Page 27 of The Last Gargoyle’s Christmas Wish (An MM Monster Christmas #3)

CHAPTER 27

G rady stared at Avery and Jack, who stood together. Jack had his arm wrapped around Avery’s waist, smiling at the dragon with adoration in his eyes.

Grady’s throat tightened at the obvious love between them.

Avery wore only a coat that reached his thighs. It was Grady’s spare coat, since Avery had flown in his dragon form to the bakery to claim Jack. There, he had shifted into his human form. And he had been very naked.

Grady and several of his siblings crowded around the couple. Half the neighbourhood also congregated, keen to be closer to the dragon they’d just seen in flight.

“Congratulations.” Cas’s wings fluttered. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

“Yeah. Congratulations!” Trent added.

Lacy clapped. “I knew you two would be the perfect pair. I just knew it!”

Lachlan held Kit, in his cat form, in his arms. Wulfric stood behind Briar, arms wrapped around his waist. All smiled at Avery and Jack. But Grady’s smile felt brittle, like it might crack and he might shatter into a million pieces at any moment.

“Thank you,” Avery said in his polished voice. He grinned at Jack. Happiness glowed around the two of them.

So many of Grady’s siblings had found love in the past month: Jack, Lacy, Cas, Briar, and Lachlan.

Grady had found it too. And he’d lost it. No. That wasn’t true. Grady hadn’t lost it. He’d cast it aside.

Just before Avery turned up in his dragon form, Avery and Jack had been experiencing some relationship problems. Grady had found Jack in the alley behind the bakery sulking. With some advice, he’d helped pull Jack’s head out of his backside. But Grady had been far less patient and gentle in giving advice than he usually was.

Maybe because Grady knew it wasn’t just Jack who needed a swift kick up the arse. A wave of regret rolled through Grady as he thought of the past few days.

“We’re going to head off now,” Jack said. “We want to spend Christmas Eve at Avery’s.”

“Do you need some shoes, Avery?” Grady asked.

Avery glanced down at his bare legs and feet. He wiggled his toes. “I’m fine. My dragon’s blood keeps me warm.”

With smiles and waves, Avery and Jack left. Grady watched them go. Around him, the neighbours dispersed and his siblings re-entered the bakery. He stood in the middle of the street until Avery and Jack disappeared from sight.

Grady had always been the one to dole out advice. What advice would Grady give himself? He imagined it would be similar to what Ordelia had said to him the previous day.

Because Ordelia was right. His siblings had all grown up. After the talk with Ordelia, he’d watched his siblings, shocked to consider they were all older than he’d been when he’d become head of the family.

They were adults now. They didn’t need him like they once had. His lungs constricted at the thought. Maybe he needed to be needed by them. After all, since his parents died, all he’d done was look after his siblings. If he didn’t look after them, who was he?

Then he remembered the snowstorm and days of being in his room with Uzoth. He’d been someone else then. He’d been Uzoth’s companion. His lover. He’d been happy and content.

He breathed out, and the air in front of him fogged.

And maybe if he worked less, he could uncover other parts of himself that he’d sacrificed. But could he actually step back and let go of some of his responsibilities? Could he really ask his siblings to do more?

He could ask Ordelia to help with the books. She’d always been better with numbers than him. She could also do quite a bit of that from home. Jack could help handle the roster. Cas could take over dealing with the suppliers. After all, he was good with people.

Just the idea of releasing some of that control made his skin crawl. But Ordelia was right. He didn’t need to be like this. He’d just gotten so used to it to the point he didn’t know how to be anyone else.

Maybe he didn’t need to be the one always in charge in the bakery. Maybe he didn’t need to use so much of his energy charging the protection spells constantly. Maybe he needed to learn to let go. Then maybe he could have time for a life of his own. A life that involved Uzoth.

Taking a deep breath of frosty air, Grady walked to the alley behind the bakery. He stared up at the guardian gargoyle. Uzoth squatted on the rooftop, gaze fixed on the alley.

Grady’s heart swelled with affection.

He wanted a life that involved Uzoth. Like his siblings, Grady wanted to love and be loved.

Grady and Uzoth had spent so much of their lives looking after others. They’d both sacrificed themselves. They’d asked for little in return. It was who they had become.

But his siblings had grown. And those Uzoth had protected had disappeared from the earth. This could be a new stage for both of them.

Grady lifted his hand and gestured for Uzoth to come down.

Uzoth did not move.

Grady dropped his hand. He frowned. He cupped his hands to his mouth. “Uzoth,” he yelled.

Still, Uzoth did not move. The gargoyle’s gaze did not shift. Nor did he rise or his wings unfurl.

“Uzoth!” he yelled again.

Why wasn’t Uzoth responding? Was Uzoth too hurt and angry with Grady to respond? But no, surely if he were done with Grady, he’d have left. So why did he not move?

The blood drained from his face. A memory of something Uzoth said came to him. “ We turn completely to stone. We become nothing more than statues on top of buildings, staring down with unseeing eyes.”

Terror burst in chest. “Uzoth!” Grady screamed as he took a step closer.

Still, Uzoth did not rise.

Fuck! I have to get to him.

Grady glanced around. How did someone get up there? Then he remembered each building had a ladder that led to the roof.

Palms sweating, Grady sprinted and searched. He spotted the rusted metal ladder. Gripping onto it, he ascended. Uzoth couldn’t have turned to stone. Not yet. It had only been three days since they’d last spoken. Surely that couldn’t be enough time!

One hand after the other, he climbed. The ladder shook beneath him. Or maybe that was just him.

I’ll never forgive myself if he turns into a statue.

Heart pounding in his throat, he reached the top. He spotted Uzoth further along the roof. He was not that far away. But Uzoth was still too fucking far when they were this high up. Taking a deep breath, Grady released the ladder and stepped onto the snow-covered roof.

Cauldrons and clusterfucks!

He glanced at the alley below. His belly somersaulted. For a split second, he considered climbing back down to the safety of the cobblestone alley below. But no. He couldn’t. He couldn’t abandon Uzoth. He needed to wake the gargoyle.

Steeling himself, he made his way carefully and slowly across the rooftop. His legs wobbled like beaten egg whites. Grady forced himself not to look down again.

Keep your eyes on Uzoth. Nothing else matters. I just need to get to him.

Suddenly, his legs slipped out from under him, breath knocked from his lungs as he landed flat on his stomach. He slid toward the roof edge. His hands scrabbled at snow as he gripped the tiles.

Mere inches from the edge, he stopped sliding. He lay flat, whole body shaking violently. For several moments, he didn’t move, terrified he’d fall to his death.

Uzoth was so close now. He had to keep going. He had to reach Uzoth. Grady crawled towards him. He gripped Uzoth’s tail, which was far too cold and hard.

You can’t be a statue. Please don’t be a statue.

Tears stung his eyes.

Gripping Uzoth’s tail, he pulled himself towards Uzoth. He clutched at Uzoth’s calf, his thigh, climbing around the gargoyle. He gripped Uzoth’s arms, gazing into grey eyes.

Grey. Not black. Uzoth’s eyes should be black.

“Uzoth?” Grady whispered. Warm tears burned his icy cheeks. “Uzoth, wake up.”

Still, Uzoth wouldn’t wake.

“Please, Uzoth. Please wake up.” His voice trembled. “I need you. I love you. Please.”

Why wasn’t Uzoth waking?

“Uzoth!” Grady’s fingers grasped rock-hard arms. Were they stone? “Uzoth!” he screamed. “Wake up!”

This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t lose Uzoth like this.

“Uzoth! I’m so sorry.”

He tried to shake Uzoth, but suddenly his fingers slipped free. With a cry, he tipped backwards. His feet kicked out. He began to fall.