“I am. I had a dog when I was young.”
“You know, you could put up a flyer at the tavern and see if anyone has a maplekitten they can’t handle. They breed like rabbits.”
“I don’t think I’d be a good caretaker considering my job.”
“Cats love high places, though.” It’s oddly easy to talk to him. I feel like we’ve known one another for ages.
“But the storms… Sometimes, I have toventure out in them to warn those who might not have heard the warning bell.”
“Like you did for me today.”
He nods and keeps petting Spark.
“Well, if you change your mind, I’d be happy to keep your kitten while you are on watch.”
His head lifts, and his gaze on me feels like a soft touch to the cheek. I swallow and cross my arms, suddenly sweating.
“That’s very kind of you.”
“I know not every human is nice. Sorry if you’ve had some bad experiences with my kind.”
An unfunny laugh huffs from him. “No one is as bad as a gargoyle.”
“What do you mean?”
He lifts Spark, his taloned fingers graceful and easy on the dragonfox’s small body. As he deposits Spark on the nearest chair, I imagine those monstrous hands on my cheek, running down the side of my neck, then gripping my hip. Heat shoots through me, and I take a quick breath. What’s wrong with me? I don’t want anything to do with that sort of thing.
“I should go,” he says.
I nod and escort him to the door, secretly glad that he isn’t telling me why gargoyles are supposedlyso bad. I don’t have time for another friend, or Blessed Stones forbid, a romance. I have to finish my tapestry, or I’ll be homeless by the next moon.
I open the door, and the cool wind tosses my hair and the ends of his cloak.
“Thank you for this morning,” I whisper as he begins to walk away. My cheeks heat again, and I don’t even really know why.
He glances back. “You’re welcome.”
And I just stand there like he’s turned me to stone.
Tully appears out of nowhere and smacks me on the arm. “You didn’t ask him, did you?” She raises her wand, and I lunge for her arm, but she manages to flick the magical weapon anyway.
Rom’s cloak moves like Tully is tugging on it. He spins, looking around.
“That’s just me!” Tully shouts. “Will you take Laini to the Harvest Party?”
I can’t breathe. I want to melt into the cobblestones. Everyone is looking this way. He’s going to say no. Why is he so tall? Is he the tallest person in this entire town? I’m losing my mind. He’ll definitely say no. I’m glad about that, but I wish this was happening inside my shop instead ofout here in the street. This is exactly why I didn’t want to do this—any of this.
Tully strokes my arm like I’m a nervous cat that needs coddling. I shake her hand from me.
Rom lifts his head. The line of one sharp cheekbone shows in the dim of his hood. “Yes. I will.”
My stomach falls to my knees. “I hate you, Tully,” I whisper, barely speaking.
The witch’s mouth twists into her usual terrible grin as the gargoyle walks away. “I hate you too, lovely girl.” Tully cups a hand at her mouth. “And I’ll make you both an appointment at the tailor’s for tomorrow!”
Chapter 4
Romulus
