh and slide my hand up his bicep. “What’s that? Dance? With me? Really? Well… if you insist.”

I hum as I start dancing with him, pretending I’m at the castle at a royal ball, dancing to the King’s personal musicians. I’ve always wanted to dance at an event since I read about it in one of my books.

“What did you say?” I whisper, gazing into his stone eyes. “You’re falling for me? But my father… he’d never agree to this. What’s that? You don’t care? You want me to kiss you anyway?”

I look around with my cheeks getting hot and then I close my eyes and lean in. I’ve never kissed anyone before and this is good practice for when I finally meet my soulmate.

I moan as I press my lips to the cool smooth rock, planting a kiss on the beautiful statue.

“Really?” I ask as I pull away. “The best kiss you’ve ever had? Me? Why, thank you, Mr. Gargoyle. You’re not too bad yourself.”

A loud crack makes me wince. Then another. And another. It sounds like rocks slamming into each other. I leap back in panic as lines spread all over the gargoyle. Deep crevices crack along his body, slicing across his arms, along his chest, and through his face.

I’m not sure what I’m watching, so I just stand here, staring in shock.

Pebbles tumble down, and then larger rocks, and then the whole thing breaks apart and crumbles, falling to the ground in pieces. Encased in the rocky shell is a real-life, breathing, fully alive gargoyle. He slowly unfurls from the crouched position he’s in and stands up from the wreckage.

“Oh dear,” I whisper as I quietly back away.

He’s enormous.

Much bigger now that he’s moving. His shoulders roll back as he straightens to his full height, sending the last chunks of stone tumbling from his charcoal gray body onto the ground. Huge light gray wings slowly open, stretching wider and wider as I back into the table outside. A glass tips over and I cringe.

He slowly turns and looks at me with intense, silvery eyes. Beautiful eyes. Terrifying eyes. Hungry eyes.

Once his eyes are on me, he doesn’t take them off.

My mouth goes dry.

My knees go weak.

An alarming amount of heat rushes between my legs.