Page 93 of Eat. Prey. Love.
“Good thing you wore that sleek suit, love. Can’t have you look shabby next to snack size, now can we?” Aubrey mutters from the corner, his grumpy tone belied by the affectionate glint in his eye.
I offer him a wry smile, knowing his barbs are rooted in love. “It’s not possible for me to look shabby,mon ami. Gargoyles are timeless creatures of elegance and Giselle..”
“Mmmmhmmm,” Aubrey hums, flipping through a magazine with disinterest. “Just remember you have to pick up our results, love. You’re buzzing around like a moth in a lamp shop, and I’m concerned you’re turning into Fitzgerald.”
“Never.” I scoff as I watch Dolly put on her jewelry. “Paris holds so much of my past. Sharing it with our mate is everything.”
“Then don’t keep the lady waiting,” Aubrey says with a smirk. “Get your poetic ass in gear and head out before you decide not to go anywhere. Or worse… before Fitz decides you’re not going.”
Taking a deep breath, I extend my elbow to Dolly. “Shall we?”
She links her arm in mine, her laughter the melody that has scored my life since I met her. We leave the room, stepping into the night, and I feel the weight of centuries lift off my shoulders. Tonight, I am her romantic guide through the city that pulses inmy veins, the city I once watched over from Notre Dame’s highest tower.
“Lead the way,mongargoyle,” Dolly says, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Prepare to fall in love with Paris,” I promise, and we head into the evening, the stars above winking their approval at our grand adventure.
Hopefully, she loves it even half as much as I love her
We walk to the front of the library where the fancy sports car the Captain procured awaits, gleaming under the streetlights like a predator at rest. I help Dolly into the passenger seat before sliding into the driver’s side, feeling the leather hug my frame. The engine purrs to life, a symphony of mechanical precision that sends a thrill through me.
As we weave through the streets of Paris, the city unfurls before us, a tapestry of lights and shadows. Dolly leans back, her eyes roaming over the buildings as if trying to stitch together the story of my past from their facades.
“Tell me about when you lived here as a wee gargoyle,” she urges, her voice awed as she looks around.
“During the 1400s, Paris was...” I begin, and the words flow from me, painting a vivid picture of a city wracked by plague and war. “The Hundred Years War was not just about humans,ma petite. Shifters and mages played their parts in the shadows, tipping scales and weaving spells.”
“One of those books we’ve been reading said that Joan of Arc was a lion shifter?” Dolly interjects with a raised eyebrow, her tone skeptical. “I don’t know how they hid that in battle. It seems like it would be really hard with all those humans around.”
“Oui, she was.” I nod, feeling the familiar ache of old memories. “She fought valiantly to restore balance when the mageand shifter territory battle threatened the humans. They said her roar was as fierce as her conviction, but I never met her.”
“Learning the truth about history is kind of a bummer,” she sighs, shaking her head. “I feel like the bad guy by association. We’re lying to the humans—that’s not such a big deal. But the prey animals have been relegated to a servant class and magic users were locked in a prison—so to speak. It feels icky as hell.”
I give her a wry smile. “The truth is often uncomfortable, Dolly. While I knew the magical beings probably got a raw deal, I was sent away young like Flames. We lost the power to affect change when our families cut us out—though it’s not really an excuse, I suppose. We were too damaged to do anything but wallow in seclusion.”
“Rennie, you were kids.” Her hand covers mine and she smiles softly. “That’s like saying I should have been doing something radical when I was trapped with Lucille and Bruno. Feeling guilty about the past doesn’t help anyone—what are we doing now?Thatwill help people.”
My eyes dance as I squeeze her fingers for a moment, then return to shifting. “Always keeping us from self-centered brooding, that’s you,lapin. You’re not quite sunshine, but you do keep the clouds away.”
Our conversation turns, dancing between epochs and legends until the Louvre looms before us, majestic even in the dark. We’re guided to a discreet back entrance where a figure larger than life waits. Dolly’s breath catches as the gorilla shifter greets us with a nod, his size eclipsing the doorway.
“Got your results,” he rumbles, handing me the envelope. His hand engulfs mine briefly, the exchange grounding in its brevity. “Aubrey said it was important so I muscled the samples through the red tape and line. He owes me one; it wasn’t easy.”
“Merci,” I say, tucking the envelope away. “We will examine themlater with our complete family. Aubrey and the others will provide a myriad of viewpoints that will help us interpret your data.”
“Makes sense,” the gorilla shifter agrees. “Have the dragon contact me if he needs more assistance.Au revoir et bonne chance?1.”
I’ve never seen a pred as big as that meld into the shadows, but this guy damn near disappears as we head back to the car. “Everyone Flames knows is so fucking weird. It’s mind boggling.”
Dolly pulls out her phone, fingers dancing over the screen as she texts the group. “As opposed to those he loves?
She’s got me there.
BabyGirl: Samples secured, guys.
TigerKing: Are you headed home?
EmoBatman: Of course not, Raj. We have a date to go on.