Page 28 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

“I don’t know. Why?”

In a blink, I was on my back, staring up at Dax’s hard face. He didn’t look pleased with me. At all. I tried to move away, but he rested more of his weight against me, pinning me down.

I pushed at his shoulders, trying to create some space between us, but he was immovable.

“Dax, what are you doing?”

“You’re lying to me, Ally. You know exactly what I’m talking about. What I want to know is why you won’t tell me.”

In the early morning light, his eyes were no longer dark blue or even purple, they were the color of sapphires, brilliant and gleaming with the same cold light as a gemstone would.

I took a deep breath, suddenly very aware of how my breasts were crushed against his chest and his hips were wedged between my legs. All the thoughts flew out of my head. I shifted beneath him, trying to put an inch of space between us.

“Who’s Talant?” he repeated. “You said the name several times last night and the night before, too.”

“I did?”

“Yes, it sounded like you were carrying on quite the conversation last night.”

Dear goddess, had I been talking in my sleep since I started dreaming of Talant?

“I don’t remember,” I insisted.

I didn’t want to talk to him about this. When I’d first started dreaming of Talant a few months ago, I thought he was a figment of my overactive imagination. Then, when I realized he was real, I hadn’t wanted to admit my ignorance to anyone, much less Minerva. It had taken me over a month to understand that I was actually dreaming of a real person. I’d felt stupid and it didn’t seem like that big of a deal, so I’d kept it to myself.

I’d thought it was a latent magical talent, a minor one. I hadn’t understood then what it meant. Or who Talant was.

Then, when Minerva explained that my power would be the key to unlocking the spell holding back the blood god, I’d realized who I was speaking to and why I was able to communicate with him.

He and I had a connection. One I didn’t fully comprehend. And it was up to me to free him from his rock prison.

And, now, because I’d kept the secret of Talant for months, I had another secret—the blood god had a brother and it was very likely that Sommerton was feeding on his power and likely becoming a host for the god himself. One secret had multiplied into two. And I was keeping them from everyone, not just my aunt or Dax.

“Stop lying,” Dax said, leaning closer and interrupting my train of thought.

Since I couldn’t make any more space between us, I did the next best thing. I turned my head and covered my face with my hands. If I couldn’t escape him physically, I would shut him out.

I didn’t know how to explain it to him. Or to Minerva. Not without them thinking I was crazy. My connection to Talant was something special. Something just for me. He was my friend, even if he was incredibly powerful, obnoxiously arrogant, and oblivious. And I’d already kept him a secret for so long that it would be nearly impossible to explain why.

Dax grabbed my wrists, pinning my hands above my head with one of his, revealing my face.

“Tell me,” he insisted.

I kept my face turned away until his fingers clasped my chin. I didn’t fight the pull. Instead, I stared at him, tilting my chin up.

“By the goddess, I forgot how stubborn you can be.”

He sounded irritated but also a little amused.

“Why won’t you tell me?” he asked.

“Because I don’t think you’ll understand.” I answered him honestly this time.

His expression softened and his gaze moved over my face. “I don’t have to understand in order to listen.”

“I also don’t feel like being lectured,” I snapped.

“When have I ever lectured you?” he asked.

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