Page 301 of The Spider Queen

“More than punish me. He would turn me completely into stone and then crack me into non-existence.”

“I swear,” I said automatically. “This is between us.”

He studied me for a long moment. “You have honor.”

“What about you, Jax? Do you have any honor?”

“I didn’t. When I was human. But I haven’t been human for a long time.”

“Honor on your existence as a gargoyle then.”

He held out his hand. I glanced at it. It was scaly and gray and more rock than skin.

“People still do this, right?” Jax asked in amusement.

“They do.”

“Gargoylism isn’t contagious, ya know.”

I grinned and then slapped my palm against his. “Come in out of the rain.” We dropped hands and then Jax stepped over the threshold into the room. I attempted to close the door as the wind blasted my face. Lucifer’s rage was clearly intensifying, and I didn’t know how long I had before he discovered my whereabouts.

When I turned around, Jax was perched on a chair that didn’t look strong enough to hold him but surprisingly didn’t crack under his weight.

I took a seat on the edge of the bed, what with there not being another chair in the room. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled through the dark sky, yet the room was surprisingly bright and cozy. Maybe it had something to do with the fire, which blazed into existence. There hadn’t been a fireplace there before, but like I was learning, things in Hell liked to spring into existence.

Even better, there was a pot of hot chocolate on the small table and two mugs.

“Where did all this come from?” I wondered aloud.

“The Prince, no doubt,” Jax said, not at all concerned. “Seeing to your well-being.”

“Does that mean he knows I’m here?”

He shrugged. “Probably. Pour the hot chocolate and let’s have our discussion before he comes and finds me in your boudoir.”

I laughed. “Antiquated, Jax.”

“I was from a different time.”

Once we were both situated with our cups of hot chocolate, Jax leaned back in his chair, comfortable and clearly ready to tell a tale.

But before he spoke, the door to the bedroom burst open, and a very angry Lucifer loomed in the doorway.

Chapter 14

Lucifer’s indigo eyes glowed bright as they focused like a laser on Jax. The gargoyle scrambled from his seat and dropped the mug of hot chocolate in his haste to back up toward the bedroom window.

“Don’t even try it, gargoyle,” Lucifer growled.

I quickly jumped up and put myself between Lucifer and Jax, spilling the hot chocolate all over the front of my shirt in the process. “Honey, you’re home.”

Lucifer transferred his glare to me.

“Thanks for the chat,” Jax said. “I’ll be off.” He saluted, dashed for the open window, and then was gone in a flash.

Lightning cracked through the sky, and then there was a scream. I rushed to the window to peer over the ledge. I saw Jax falling through the air, one of his wings on fire.

“What did—how did—his wings are made ofstone!”