Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 70779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
“Look, put me down—we can’t keep talking while you’re holding me—you’ll hurt your back,” I said, trying to give him a reason to let me go.
He frowned in apparent confusion.
“I will? How?”
Goddess, did I really have to spell it out for him? Apparently so.
“Because I’m too heavy—I’m not thin,” I emphasized.
His eyes—which were an improbable pale silver—were suddenly half-lidded.
“I know that Mistress—you have the curves of a goddess.”
“The what of a who? Never mind,” I said, before he could either repeat himself or say something even worse. “Just put me down. Now.”
Reluctantly, I thought, he set me down on my feet. Then he immediately knelt in front of me again.
“Mistress,” he rumbled, bowing his head. “Please forgive me for disturbing you. I wished only to help.”
“Well you can help by leaving me alone,” I said briskly.
“Alas, I cannot—I am bound to you,” he said.
I looked at Goody Albright who seemed to know a lot about this kind of thing.
“Is that right? Does he have to stay with me?”
“I’m afraid so, my dear,” she said. “But consider—this could be a good thing. Didn’t you tell me that you have several people after you right now who wish to do you harm?”
“Where are they?” Kael’s eyes began glowing red—which was exactly what they’d done before he morphed fully into his scary-ugly gargoyle form. “I will kill them for daring to threaten you, Mistress!”
“Would you please stop calling me that? My name is Willow,” I said. “And you don’t need to worry about them—they’re not here.”
“Tell me their names and I will seek them out.” His eyes were still glowing. “I will tear them limb from limb—they will not live to see another sunrise!”
The offer was tempting, I must admit—especially in Carlo’s case. But a dismembered policeman would only cause me more trouble, not less. The New Orleans PD takes the murder of their own very seriously and a disgruntled ex-wife would probably be high on their suspect list.
“Thank you for the offer, but no,” I said firmly. “I can handle things myself without ‘tearing anyone limb-from-limb.’”
“Very well.” He nodded gravely. “Then I will wait until you order me to dispatch your enemies.”
“I’m not going to ask you to ‘dispatch’ anyone. And would you please get up?” I asked. I felt ridiculous—like some kind of queen with an overeager knight kneeling before her, offering to go slay a dragon or something.
“As you wish, Mistress. Forgive me—Willow,” he rumbled, rising to his feet.
The minute he was up, I almost wished I hadn’t told him to stop kneeling. He really was massive—he towered over me and the top of my head didn’t even reach his muscular shoulder.
“Okay, well…” I wasn’t sure what to do next. I looked at Goody Albright. “Can I see that guest cottage now?”
“Oh, certainly my dear. This way.”
She started down the garden path and I followed her, trying to ignore the fact that Kael was right behind me. At the far end of the garden and through a grove of trees, there was an adorable little cottage with two window boxes, right in front, overflowing with flowers. It was so tiny I thought it would probably be the size of a small studio apartment inside. I didn’t mind the size though—I just wanted a place to sleep for the night. And next morning, I was going to get up early and use the heavy lion-head key to draw a door back home so I could check on the shop and Miss Sassy.
“This is the Flower Bower,” Goody Albright said proudly, opening the door and gesturing me inside. “I do hope you don’t have any allergies to plants or flowers, though—this isn’t the sort of place for people with those problems.”
“Oh no—I work with medicinal herbs and flowers at the shop all the time,” I assured her. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
I started to step through the door, and then noticed that Kael was about to follow me.
“Nope, I don’t think so.” I turned to face him. “You are not coming in here with me.”
He frowned down at me.
“Why not?”
“How about because I’m not letting a strange man—or gargoyle or angel or whatever you are—into the place I’m planning to sleep,” I snapped. “I don’t even know you.”
His frown deepened.
“What is there to know? I am your protector. But how can I protect you if I’m not with you?”
“That’s your problem, not mine,” I informed him. “All I know is that you’re not coming in with me.”
The hurt look returned to his face—as though he couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t allow him to just come on in and make himself at home.
“Mistress, I would never harm you,” he rumbled. “I wish only to serve you in any way you desire and to keep you safe.”
I felt a part of me melting—the part that had been locked in ice ever since the first time Carlo hit me. But I still wasn’t going to give in.