Excerpt of Stone Cold by Jocelyn Adams

Isaac held out his arm to me. After a moment, I slid my
fingers over his forearm, trying to hold the bodice of my
dress closed with my free hand.

“Stop fidgeting,” he said. We crossed a circular driveway
around a fountain where a stone woman, bare as she could be,
stared sightless up at the spray coming from her
outstretched palm. “Act like you belong on my arm.”

I scowled at him. “I will never belong on your arm.”

He laughed without humor. “True, but tonight you will exude
your usual grace and charm, and you will pretend you do.”

“I’d rather eat glass.”

“That can be arranged.”

The silence was oppressive. As I stared at the wide French
doors at the top of the stairs we’d soon reach, I realized
what rang my alarms at full blast. Vampires were tight on
security at their gatherings according to every source I’d
ever spoken to.

“Where are the guards?” I asked in a near whisper since he
could hear better than anyone I’d ever met, vampire or
otherwise.

“Look up. What do you see?”

I tilted up to the full moon, finding nothing but a
diamond-dappled sky. No shadows passed anywhere. “Banshees?
What am I looking for? Oh! Tell me whoever this is doesn’t
own a dragon?”

“Not that high.” Isaac gripped the top of my head and tipped
it down, the way he would a child. “Bring a woman to hell on
earth and she gets excited at the possibility of dragons.”
Shaking his head, he said, “What do you see on the roof?”

“How was I supposed to know? You said up, so I looked up.
Gracious, you’re touchy tonight.” It took some squinting,
but something finally came into focus. Lots of somethings
that appeared to be made of stone. Thick-bodied, horned.
Bloody hell. “Are those gargoyles? Real, honest to goodness
gargoyles?”

A grin broke across my face as I held up my hand to dull the
glare from the spotlights. “Professor McGillan at Ironhill U
said he’d seen one once, but they haven’t been common in
decades. Do you think I could meet one?”

“When you’ve completed your tasks, if you want to have your
throat ripped out, then be my guest.”

I tilted up to look at him. “Why do you say that? I sense
intelligence in those dark eyes of theirs. I’m no threat to
them, and unlike you, I can show kindness to other creatures.”

“They are creatures of instinct, very much like cats. Move
too quickly, and they’ll pounce. Why do you think the
council would keep them to secure their gatherings? Their
bite can crush even vampire bones.”

My thoughts stumbled before recovering. He would bring me
before the council? More, had I finally found something he
was afraid of? “Have they summoned me, or was it your choice
to bring me here?” I wished I knew more about the
relationship between the council and its hive lords. Fear
warred with curiosity, both over the council and of the
creatures I’d often wondered about.

“No more questions, and stop gawking at the sentinels. We’re
expected, and I can’t transport us directly inside.”

It was warded, then. “All vampires can move like you can?”

Grabbing my wrist, he tugged me toward the steps. The eyes
of the stone sentinels tracked me, and I could almost feel
their curiosity about me. Were they truly made of stone? Or
dense flesh that made them appear that way?

“Just two minutes, Isaac, please. You’ve taken my freedom
while I was under false accusation. I’ve worn your bloody
ridiculous dress, let you primp me like a doll. The least
you can do is allow me a moment with these fascinating
creatures.”

He halted, groaning, before staring down at me. “Like a
kitten after a scrap of yarn. Guilt does not work on me,
Miss Hudson, and this yarn can rip your arm off. I’m not
sure I can heal that. We’re going.”

His magic could heal a severed limb? “They won’t hurt me,” I
grumbled as he hastened me to the stairs and urged me to
mount the first one, a hand scorching my bare back.

The crack of stone on stone sent vibrations down the steps
as a gargoyle crashed down in front of us. Two more
followed, one on either side of the first. Isaac cursed and
crouched in a battle stance, shoving me behind him, though I
ended up stumbling off the step and barely keeping my feet.

Terrible sounds came from the gargoyles, like stone teeth
gnashing together.

“Isaac, stop. Bow your head and be still.”

“Doona order me about, woman,” he snapped as I approached again.

“They’re simply curious about me, since they showed no
aggression until you shoved me. They probably sense
my…heritage.” Head bowed, I moved up the stairs, hands out
at my sides, palms out. “Aren’t you magnificent,” I cooed,
looking up through my lashes at their stout bodies,
somewhere between a small dragon and a dog. Sandstone scales
covered their backs and haunches, and a row of tiny horns
came out from a ridge on their foreheads like a modern-day
triceratops. When I made it past Isaac, he shot his hand out
and grabbed my arm.

“This is madness,” he said.

I glared at him over my shoulder. “Careful, Isaac, I’d
almost think you were concerned for me.”

He made a scoffing sound. “Doona flatter yourself, woman.
You’re of no use to me dead.”

“If you want to get inside, then you’ll remove your hand and
let me do my job.”