Page 25 of Facade

“They don’t.” He descended the steps with a sigh. “When the war happened with the Gargoyles, the Fae took what they wanted before they destroyed the lands. The seeds for these were among many things they took and sold here at a high price.” He looked away, a haunted shadow crossing over his face.

“These flowers were native to the Western Realm?” All of my anger from earlier disappeared.

A short dip of his chin confirmed it.

“I think I’ve seen these before…” I breathed, my pulse quickening.

“I would imagine so. Queen Valentina had many planted in her gardens.” He moved closer.

Disappointment was a wet blanket every time a spark of hope lit in my chest.

“The Gargoyle’s lands had many beautiful things. The Fae still mine it from time to time, using the resources to sell here to the elite.”

“I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know the history of the Gargoyles,” I admitted, testing the waters with him. Would he tell me of them? I didn’t want to repeat anything Sarah had told me, in case it got her in trouble. However, there was something about the Gargoyles that I was drawn to, and I ached to know more.

He stopped beside me, reaching out and running a long finger carefully over the petals.

“We’re not supposed to speak about it. But seeing as how you have no memories…” His intent gaze found mine. “There’s no harm in telling you some. The Gargoyles’ lands were across the sea in what used to be the Western Realm. They welcomed humans to their lands.”

“As slaves?” I fidgeted with my loose strands of hair.

He shook his head, moving to lean against the iron bars.

“As residents. Gargoyles couldn’t shift to their beast forms during the day. The sun would turn them to stone until night fell again, leaving them vulnerable—a curse set upon them thousands of years ago. The humans that lived there offered to watch over things during the day, as working staff.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“The Fae King and Queen didn’t like that so many humans were fleeing their realm to live with the Gargoyles. The Fae have always believed themselves to be higher beings. They didn’t take kindly to being considered equal to the Gargoyles—or worse, beneath them. Animosity sparked between the monarchs.”

He tilted his head back, studying the stars while I hungrily waited for more—every word like a piece of bread that might sustain me. Yet the small pieces weren’t enough. I wanted more.

“The Fae never attempted to inhabit those lands. They wouldn’t risk the Coven Council getting involved. But then,” he paused, looking back down and picking one of the flowers from the vine. “The Fae learned something was happening with the Gargoyles. That something was restoring in their blood.”

“What was it?”

“Powers.”

My eyes widened. Sarah never told me that.

“Thousands of years ago, every Gargoyle had a power. They each had different gifts. Some could affect the weather, some the seas… A few had even greater powers over the mind. Then one day, a sickness spread throughout their entire realm, and it was gone. Every single gift vanished.”

“What happened? Where did the sickness come from?” I whispered.

He shrugged. “The texts never said, but there was speculation it had something to do with the Fae, or even the Coven Council.”

Ice slid through my veins.

“Maybe the Council thought the Gargoyles were tipping the scales in their favor? Who’s to say?” He sighed. “For centuries, Gargoyle monarchs searched for a way to restore powers to their kind. Not one King or Queen ever found the answer—until one day, a rumor reached the Fae King. A rumor that those powers had reentered the Gargoyle kingdom through a child. The Fae decided they wouldn’t allow the Western Realm to have powers again. Not unless they shared their secret so that the Fae too could wield their own gifts. But the Gargoyle King had no knowledge of those gifts in his kingdom. The Fae King didn’t believe him, so he acted, his army striking when the Gargoyles least expected it.”

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, brows drawing down.

“Where did the rumor come from?”

His jaw ticked. “Whispers say there was a traitor among the Gargoyles, working for the Fae. It’s because of that traitor the war happened at all. The Gargoyles never stood a chance—the Fae had a terrible army and a secret weapon.”

“What was the weapon? Who was the traitor?” My chest felt tight as my heart thundered.

“The traitor was never revealed. It’s hard to say with the weapon. I’ve heard many theories of what the weapon could have been.” He picked at the bar beside him.