Page 84 of The Stone Initiation
“That was intense,” Ginia said.
“No one else noticed,” Palia assured me. “No one noticed how he looked at you.Ionly noticed because I know…”
“He left quickly,” Sharniza said. “He did the right thing.”
But a hollow pit had opened inside me. An absence of him. I needed to fill it. “I need food.”
“We ordered a plate of toasties,” Palia said. “They should be here soon, but you might want to get in some drinks.”
Touron squeezed my shoulder, his expression grim. “I’ll get the drinks.”
I watched him head to the counter. “Is he okay?”
“He’ll be fine,” Sharniza said. “It probably took a lot for him to not jump in and pummel Jay, but he knew that if he did then it would make you look weak.”
“He’s also kicking himself for not doing it anyway,” Palia added. “Gargoyle males are so contrary.”
I plonked my ass in the chair next to the twins, and Shar took the one opposite me.
“Everyone’s buzzing about Miss Yarrow,” Ginia said, neatly changing the subject.
“I heard,” Sharniza added. “My cases arrived earlier, and I saw the boards. Strange thing to happen. I didn’t think witches got sick.”
“They don’t,” Ginia said gleefully. “Someone did something to her.”
“Don’t.” Palia looked uneasy. “This place is meant to be safe.”
“Obviously not for Miss Yarrow,” Ginia said over the rim of her mug.
Touron returned with a tray of coffees for us. He looked less upset now. The food arrived a moment later.
Cheese and ham toasties made with thick cuts of ham and flavorsome fancy cheese. The bread was thick too. They probably had a huge toasty machine back there.
We ate in silence for a little while, the hum of conversation around us a pleasant buzz. I’d just finished off my toastie when three females walked in. They were smaller than regular gargoyle females, their bodies more rounded, faces softer.
I recognized Chlobe, so that meant these must be…
“Omegas…” Palia said with a sigh that had more than a hint of yearning in it.
The room fell into a hush, and every male eye went to these females. The air spiked with a musky scent. Touron sat up straighter too, his chest heaving as if he was struggling to breathe.
I widened my eyes at Sharniza and mouthed. What the fuck?
She gave me a flat look and shrugged.
Chlobe spotted me. She whispered something to her friends, then made her way over to us. Our table was suddenly the center of attention.
“Cameron, you look so much better,” Chlobe said. “I knew you’d heal fast.” She smiled warmly.
I couldn’t help but smile back. “Thanks for fixing me up.”
Had Touron stopped breathing?
“No problem,” Chlobe said brightly. “Oh, I added you both to the roster for the shopping trip.” She turned the beam of her smile on Shar, who lifted a corner of her mouth in response, baring her teeth more than smiling.
Chlobe blinked sharply looking taken aback.
“What time and where do we meet?” I drew her attention back to me.
