Page 39 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

I nodded, trying to ignore the anxiety swirling inside me. I picked up my cup and sipped my tea, letting the warmth wash through me again.

“Now, tell me more about the kissing I interrupted,” she insisted, leaning over to rest her elbows on the counter, her face awash with curiosity.

I nearly choked on the tea I was drinking at her abrupt change of subject. Oh, yes. Aunt Minnie knew exactly how to catch me off guard. I only hoped that one day I’d be able to return the favor.

I lowered the cup. “I told you. Dax had to kiss me to break through the spell that Sommerton cast on me.”

She frowned. “I interrupted your first kiss?”

No, she hadn’t.

Aunt Minnie must have read the answer on my face because her frown disappeared. “So, I interrupted a different kiss?”

I groaned, leaning over to cover my face with my hands. “I don’t know what to do, Aunt Minnie. He kissed me the first time, but I kissed him when we were sitting on the couch. And he let me. But I can already tell by how he ran out of here that he’s going to come back and pretend it didn’t happen. Just like he walked around all day pretending this morning didn’t happen.” I lowered my hands and looked up at her. “I don’t know what to do. I told him what I wanted, which is how we ended up kissing on the couch, but he’s so closed off. I’m not sure he’ll be willing to do that again.”

“You’re right. Dax is extremely closed off. With everyone except you,” she said. “I think you’ve noticed by now that I’m right about how different he is with you. He’s had a very long life, Ally. And it’s been a hard one, full of loss and grief. I think that’s why he was able to get through to you when I brought you here after your parents passed. But that’s also why he’s resisting how he feels now.” She sighed and straightened from her position leaning over the counter. “You two are so alike, I’m not sure how you’ll be able to work through this unless one of you is willing to open up and be vulnerable first.”

My chest tightened at her words. Just the idea of taking that risk, of giving Dax more power to hurt me, it made it difficult to breathe. And I wasn’t sure what I feared the most—being rejected or getting what I wanted only to lose it at some point in the future.

“Ally.”

Minerva’s voice cut through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present.

Her expression was somber when I focused on her once again. She gestured to the amulet I wore.

“I didn’t tell you this, but I included a birth control charm on your amulet. Because I thought something like this might happen if the two of you were together for more than a day or two.”

I had no idea what to say to that. My mouth opened and then closed.

“He’s not going to touch you unless he knows for sure that you’re ready. And the only way he’ll believe it is if you show him. As frightening as it is to be vulnerable like that, I promise that the reward is worth the risk.”

Before I could formulate a response, the front door opened, and Dax came inside. It had begun to rain at some point because his grey t-shirt was plastered to his body.

Aunt Minnie didn’t say anything else, just gave me a look. One that I knew well. It clearly said that she expected me to be the one to take the risk.

Based on how Dax wasn’t even looking at me, I knew she was right that the first step would have to come from me.

Minerva picked up our mugs and carried them to the sink to rinse them out. Then, she turned to face Dax.

“I’d love to stay for dinner, but it seems that I have a protection amulet to make. The full moon is tonight, and though the clouds will interfere a bit, magic is still strongest at moonrise, so I need to get to work.”

She came around the counter to give me a hug. “Love you, sweet girl. See you tomorrow with your new amulet.”

I squeezed her back, relishing in the scent of lavender and rosemary that clung to her. “Love you, too.”

She released me and approached Dax. “Don’t let her out of your sight until I get the amulet to her. She’ll be vulnerable until then. I should have planned for something like this.”

Dax nodded but didn’t speak.

Minerva patted his arm. “I trust you to keep her safe. That’s why she’s here with you.”

He didn’t respond at all, his face shutting down until it appeared to be hewn from stone.

Aunt Minnie gave me a wave and walked out the front door. Dax followed, standing in the doorway to watch her progress to her car. A little of the fear that had iced my heart melted at the sight. It also made me realize that Minerva was right.

The reward would be worth the risk.

As long as Dax didn’t outright reject me.

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