Page 83 of Stone Temptation

“Not really.”

He poured some brown sauce on one side of his plate, a dollop of ketchup on the other. “I’m proper saucy.” He wriggled his eyebrows, loading up his fork.

“Awesome.”

He chewed, then asked, “How you doing?”

“Holding up.”

“You’re not as stressed as I thought you’d be.”

“Neither are you.”

The gargoyle drank some tea. “Am deep down. But, you know what? As scary as some of this is, I’m excited too. Is that wrong?”

I shook my head. “Mysteries can be like that.”

“You don’t sound so sure.”

“Just processing.”

“Right.” He ate some more of his food, eyes moving to the window as he chewed. “Same.”

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Will be once I move.”

“Move?”

“Into your place.”

I almost choked, quickly washing the offending piece of bread down with tea.

“Alright?”

I nodded.

“Shock you, did I?”

“What do you mean you’re moving into my house?”

“That’s how it works,” he answered, putting down his cutlery. “I follow you throughout your day-to-day life until the threat is neutralized. Then the mark ends.”

My appetite took a plunge. “You’ll be around me all day?”

“Every day. Obviously, I’ll give you plenty of space. Safe space. But I’ll be watching, always on hand. Don’t let this body fool you. I’m like the wind.”

I suppressed a giggle. “But?—”

“You can take a shit in peace, don’t worry.” He snorted with laughter.

Small mercies, I guess. “You’re moving in with me?”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. You can’t stay in the tower.”

“That’s good.” This was the last place I wanted to be.

Where would I put him? The sofa bed? He couldn’t have Finn’s old room. That was still occupied in my head, awaiting my brother’s return.