Page 94 of Stone Temptation

“Don’t think so!” he cried.

I kept things fair, I kept my feet on solid ground. No wings.

“Toodles!” I cried, speeding away from him.

He roared with laughter back there in my dust.

I reached the lighthouse first, folding my arms while I waited, examining my surroundings.

The building’s white paint peeled off in places. There wasn’t much else in the way of outside décor, apart from a bench outside the front door and a shed on the lighthouse’s eastern side.

I checked the perimeter, finding another bench facing the sea, an empty flowerpot, and a steep stone stairwell descending to the beach.

What a great view of the water.

Luke arrived, sweaty and panting, laughing his cute head off. “Crap…”

“What took you so long?”

He showed me his middle finger.

“Prize?” I asked.

“My respect.”

“What about a strawberry cream?”

He regained his composure. “Good idea.”

“A whole bag of them.” I’d yet to actually try the sweets, so they’d better be nice.

“I think not.”

“But I won, Luke. You’re the rotten egg.” I pinched my nose. “Pay up.”

Gods, his laughter was like the Sunday evening bells of the Blood Moon Citadel back home. Stirring, full of hope. I used to spend my free mornings outside the citadel listening to them.

“Fine.”

A squid-like monster appeared, landing with a squishy pop behind him. Orange, five humanoid green eyes around its head.

“Luke!” it shrieked.

I summoned my sword, cutting the monster in half. “Buh-bye.”

“Smooth,” Luke said.

“Like a hot knife through butter.”

He rifled in his pocket for his keys. “Amazed I didn’t lose these.”

“Yeah.” I sent the sword away.

“Welcome to my home, Asher.”

I ducked through the low doorway with a cute diamond-shaped window, stepping into a blue-and-white room. To my left was a living room complete with sofa, TV, and snuggly navy blanket. A kitchen sat on my right, along with a small dining table like mine, a spiral staircase in the center of the space.

“This is surprisingly spacious,” I said.