Page 56 of Stone Temptation

“You allergic to gargoyles?”

“No.”

“You’re a post box.”

“And you’re a cheeky bastard.”

He quirked an eyebrow, smiling at my retort. “I’ll fly us down.”

Asher moved behind me, wrapping his arms around my burning body. More of the good heat engulfed me, his cool stone a relief.

Wow.

I found myself compliant, melting into his security.

Safe…

He beat his hefty wings, hovering a couple of feet above the floor.

“Here we go.” He took off, gliding down the next stairwell.

“God…”

“Alright?”

Safe… “Yes. Never flown with a gargoyle before.”

“Happy to have popped that cherry.”

I giggled.

“Sorry, dude. Inappropriate.”

“You’re fine.” And you can pop much more than that…

Erm, nooo.

My hot flush faded, temperature falling to more regulated levels.

“Poxy chimera,” Asher mumbled after a beat of his wings.

“Where did those lizards come from?” I asked, a little too relaxed.

“The flames,” he answered.

“What? How is that possible? Only motes make monsters.”

“Never experienced chimera before, eh?”

“No.”

“Lucky you. They’re not much of a thing anymore. Thank the stone gods. Their flames are mote-rich, ready-made for spawning shit. Make their own lizardy babies that grow up to be feathery one day.”

“And sprout a goat’s head?”

“Yeah. Full evolution in motion. Proper annoying.”

We reached the ground floor, landing on the spot where I’d snuck past the guards.