Page 31 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

The day went much like the day before.

We met Poppy at the main lodge, and we all worked in Dax’s office.

Just before lunch, I received a text from an unknown number.

How’s my girl?

I frowned before typing,Who’s this?

A picture came through of Sommerton’s face. I nearly dropped my phone at the sight. He hadn’t been an ugly man before, but now he was terrifying. His eyes had turned completely black, with only a sickening violet oblong pupil in the center. The black veins that had surrounded his eyes only two days before were now all over his cheeks, forehead, and snaking down his neck.

He wore a massive grin that made my skin crawl. I felt as though I was being watched, and as I stared in horror at the picture, it winked at me.

I did drop my phone then, lunging to my feet.

Dax was at my side in a split second, looking at me for the first time since he’d rolled off the bed that morning. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“S-S-Sommerton texted.”

Dax scowled. “I thought you blocked him.”

“I did!” I exclaimed, running a shaky hand through my hair. “I’m not sure how he got through.”

Dax picked up my phone and looked at the screen, his scowl turning into a grim, stony expression. I imagined that he wore that face into battle back before the gargoyle civil war. I knew he’d been a part of the gargoyle army based on a few things that he’d said in passing over the years.

At the moment, he looked as though he was ready to murder someone in a single stroke of a blade. Preferably Sommerton.

“I’m taking your phone,” he said.

“No! You can’t!” I lunged for it, but he yanked it away, moving too fast for me to see.

“He’s upsetting you, getting into your head,” Dax said, his voice tight but still patient. “It’s best if we don’t give him the opportunity anymore. It’s feeding his need to manipulate you into doing what he wants.”

“I have to have my phone, Dax,” I said. “I have clients. I need to talk to Minerva.”

I couldn’t stand the thought of having no one to talk to but him because he was currently freezing me out. I’d go crazy if I had to sit in that house in silence while he ignored me.

I kept talking, keeping my eyes resolutely on his chin. “I also need to be able to call for help if something happens. I can block him again and keep blocking him.”

“He’s not going to stop,” Dax said.

I chanced a glance up at his eyes, grateful I couldn’t see them because of the glare from the light on his glasses. I couldn’t stand to see that distant expression on his face again.

“I know. I can handle it.”

“You were terrified a few seconds ago,” he pointed out.

I gestured toward the screen of my phone. “Did you look at that picture? Wouldn’t you be terrified if that was suddenly on your phone screen?”

Dax shook his head, which made me snort. Of course, he wouldn’t. No, he’d be reaching for his sword and turning to stone before he tried to decapitate the warlock.

“I can handle Sommerton. Especially now that I know what he’s up to and that he can still get in touch with me when I block him. Plus, there’s not telling if he’ll slip up and mention more things we need to know. Like saying that he was with Talant’s brother.”

Dax stiffened. "Talant’s brother? When did he say that?”

His tone was dangerous, which made me freeze. Shit, I’d forgotten that I hadn’t told him about that. This was why I hated lying and secrets. Because it was too easy to screw up and say the wrong thing.

I shrugged. “Yesterday. I didn’t know if he’s telling the truth or not, so I didn’t bring it up. But that’s what he said.”

---