Flames sprang to life all around us, lighting the interior of a grand hallway with a master staircase to the left. He gestured toward them. “Two flights. We’re on the top floor.”
Not wanting to give him a chance to touch me with his hands or his power, I darted up the steps to the third floor and waited for him to join me.
“Someone’s eager,” he teased when he reached the top.
I didn’t deign to offer him a reply, just waited for further instruction.
He nodded with his chin toward the end of the hall. “Three forty-seven is our suite.”
Our suite. I shivered with the statement. This is temporary. I’m not staying here.
Only, the entire hallway was lined with more of those rattling monstrosities, all of which were watching my every move as though waiting for me to step one toe out of line.
I never did like snakes.
And these appeared to be far more deadly than the reptiles of my realm.
They wriggled along, gliding over the wooden panels I thought might be doors except for the fact that they were all missing knobs. Including our own at the end of the hall. However, there was a knocker with a tiny gargoyle lounging upon it, his blood-red eyes narrowing at me.
I paused so suddenly that Kolstov ran into my back, his hands finding my hips in the process. It aligned us perfectly, sending a shudder down my spine.
No. I’m not attracted to this jerk. Do not get any ideas.
“Sir Kristoff, this is Aflora. Scan her as appropriate, then allow us both entry. She will be staying in the suite for the foreseeable future, so you are to grant her access as you do the others on our list.”
The red eyes flared to life, little black pupils moving over me in lazy regard as the gargoyle’s lips curled to the side.
“Hmm,” the being hummed in a low, masculine tone that sent a chill down my spine. He pushed out of the door, his little hands holding on to the ledge of the knocker while his bottom half remained inside the wood. Almost as if he were hanging out a window. “Something’s not right with this one. Not right at all.”
Right back at you, I thought, mortified by his lifelike form that had been made of rock just seconds ago. Talking-goblin stone thing.
“Perhaps, but you bow to my commands. Now scan her and allow her entry.” Kolstov’s tone brooked no argument.
“Yes, yes,” the thing hissed. “As you wish, Master.”
A blinding light beamed from the gargoyle’s eyes. I would have jumped backward if Kolstov wasn’t still holding me. The damn stroke of the creature’s gaze burned over me, leaving an inky sensati
on in its wake as if it had marked me with its magic.
“You may enter.” The eyes rolled back into a red gleam, the knocker turning to marble once more.
Kolstov used his hands on my hips to walk me forward through the door. As in, it didn’t open. We moved through the wood.
A shimmer of energy passed over my skin along the way, causing all the hair along my arms to rise.
This isn’t natural.
“Welcome home,” Kolstov said as an elegant living area appeared before us. “I hope you like it, because I suspect you’ll be staying for the year.”
Chapter Five
Kols
“A year?” The gorgeous Earth Fae spun in my arms. “That’s a cruel joke, right? Tell me you’re kidding.”
“I thought most females fancied the truth over lies, but if it’s a lie you prefer, I’ll happily give you one.”
She shoved away from me, her petite form proving to be stronger than one would expect. I could subdue her in less than a second but opted to give her the space she required. It was the least I could do considering her circumstances.