upside down above where the unicorn rested, exhausted from the change, but whole.
“ Not — my — doing .” Gregory punctuated each word by shaking the human. “He stole my magic. He did this to himself. If you continue, I will damage you. Mortal, do you understand me?”
“Yes,” Jason moaned.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He sounded weaker. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Gregory deposited the human on the ground next to his unicorn friend. They were both crazy. It might be contagious. Turning, he ran into Lillian. She glanced beyond him to the unicorn, concern drawing her eyebrows together.
“What did you do to him, and why?”
“I did nothing. He stole my blood so he could return to his true from. Did you not know your brother’s friend was a unicorn?
She mouthed the words, and then shook her head, looking lost. Her skin was paler than before, and he worried shock was setting in. His suspicions were confirmed when she started to shiver. He pulled her closer until her smaller frame was a solid line against his side, then wrapped a wing around her shoulders. She leaned into his warmth and didn’t look up at her grandmother’s approach.
“Forgive my grandson and his friend, ancient one,” Lillian’s grandmother said. An elegant bow accompanied the words. “You may call me Vivian, and as you can guess by the evil you’ve already discovered, these have been trying years for everyone. But let there be peace between us, and let us share food and histories. There are dangers which must be explained.”
He didn’t miss how she glanced worriedly at Lillian, but he didn’t question her more. There would be time for inquiries later. For now, he was more concern about Lillian. Her mind felt fragile.
“Lillian needs rest,” he said.
“Of course.” Vivian made a sweeping gesture with her arm. “This way.”
He inclined his head to Vivian in thanks before urging his lady back in the direction of the house. Lillian allowed herself to be herded.
Inside, Gregory followed Lillian as she made her way through the kitchen and on into the living room. There she collapsed into a chair and held a pillow in her lap, her eyes glazing with recent memories. Her grandmother stood next to her and whispered words of comfort. Right now, Vivian was the one Lillian would find safe and familiar, while his presence would only lead to more questions and worry. So he faded, blending into the room around him until he was once again part of the shadows.
Chapter Seven
Distracted by her grandmother, Lillian missed when the gargoyle vanished. She leaned forward in her chair, her fingers biting into the armrests. He’d been standing right in front of her a moment ago and now he was gone. Nothing moved that fast. His magic must cloak him in some way she didn’t understand. A laugh bubbled up. She suppressed it with difficulty. What did she understand? Magic. Gargoyles. Unicorns. Her entire life was a lie.
When her mind threatened rebellion, she took several deep breaths and thought about the wind in her grove and the sound of bird song. Calmer, she approached the problem with a rational mind. What was she to do? A gargoyle followed her around like a lost dog. He must have a reason. And she needed to find out his motives. But how? Question after question whirled through her mind, but no reasonable explanations.
“You’ve had enough shocks for one day,” Gran whispered in her ear. “Come with me. The gargoyle is right: you need to rest. Everything will seem better after a good night’s sleep. Then I’ll explain everything I know in the morning.”
Lillian nodded at Gran, too tired to think.
Gran ushered her up the stairs, pushing on her shoulders to steer her in the right direction. After a few turns Lillian found herself in a room. Her grandmother handed her a bit of satin. Lillian blinked. Her favorite indigo chemise. And yes, that was her oversized bed. It had never looked so good. When the door’s click
“ Not — my — doing .” Gregory punctuated each word by shaking the human. “He stole my magic. He did this to himself. If you continue, I will damage you. Mortal, do you understand me?”
“Yes,” Jason moaned.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He sounded weaker. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Gregory deposited the human on the ground next to his unicorn friend. They were both crazy. It might be contagious. Turning, he ran into Lillian. She glanced beyond him to the unicorn, concern drawing her eyebrows together.
“What did you do to him, and why?”
“I did nothing. He stole my blood so he could return to his true from. Did you not know your brother’s friend was a unicorn?
She mouthed the words, and then shook her head, looking lost. Her skin was paler than before, and he worried shock was setting in. His suspicions were confirmed when she started to shiver. He pulled her closer until her smaller frame was a solid line against his side, then wrapped a wing around her shoulders. She leaned into his warmth and didn’t look up at her grandmother’s approach.
“Forgive my grandson and his friend, ancient one,” Lillian’s grandmother said. An elegant bow accompanied the words. “You may call me Vivian, and as you can guess by the evil you’ve already discovered, these have been trying years for everyone. But let there be peace between us, and let us share food and histories. There are dangers which must be explained.”
He didn’t miss how she glanced worriedly at Lillian, but he didn’t question her more. There would be time for inquiries later. For now, he was more concern about Lillian. Her mind felt fragile.
“Lillian needs rest,” he said.
“Of course.” Vivian made a sweeping gesture with her arm. “This way.”
He inclined his head to Vivian in thanks before urging his lady back in the direction of the house. Lillian allowed herself to be herded.
Inside, Gregory followed Lillian as she made her way through the kitchen and on into the living room. There she collapsed into a chair and held a pillow in her lap, her eyes glazing with recent memories. Her grandmother stood next to her and whispered words of comfort. Right now, Vivian was the one Lillian would find safe and familiar, while his presence would only lead to more questions and worry. So he faded, blending into the room around him until he was once again part of the shadows.
Chapter Seven
Distracted by her grandmother, Lillian missed when the gargoyle vanished. She leaned forward in her chair, her fingers biting into the armrests. He’d been standing right in front of her a moment ago and now he was gone. Nothing moved that fast. His magic must cloak him in some way she didn’t understand. A laugh bubbled up. She suppressed it with difficulty. What did she understand? Magic. Gargoyles. Unicorns. Her entire life was a lie.
When her mind threatened rebellion, she took several deep breaths and thought about the wind in her grove and the sound of bird song. Calmer, she approached the problem with a rational mind. What was she to do? A gargoyle followed her around like a lost dog. He must have a reason. And she needed to find out his motives. But how? Question after question whirled through her mind, but no reasonable explanations.
“You’ve had enough shocks for one day,” Gran whispered in her ear. “Come with me. The gargoyle is right: you need to rest. Everything will seem better after a good night’s sleep. Then I’ll explain everything I know in the morning.”
Lillian nodded at Gran, too tired to think.
Gran ushered her up the stairs, pushing on her shoulders to steer her in the right direction. After a few turns Lillian found herself in a room. Her grandmother handed her a bit of satin. Lillian blinked. Her favorite indigo chemise. And yes, that was her oversized bed. It had never looked so good. When the door’s click
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