Read Online Protected by Stone (A Paranormal Romance Novel) by Cynthia Brint - Free Book Online Page B

disappointed when he did nothing. “Miss Blooms, you may be right.”
    No one had ever said I was right before. Lifting my eyebrows, I gazed upwards at the sympathy on his face. I'd seen it before, I still didn't think I liked it. “What?”
    “You may be right,” he said gently. “You could be the wrong person for all of this. However, the problem is... you're our only option.”
    I'm the only option? “That's pretty awful, relying on me.”
    “I wouldn't count yourself out so quickly, Miss Blooms.” It was close to a compliment. It was hard to tear my eyes from his face, but I managed. The papers in my hands served to mull the strange way my blood tingled. Wills were notoriously grim things.
    Grault tugged the other chair closer to me, sitting in it and folding his ankles. “Is it clear now, that without someone of Tessa's blood to take over here, this place will continue to fall apart?”
    “The more I listen to you, make myself believe this magic stuff is real, the more that seems logical. I guess.” Tugging at the ends of my hair, I looked down at my feet. The shoes were crusted in dirt from the walk. “But the more I believe that, the more I'm terrified I can't help. Grault,” I said, my laugh hollow, “I wasn't sure I could become a caretaker before I knew about the weird stuff it'd involve. What do I do?”
    “You can try your best, Miss Blooms. What harm is there in trying?”
    “And if I can't do what she did, if I'm not a witch like her?”
    He hesitated, large fists forming in his lap.
    I squinted at him doubtfully. “You expected I would have magic, like Tessa, didn't you?”
    “I—hoped you would, yes.”
    “And now,” I said, feeling the heat on my tongue, “knowing I don't, are you discouraged?”
    We stared at each other, though he won the contest of not blinking. Grault was terribly good at being still. When he reached across, placing his hand on mine, I was reminded of how he'd let me squeeze it when I was scared earlier.
    That memory made my whole face glow.
    “Listen to me,” he said gently, voice full of wet grit. “I will only be discouraged if you walk away from all of this right now. If you leave us—this place—without even trying to fix things... only then, Miss Blooms, will I lose faith in your abilities. Magic or not.”
    My hand felt like a butterfly under his. Swallowing loudly, I tugged it back, protecting it from... from something I wasn't sure of. “You're serious, aren't you?”
    He closed his eyes, giving a deep nod. “I am.”
    I inhaled until my chest ached, then breathed out in a noisy whoosh. “You're very convincing. You should consider becoming a car salesman.” The look of shock he sent my way broke the tension, made me laugh until it echoed around us.
    Grault didn't seem to know what to do. Staring at me, his mouth half open, just made me giggle more. “So... you're going to stay?”
    Wiping the corner of my eyes, I lifted the stack of papers. “If reading through this doesn't kill me first, yes. I'll stay.” I hope I don't regret this.
    He seemed pleased, warmth touching his ebony eyes. “Good. Then let's go over the will, and then we can start outlining your duties as the new owner of this home.”
    A home... how funny, I thought, listening to Grault prattle beside me. It's been so long since I ever called a place my home.

Chapter Seven.
    ––––––––
    I t was clear I'd need to take the will into town if I wanted to legally claim the house in my name. And, after my explorations of some of the bottom floor, my hunger to get out in the fresh air was growing.
    “You won't come with me?” I asked, pulling a thin sweater on over my dress. I was sure it was still sunny outside, but the greenish world of the house made things... colder.
    Grault leaned on the inside arch of a hallway. He looked torn between being nervous, or being excited. “I cannot go. Besides, you don't need help with this, Miss Blooms. A short walk into town, some