Page 23 of The Gargoyle’s Glade (The Gargoyle Knights #3)

Coltor

O phelia had told me that I would understand, that I would figure things out. She hadn’t been wrong—clarity had hit me square in the chest, just not at all in the way I expected.

My gift was mostly a mystery still, as were the animals invading the glade. But Merry? I understood clearly now why I couldn’t get a handle on my thoughts or feelings where she was involved. Why I wanted to consume her.

Merry was mine. My mate .

Such a gift was not something to scoff at, no matter how ill-timed it might seem, and it seemed terribly obvious once the realization struck me. I’d stood there, heel of my palm pressed into my chest and stared into the wall for a worrisome number of minutes once I’d finally figured out the truth.

So now I had two significant things to explain to Merry, and I didn’t even know if she was still fully present behind those pretty brown eyes.

Gratitude had me steeped in emotion as I lay there in the dark, listening to Merry’s soft breathing.

Nobody had hesitated when I reached out for help.

Seir had used that fascinating little mirror to contact his brothers, and before I knew what was happening, I was talking to them about the animals’ behavior, how I’d found her near the pools.

Then Greta had appeared in the glass to speak to me about an elixir, and Lovette had arrived in person to examine Merry alongside Hailon.

For once, I welcomed the noise. It brought relief. It meant I was not alone in this, and Merry would be well cared for.

On his way to take my post for the night, my father had gone to check on Ophelia. He reported that when he was leaving d’Arcan, Jacks had jumped the paddock fence. The horse followed him all the way through the city and into the Dread Forest. He was currently stationed outside Ophelia’s hut.

“Demanded the colored glass window be opened, as well as the one in her room,” he’d reported with a grin as we discussed my nightly route. “At least she’ll have company when she wakes up.”

I’d slept for a while, unreasonably comfortable next to Merry.

When I woke, she’d rolled to her back, by all appearances resting peacefully.

As she hadn’t seemed able to move at all since I found her, this felt positive.

I tried to settle down again, sure the next several days would be trying, but it was as though I’d grabbed onto a lightning bolt and the power was still lingering in my veins. I was raw, anxious.

I refused to leave Merry alone, but there was not enough space inside my little hut for the energy I had coursing through me.

I slid off the bed carefully, so as not to disturb her, and went outside.

The cool night air helped a bit as I dragged several deep breaths into my lungs.

Then the creatures began to raise their heads, glowing eyes blinking at me from the darkness.

“You,” I groused. “You did this. This is your fault.” Several of the smaller animals ducked their heads as though they knew exactly what I was saying.

“What is it that you want from her? Can’t you go to someone else?

” I could only growl to myself as they kept their silence.

I walked over to my pile of carving wood and made a few selections, then sat on the steps to work.

As I scraped shavings into the dirt, creatures began cautiously approaching. A rabbit left a berry near my boot, a raccoon a half-eaten apple. Soon I had a small pile that included nuts and stones. There was even a coin from one of the birds.

“An apology, then?” I asked, their body language and gesture clear. Heads ducked and they settled in quietly while I continued to work.

By the time my father appeared at dawn, I’d finished a decent rendering of a spring star flower and had started the form of a bear, all while checking on Merry periodically and starting a stew for later. Anything to keep myself distracted, busy.

“Your post is enviable, son.” My father wore a broad smile as he approached. “I don’t think I’ve had such a nice night flight in quite some time.”

“I enjoy it, mostly.”

He glanced at the door. “Any change?”

“No.” To my disappointment, Merry remained how I’d left her, breathing steadily, eyes closed.

“Should I send someone to relieve you? Give you a chance to rest?” His eyebrow raised, as though he’d already predicted my response.

“I’m fine.”

My father nodded, glancing around at the animals who had dispersed a bit, and the pile of offerings.

“That’s friendly,” he muttered, nudging one of the stones with his toe. “Greta was working on medicines when I left, and Imogen was going to check on Ophelia today. Shall I come back tonight?”

I hesitated, deep guilt for not doing my own job, for interrupting the routines of everyone around me setting in. But I wasn’t leaving her side, so there wasn’t another choice.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Of course.”

“I’ve got stew on,” I offered after a painfully long silence. I got to my feet, but he just shook his head.

“I’ll pass for now but appreciate the offer. I’m headed back to d’Arcan. Grace will likely have a meal ready and a list of chores for me to accomplish before I get a chance to sleep.” The broad grin on his face told me he did not find any of this to be a hardship.

“Thank you, Father.”

He bowed, then pulled me in for a hug that made me feel as though I were a child again despite the fact that I was as tall as him. “Anytime, my son. Anytime.” His eyes met mine, the compassion and sincerity there battering at my already raw emotions.

It occurred to me then that Grace was similar in many ways to Merry, and my father might have some insight he could share with me.

He’d been blessed with her as a second mate many long years after my mother had died in battle and returned to the stones.

I hadn’t spent much time with Grace, being as I existed mainly here in the glade, but I liked her well enough.

She ran the inner workings of d’Arcan with a firm hand and was good for him. They were well matched.

I must have hesitated too long, because he asked, “Is there something else?” My mouth opened, but my scrambled thoughts were slow to formulate into words. “Mmm, I see.” My father sighed, clapped me on the shoulder, leaving his hand there. “Indigestion?”

Confused, I frowned and stared at him. “Sorry?”

“Do you find yourself with unexplained indigestion? A burn, just here.” He put a fist to his chest.

I sighed and then gave in to the laughter that bubbled up. The sound of it carried an edge of madness. “Yes, actually. My mate bond has been very troublesome since it activated.”

It was his turn to be stunned, and he blinked at me several times before laughing so hard he scattered a bunch of animals and had to wipe tears from the comers of his eyes.

“Well good. I’m glad you’re a quicker study than I was, at least. Poor Rylan was in such denial he had to do a spell before he believed it. ”

I huffed a breath, simultaneously relieved and terrified at having admitted it out loud to someone else. “She’s human. Gifted. Special.”

“And?”

“I’m … we are not the same.”

“Perhaps, but I’d wager you’re also not that different. Or, if you are, there is good balance there. Have some faith in the Fates, my son. They rarely make mistakes.”

“Not never?”

He shook his head, ancient wisdom and sadness in his eyes. “Nothing is infallible, Coltor. You know that as well as I do.”

I rolled my shoulders, trying to chase some of the tension away. “We hardly know one another.”

He shrugged. “So, get familiar. It’s not as hard as you’re making it.”

“She’s…” I trailed off, unable to get the words out, but my glance at the door betrayed me.

His large hand patted my shoulder again. “She’ll be alright. Nobody in this family knows how to fail when it comes to taking care of our own.”

I nodded, and after another moment of staring directly into my soul, he departed, leaving me an exhausted mess on my own porch.

The next couple of days brought a constant stream of company. It should have made me uncomfortable, but it was strangely nice to not be the only one in charge of thinking through logistics.

Platters and baskets arrived courtesy of Grace, holding meals and snacks enough to tide the entire population of the glade over for several days.

It took all three of our kitchens to store it all, and there was never a time when I felt even slightly more than peckish before I had tea and something to eat in my hand.

After some deliberation with Hailon, I’d taken Merry back to her own cabin.

There was more space, and it was closer both to the portal and their cabin.

Besides that, it was easier for Hailon to help her friend with things like bathing in the larger bathroom.

We were feeding her broth, spoonfuls at a time, while helping her swallow.

It gave us both a purpose, doing those things that were still necessary, despite how fully her body seemed to have shut down.

Progress was infinitesimal, but she did start opening her eyes a little bit more starting on the second day.

I could tell by her breathing when she was asleep and when she was awake, but other than that, there was no indication of change.

I took her outside, so she could see that her plants were cared for.

Hailon or I did the watering, but it seemed the animals had taken the job of weeding and insect control on themselves.

I narrated my every action when I was the one with her, speaking more during those hours than I had in several years combined.

I wanted nothing more than for her to say something back.

The third day, Greta visited with her raven, Belmont. He and the birds hanging about on Merry’s roof had quite a rousing conversation, and then he perched on the porch railing like a king addressing his subjects.