Page 96 of Stone Seduction
He knocked the booze back in one. “Ah. Needed that. Fuck, bro. Fuck.”
“I know.”
He poured himself another shot. “So, it’s now a waiting game?”
Man, the truth grated. “Yeah.”
Dane’s flip phone buzzed. “Hang on. It’s Tom.”
“Who’s Tom?” Eden whispered to me.
I made a gesture for her to hold for an impending update.
She nodded with understanding.
“You are? Okay. I’m coming down. Stay there. See you in a bit.” He closed the phone. “Tom’s at street level with Maren. They won’t let them in with yours and Luke’s stuff.” He rolled his shoulders. “I was supposed to help him. Fucking jellyfish.” He strode to the door. “I guess we can’t fly right now?”
“Wings clipped,” Eden answered.
He groaned and hurried into the corridor.
“I’m coming with you!” Eden and I called at the same time.
The three of us jogged down to street level, Tom and the mermaid mote spirit pleading with two gargoyle knights.
“How many times do we have to tell you no?” one of them huffed. “Go away. Tower’s closed.”
The other grunted, offering his best death glare.
“But our friends need their stuff.” Tom tried his best to implore these two brutes.
Both he and Maren carried a couple of bags.
Dane stepped in first, pushing through the knights to join Luke’s besties.
“What’s happening here?” he inquired.
I vaulted over the side of the stationary stone escalator, passing through the sheen of green energy, landing on the street. Eden followed me to stand behind the human and the mote spirit, Dane between them.
The gargoyle with the talking stick huffed again. “What’s this?”
“Why can’t they come in?” Dane asked, throwing his arm around Tom.
“Weaver Seth’s orders.”
“But they’re here with my stuff as well as Luke’s,” I chimed in.
Both knights looked me up and down with spiteful eyes. “Too bad. Seth’s word is final. He doesn’t want anyone seeing the Garland guy. And you’re supposed to be in your suite.”
Garland guy? Really? I folded my arms. “Nah. It’s too drab for my delicate peepers.”
“Get back inside,” the other guy warned. “Stop messing about in the street.”
“Messing about how?” Eden queried. “By standing here? If anything, we’re bringing class to your weary eyes. Glamming up the sidewalk.”
Neither knight humored her, the more vocal one reiterating Seth’s orders.
“If you try flying them in, we’ll fuck you up,” the other one threatened.
