Page 55 of The Gargoyle's Glade

“Why?” My heart was in my throat imagining the cost, and his thoughtfulness was making me emotional. The two together had me spiraling in confusion. “Coltor, that must have cost a fortune! I can’t afford?—”

“Don’t insult me, Firebird. I chose what I wanted to. There is no part of the cost that is in any way your responsibility, nor your concern.”

“But—”

“Merry. No.” He sighed, staring at me until I relented. “It seemed a fair price for the labor it will take. And you needed one. So, you’ll have one.”

“Needed one? For what?”

“Somewhere to greet the animals that will come. They always go to Ophelia’s pretty colored window, so…” He shrugged again, like this logic was obvious. We rounded the corner, and I could see that the rooms had been designed to sit at the front of the dwelling for a specific purpose. The whole back side of the cabin sat lower than the rest and currently had no roof. My chest squeezed as I puzzled out what it was for.

“A greenhouse?”

Coltor smiled and nodded. “For all your seedlings. You can raise even the trickiest plants, I’m told. The glazer is also working on the special panes for the roof and walls. And in a few weeks, they’ll be back to build Jacks a shelter. I only need you to tell me where you’d like it.”

“Coltor.” I marveled at the nearly completed rooms, a barrage of emotions flooding through me. I fought against the reflex to think I didn’t deserve such things, that surely thiscouldn’t all be meant for me. “I don’t even know what to say, this is incredible. How long have you been planning this?”

“Not that long. Though I will say the builders were all very pleased to have a reason to come back here to work. Took very little to convince them to take this project on.” He grinned. “Finding a time when you’d be away long enough to make good progress so I could surprise you was the most challenging part.”

“This is… There are no words. Thank you.” Tears prickled in my eyes.

“You’re welcome, Firebird.” He kissed my knuckles, a satisfied smile putting a twinkle in his eyes.

I stood on my toes and drew his face down to mine, reveling in the way his mouth immediately softened.

“Where are we spending our evening?” I asked. We rotated frequently, though lately he’d been spending more time at my cabin than I spent at his hut. I got the feeling he was beginning to separate himself from the little barrack, but having our own spaces worked for us. For now.

“Yours. After a day on your feet, we need the bigger tub. Or we could go to the pools.”

“Oh saints, a hot bath sounds so nice. Maybe another night for the pools, I don’t want to get chilled on the way back.”

“Come on then. I think there might even be something left to eat.” He tugged on my hand, pulling me close as we approached my porch.

My gaze caught on the fallow garden beds. They needed to be turned and replanted for spring soon. I could hardly believe all that had changed in the short time since I’d come to the glade.

Coltor gazed down at me from the porch, expression a perfectly serene mask of adoration and patience. I took his hand, knowing that he’d lead me into the cabin and feed me dinner. Then he’d run us a bath, wash my hair, and tease me without a shred of mercy while he got me clean and made sure I was niceand relaxed. Then he’d take me to my bed, or the sofa, or the kitchen table, and dirty me right back up—several times—before curling his body around mine and allowing me to sleep better than I ever had.

And there was not a thing about that I would change or complain about.

As I stared at him, my night playing out in my mind, I realized what I was feeling in that moment was incredibly complicated and also impossibly simple.

My cabin, the glade, the gargoyle in it—they werehome. And I would forever be grateful to have found it.