Page 23 of Hidden By the Gargoyle

I hadn’t told my aunt that I was speaking to Talant in my dreams. I knew I should tell her, but I wasn’t sure how to explain it. The confession was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t open my mouth to release the words.

She shook her head. “All I can see is black when it comes to them. Since Edgar is dabbling in dark magic, I imagine he’s found a way to hide himself. And Leona.”

“But yesterday—” I started to say.

She shook her head. “It was more a strong feeling rather than an actual vision. As soon as the phone rang and I saw your name, I had a flash of Edgar and a sense of danger toward you, but nothing else.”

Crap. That didn’t exactly make me feel better.

Minerva got to her feet, smoothing down her skirt. “Now that you’re exhausted, tell me how things are going with Dax. Have you made your move yet?”

All thoughts of Sommerton and his claim that he “knew” Talant’s brother flew from my mind as I gaped at her. “Made my move? What do you mean?”

“You’ve been half in love with Dax Tremaine for nearly a decade. Now that you’re basically living with him, I thought that nature might take its course.”

My mouth opened and closed several times until I finally managed to speak. “But Dax doesn’t see me as a woman.”

Minerva rolled her eyes. “Ten years ago, you’d be right. He didn’t, which was for the best. But now? He’s definitely noticed you’re all grown up.”

My entire body flushed with hot embarrassment. “Aunt Minnie, I’m not talking to you about this.”

“Who else would you talk to?” she asked.

“Anyone who’s not you,” I shot back.

She grinned at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “A little birdie told me that you two slept in the same bed last night.”

Oh, I was going to kill Poppy. Or, once I figured out how to use my powers, I’d make sure that her wolf tail never went away, even when she was in human form.

“He insisted on sleeping on the floor and he was obviously in pain. His bed is huge, so it was stupid for him to basically torture himself.”

My aunt shot me a dry look and I sighed.

“Fine. Fine! Why don’t you say whatever it is you want to say so we can get this over with,” I relented.

“I want you to open your eyes and really look at Dax the next time you’re with him. Pay attention to how he treats you. How he talks to you.”

“Why?” I asked, fear creeping into my belly. I was afraid of what I might see if I truly looked.

“Because I think you’ll see that you’re not the only one who doesn’t know how to handle what you’re feeling.”

“Aunt Minnie?—”

She shook her head and lifted a finger to her lips, shushing me. “Just promise me that you’ll pay attention. And that you’ll take the first step if you see what I think you will. Dax will never do it because he would be worried about making you uncomfortable if you didn’t feel the same. It will have to be you.”

I scrubbed my hands over my face. Goddess, how had my life suddenly gotten so complicated?

“I’ll pay attention,” I replied. “I can’t promise that I’ll make the first move because that’s not…” I trailed off. I had no experience with that. I’d never had sex. Or even an actual boyfriend. I’d barely even dated. I’d only gone out with a few boys during college and absolutely no one in high school.

I had no idea how to handle a romantic relationship dynamic, much less sex.

My aunt perched her butt on the coffee table. “Are you still a virgin?” she asked.

I knew my face turned the color of a ripe tomato at her question, which was an answer in and of itself.

“Have you ever kissed someone? Maybe some heavy petting? What about an orgasm? Even if it was self-induced.”

“I’m not talking about this with you!” I cried, sitting up straight.

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