A fresh wave of heat coats my cheeks, and I have to shake myself.How did all this get here?Surely an abandoned church would not be well stocked with food?
As if in answer, a soft scraping sound echoes from behind me.Turning, I try to keep my face neutral as I find Baezal leaning in the doorway.An ache begins to form inside me.My heart begins to pound—not in fear as it did when I first saw him—but with curiosity.
I swallow thickly, licking my suddenly dry lips.
“You did all this?”
The question seems ridiculous, of course, he did.However, Baezal nods anyway, stepping fully into the room.The flames highlight the impressive plains of his chest.His scales glisten, and my ache deepens.I haven’t felt like this before—not without reading one of my books or drowning in a prolonged fantasy.This desire rages inside, focusing squarely on Baezal.
Gesturing towards the stove, the skin of his cheeks darkens.
“You were hungry.”
God, is he blushing?I might just faint here and now.No, I must steal myself—I need his help to free me from this place.That is my goal.If he wants me in exchange for his help, that will be no chore at all.
I would lie down with this gargoyle for his help.Hell, I’ll bed him out of my own curiosity.I should be repulsed by myself, but I cannot deny it.If I am to break free of the Faith, then leaning into my true nature is the first step.
I’m getting ahead of myself, though.Gargoyles may not even be capable of such things—or he may not desire me in that way.He had called me beautiful, but he could’ve just been being polite.In my novels, there’s always an indication of mutual arousal on the man’s part.A secret they cannot keep hidden.Though when I quickly glance down at Baezal’s lap, I see no such stirrings that would indicate his desire for me flows as hotly as mine does for him.
Blue flames dance in his gaze as my eyes return to his.
“Eat,” he commands in his deep voice.
Goosebumps erupt all over my skin.I’d gladly listen to any command he gave me.There would be no need for rebellion if he were the one keeping me.The other Sisters were right, I must be cursed with a wanton soul.How else would you describe it?
All my previous fantasies of lovers have shifted.Now, all I see are gray scales and piercing blue eyes.Fangs and claws, and hair glossier than silk.My hands tremble as I grip my bowl and carefully ladle soup into it.
Heavy steam rises from the thick broth.Bits of root vegetables and beef float to the surface.I blow on a spoonful before greedily sucking it down.It’s good—divine.My stomach sings its appreciation as I eat bits of vegetables and meat.My eyes glance up to find Baezal watching me carefully from the doorway.
His eyes betray nothing, but his chest rises and falls in quick succession.Setting down my spoon, I gesture towards the chair across from me.
“Won’t you join me?”
Baezal seems to weigh my words.Finally, he clicks over to me, his large wings fitting over the back of the chair and flexing in front of the roaring fireplace.The chair groans as his massive frame settles atop it.Even his arms are impressive, thickly coiled with muscle and wider than my thighs.
My thighs—which are now turning slick with arousal—clench together.The heavy silence stretches as I tuck back into my meal.Baezal watches me as I devour the whole bowl.Once it is empty, his posture seems to relax.
“Where did you get all this?”I ask, reaching for a piece of warm bread.
Popping it onto my tongue, it melts in my mouth.I groan, quickly reaching for another.Baezal’s eyes track my every movement.
“Village,” he says as I ingest another piece of bread.
I raise an eyebrow.
“You stole it?”
Baezal shrugs, and I cannot even be mad.Stealing is a part of this new world I find myself in.I’m glad he had done it because if it were up to me, I’m not sure I would’ve been brave enough.
If he can freely go to the village to procure me food and clothing, then surely he can take me from this place.He has to know of some safe place, somewhere I can find employment and earn a wage.I have some skills from being a Sister that are surely needed in a small village.
Gripping my goblet, I take a sip of the red wine for courage.I have to make an ally of him sooner rather than later.This is my first chance to do that.The bitter liquid loosens my tongue as I train my gaze on Baezal’s.
“How did you become trapped here?”
His eyes flare to life as his dark brows pull low.
“Cursed,” he snarls.
