Page 36 of The Gargoyle and the Songbird

I haven’t told Natalie about what I saw at the rehearsal dinner. The memory of that shadowy figure, the icy fear that gripped me in that moment, sends a spike of anxiety through me.

I bite my lip, debating whether to tell Natalie about it, that the stalker could be here in Elderberry Falls, or even worse, have the power to transport between places, from what we’ve seen. But she’s already so stressed, so worried about my career.

Do I really need to add to her burdens without any concrete proof? After all, I only saw the figure for a second…

In the end, I decide against it. Natalie has enough on her plate; there’s no need to pile on more worries, especially when I’m not even sure what I saw was real.

“Ecco, I need you to promise me something,” Natalie says, her tone deadly serious. “Be safe. I mean it. Don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

“I promise, Natalie. I’ll be careful,” I reply, but even as the words leave my mouth, I know they ring hollow.

I end the call with Natalie, tossing my phone onto the bed with a sigh.

When I emerge from the room, Graeme’s piercing gaze locks onto me. His nostrils flare slightly, and I flush, remembering his heightened senses.

Can he tell what I was doing in the shower? The thought sends a forbidden thrill through me.

“Feeling better?” he asks, his voice carefully neutral.

I smile brightly. “Much. Nothing like a hot shower to clear your head.”

Graeme grunts noncommittally, his eyes still studying me intently. I resist the urge to squirm under his scrutiny.

“So, I was thinking,” I say, moving toward the stairs. “Since we’re stuck here anyway, maybe we could?—”

“No.” Graeme cuts me off, his tone brooking no argument.

I stop and blink at him, taken aback. “You don’t even know what I was going to say!”

“Doesn’t matter.” He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Whatever harebrained scheme you’re cooking up, the answer is no. We need to lie low until this blizzard lets up and it’s safe to leave.”

Irritation flickers through me, chasing away the last lingering tendrils of arousal. “Newsflash, Graeme: I don’t take orders from you. If I want to go out and explore the winter wonderland out there, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Graeme’s jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. “Damn it, Ecco, I’m trying to keep you safe. Why do you have to fight me on everything?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because I’m an adult who can make her own decisions?” I snap, standing up to face him directly.

We glare at each other, the air crackling with a different kind of tension than before. I can’t believe I ever found this male attractive.

Aggravatingis more like it.

Just as I’m gearing up for a full-blown argument, a thought occurs to me. I tilt my head, a slow smile spreading across my face.

“You know what? You’re right, Graeme. We should definitely stay put. In fact,” I say, taking a few steps back toward our room and throwing open the door, “I think I’ll take this opportunity to go through the pleasure chest. Fully explore its contents, if you know what I mean.”

I saunter back into our suite, Graeme automatically following me in before my words register. I gesture to the ornate chest at the foot of the bed, watching with satisfaction as Graeme’s eyes widen in obvious discomfort.

Serves him right for trying to boss me around.

“You won’t have to worry about me.” I shrug, all innocence. “I can entertain myself just fine.”

For a long moment, Graeme just stares at me, a myriad of emotions flickering across his face too fast to decipher. Then, abruptly, he turns on his heel and strides towards the door.

“Fine, we can go outside,” he tosses over his shoulder, his voice tight. “But I’m sticking close.”

The door slams behind him, leaving me alone in the suddenly too-quiet room. I sink back down onto the bed, my brief surge of triumph fading.

This is going to be a long, long day.

---