Page 2 of The Gargoyle’s Glade (The Gargoyle Knights #3)

Coltor

H uts and cabins had sprung up around the ruins like mushrooms after a thorough rain.

Initially, I’d thought it wouldn’t be so bad to have a neighbor or two, isolated as the location was, but now I was having second thoughts. In fact, I was curious how we’d arrived at a place where more people inhabiting the area was desirable at all.

The Ruins of Emankor were intentionally magically warded so people avoided coming too close to them.

The whole point of my holding a sentry post here was to scare wayward travelers away .

Now, the ruins were going to be home to several residents, both permanent and temporary.

It was too late to dispute the new development however, as the plans had already been approved and construction started.

“Stay to the path,” I groused at a handful of young stone kin men carting lumber on their shoulders. They were paying no attention and tramping down the grass and flowers as they crossed the glade.

“Sorry,” one of them apologized, and they mindfully returned to the narrow strip of dirt. It had been well traveled recently, and several branches had sprouted off the main one, creating easy routes from the portals through the glade and some all the way to the other side of the ruins.

So many of my clan had been in and out via the portal to Revalia in recent times it had left my head spinning. It had been nice to see others of my kind, but my enthusiasm was very rapidly depleted. I missed the quiet that had plagued me to near madness not all that long ago.

If nothing else, at least my hut remained hidden away.

It was tucked right outside the boundary of the ancient castle itself, and was built with just the most basic of comforts in mind.

It had, after all, been intended simply to provide shelter while I was posted as sentry here.

Nobody could have foreseen then that I might be the only one able to take or maintain the post for months or years at a time.

Small as it was, the single little room had served me well over the years.

I’d added a few bits of my own after being there for so long, but it remained not much more than a barrack.

The second dwelling had only recently been built.

Seir and Hailon’s cabin, nestled beyond the tree line in the heart of the glade, was, from the very beginning, a home.

They were good neighbors, quiet. Friendly.

And thanks to Seir, I was able to step away from my post now and then as he and his brother Tap managed the many doorways between worlds hidden within the ruined bones of the ancient castle that fell under my responsibility.

The pair had fallen into the ruins as they were journeying through.

Our friendship had roots in what was purely an accidental meeting, but had developed normally enough.

I’d threatened him, he’d stabbed me for speaking too harshly to his mate…

and somehow, they now lived within shouting distance.

We’d all become good friends. The first I’d had in quite some time.

Now, my kin were building a whole series of little dwellings, and I was struggling to keep up with the rapid changes. To my dismay, I’d lashed out several times when really what would probably have served me better was some time to quietly process what was happening.

I’d gotten too good at being alone.

Turning from the noisy construction, I made my way to the portal that would take me into Revalia. I’d been summoned by my father to help with an urgent task, and I didn’t want to be away any longer than necessary.

Moving a table. That was my father’s idea of an urgent task.

He’d even had help from the two demons who lived at the collegium for which the table was being procured. When I asked why I’d been needed at all, he’d just smiled at me, like he’d won something. It was beyond irritating.

So now I was seated across from Hailon’s friend in the dining room of the collegium when I should be back in my glade.

The little woman with hair the color of a summer sunset was somehow everywhere I looked lately. My jaw clenched as my pulse picked up against my will.

Merry. Her sunny disposition was a perfect embodiment of the happy moniker. I was inexorably drawn to bask in her light like a lovesick youngling, and it disturbed me greatly that I couldn’t seem to escape such an inclination.

When she’d first popped up at my several-times great-aunt Ophelia’s hut, I’d been unable to do much more than blink and stare at her.

I’d gone to visit the ancient gargoyle sorceress for help managing a newfound power, one that still felt unwieldy and had me doubting my strength.

It had not bolstered my confidence at all that I’d been largely unable to speak in her presence during that introduction.

Thankfully, I’d moved beyond stuttered greetings and halting words with her, though admittedly not by much.

Not long after that initial meeting, she’d been here at d’Arcan.

I’d used the portal so I could have a quick discussion with my father, and there she was, bold as anything, giving advice on how to expand the garden beds.

Rylan, the demon archmage who’d founded the collegium, had enthusiastically gestured and said something that made her clap her hands excitedly.

I’d stared from across the yard, watching her laugh freely with the collection of demons, gargoyles, and mages like she’d always been there.

I couldn’t even escape her at the markets when I’d gone for supplies. My father’s mate, Grace, had taken her to shop, and Merry’s bright laugh had me turning around from the opposite end of the street to find the source of the joyous sound.

It didn’t seem to matter where I went. That smile, those vibrant red curls, that strange magnetism… they were everywhere I turned.

And now, she was here. Again. Staring at me across the new dining table over tea.

“Sorry?” I realized I hadn’t been paying attention as she looked at me expectantly.

“Sugar?” Her cheeks flushed pink as she pushed the dish of little white cubes toward me.

“No, thank you.”

“Are you still staying with Ophelia, Merry?” my father asked her, wearing a frown of concern.

Ophelia was terrifying. Mostly kind, to be sure, but ancient and therefore infinitely dangerous.

“Yes.” She bowed her head, stirring the sugar into her tea. “She’s been so gracious, but it’s time I moved on. I’d love to leave her to her peace and quiet as soon as I can.”

“I don’t see any reason you can’t claim the first guest cabin in the glade. I think all it’s missing is paint. You and I could tackle that if there’s nobody else to get it done.” Hailon brightened, clearly taken with the idea.

“Is she… prepared for that?” I asked.

“Prepared?” Hailon tilted her head in confusion. “As prepared as I was, you mean?” Her eyebrow raised. She never hesitated to ask questions that had me biting back knee-jerk responses. I appreciated and was frustrated by that in equal measure.

“Yes. Something like that.” If she wasn’t, we’d all have to manage the inevitable consequences of having to educate her about a great number of alarming things.

“We’ve discussed plenty,” Hailon confirmed.

“I’m sure she’s trustworthy. You should know that well enough as she’s been staying with Ophelia all this time.

” My father’s words rolled over me as he sat back in his chair, gaze heavy.

I couldn’t help the ingrained flash of shame that came as he crossed his arms over his chest. It was the pose he used either when he was gearing up for a lecture or disappointed in one of us.

“You’ve managed your post well all this time on your own, son.

I can understand why you’d be possessive of it. ”

“I’m not possessive ,” I argued, anger rising quickly in my blood, “but there are reasons it’s guarded from outsiders. Or have you forgotten?”

My father grew serious and affirmed that he did indeed remember, which assuaged the heat in my veins.

Merry’s cheeks were rosy with embarrassment as she glanced between the faces at the table, clearly unsure what she’d gotten herself in the middle of.

“We live there too, now,” Hailon put in, quickly turning a smile on me.

“And there will be others, sooner or later. We can all help her understand if there’s something she needs to learn.

She’s taken quite well to all I’ve explained to her already.

” Hailon raised an eyebrow, conveying very clearly she’d been busy getting her friend educated about the unique residents of this city and beyond.

“Besides, another set of eyes is always good, right? If strangers wander through, there’s someone else to raise the alarm.

Think of it, between us and her for neighbors, you’ll likely never be hungry or bored ever again.

” Her multicolor eyes danced with mirth.

I glanced from the pair of friends to the demons and even my father, who all sat grinning quietly, like they knew a secret. Or perhaps like this was all well planned, and I was simply the last to find out.

Merry’s mouth opened, but it took a moment for her to find her voice. Her deep-brown eyes held mine from across the table. “It’s okay to say no. I can continue staying with Ophelia. She told me it was fine, I just?—”

“You’re also welcome to a room here at d’Arcan, Merry. We’ve a spare staff apartment available,” Rylan offered.

“Thank you, that’s very generous.” She swallowed before continuing.

“I’m not above sleeping on a sofa if it came to that.

Goodness knows I survived far worse back home.

There were more of us than there were beds.

” She gave a short, self-deprecating laugh and started nervously braiding a little section of her hair.

“I’ve never had a place to myself, though.

I’ll admit there is a certain appeal to that.

” Merry’s blush deepened, turning her whole face and even the upper part of her chest pink.

I tensed, the color strangely tantalizing.

“What I mean to say is, there are plenty of alternatives if this arrangement isn’t going to work for you. ”

My breath stalled, and I fought a rising wave of frustration.

I would look cruel if I didn’t say yes. But I couldn’t blame them for that, not really.

Yes, I was annoyed, but mostly I was nervous.

Until very recently, I’d spent a whole lot of time alone.

Socializing was difficult at best. Being in close proximity with a woman that tied both my tongue and chest in knots was going to be a challenge.

I inhaled slowly through my nose, willing my thoughts to settle.

“I’ll explain anything that comes up,” Hailon promised. “And we’ll be here most days, besides. You probably won’t see her any more than you see us.”

That was likely true. I was out in the ruins most nights on patrol and either rested or stone slept during the day.

The completed cabin not far from my hut had a furnished bedroom available whereas Hailon and Seir only had a sofa to offer.

It did make sense, even if it was the most terrifying option.

“I suppose that would be fine.”

“Perfect,” Hailon said, clapping her hands together and breaking the tension that had formed. “Thank you, Coltor.”

Merry turned grateful eyes my way, one of her hands resting briefly over the fingers I was gripping the little teacup handle with.

She gestured for me to lean forward and when I did, she stood and leaned over the table.

Confused, I just sat there, blinded by her smile as she planted a light kiss on my cheek.

“Thank you very much. You’ll hardly know I’m there. ”

That was impossible.

Lightning flashed through my veins in response to her touch and my heart squeezed like it had been gripped by a fist as visions went off behind my eyes.

The conversation resumed around us, but I could only stare at her. The blood drained from my face, nausea tangling in my gut.

Thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice, as she’d turned sideways to discuss something with Hailon as they piled Grace’s honey cakes and fruit onto their plates.

I’d learned plenty about Merry in the short time since her arrival.

She was sunshine incarnate, with a mind—and tongue, if so prompted—as sharp as my best blade.

She was organized, efficient. As far as I could tell, she was good with children and animals.

To my vexation, she was also beautiful beyond all reasonable measure.

All of this made her a potential weakness, one I hadn’t been expecting and wasn’t at all prepared for.

And when she’d touched me, I’d seen a glimpse of her future, just as I had when I’d shaken her hand when we first met.

Except this time, in the future I saw, Merry would soon be dead.