Page 24 of Guarded by the Gargoyle (Hidden Hollow #3)

22

WILLOW

“ W ell that was a quick trip,” Goody Albright observed, when we knocked on the door of the Red Lion Inn.

“Yeah, I had to come back in a hurry,” I confessed. “There are too many people after me back in New Orleans.”

“I’m sorry my dear—I was afraid that was the case.” She looked up at Kael. “I take it your protector kept you safe?”

“Yes, he did.” I glanced shyly up at the big gargoyle—though he was now in his fallen angel form again. “He saved my life—more than once,” I told her. “Thank you by the way, Kael—I don’t think I told you how grateful I am.”

“Anything for you, Mistress,” he rumbled softly and the half-lidded look he gave me made me blush.

“Oh, and I see your brought your familiar!” Goody Albright remarked. She extended a finger to Miss Sassy. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she said to my cat, who sniffed her finger carefully. “You and Willow are very welcome here in Hidden Hollow.”

“Er, Miss Sassy isn’t really my familiar—she’s just a cat. She was my Pop-pop’s cat, actually,” I said. “I inherited her when he passed.”

“Oh, she’s a familiar all right.” Goody Albright nodded knowingly. “I can tell she’s much more than a regular cat.”

Miss Sassy gave a “Mrrrow!” as though she was agreeing with Goody Albright’s assessment and I had to wonder if maybe she was right.

“I hate to ask, but could we spend another night in the Flower Bower?” I asked uncertainly. “I, uh, packed my wallet this time so I can pay.” I nodded at the huge duffle over my shoulder.

But Goody Albright waved me off.

“Don’t be silly, my dear! Your money is no good here. You may stay in the Flower Bower for as long as you like. If you decide to move here and open a shop like we talked about, then we can negotiate a fair rental price if you’d like to stay permanently.”

“I don’t know,” I said doubtfully. “This all feels like everything is moving so fast. I didn’t even know about Hidden Hollow before last night.”

Goody Albright gave me a sympathetic pat on the arm.

“I know my dear, but sometimes Lady Fate moves us in mysterious directions.

“Of course, of course. Only we probably need to get your inventory out of the old shop and into the new one,” Goody Albright told me. “Unless you think it’s safe to leave it all behind for a while?”

I thought about how the police had probably gotten the door open and seen the evidence of the shooting by now. Would they impound my entire inventory as evidence? I wouldn’t put it past them—especially once they realized that Carlo was missing.

“No, it’s probably not safe,” I admitted. “But how can we get everything from New Orleans up to New England. Er, we are in New England, right?”

“We most certainly are but the distance isn’t a problem. We can simply do a large-scale transfer spell,” Goody Albright told me. “Would you like to do it now? We can always do another transfer spell later if you decide you want to move on from Hidden Hollow and go someplace else.”

“Um, okay.” I shifted—the duffel I was carrying was getting really heavy.

Kael seemed to sense my problem because he lifted the thick strap from my shoulder.

“Let me take that for you, Mistress,” he murmured.

“Take it back to the Flower Bower if you wouldn’t mind, please Kael,” Goody Albright said politely. “And I’ll gather what I need for the spell.” She eyed me for a moment, her eyes lingering on my neck. “Would you like to freshen up before we start?”

I realized she was looking at the bruises Carlo had no doubt left on my throat and felt my cheeks getting hot. It felt shameful that my ex had marked me.

But he’ll never be able to mark me again, I thought and shivered as I remembered my last sight of Carlo with his head caved in and one of his eyes dangling from its socket. I quickly pushed the grizzly image away.

“Yes, thank you,” I told her. “I’ll just take Miss Sassy up to the cottage and get her settled.”

“Very good. Come meet me on the porch when you’re ready. Take your time,” Goody Albright added. Then she glided back into the inn, presumably to get whatever she needed to work the spell.

I sighed and looked up at Kael.

“Well, I guess we’re heading back to the cottage.”

“After you, Mistress.” He gestured with one hand, his muscles bunching with the motion. It occurred to me that I was basically moving in with him—was that going to be weird? We barely knew each other.

And yet, we’d been through so much in the short time we’d been together, I felt like I knew him more deeply than I’d ever known a man before. I knew he would kill to defend or avenge me for one thing. And I knew he would protect me no matter what. That said something about the big gargoyle—it spoke of his loyalty and his caring.

I wondered if I could finally begin to trust a man again…I supposed I was about to find out.