Chapter 20

And not just from her position.

Cinder ran his hand over the black stone outside the front door, the marble cool to his touch, the beautiful style of architecture the source of the home’s name. Blackstone Manor would be his retreat. Theirretreat, because, of course, he wanted to spend all his nights with Io at his side. His days, too. In all his long years walking the earth he’d never met another gargoyle quite like Io. There was something enchanting about the younger man, something Cinder couldn’t put his finger on, not that he was trying all that hard.

Io was like the sweetest piece of candy, the last bit of cheesecake, the first flower to bloom in the spring.

“Hello, Alpha Cinder,” a silky voice purred.