She had a mile-wide smile on her face. Although she’d suffered so much at the hands of the demons, she now appeared to have recovered. How had she done it? Janie was so full of light that she’d fight anything that tried to extinguish it.
In fact, her bright personality drew others to her, none so much as Arto. He’d stood patiently by her side these past few months, as Roman had done for Larissa. It likely helped Janie recover. She’d gushed about their outings with long walks and quiet dinners, which sounded more and more to Larissa like dates. When Janie took Arto’s hand and squeezed, Larissa grinned.
One person was missing from this ceremony—her father. Nothing about this ceremony or her relationship to Roman was traditional, and her father was still too much an old-school cop to adjust to a situation like this. Sure, he’d been married to a witch, but he’d chosen to avoid that part of her world. Witnessing his daughter take on another species as her mate would be pushing it. He’d met Roman and approved of what she’d described to him as a commitment ceremony. That was enough to share with him for now.
Larissa was glad he’d decided to keep the cats at his place. He’d grown used to having them around and balked at the idea of them going to live with her at Stone Tower when she’d suggested it.
“They have all this space here,” he’d said. “They’re happy.”
She’d smiled. It was obvious that he’d bonded with them as well and enjoyed his playful, furry companions.
Roman winked at Larissa. “Ready?”
“I am.”
He took her hand and led them across a rooftop to an archway that Janie and Arto had decorated with white roses and purples irises. The scents of the flowers wafted around her as she took her place beneath it with Roman.
He turned to face the attendees. “Thank you all for coming today and joining in on this happy occasion.” He then faced Larissa and took both her hands in his. “And thank you for agreeing to be my life mate, Larissa. In front of all, I, Roman, pledge my love and devotion to you for eternity. I will protect you with my life.”
She stared into the amber eyes of her lover. “And, I, Larissa, pledge my love and devotion to you, Roman, as I become your life mate.”
Something strange happened inside her. The blood in her veins seemed to thrum with energy while synapses fired in her brain. Her soul recognized him as her partner. That they were joined. Bonded.
Mated, Roman whispered through their mental connection.
Two sentries concluded the ceremony by releasing a pair of doves, which soared together into the night sky.
Roman turned to the guests. “I hope you’ll all join my mate and me on a flight over the city to celebrate our new bond.”
Sentries hooted in agreement and shifted to gargoyle form.
Arto turned to Janie. “Are you up for it?”
She replied with a brilliant smile. “Wouldn’t miss it.” After he wrapped his arms around her, she said, “This will be much better than last time, I’m sure.”
“Indeed.” He replied. They weren’t facing demons in some hellish realm.
Roman shifted to gargoyle form, one that Larissa had come to accept as natural. He embraced her, pulling their bodies together. “Ready?”
She wrapped her arms around him. “Yes.”
He brought them to the edge of the rooftop and leapt. As they soared over Boston, the Stone Sentries flew behind them.
Larissa breathed in the city through all her senses. The lights danced in the reflection of the water as if celebrating along with them. The summer air sizzled with perfume. Even the sounds of the city leant a soothing backdrop. How different from the other times she’d flown with him, searching for demons or Janie. Perhaps it was because she was in love.
After twenty minutes or so, they returned to the rooftop. The sentries shifted back to human form. The next few hours whizzed by in a blur of congratulations and well wishes for their future. They dined and danced on the roof. It reminded her of a traditional wedding reception—only this one had an abundance of massive attendees, making it look like a bodybuilders’ convention.
Once they returned to their room, Roman put on a Frank Sinatra record—one of several in his collection. When “Come Fly with Me” played, she laughed. How appropriate for her gargoyle lover.
“Can I have a dance with my mate?” he asked.
She tilted her head. “We’ve been dancing all night.”
“But not alone.” He extended his hand and she took it. “And I’ve been waiting to have you to myself all night.”
“Yes, alone,” she agreed. No looming threats. No rush to danger.
He pulled her body against his. Her body sizzled with heat at all the places they’d touched.
“I have a present for you.”
She arched a brow, picturing how the night would unfold now that they were finally together. “Oh? I hope it’s you that I get to unwrap.”
He flashed a decadent grin. “Soon.”
He spun her around. When she faced him again, he said, “But, what I want to give you is a honeymoon.”
A honeymoon? He couldn’t leave the city, though, right? “Here in Boston?”
“No.”
She furrowed her brows in question. “You’re able to leave the city unguarded?”
He swayed her to the music. “It won’t be unprotected. It will be in good hands with Arto leading the Stone Sentries.”
She nodded. They were a formidable force, all right. “True. Where are we going?”
“You once told me you’d like to visit New Orleans. So, that’s where we’ll start.”
Warmth spread within her body, culminating in a mile-wide grin on her face. He’d remembered that conversation they’d had months ago.
He dipped her. “And, if fate permits,” he added, “We can move on from there.”
Fate. Something Larissa might have dismissed before meeting Roman. Had it been symbolic that it was on the night of the eclipse of a red Supermoon? That night had been hyped as one of passion, whereas he’d considered it a foreboding omen. Both scenarios had played out that night, the start of an intense journey together.
Perhaps fate had united them, after all.
When he pulled her back upright, she leaned up and kissed him.
“That sounds like the perfect start, Roman.” She winked. “I must be one lucky witch.”
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www.lisacarlislebooks.com
Dear Reader
Thank for reading Captivated by the Gargoyle. I hope you enjoyed reading more about Larissa and Roman. If you could take a moment and leave a review, I’d greatly appreciate it.
That’s it for Larissa and Roman for now, but tell me—do you want more Stone Sentries? I have ideas for more books in the series and I’d love to write them if you’d like to read them!
Drop me an email through my website or send me a message through Facebook.
If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my reader group to chat books. Bonus: We can share pics of cool gargoyles!
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Read on for more series, including more gargoyle shifters!
Acknowledgments
Since I started writing, I’ve met so many amazing people and I’m so grateful for all of them. Thank you to my fantastic critique partners, editors, beta readers, proofreaders, ARC readers, street team, and all of you read who read my books.
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And as always, thank you to my awesome husband for his support. With love, always!
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Lisa
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Lisa Carlisle loves stories with dark, brooding heroes and independent heroines. For much of her professional career, she’s written non-fiction — but she’s discovered writing romance is the most fun. Her romances have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Reviews and the Romance Reviews.
When she was younger,
she worked in a variety of jobs, moving to various countries. She served in the Marines in Okinawa, Japan, backpacked alone through Europe, and lived in Paris before returning to the U.S. She owned a bookstore for a few years as she loves to read. She’s now married to a fantastic man, and they have two kids, two cats, and too many fish.
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Visit her website for more on books, trailers, playlists, and more:
Lisacarlislebooks.com
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Sign up for her newsletter to hear about new releases, specials, and freebies:
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Lisa loves to connect with readers. You can find her on:
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Captivated by the Gargoyle: Stone Sentries 3 Page 15