Stone Guardian

Make no mistake, little human. You are under my protection now, and I protect what is mine.

You are sweet to be so concerned over my love life, but I’ve decided only to date guys who have bigger swords than me.

We get chased by orcs, I’m tripping you and running the other direction.

This woman was consuming him, bit by bit. She was becoming the reason and the reward of his existence, and if he did not shield himself, everything he did not have to give would belong to her.

Laire, get back here! You do not drink before we meet with our mortal enemy.

I don’t do magic. I turn your attention back to Friday night and the big-ass sword I was carrying. My job is to run and swing.

The Oracle handed her a small, leather bound booklet, about as thick as a pamphlet, and said, “You are a teacher, yes?” It was nice of the Oracle to phrase things in the form of a question and let people feel they were imparting information. “Yes, I am.” “Excellent. I know teachers value learning, and this book has very valuable information on gargoyles. If Terak remains part of your life, this you’ll want to know.” Larissa weighed it in her hand. “This is a very light history.” The Oracle arched one fine brow. “Why would I bother with that? This, my dear, is about how gargoyles mate.

The second the door closed after him Laire started jumping, a huge smile on her face and her body shaking in repressed excitement. “I’ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go. You don’t even like the Oracle. Let me.” Before the first words were out of Laire’s mouth, Fallon started to shake her head, and as soon as the green-haired woman took a breath, Fallon used it as her opportunity to say, “No way.” “Please please please.” “Let me rephrase. No way in hell.” Laire stopped jumping, a small pout coming to her lips. How she had been able to prevent an ankle fracture while jumping on those spikes, Larissa would never know. “Why not?” “Because if they have an orgy going on, you’ll want to join. And if they don’t have an orgy going on, you’ll want to start one. I’ll take Aislynn with me.

One thing this night taught her beyond all doubt - all males were lunkheads, all of them. She recognized that protect the poor helpless girl and don’t worry her little wee head tone. “I’m not stupid. I’m not going to run into a situation I have no business being in to show no one can boss me around. I’m not a warrior and tonight made that clear in large neon signage. But I deserve to know about events that concern me and help make the decisions on how to handle them.

Well, here were the ugly facts. She had no mad-ninja-skillz to rely on and her family didn’t know where she was. She didn’t know where she was. The only way she was leaving was if this creature allowed it.

How many did she kill?” “Dozens, my Lord, until her sword was dull with the blood of her enemies.” Reign stroked the edge of the dagger with his forefinger until a drop of blood was drawn. The blood absorbed into the blade. “Only that? I will see her bathed in blood before me.

With a slow, deliberate movement, he pushed his hand into the fall of her hair, wrapping a thick strand around his fingers and wrist. His voice dropped, deepening as he spoke words meant for her. “I love your hair. The color of blood at its most fragrant and powerful.” The light tug on the strands didn’t hurt. Instead it sensitized her. The swirl of color in his eyes was myriad shades of red reflected and magnified. “You should let go now,” she said, low even tones that matched his own. The corner of that edible mouth lifted, baring a fang. “Never.

men needed to explain the basics to him. A How to Deal with Women summit. Nothing would bond the races faster.

Then make no mistake, little human. You are under my protection now, and I protect what is mine.

Jack Miller aimed his shotgun at the monster’s grey-skinned head and pulled the trigger. Green sludge and bits of bone and flesh splattered through the air to land on the street, the gory aftermath releasing a noxious, sulfurous odor.

Only a coward would marry someone he doesn’t love. You know why? Because love is the ultimate vulnerability. It can put you on your knees and destroy parts of you that will never function again when it’s gone. A coward couldn’t handle that, so they would instead marry someone that could never happen with.

. . . parent could embarrass their kids during the teenage years, but only a true virtuoso could embarrass them into their twenties and beyond.

eyelids lowered, bringing his eyelashes into relief against his skin. No eyebrows, but yes to eyelashes. Hair on his head but none on his chest or arms. In this form, did he still have hair in his private regions?

a history teacher. I work,

Back the truck up. “What? When… How? Really?” Eloquence, thy name is Larissa Miller. He

Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Do it again. After this is over you better be prepared, Double Mocha Fudge Ripple, because you are going down. First

Any parent could embarrass their kids during the teenage years, but only a true virtuoso could embarrass them into their twenties and beyond. She

It was unnecessary, but she had to say it. She had to know she said it, a charm that would protect him. It had to. “Terak, be careful.

did he still have hair in his private regions?

Terak, you are not a fool. You are a great leader,

She is connected to the future of your Clan. Guard her well.

Be reasonable. Friendly. The first rule of negotiation her dad taught her was to find out what the other person wanted and figure out a way you could convince them you’d be able to supply it. That, and always be realistic about what was going on.