Page 25 of The Stones for It
My brows creased. “Like who?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He uncurled his wing from me, and cool air swept my skin. Adrenaline lingered in my veins though, staving off the chill.
The gargoyle climbed to his feet, moving slower than before, but nothing looked out of place. Even his damn loincloth had somehow survived the fall.
I huffed and pushed myself up, too.
The world tilted, and I stumbled as my blood rushed in the wrong direction. The black spots edging my vision were back, darkening the glowing bushes. I swallowed, trying to clear the high-pitched ringing in my ears.
Strong hands grabbed my waist, steadying me. “Easy there, little mortal.”
“I’m fine,” I rasped, then reluctantly gritted out, “Thanks.”
He nodded and stepped back. The second he released his hold, darkness swam back in, and I swayed into his blood-stained chest. He wrapped his arms around me, peering down with a deep line carving between his pale brows.
“Are you hurt?” He searched my gaze for a long moment.
My focus dipped to his mouth, to the hard concrete shade of full lips that looked dove-soft.
“Nae, just a few brain cells knocked loose, apparently,” I murmured.
A wry smile softened his carved features. “I assumed since you were being bratty you must be fine, but I should have known no injury would have you controlling that pretty little mouth of yours.”
Pretty?
I swallowed, suddenly realising the position I’d found myself in.
Guilt hit me like a slap to the face, and I pulled from the mass-murderer’s hold.
“We need to move.” I looked away, watching the dusky jungle instead.
He scoffed. “Canyou even move?”
I crossed my arms and ignored how the gargoyle swayed in my vision. “Yes. I’m just a little dizzy… probably because I haven’t eaten in over a day. Or, you know, because I just fell out of the sky.”
“Stubborn mortal.”
“Infuriating fae.”
Chapter eleven
Vrath
Ididn’t realise I’d leant in so close to the little human until her enticing vanilla scent flooded my senses. Large, coffee-hued eyes skewered me from mere inches away.
I really needed to find a good fae to do bad things with. This human had me wound so tight, I was worried I’d snap. Dosomething regrettable. Like devour every inch of her until she screamed my name loud enough to shake the Night Forest.
Clearing my throat, I straightened to my full height. The top of the mortal’s head barely reached past my abs. I was easily twice her mass, and most of it was in muscle and spikes.
How could such a small, vulnerable thing be so fiercely annoying at the same time? She didn’t hesitate to plunge into the fray, or butt horns with a gargoyle whose entire reputation was drenched in violence.
Something twisted in my middle as I thought about what she’d said.
Irritation at Neiron, most likely.
Though, it was a little odd that she was hungry to the point of dizziness given the protective spells cast on the Shua’than for the Hunt.
