Page 38 of Enchanting Her Monsters
Or have we been channeling another reality?
Because now I’m living in one of these alternate universes.
I get dizzy with the idea that the stories we make up all have a truth to them. We could stumble into any of them at any time.If it’s true what scientists say about the multiverse, perhaps all these worlds we write about actually exist.
“Heartstone?” Flint calls me out of my haze of thoughts. “Do you need to rest?”
As he says it, I feel the fatigue hit me since we were up the entire night bonding.
I nod, and he lifts me from his lap and carries me into the bedroom.
He places me in the center of the huge bed and crawls onto one side, pulling the covers over us.
Calder appears at the doorway, looking tired and lonely.
If he kept a lookout the whole night, I understand why he was.
“There’s enough room.” I scoot into Flint some more. “I’ll do my best to keep my hands to myself.”
He gives me a half smile, and after a moment of hesitation, he joins us, but on top of the covers.
Maxum peeks in and tosses the blanket that Calder has been using from the couch at him.
Calder thanks him and lies on his back, appearing uneasy.
“I’m going to turn away from you, but just so I can make you more comfortable.” I say to Calder and then nuzzle into Flint’s chest.
I wake hours later with a warm palm on my hip over the blanket and someone’s face buried in the hair at the back of my neck. It slowly dawns on me it isn’t Arran or Maxum, but Calder snuggled up to me.
Opening my eyes, I see Flint watching him. There doesn’t seem to be anger or jealousy, just curiosity.
Using our mental bond, I ask my gargoyle.“Have you been watching him the whole time?”
“Yes.”
“Does Calder touching me upset you?”
“No. I now understand what happened yesterday. I also see you’re good for him. I sense he’s tired of being broken… to the point he welcomed my threat of death if he hurt you. It makes my heart weep for him. Especially since I know how wonderful it is to feel healed and loved by you.”
My eyes sting with tears, thinking about how they have lived just getting by. Flint and Arran now have happiness, and I helped open that door for them. Calder and Osen are still hurting. I know it’s not my job to heal them, but I want to do what I can.
Thankfully, it seems Maxum has only been lonely. Unless there’s something else hidden in his heart. Could that be why he hesitates in bonding with me?
I hear Calder suck in a breath when he wakes, realizing where he is. Yet, he doesn’t move away like I expect. No, he pushes his nose deeper against my scalp, inhales my scent, and hums.
“What do I smell like?” I ask quietly, letting him know I’m awake.
He jerks ever so slightly. “Uh… you smell like hope.”
“Is hope a musky scent, or does it have more of a flowery note?” Maxum asks from the doorway.
I glance over and see him casually leaning against the door frame with his muscular arms crossed over his chest.
Has he been watching Calder the whole time, too?
It makes me nervous that both Maxum and Flint were so worried they couldn’t let him sleep next to me without monitoring.
“Shut up, asshole,” Calder grumbles at Maxum, but when I look over my shoulder to gauge his mood, he has a relaxed expression. His eyes are soft and hooded as he returns my gaze.He rolls out of the bed and rubs the back of his head, ruffling his auburn locks into more disarray. “Taking a shower.”
