‘You are working together,’ Nicolas replied.
‘How is that, exactly?’
The bandoleer poured a cup of tea. He dumped a spoonful of sugar into his cup and stirred as he talked. ‘The Marks family has pledged themselves to the safety of all the Outcast clans. Quite a daunting task, but one in which they’ve excelled over the decades. Quentin has put Phillipe and Stephan in charge while he is gone, and the Marksmen will continue to look after the Circe.’
‘And as for me?’
Nicolas took a long drink. ‘You have another duty.’
‘Which is?’ I asked with some caution.
Nicolas crossed the living room, this time to Josephine’s chair. ‘The Romanys haven’t had a guardian living among us since the time of my great-grandfather and, with the exception of Karl, most of what we know comes from old tales and legends. But there is one thing I’m certain of,’ his hand moved to his daughter’s shoulder, and I followed the movement, feeling a strange stirring inside me, ‘you were branded, and Josephine’s scalv sealed you together. I’m not expecting you to single-handedly protect this clan, or even my family. But I do expect you to protect my daughter. Josephine is your charge.’
My heart crashed so hard against my ribs that I was sure one was going to break. ‘Protect her from what?’
My question seemed to spark something inside the Romany leader. He pointed at me, his eyes hard as concrete. ‘That’s not your concern, gargoyle.’
Sabina stood quickly. ‘You’ve heard the rumors, Sebastian. The Boswells are a head family; so are we. Which means these threats could be aimed at us as well.’ She stole a sideways glance at her husband with an expression I didn’t understand. ‘There must be a reason that our daughter was set apart to have a guardian. We can’t ignore that.’
Nicolas’ demeanor was calm once more, but his eyes held their fire as they remained on me. ‘I’m ordering you to stay with Josephine at all times. She is your top priority, and I’m entrusting you with her life.’
I found it difficult to take a breath. ‘And Quentin?’
Josephine’s luminous eyes met mine for the first time.
‘Would not understand,’ she finished quietly.
10. Alone Together
My gaze locked with hers, electricity singeing my skin. It was only a second, but felt like decades. Then Nicolas was speaking, and Josephine dropped her chin, hiding her beautiful eyes behind thick lashes.
‘Karl, you will find out everything you can about these chimera attacks we’ve heard about. Contact as many clans in the Southeast as you’re able. I don’t believe their sudden presence and the mercenary rumors are coincidental.’
The old trainer scratched his beard. ‘While I agree there’s some link between them, I don’t understand why someone would go after your daughter, Nicolas. Wouldn’t the bandoleer be the obvious target?’
‘One would think.’ The tone Nicolas used shut the topic for further discussion. ‘But I’m not a fool, nor will I take any chances. I’ve assigned Phillipe and Stephan to watch over myself and my wife. And Jacque will look after my son.’
‘Oh, joy,’ muttered Francis.
Karl set his empty cup on the table. ‘It just doesn’t make any sense. Chimeras following orders from a Roma? Those beasts have been out of our control since the Sundering of the Clans, centuries ago.’
Nicolas’ eyes narrowed into green daggers. ‘What are you saying?’
‘I don’t know,’ Karl replied. ‘We could be dealing with something new here, Nicolas. These renegade Gypsies, whoever they are, may have uncovered some form of shadowen knowledge that has been lost to us. Perhaps even found a way to harness the chimeras.’
Sabina made a sign with her hand, and Francis muttered a curse under his breath.
The bandoleer scowled. ‘That defies the laws of the Court.’
‘The desire for power often blurs the lines of law,’ Karl replied.
‘If such is the case, then we have to find the puppetmaster who’s pulling the strings,’ said Nicolas.
Karl cast a sideways glance at me. The image of Thaddeus’ vicious animal face flashed in my mind, and I shut my eyes to block it out. As soon as I did, another face sparked across my memory – long and dark, with piercing eyes and a white scar winding along the cheek.
‘I believe you already have,’ I said.
Nicolas frowned at me, as though he’d forgotten I was standing there. ‘Explain.’
I looked around the room, my heightened senses prickling under the touch of adrenaline caused by their stares. ‘The creature that I kil — that I fought tonight … I knew him. His name was Thaddeus, and he was a gargoyle.’
‘You’re mistaken,’ said Nicolas with a fierce shake of his head. ‘I saw that monster with my own eyes. It was a chimera.’
I squelched the growl rising in my chest. I had to maintain my calm, especially here. I paused, ensuring my voice was level and steady before continuing. ‘Last autumn, when I first began … changing … three gargoyles showed up at my brother’s shop. One of them was Thaddeus. They tried to convince me to join them. They said the Gypsies had enslaved them, but they’d found a way to free themselves.’ I heard Josephine’s intake of breath like a rush in my ears. But I didn’t look at her. ‘That’s when they introduced me to Augustine.’
Nicolas’ face went fiercely dark. ‘You think the creature was one of Augustine’s demons?’
The word stung, and I felt my claws curling into my palms. Karl’s eyes bore down heavy on me, and I wondered what territory I was treading into. I raised my chin. ‘I do.’
Nicolas rose slowly. His eyes narrowed to slits. The emotion radiating from him was deadly. ‘How can you know that? Have you had contact with him?’
‘No,’ I replied. ‘And I haven’t seen his gargoyles since the fight on the bridge, when Quentin’s guys chased them off and Hugo took me home.’ My wings shuddered against my back. ‘Not until tonight, when that thing that used to be Thaddeus attacked me.’
‘I thought Augustine was taken care of,’ Karl interjected. ‘Your sister promised to—’
‘I know what she promised,’ Nicolas snapped in reply, his tone almost vicious. He turned away from me to face the others. ‘But if what this gargoyle says is true, then we have another problem on our hands.’
‘What’s that?’ I asked.
Nicolas ignored my question and paced the narrow length of the living room. ‘Karl, I must consult with the council. You will join me. Sabina, you and the children stay here. The gargoyle will watch over you until I return.’
I opened my mouth, but caught Karl’s eye. He shook his head, with a look that told me the rest of my end of the conversation would have to wait. The old trainer followed Nicolas out, and the door banged shut behind them.
‘This is crap,’ Francis said, storming into the kitchen. ‘I was in a good mood at the thought of your boyfriend leaving for a while,’ he called back to Josephine. ‘Now, we’re going to have his lap boys in our business 24/7 while he’s gone.’
I heard him rummaging in the cabinets. A part of me wanted to smile, knowing at least one person felt the same way about Quentin as I did, but I kept my face void of expression. Sabina collected the teacups from around the room.
‘Would you like something to eat, Sebastian?’ she asked in a kind voice.
It was obvious that my presence unnerved her, like she was offering food to a crocodile, but I was grateful for the hospitality. I was starving, but the last thing I wanted to concentrate on was food. I shook my head and attempted a smile. ‘No, thank you. I’m fine.’
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Let me know if you change your mind.’ Sabina returned my smile, then called over her shoulder into the kitchen. ‘Francis, would you help me fold down the canopy outside?’
Francis muttered a reply and followed Sabina out the trailer door.
Just like that, I was alone with Josephine. Electric currents pulsed in my veins, and I inched closer to the wall, foldin
g my wings in as far as they would go. How had everything changed so suddenly?
I’d sworn to keep my distance; I’d find a way to help the Romanys without interfering in her life. But now, the bandoleer had ordered me to stay with his daughter. My head pounded at the thought. I rubbed my forehead, my fingers brushing against my new, spiraled horns. I flinched, wondering what Josephine thought of me. It seemed that each time I saw her, I was less of a man and more of a—
‘How’s your knee?’ I asked quickly.
Josephine took the ice pack from her leg and dumped it on the floor. ‘It’s fine,’ she replied with a nonchalant wave of her hand. She didn’t look at me, but her eyes were wet with unshed tears. The sight made my heart thump harder and hurt deeper.
‘What happened?’
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
It would’ve been easier to let it drop, turn away and concentrate on something else – like not breaking anything in the small room. But, before I could stop myself, I was kneeling beside her chair.
‘Josephine.’ Saying her name gave me goosebumps. ‘Please tell me what’s wrong.’
She stared past me, her jaw working. Then she sighed. ‘It was my fault.’
‘What was?’
She clenched her hands tightly in her lap. I looked at her fingers, which were long and shapely, but with short nails that bore the evidence of nervous biting. It was a minor human detail. Flawed. Real. Comforting.
‘The chimera.’ Josephine said the word as though she were convinced speaking it aloud would make one appear. ‘It’s my fault it attacked you.’
‘Why would you say that?’
‘Because I saw it earlier tonight, while I was at rehearsal. It was lurking in the rafters of the tent.’ She squeezed her eyes shut, like she was trying to block out the image. ‘I can’t explain it, but I knew it was after me.’
A flame of hot fire shot up my spine. ‘But—’
‘Yeah, I know,’ she said, cutting me off. ‘Quentin was right outside the tent with his men. They could’ve handled it. Should’ve handled it. That’s what Marksmen do.’ Josephine rolled her bottom lip under and chewed on it for a moment. ‘But I wanted you here.’
I put a hand on the floor to brace myself. ‘Me?’ My voice sounded raspy in my ears.
‘We’re supposed to have this connection, right?’
I nodded slowly, unsure of where Josephine was going. ‘Yes.’
‘Well, I thought you might … I don’t know … sense it or something, and you’d come find me.’ Josephine fixed her gaze on the wall, and her expression grew narrow, almost angry. ‘It was a stupid thing to do, really. I don’t know what I was thinking. But then you actually showed up in Karl’s trailer. I couldn’t look at you without giving something away, and I couldn’t risk Quentin suspecting anything because …’ She trailed off for a moment. ‘If Quentin thought I was in danger …’
‘He wouldn’t leave,’ I finished softly.
‘You’ve seen the tension between my father and Quentin,’ she replied. ‘If he defied the bandoleer’s orders to escort Peter Boswell home, it would only make things worse between them.’
The lump of emotion I harbored in my chest grew spikes and wedged deeper. ‘I don’t know what to do, Josephine. I don’t want my presence causing more friction than it already has, but I don’t see how I can ignore your father’s command either.’
At last, Josephine looked at me.
I immediately wished she hadn’t. Her luminous eyes focused on my forehead, and I felt her recoil, even though she tried to hide the movement. I rocked back on my heels, creating more space between us.
‘No, Sebastian,’ she said firmly, grabbing my arm. Our eyes met again. ‘I don’t want you to ignore it because I’m the one who convinced my father about you. I’m the one who believes you’re my guardian.’
Josephine’s confession hung between us. Then suddenly, she let out a frustrated cry and pushed herself from the chair. I leapt up, catching her under the arm as she stumbled. She clutched my shoulder for balance, and her hand lingered there. The warmth of her palm radiated into my skin.
‘Well, it worked, didn’t it?’ I said, smiling with closed lips. ‘I came back because I knew something was wrong. I can’t explain things either. but I knew.’ I remembered the look on Francis’ face when I leapt from the truck. ‘Of course, your brother probably thinks I’m insane now.’
A brief spark returned to her eyes. ‘But what about the fight?’ Her gaze roamed to my cheek. ‘You had to face that chimera alone.’
‘I’m a gargoyle, remember? Apparently, I can take care of myself,’ I smiled again, but this time, I felt sick inside. If Josephine had seen what had happened, the way I’d totally lost it, I doubted she’d be standing this close to me.
She leaned closer. Creases appeared between her brows. ‘What are you thinking?’
I blinked away images of the dead chimera and the sight of its body turning to ash and floating away on the wind. My stomach cramped. ‘I don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell all this to Quentin. He wants keep you safe.’
Josephine bowed her head. Her hair brushed against my cheek. I tried to avoid her scent, but it was impossible. My head buzzed with it. My mind conjured images of my lips against hers, and I had to force them away.
‘How do you tell the man you love that you don’t think he can protect you?’ Her voice trembled. ‘How can I do that to him? I don’t want to hurt him.’
‘You shouldn’t have to,’ I replied. I felt suddenly heavy, and I realized my wings were sagging. ‘I’ll talk to Nicolas when he gets back. There has to be a way I can watch over things from a distance and still keep your father’s orders.’
‘Sebastian, it’s more than that.’ Josephine gripped my bicep with surprising strength. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, like she was preparing for a stunt. When she spoke again, her voice was just above a whisper. ‘I’ve always known something bad was going to happen to me. It’s hung over me my whole life, and no matter how many Marksmen we have, no matter how many places we’ve traveled to, I’ve never felt really safe.’ She blinked slowly. ‘Until I met you.’
The blood pounded in my ears. ‘Josephine—’
‘I didn’t understand what I felt, so I tried to play it off.’ She looked suddenly pained. ‘I tried to be your friend, thinking it would go away. But there was this connection, and it made me feel scared. Guilty. Like I was betraying Quentin. I couldn’t explain things in a way that he’d understand.’ Her fingers went white as they pressed into my arm. ‘I thought things would be okay after we left Sixes. But they weren’t. And it’s because you were meant to be here the whole time. I’d been letting my fears control me, but the second I saw you at the bonfire, all hooded and cloaked and … alone …’ she tilted her chin to look at me, ‘that’s when I knew.’
‘I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, Josephine.’ My wings quivered against my back. ‘But I’m not this guardian warrior from your people’s stories.’ I glanced away, shame flooding my cheeks. ‘Honestly, I don’t know what I am anymore.’
She placed her hand against my jaw, coaxing me back to her. She studied my features, this time with a steady, determined gaze. ‘You’re Sebastian,’ she said gently. ‘Even before I knew you were a guardian, from the first time we talked at my birthday party, I knew you were special. You have a good heart.’
Joy mingled with pain as I leaned hesitantly into her hand. Josephine smiled, her fingers tender over the healing scratches on my cheek. My skin tingled with electricity under her touch. Then she seemed to realize what she was doing and abruptly withdrew her hand.
‘Thanks,’ I said, feeling the heat of her touch melt into embarrassment.
‘We’ll figure this out, okay?’
I nodded. ‘Okay.’
Sabina appeared in the doorway, and I retreated, increasing the distance between myself and Josephine. Her mother didn’t say anything, but she glanced at us as she disappea
red down the narrow hall of bedrooms. My head continued to spin, but gradually the air cooled around me, and I cleared my throat.
‘Well, I guess I’m stuck here until your father returns,’ I said. ‘He was pretty direct in his orders.’
Josephine eased herself into the chair. ‘He’s used to being in charge.’ She took the ice pack, positioning it on her knee once more. ‘Quentin doesn’t see eye to eye with him, but he respects him.’
Quentin’s threat reverberated in my memory.
It’s only a matter of time before I find a way around Nicolas Romany. He’s blind to what you are, but I’m not. Remember that.
As many secrets as Josephine kept from Quentin, I wondered if he kept as many from her. Fierce ambition simmered under the Marksman’s calm control. But I wouldn’t taint Josephine’s opinion of me by demeaning her boyfriend. I studied the wall decor instead.
One oil painting caught my eye: an ancient cathedral, with spires and ornate Gothic architecture, loomed against a midnight sky. On the front steps, a Gypsy woman stood with outstretched arms. Along the parapets of the cathedral, statue upon statue clung to the stone – elegantly carved monsters of all shapes and forms, their faces cold.
One gargoyle stood apart from the others. It was suspended in midair, wings unfurled against the starry sky. At first glance, it seemed the monster was preparing to attack the Gypsy woman. But there was a soft expression on its hideous face – a sadness that was completely at odds with its beastly form.
‘The painting belonged to my grandmother,’ said Josephine. ‘Some evenings, I just sit here and look at it. It makes me feel better, I guess.’
I reached out to touch the painting then caught sight of my thick claws. I curled my hand into a fist, hiding them from view. My hand dropped to my side. ‘Josephine, if I’m going to be watching over you, I’d like to know something.’
I heard Josephine shift in the chair. ‘What’s that?’
My eyes lingered on the girl in the painting. ‘Why do you think I was sealed to you? Like Karl said, your father’s the bandoleer. Wouldn’t he be the one in danger? Why haven’t a host of gargoyles appeared to protect your family? Why just me?’ I pulled my gaze from the artwork and glanced over my shoulder. ‘Why do you believe I’m meant to protect you?’
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