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Chapter 8

Tharion

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I ask as I land on my feet in front of my mate’s home.

I lower Ravena as I keep a protective eye on the door.

“I can’t leave without saying goodbye,” she says. “I hope you understand.”

“I do,” I say, even though I don’t. Gargoyles are solitary creatures and we don’t ever say goodbye. It’s one more thing I have to get used to being mated to a human.

“Thank you,” she says, stepping on her toes as she tilts her chin up. I lean down to meet her lips and kiss her soft mouth.

I have been solitary all of my life, but now, I can’t imagine living without her.

“Here he comes,” Ravena says when we hear footsteps approaching. “Dad! It’s me.”

My tail wraps around her waist and pulls her back as her father emerges from the house with a giant hammer in his hands.

“Stop that,” she whispers, trying to peel it off. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

I reluctantly unwrap my tail and let her take control of the situation.

“Dad,” she begs. “Put the hammer down. Please.”

He never takes his narrowed eyes off me and he certainly doesn’t drop the hammer. I can see his knuckles flexing as he holds it even tighter. So far, this is not a very auspicious start.

“I love him,” Ravena says.

“Oh, come off it,” her father replies, rolling his eyes. “He’s a beast. A condemned beast. He’s not some boy you get to have a silly crush on!”

“It’s not a crush,” she says, stepping toward him. “He’s my mate. You heard the bells. I woke him from his stone sleep. We’re mates. I know we are.”

He grits his teeth as he looks at me over her head. “Go inside, Ravena. Let me handle this.”

“No,” she says, grabbing the hammer. “This isn’t one of my love stories. This is real.”

He yanks the hammer. Ravena yanks it back.

“It doesn’t matter, Ravena,” he says. “Lord Harshballow wants him dead. That means he needs to be dead. Or it will be our tragic fate instead.”

She shakes her head, desperate for him to see. “Lord Harshballow is dead. We saw it just now. In The Wildwood.”

Terror flashes in her father’s eyes. “You didn’t… Foolish girl, he’s a lord.”

“It wasn’t us,” she quickly replies. “We just witnessed it. It was the creatures of the forest.”

His big shoulders drop as he exhales in relief. “Thank the gods for that. There may be hope for you after all.”

“Can you please put the hammer down?” Ravena says in a gentle tone. “Dad, I want you to meet Tharion. He’s a big sweetheart and I’m in love with him.”

She steps to the side and presents me. Finally, he lowers the hammer and looks me over.

I stand tall, trying to show him how powerful I am, how safe his daughter will be in my arms. He looks skeptical about it all.

“Tharion,” she says softly. “This is my father.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” I say, stepping forward with my hand extended (a common greeting among the human species).