Page 41 of The Last Gargoyle's Christmas Wish
Lacy walked into the back area. She’d been serving out front. A playful smile danced on her lips as she glanced at Grady. She began to collect some cookies and place them in a basket. “You’re getting so forgetful, Grady. It’s so unlike you. I wonder why? Is it because of the handsome Uzoth?” Lacy laughed.
Grady froze. Was that it? Was that why he kept fucking up and letting his family down?
Lacy grabbed another basket and continued to fill it with cookies. “And you forgot to come over and put a protection charm on my new apartment like you said you would.”
His blood turned to ice.
Lacy picked up a cookie and took a bite. “You know someone wandered straight into our apartment in the middle of the night,” she said, mouth full. “It was just a drunk neighbour who’d gotten the doors mixed up. But I thought that would never have happened with Grady’s protection charm. That would have kept our drunk neighbour out on their arse.” She shook her head, smiling. “You’re so distracted with your handsome gargoyle.”
“I’m so sorry, Lacy.” The words tore at Grady’s throat.
She spun, all mirth and teasing laughter draining from her face. “Oh, I’m just joking, Grady! It’s just a joke. We had a greattime. Our neighbour is lovely, and they shared their mead with us. We stayed up talking for hours.”
Grady shook his head, staring down at the crates full of baked goods.
“Grady, she didn’t mean it,” Trent said.
What if something had happened to Lacy or her girlfriend? What if the person had come in with plans to harm them? His lips tingled. Numbness swept through his limbs.
“We’re really happy you’ve found someone.” Lacy came towards him. “And we have more help now with Kit, Wulfric, and Avery. You can take some time for yourself.”
The metallic tang of blood filled his nostrils. He could hear the horses’ shrieks mixed with his mother’s as the horses ran over his parents. Their bones crunched beneath horses’ hooves and carriage wheels.
Grady looked at his hands. Warm blood covered his palms and fingers.
He could hear his siblings speaking, but they sounded so far away. All he could see was the blood on his hands.
Hands shaking, he gripped the sides of the crates, stacked them, and lifted them.
“I’m sorry. I’ll come by tonight to do the charm.” Grady’s voice shook. He felt light-headed. He couldn’t breathe. “I’ll go pick up Michael and take him to the Christmas markets. Then tonight, I’ll go to your place to do the charm. I’m really sorry.”
“Grady!” Lacy protested. “I was teasing. I didn’t mean it.”
Grady shook his head, not looking at her.
“And it’s already late afternoon.” Lacy placed a hand on his arm. “You won’t have time today. We can do it another day. It will be fine. Really.”
He kept shaking his head. “I’ll make time tonight.” He’d do it no matter the cost. He wasn’t going to lose his sister because he’d gotten distracted.
“Grady!” Lacy whined.
But Grady was already out the door.
CHAPTER 23
Uzoth stared down into the alley.
The door to the bakery flung open. Grady came out carrying crates. Grady fumbled with them, almost dropping them onto the cobblestones as he pressed his hand against the sigil and charged the protection charm.
Uzoth’s gaze narrowed.
Something is wrong.
Grady started walking in the direction of the Christmas markets. He stopped. “Fuck!” he barked. Then he turned and walked in the other direction, towards Ordelia’s.
Something is definitely wrong.
Unfurling his wings, Uzoth took flight and landed beside Grady.
