The Librarian's Gargoyle: A Cozy Sapphic Monster Romantasy (Stone Awakenings Book 1) by Evelyn Shine

Author:Evelyn Shine [Shine, Evelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sunset Wave Press
Published: 2024-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

20

BOUDICCA

It’s close to three bells when the familiar grunt and patter of Viola scaling the walls echoes nearby. My ear flicks against my mane as I pull myself from slumber. Baraq stretches his lionlike body at my feet. His twin sister, Ariella, curls next to him, her golden stone gleaming against his darkness. In an instant, they wake and launch into the sky so Viola won’t see them.

“Iggy, I need to know something,” she whispers as she hauls herself up into my arms.

I’m surprised to see her this late at night after our trip to the Mazarine. A soft breeze blows past my cheek as she makes herself comfortable. Her bottom presses against the curve of my wrist, and her legs drape over my forearm.

The wind teases her long loose hair. It tickles under my chin then caresses my stone breasts. If only we could be skin to skin. I’d sigh if I could, but I remain still, made of the obsidian of which Xander first carved me. Quiet settles between us like a weary beast too tired to prowl. Her cheek rests against my shoulder, and every warm breath whispers over my mane.

“Are you real?” She grips the short, thick spikes on my jaw and stares into my eyes with an earnest, longing expression.

I ache. I can’t move—can’t tell her. It was risky enough giving her Xander’s book. Unblinking, I stare as her frown of impatience grows.

“I’ve told you every story I’ve ever heard, all the secrets of my life. You know what I seek. If you’re alive, speak to me now.” Her demanding tone echoes over the cobblestones.

I pray Xander will hear her and come up to see what this ruckus is. They were up and out of their chambers for the first time since the attack. Xander still looked terrible, but at least they were able to make some tea.

“I know!” Viola leaps from me and runs across the cobblestones toward the door.

Sheer panic hits me at the thought that she’ll enter the tower, then I recall that Cass locked the door earlier. Viola doesn’t bother with the door, though. She runs around the squat tower to the far side. I resist twisting in place to watch her.

“Ha!” she cries from out of view and then comes charging back toward me, springing through the air at the last moment and leaping into my arms. She grasps the thick curl of my lower horns and presses her forehead to mine. “You can’t keep this from me! The sphynx statue isn’t there. She’s too huge to move, so you all must be real. Tell me! Say something! Say anything!” She pounds one fist against my stone chest then whimpers. “Please.”

I want to. I want to hold her in my arms and tell her I’m alive. Would she be amazed? Terrified? I’m not sure. People often ask for what they think they want only to refuse it later. And if the council hears that I gave a book of magic to an ungifted human… that will get sticky.

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