Page 92 of Stone Temptation

“Let’s get you home.”

“Yes, please.”

TWENTY-ONE

Asher

Man, what an awkward flight.

Seth didn’t look my way once, and Luke’s attention was focused on the scenery. He was the only one of us who smiled, enjoying the views.

Those uncomfortable vibes continued in the car journey from the airfield to the coast.

What a relief when I finally stepped out into the cold, salty air along the shorefront. No more Seth and his expensive cologne, the wind blowing him away.

If only.

The car moved on, taking Seth and his peeps back to the tower, leaving us to walk the rest of the way to the lighthouse.

“See ya,” I said to the car’s ass.

“Good riddance,” Luke added.

The sun wore a bright smile today, a ball of joy in a clear blue sky. Not enough to chase December’s chilly grip away, but nice.

The sea glistened in the sunlight, the water blue and enticing. Some humans were on the sand, enjoying the day, or milling about around us.

No monster to be seen yet, but plenty of motes. A red swarm flew past, disappearing down a storm drain.

Luke bumped his arm into mine, shivering.

I threw my arm around him. “Alright there?”

“Freezing.”

The white lighthouse sat at the end of the peninsula in the distance, the entrance road a few feet away from us.

I slung both my bags over my left shoulder. “Come on, Luke Garland. A brisk walk will warm those cockles.”

He laughed, letting me keep my arm around him as we marched on.

I liked him being this close.

“So, what’s it like living in a lighthouse away from everyone else?”

The road sloped upward slightly, cliffs tumbling down to the water on either side of us. Man, that briny air did the lungs good. Massively different to the pollution of London.

“Peaceful,” he answered, keeping in step with me. “When there aren’t monsters around.”

He told me about one he called Snaky.

“She’s toast if she shows up.”

“Thank God.”

“I won’t be any trouble,” I said too quickly. “Ignore what Dane said. I’m not bossy. Clean freak, yes, but I won’t get under your feet. And I’m a great cook.”

“King of the eggy bread.”