Everything about him says power. Strength. Loyalty.
And that’s exactly who he is.
My first night at Blackmoor, Draegan Caldwell promised to keep me safe. Promised he wouldn’t let my enemies touch me.
When he asked me what I wanted, I told him I wanted vengeance.
He promised me I could have it. I trust him to deliver.
In many ways, he already has. He and the other gargoyles, all of whom have sworn to protect me.
But now, after all these weeks with them, I want more than just vengeance. More than protection. More than solving the mystery of my existence and their curse and all the puzzles that connect them both.
I want alifewith these gargoyles. A long, beautiful life filled with night breakfasts and library books and fireside chats and almond joy lattes and family dinners and wild, passionate nights that leave us tangled up and breathless and aching in all the best possible ways.
That was never part of the deal, though. And maybe it’s too much to hope for anyway—just the silly wishes of a witch with no real magic. No real choice.
I close my eyes, barely keeping the tears at bay.
“Miss Avery? Are you all right?”
I feel his eyes on me. His scrutiny.
Just his protective instincts,I remind myself.Just a gargoyle keeping his promises.
I open my eyes and force a smile, flashing him another double-thumbs-up.
This time, it’s not because I’m trying to distract him from my desire.
It’s because I’m trying to protect the one thing Draegancan’t, no matter how many promises he makes to keep me safe.
A thing I’m afraid I’m going to lose, once and for all, because all I want to do is give it to a man who doesn’t even want it.
My heart.
“Miss Avery, whatever you’re worried about, try not to let it trouble you.” He turns to look at me again, and this time he cups my chin, his thumb stroking my cheek.
The tenderness in his eyes makes me want to open up to him. To tell him exactly what’s troubling me, what I’m feeling, what I want, and let the proverbial chips fall where they may.
I turn toward the window, but he’s still watching me. Still touching me, his every caress sending tiny shivers down my spine.
No.I spent too many years in hiding from my own life. Avoiding the real conversations. Avoiding my feelings.
Never again…
I turn and face him once more.
Our gazes lock, fierce and fiery.
I take a deep breath. Open my mouth to tell him everything—how I feel. How I know it’s not part of our deal, but I want it anyway. How I suspect, deep down, they want it too. Even Draegan.
But before I can put evenoneof those thoughts into words, there’s a blinding light and a horrible screech and all I can say is, “Drae! Look out!”
Metal on metal.
Shattering glass.
Spinning, spinning, spinning.
