Page 53 of Stone Temptation

This wasn’t right.

My marking instincts kicked in. I took my human by the arm, dragging him across the room.

Luke tried to pull free. “What?—”

The chimera rushed the tower at full speed.

“Fuck!” I bellowed.

Fire erupted from the monster’s mouth, exploding through the window with a mighty boom.

THIRTEEN

Luke

Heat and terrific force lifted me off my feet, flinging me out the office door.

Before I hit the wall and cracked my head open like a watermelon, Asher caught me, maneuvering me into his arms so quickly I almost puked up the mini mushroom tart I’d eaten downstairs.

We landed on the floor, sliding together, his muscles a solid shield against injury. We came to a stop near the stairwell, my spine pressed against his chest.

“Oh my God.”

Red flames licked around the edges of the office door, smoldering debris in the hallway. If it hadn’t been for Asher, I’d be crispy.

He marked me.

I’m marked.

“You alright?” the gargoyle asked, his voice as thick as treacle in my left ear.

I quivered, his deep baritone speaking to my feral side.

Muscles and a deep voice were key ingredients to getting my underwear off.

Safe, my brain said. I am safe.

“Y-Yes. You?” I responded.

He’d seen me. How had he seen me? My invisibility only broke when he made me jump.

“Confused.” Asher helped me to my feet, dusting down his burgundy suit.

An alarm screamed its high-pitched song, scaring the life out of me.

“Pickles!” I covered my ears.

“Come on!” Asher moved me onto the stairwell, hurrying me down to the next floor.

“I—”

The chimera roared, drowning out the alarm. Asher took my arm, freezing, eyes on a closed door.

“Shit.”

Slinging me over his shoulder, he zoomed away from the door, barreling through another. The stone panel crashed open with a heavy boom.

“What—”