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“She’s not breathing,” the gargoyle rasps out.
“Because she’s frozen.” All of this is stated in a stoic, no-nonsense voice. “Now, if you’d be so kind as to release me…” Tennious glances pointedly at the arm banded around his neck.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, the Terror releases him and takes a single step back.
“Explain,” he growls, his hands balled into fists.
Tennious sighs as if this entire conversation is beneath him. “When she was attacked, her body froze itself to protect her from injury. It’s a phenomenon called cryobiology. She’ll wake up as soon as she unthaws.”
What?Chase asks shakily.
I can feel him perk up and begin to pay attention to the other monster’s words. Heaven only knows I am.
Frozen? Is it possible?
Tesq once again lowers his forehead to Aliana’s, his massive shoulders shaking, and Creep twists his body from where he’s straddling his father’s corpse.
“If you’re lying—” Dev threatens.
Tennious blows out another irritated breath. “You’ll what? Maim me? Kill me? I’ve heard that all before, boy. I’ve lived thousands of years and seen things you can only imagine. Not a lot scares me.”
But as his frosty gaze slides in Aliana’s direction, I realize that he isn’t being entirely truthful. Somethingdoesscare him.
The death of his daughter.
“What do we do?” Creep shakily rises to his feet. Blood coats his hands and face, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
“Now,” Tennious begins, his gaze homing in on Aliana, “we wait.”
43
ALIANA
Warmth.I’m aware of a gentle heat that feels like it starts at the tips of my toes, runs along the outside of my arms, and then drips down over the top of my skull. It soaks into me inch by inch until my chest is sweltering inside and a jagged beat begins to pulse.
The heat transforms into need, and my lips part automatically, sucking in a sharp breath.
Suddenly, there’s not only heat, but a buoyant lightness to my limbs. Limp contentment controls my muscles, keeping them soft and compliant in a way I’m pretty certain they’ve never been before. It’s strange, but I don’t believe I’ve ever felt safer than I do right now.
My eyelids flutter open, and I’m surprised to find myself on a soft mattress, tucked into clean sheets, inside a small room with plastered walls that’s filled with lemon-yellow light. At the far side of the room, six monsters are gathered, talking in hushed tones.
I clear my throat, trying to call out, but that miniscule sound is all they need. As one, my four mates turn to look at me, leaving Uni and my father behind. Dev’s red eyes seem to boil over, tears dripping down his cheeks as he races to my side in his human form, his giant hand diving beneath the covers to grasp one of mine.
It’s a struggle not to cry as the giant monster breaks down in front of me, wracked by silent sobs that scream relief.
Creep, whose beautiful antlers are chipped, strolls over, tipping up one corner of his mouth. “Decided to finally put us out of our misery, huh, little warrior?”
His tone is light, but his eyes are glossy as he reaches out and puts a hand on the blanket, gently touching my shin through the fabric.
I force a wry smile, but it wobbles slightly, so I’m not sure he believes the front I put up. Still, I push through and manage the tiniest sliver of sarcasm. “Did you sleep under my bed the entire time I’ve been here?”
“You know it. Though, it did make me decide that mattresses and bed frames should really be clear so I can stare right up at your panties.”
That wrings a laugh from my tear-clogged throat. “Creep,” I say fondly.
Tesq’s heavy footsteps thump against the carpet as he trudges closer. He doesn’t speak, but he doesn’t have to. We share a gaze that sings like a wren calling to its mate. A song with gentle high notes that meanmineandpairandforever.
My gargoyle and I don’t need many words. What we are to one another is carved in stone, unchangeable, everlasting.
