Page 6 of Ensnared By the Stone Freak

Lis took Halvard’s place when his eyes shuttered and he stepped back, his tinted glasses sliding back intoplace over his face. My friend curled her arm around my shoulders, looking far less shocked or stunned than Iwas. She was taking everything in stride, calm now that the bizarre, terrifying creature had been vanquished. Hogzy was snuffling his way through the pile of rubble with loud, disgruntled snorts that steamed up the air. The carnival still buzzed with voices and music in the background. Everything was oddly quiet by the car, but I did not believe the danger had fully passed.

“I’ve got her,” Lis said, not to me but to Halvard. The two of them nodded in mutual understanding, and then Lis guidedme around the hood of her car to the passenger side. “Come on, I’ll drop you off at home. Thorne won’t bother you there.” Why did she seem to understand exactly what was going on? I was still trying to wrap my head around the appearance of a shadow monster and the fact that Halvard’s petrifying gaze did not work on me. What did that mean? Why did it feel wrong to leave his side? He stood beside the pile of rubble, his boar leaningagainst his thigh, his once again shielded gaze on me. He looked like a man wrapped in shadows of his own. The carnival was the perfect backdrop for him. He was right at home there, from a world I couldn’t possibly hope to ever be part of. But I wanted it—I wanted to understand it allsomuch.

“I think Thorne might be a warlock,” Lis said as she urged me into the car with a firm hand against my shoulder. I plunked into the leather seat, the air whooshing out of me, and my legs turning to rubber. I thought she was saying those crazy words to me, but no, she had aimed them at Halvard. He nodded, his jaw gritted, everyline of his body wracked with tension and aggression. He looked like a man on the brink, holding himself back. Back from what? Drawing me intohis arms? Hauling me over his shoulder like a caveman? Or was he fighting the urge to hunt down my ex and kill him,like he said? Why did all those options senda thrill of excitement through me, rather than fear?

“I suspected as much;the shadow golem is a dead giveaway,” Halvard confirmed. He ducked so he could catch my eyes through the side window of the car, his mouth twisting into a smile that might have beenintended to be reassuring. “We’re still on for tomorrow evening?” I appreciated that he thought to ask, but I could also hear the strain in his voice. He did not want me to say no. Since I didn’t want to say no either, I gave him a smile and a nod. That made him turn away and stalk back toward the carnival with a long-legged stride.

Lis did not say anything as she got into the car and revved the engine. She did not explain why she knew what she kneworwhy she wasn’t surprised. I was too tired to ask right now, too shakenby all the excitement this night had brought. Once I’d slept, I knew I’d be full of questions, and she’d be the first I’d call. For now, I was okay with the silence.

***

Halvard

My mate’s Siren friend might be certain that this bastard wasn’t going to hurt Cammy tonight,butI was not so trusting. I was not going to leave ittofate to see her safe, not when every gene in my body was primed to protect her. I might be a bit of a freak, but my ancestors had been gargoyles with a proud lineage thattraced straight back to the protection of churches and holy buildings. The French branch of the family had stood sentinel on Notre Dame herself, while the main line I came from had always lived in Norway, hailing from Trondheim with ties to Nidaros.

“Hogzy, stay at the carnival. I’ve got business tonight,” I said to my friend. He snorted loudly and began digging with his snout and tusks, taking care of the evidence by burying it. I knew by tomorrow not so much as a hint of the obsidian shards would remain. There would be no sign of the golem I had turned to stone or the attack on my mate by the warlock.

I met Eugene by the entrance to the carnival grounds. The large but always generous cook had his arms crossed over his wide chest. His handlebar mustache quivered with tension,but his smile was kind as he nodded toward his parked, shiny motorcycle. “You can borrow it, but not a scratch—or you’ll be finding too much salt in your dinner for the next three months.”

I tipped my head his way and turned to the bike with a rush of excitement. Perfect. I would follow Cammy home, then perch on the corner of a nearby building for the night and keep watch. She would be safe;I would have something to do other than drive myself crazy with worry, and the warlock wouldn’t stand a chance if he made another move.

Chapter 7??

Camryn

I paced across my living room, my heels clacking against the hardwood floors with everyagitated step. After what had happened last night, I thought I’d sleeppoorly, my dreamsplagued by darknessand nightmares. Instead, I’d sunkinto a dreamlessvoid andwoken early in the morning with my body achingand aroused. That had never happened before.I’d been drawn to my bedroom windows,feeling as thoughI wasn’t alone—as ifI wereresponding to the unseen eyes of an admirer.

All day,I had been on edge, expecting either Thorne or Halvard to show up at my door at any moment. I’d been so nervous and confused that I’d even called in sick and stayed safely inside my apartment. “Please tell me you put on that sexy black dress with the open back,” Lis said through the speaker of my phone. She’d called five minutes ago, no doubtto makesure I wasn’t going to back out of my date with Halvard. As if I could.I was dying to see him again, to have him make the world make sense. I wanted explanations.I wanted to feel the thrill of being at his side and seeing the mysteries unraveled. Mostly, I wanted to be in his arms again and feel the passion only he seemed to ignite in me. I wanted to know that I wasn’t broken, that I wasn’t the Ice Queen they called me behind my back—or the frigid bitch that Thorne had made me out to be.

“Yes, I’m wearing the black dress,” I assured my friend asI smoothed my hands over my hips against the silky fabric, subtly patternedwithvines and flowers. It was a great dress that showcased all my best assets—probably a little cold for a fall day, but that was a price I was willing to pay. “Lis,” I said as I eyed my thick winter coat and scarf, whichI’d alreadyset out so I could get ready the moment Halvard arrived. What kind of car would he be in? The Carnivalhadlooked so derelict, but it had been absolutely hopping last night. I hadn’t really paid attention to what vehicles were parked on the campgrounds where Halvard’s Airstream was located.

“What is it?” my friend asked. Her voice had dropped, growing a little hushed,as if she was anticipating secrets—not the fun gossip type of secrets that she loved to spill, but something much heavier, darker. Secrets that mattered. “You want to know how I know?” I nodded,though she couldn’t see that. But Lis started talking anyway; she knew exactly where my mind had gone.

“I’m the same friend you’ve always had.I just…like your Halvard, am not entirely human.” Not entirely human? What was she talking about? “I have gifts. That’s why people tell me things, why I make friends so easily. Charm, pheromones—whatever you want to call it—people just like me. I’m not like Halvard and those at the Carnival;their differences are far greater.” Then she hurried to add, “But that doesn’t make them bad people. Just different. In fact, I think Halvard is exactly the man you need.”

This was beginning to be an extremely one-sided conversation,and time was running out. My clock indicated that my date could be here soon, and my belly swooped with nerves and excitement. Since the overwhelming desire was to see him again, I hoped that meant Lis was right: Halvard was the right man for me. Thisseemed to be more thanjusta rebound after Thorne—a way to finally kick that asshole from my life. I caredfar more about being with my Stone Freak again because I felt like I was truly myselfwhen I was in his arms.

“Okay,” I said to my friend, “I can’t deny that a lot of weird things have happened,and I have no rational explanation for any of them.” Like the way I was drawn to Halvard and his crazy life, and how I was immune to his gaze when he feared turning everyone to stone. After seeing how he could shatter that statue, I now had a much healthier fear of what turning to stone could mean. It didn’t sound fun at all;it sounded dangerous.

Straightening my shoulders, I decided the only way to move on was to charge straight ahead. Pre-Thorne, that had been me too—chip on my shoulder, always with a plan and ready to do something meaningful with my life. No more dull contracts and working late into the night. Now that I knew what was really out there, it was time to live again—to stop fearing everything and blaming myself for not being what others expected me to be. Our failed relationship was Thorne’s fault, not mine. We didn’t work, but I was more than ready to believe that Halvard and I had the perfect chemistry—that we did work.

“Okay? Just like that, you’re going to be fine with this? Should I come over?” Lis’s concerned words made me laugh, warmth filling my chest. Last night,I’d been thinking that blowing her off too much would scare her away too, make her abandon me like other friends had done. I knew better now. Lis was my best girl;she’d always have my back.

The knock on the door made my smile grow wider. “Nope, I’ve got a date,remember? And he’s here. Talk later.” I hung up to the sound of her loudly shouted,“Use protection!”and was still blushing like a beet from that when I opened my door to a bouquet of flowers. Not your average, everyday flowers either—nothing as mundane as roses for Halvard, but pretty all the same, even if I couldn’t name anything but the purple thistles that gave the whole composition a punkish vibe.

“Hi,” he said, his mouth pullinginto a sexy half-smirk, his eyes bare,and his sunglasses hooked into the pocket of his jacket. He’d taken them off before he knocked on my door, and I loved how happy he looked to see me. He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, mussing up his black hair.“Flowers are customary for a date, yes? Or is it too much?” The bouquet filled my arms when I took it from him—definitely at least three sizes toolarge for a simple first date. It was perfect. I loved knowing that Halvard was excited about this, that he wasn’t holding back, and that he was as rusty as I was when it came to this.

“I love them,” I told him.“Where did you get these?” I was already turningtowardthe kitchen so I could quickly put them in water, and Halvard silently followed me, his gaze bright and warm. I loved that gaze as much as I loved the flowers. It was so full of appreciation as it skimmed over my dress and curves.

“Ah, Seraphine from the apothecary put it together. They’re all supposed to be plants that promote good health and good fortune.” That explained why they were so exotic, and I loved that he’d given me something so unique and thoughtful. The flowers would have to wait for a proper vase until I got home, but my large mixing bowl would do for now. As soon as I had gently set them down in the water, I realized that Halvard hadnot justfollowed me into my kitchen—he was really close. His warmth bathed my side, his scent surrounded me, and excitement began to tingle down my spine, pooling in my abdomen.

I turned my head and got trapped in his gaze, his dark eyes sparkling like the obsidian he’d turned that monster into last night. “Are you ready to go?” he asked, but his husky tone told me he was the one who’d rather stay right here. He had me half-trapped against the kitchen counter, his large body boxing me against the hard surface. That thrilled me, and desire ratcheted up another notch. Staying in—what a tempting concept. I very much wanted a repeat of what had happened last night—and more.

My eyes darted to the bedroom door beyond his shoulder,and I opened my mouth to make some kind of sexy invitation. He beat me to it, swooping down to claim my lips, our tongues tanglinglike our uneven breaths. His arms came around me, yanking me close, and I could feel how his excitement matched mine—his cock a fierce, hard bar beneath his leather pants, pressing shamelessly against my stomach. “You look too good,” he moaned. “But I promised you a date, so we’re going.” It sounded like he was telling himself that as much as he was telling me.

When he stepped back, I missed his warmth. His gaze was feral and heatedashe slid it over me, twisting into a satisfied smirk. Then,he dropped his hand to his blatant erection and adjusted himself again,without shame. Hedidit with the kind of flair only a performercould muster, posing so I got the full effect of that thick bulge and clearly delighting in my obvious admiration.

“Come, darling,” he said, and for a brief, insane moment,I thought he was ordering me to orgasm on the spot. But he reached out a hand and,like a proper gentleman,helped me into my coat. “We’ve got reservations. I want to show you off.” As he guided me out of my home, I had a sudden feeling that he had an ulterior motive. Seduce me? Yes. But he alsowanted to go out so he could clash with Thorne again. Would that finally solve my problems with my ex? Or wouldit put Halvard in danger? I eyed him as he guided me to a large, slightly rusty truck and had to conclude,no—Halvard could handle Thorne, no doubt about it.

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