Page 1 of Enchanted by the Gargoyle (The Crescent Coven #1)

Tamsin

A rosy maple leaf floats down in front of me.

I bend down to pick it up, twirling it between my fingers for a moment, before letting it go, watching it catch the breeze and float away.

The cold just snapped a few weeks ago, creating air so crisp that it immediately creates static in my hair.

I zip my puffy vest to just under my chin and keep walking toward the Wyrdwood Cabins.

These rental cabins have been here for as long as anyone could remember, the owners changing hands over the years.

It was the second most popular place for out-of-towners to stay, unless they wanted to be closer to town, then they’d end up at the Hollow Pine Inn.

Gravel crunches ominously under my feet, the only sounds in the place are the wind and the leaves rustling in the trees.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d let it spook me. But I do know better.

Heaving a sigh, I make my way around the cabins to the back of the property where a mammoth boulder juts out from a clearing.

Hard to miss, and most people just assume that’s all it is, a big rock.

But, ever since Clearwater Springs came under magical attack and the veil fell, the Coven has had to visit every node connecting the important ley lines channeling the magic protecting our more interesting citizens.

I only get a few steps in when a gust of wind takes my scarf clean off my neck and sends it tumbling in the opposite direction, back toward the cabins. Standing stock still, I watch it tumble in the wind for a moment, before forcing my sore legs to run after it.

Not gonna lie, I’ve been exhausted these last few weeks.

I never realized just how many nodes Clearwater had until we had to check every single one, and they weren’t in easily accessible places either.

My thighs burn with the effort of chasing after my scarf, just reminding me of the miles-long hike I did recently to get to a node buried deep in our cave systems on the outskirts of town.

Finally, it snags on the mighty gargoyle statue in the parking lot that welcomes visitors to the cabins.

I walk up to it slowly, catching my breath, promising myself I would add some damn cardio to my life.

The gargoyle looms over me, blocking out the light.

It’s an impressive sculpture, with heavily muscled shoulders connecting to bulging forearms. Are those veins?

Damn, whoever the scupture was really thought of everything.

The face of this one was more handsome as well, but still featured heavy brows over carved cheekbones, its fangs just peeking out over plump lips.

It’s crouched position makes it hard to see much else behind its wings, but I can’t help but trying to glance down between its legs to see if a larger than life cock was represented by the sculptor as well.

Too dark to see, you desperate horndog! My inner voice snaps me out of my reverie, and I can only agree, because it has indeed been too long since I’ve been with anyone, and it is slim pickings in this town.

Winding my scarf back around my neck, I start walking back to the edge of the property, toward the boulder.

Once I get within twenty feet of the boulder, the temperature drops and my skin tingles pleasantly, as though welcoming me to it.

I can’t help but smile, my magic surging through my veins the closer I get, almost pulsating with excitement.

Laying my hands on the smooth stone, it’s no surprise to me that it's warm under my hands, as though it had been sitting under the sun all day, rather than hidden in the shadows of the tall trees surrounding it.

Small crackles of yellow light glimmer and snap under my hands as I caress the stone.

“Just here for a little check-up,” I murmur.

Closing my eyes, I focus my sight on the earth’s core, centering myself to the ground, imagining a long cord connecting my feet all the way to the molten lava inside our planet.

Once anchored, I expand my inner vision to the node itself, which comes to me as a bright amethyst jewel.

Kneeling down to inspect it, I see black spots covering its surface, almost as though it had been burned.

With a wave of my hand, a polishing cloth appears.

Easing myself down onto my sore knees, the arduous process of polishing the node takes over my focus.

Anyone on the outside looking at me, is seeing me hug a big rock, but the effort of anchoring myself and my ethereal projection, having to polish the node of its burned bits is taking effort, and pretty soon I’m sweating under my vest and wool sweater.

I have to ignore my physical needs, a small, selfish voice that wants to stop and remove my vest.

I’m not sure how much time goes by, but once I feel good about the node being restored, I carefully disconnect myself from the earth, whisper a thank you, and finally release the boulder.

My knees sag instantly under my weight, and I flump down to the ground.

The cool ground feels good under me, as I lay down for a few moments sucking air back into my lungs.

This weakness after using my magic has been happening more often, but it’s not something I’ve shared with anyone in the Coven.

I imagine Merna’s brow crinkling with concern, or Sybil launching herself into research.

Nope, no thank you . I’m perfectly capable of figuring out why it’s happening, just not confident enough to pinpoint the issue just yet, so why bring it up to anyone?

It’s fine, I’m most likely just exhausted after that hike.

“Brrpprr.”

My spine snaps up, eyes trained on the dark recesses of the forest, fully expecting some monster to pop out, but instead I see two big round green eyes attached to a little striped grey fluffball picking its way across the forest floor towards me on unsteady legs.

“Oh my gosh!” I exclaim, swooping up the kitten in my arms. They’re shivering slightly, despite all their fur, and I can see it’s matted with dry leaves stuck in it.

I immediately squeeze them into my vest, zipping it tight to hold the shivering creature close to me.

“Aren’t you just precious? How did you get all the way out here?

You must be starving. And you need a bath. ”

I keep up a stream of commentary as I walk back toward the main office of the cabins where Ezren, the owner, lives.

“Mmmrrpp.” The kitten cheerfully purrs at me.

“I know, sweet baby, but I gotta make sure you don’t belong to someone, although even if you did, I am still going to interrogate them about proper kitten rearing.” Ezren’s office looks dark and abandoned. I rap on the glass with my knuckles and wait.

Looking down, the kitten’s eyes are heavy with sleep, and the shivering has stopped. “Well, Ezren isn’t here, and I don’t see anyone else around, so I guess you’re mine.” The temperature is dropping as we walk back to my car, but I decide to pause at the gargoyle once more.

I hold up the kitten to the statue. “What do you think of this gargoyle, kitty cat? He’s kinda handsome for a stone dude.

” I glance under the kitten’s fur while I’m holding it up, and realize they’re a girl.

“Okay, you need a name. How about…Beryl?” She purrs at me even louder, sounding like the engine of a classic car.

“Alright, Beryl it is!” I turn back to the statue, eyeing it appreciatively. “Well, Mr. Gargoyle, it’s been lovely seeing you, thank you for giving me fantasy fodder for the rest of the week, but Beryl and I gotta go.”

I reach out, hand pausing for a moment, before caressing the sharp jaw, feeling a sudden surge of magic, and realize static electric strips of yellow light are connecting me to the cool surface of the stone.

Lifting my hand this way and that, I feel nothing but a warm tingling sensation.

I try to tug my hand back, but the static won’t let go.

“Okay, this is weird,” I yank my hand free, looking at my fingertips closely. “I must be exhausted. Come on, Beryl, time to go home.”

As I wind my way out of the parking lot and into the main road, I glance in my rearview mirror at the impassive gargoyle, wondering why my magic acted the way it did.