Page 19 of Stone Heart
Chapter 7
Rina squeezed her mother tight, breathing in her familiar scent.
“Mom, I’m so glad to see you,” she murmured, pulling away. She fought back tears and looked at her mother.
Her mother’s eyes were narrowed at Rhodack. It was then Rina realized how stiff her mother’s body was.
“Mom, did they hurt you?”
“No, my child,” her mother said, breaking her stare to turn to Rina. “I should be asking you that.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered, throwing daggers at Rhodack. She took in his fierce gaze, and her heart raced. She couldn’t believe she’d thought of nothing else but the kiss they’d shared.
She was a fool.
But as she really looked at him, doubt crept into the back of her mind. She wasn’t sure why. She should be appalled. Let him investigate why that figure was after her, take care of it, and then allow her to return back to her life.
“Rhodack Gahnoth,” Solana announced, gripping Rina’s arm and pushing her behind her.
Rina peeked around her mother, shocked her mother knew him. “Mom, how do you know him?” she asked in disbelief.
“Solana, it’s been a long time,” he murmured, eyes narrowed on her mother.
Rina glanced around. The gargoyles had spread out to various points in the room. Fear tiptoed into her chest, and she tightened her grip on her mother’s hand.
“Mom, what’s going on?” she demanded.
“You’ve really kept her from knowing what she truly is, haven’t you, Solana? That’s why she thinks she’s human,” Rhodack moved toward them.
“Mom, please tell him that I’m—”
“Rina,” her mother whispered, turning to her. She gazed down on Rina, tears filling her eyes. Regret lined her face, and she shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”
A gasp escaped Rina’s lips as she stared at her mother. She covered her mouth with her hand, releasing her mother’s. She took a step back. Her heart raced, and she tried to catch her breath. What the hell was going on?
“No,” she moaned, shaking her head.
“Rina. I did it to protect you,” Solana cried out.
Rina backed away.
“Protect her from what?” Rhodack snapped. “What is she?”
Rina stood in horror, watching her mother’s appearance shift. The air around her shimmered while her hair grew darker and longer. Her body became curvier, and she was now clad in a lace black gown, cinched with a red belt. Her eyes opened, and she stared at Rina. It was her mother’s face, but it was like looking at another woman. She’d never seen her mother dressed like this before.
“Rina, baby. I’m so sorry,” Solana cried, tucking her hair behind an ear. “There’s so much I need to explain to you.”
“Wait—how can you do that?” Rina gasped. How could she just change her appearance? What the hellwasher mother? Rina’s breaths came fast as she glanced around the room. The slight hint of pain came creeping into the back of her brain.
It pulsed.
She blinked, trying to fight the agony.
“Witch,” Rhodack snarled.
The gargoyles around the room had their eyes trained on Solana as if they were waiting for Rhodack to give an order to attack.
Solana came to stand in front of Rina. She smiled through her tears and gazed down into Rina’s eyes. She reached up and ran her fingertips along Rina’s temple in the similar way she’d always done when Rina was a child. Rina closed her eyes and leaned into her mother’s hand.
