Page 55 of Stone Temptation
Another wave of lizards struck, five this time. One got past him, launching itself at me.
Time to fight.
I threw myself to the side, dodging its attack in time. It landed on the bed, talons shredding the duvet. It sent its tongue for me, the slimy yellow thing smoking the moment it hit my chest. My inner protection flung the monster at the window. The glass exploded in time with the dusty bang.
Gone. For now.
I turned, swinging a lamp at an opportunistic lizard. The lamp shattered across its head, sending it onto its belly. I jabbed a scale with my finger, the bastard puffing away.
Oh. My. God.
Asher dealt with another round of four monsters, then ran into the corridor.
He strode back into the room seconds later, his sword vanishing. “Coast is clear.”
“What’s happening?” I asked, tearing off my jacket, popping every remaining shirt button under the unbearable failure of my inner thermostat.
Asher tilted his head to the side. “You’re so red.” His eyes moved down my chest.
“I’m so hot. It’s a…quirk.” I fanned my face with a hand.
“Right.” He blinked rapidly three times, then looked away. “Come on. We need to get out of here.” He glanced at the broken window. “Could go that way, but I’m not putting you in the line of fire. No pun intended.”
Wind howled through the hole. “Can it break my protection?”
“No. But that doesn’t matter. No risking my mark here.”
His mark…
Safe.
My insides squirmed, adding to my heat. Our eyes locked, time on pause. My lips parted, his name on the tip of my tongue. Fresh, more pleasant heat sparked in my chest.
Safe…
The chimera roared, flying past moments later. Three gargoyle knights followed, one of them firing a stone crossbow. A heavy green shimmer passed over the window.
“See that?” Asher said, break the staring spell. “Boost from the weavers.” He growled at the window, his wings flexing. “I should be out there.”
“Go. I’ll be okay.”
“As if I’d leave you up here,” he countered. “You’re my mark now, dude. Where I go, you go. We’re stuck together until we figure out what threat you’re under.”
“The chimera? Or the human on the back of it?” I suggested.
He scratched the back of my head. “Maybe. Let’s move.”
I’m marked.
I’m gargoyle marked.
I followed him into the corridor to find a big chunk of it missing, exposing us to the stars. Red flames crackled in small patches around the damage, the edges of the hole smoldering crimson.
“This is insane.” I removed my shirt, tossing it on the floor, itching at my skin.
He stopped for a quick once-over, frowning. “Do you need lotion or something?”
“What? No.”