Page 11 of Shadows and Stone

"Maybe it’s a clue. Your memories aren't gone, Ryker," Teagan says gently. I’m not even surprised he seemed to figure out I’ve lost my memories. Teagan is incredibly smart, and can easily read between the lines. I’m just a little shocked how fast he came to that conclusion. Teagan steps directly into my space and reaches out to lay a tiny, reassuring hand against my large forearm. "I think your memories might be coming back."

Over the course of our first week of classes, Teagan and I have fallen into a surprisingly seamless rhythm.

Every morning starts with the soft thrum of his Hollywood vanity lights turning on in the bonus room, followed by the faint scent of vanilla facial serum wafting down the hallway. By eight o'clock, we’re out the door of Karloff Hall, walking side by side through the crisp Pennsylvania morning air.

On paper, I’m strictly his bodyguard. To the public, I’m his friend and fellow student. And in reality, keeping things purely professional is becoming a lot harder than I realized.

We simply click in a way I can’t explain. Whether we’re navigating the crowded hallways, sitting shoulder to shoulder in lecture halls, or quietly working in the dorm suite while Zay paints and Kieran jogs on his walking pad, the conversation flows easily between us. We banter, we flirt, and we get along so damn well. Teagan is sharp, sassy, and endlessly observant, throwing teasing remarks my way just to see if he can break my stoic guard.

And the trouble is, I keep slipping.

A sudden, low laugh from me here, a lingering touch on his lower back as I guide him through a tight doorway there. Every time I drop my rigid security mask, even for a fraction of a second, Teagan’s eyes light up with a gleeful, wicked grin that makes my pulse hammer. The chemistry between us is a simmering, heated thing that threatens to boil over every time he’s near.

Which brings us to my current challenge… Mummy Mocha.

The coffee shop is located in the bustling lobby of the campus library. It is an open, high-ceilinged space with two broad archways acting as main entry points from the rest of the library stacks instead of traditional doors. From a security standpoint, the sightlines are decent, but the high foot traffic makes monitoring the perimeter a constant task.

From a personal standpoint, the main threat is standing directly behind the espresso machine.

His name is Seth. He’s tall, and impossibly handsome, with dark skin, striking eyes, and an effortless charm that seems to draw half the campus into his line. He’s also a shifter who can turn into a traditional Egyptian mummy, though right now he’s fully human-shaped, wearing a fitted black apron over a tight shirt that hugs his broad shoulders nicely.

"Let me guess, the usual for the famous star of Creepin U?" Seth asks, leaning both forearms on the counter as we reach the front of the line. He flashes Teagan a dazzling smile. "An iced whole milk linen mocha with an extra shot of espresso?"

Teagan leans casually against the wooden counter, resting his chin in his hand. He runs his fingers through his purple hair, causing the lavender and violet hues to reflect in the light. Teagan flashes Seth a coy smile that makes my inner gargoyle growl.

"You remembered," Teagan purrs, his eyes briefly flickering over to me. And fuck me, it sounds playful. It’s this honeyed tone he knows drives me crazy. "I’m impressed, Seth. Most baristas forget my order after two minutes."

"I would never forget a face like yours, Teagan," Seth replies smoothly, winking as he reaches for a clear plastic cup. He writes a quick note on the side before glancing back up. "Especially when that face brightens up my morning shift."

I stand behind Teagan, my broad wings held tightly against my back. My jaw is set so fucking hard I’m certain my teeth might crack. Get it together, man. I’m a damn adult. I am a professional security detail. I am a seven-foot-tall gargoyle made of stone and mother fucking determination.

I shouldn’t be feeling this sudden, possessive surge of jealousy rising in my chest just because a handsome barista is being friendly with my...charge.

"And what about you, big guy?" Seth turns his eyes toward me, resting one hand on his hip while the steam wand hisses behind him. His smile widens into something utterly shameless and flirty. "Can I get you something strong? You look like a man who needs a really good pick me up."

My eyes narrow slightly. Apparently, Seth isn’t just flirting with Teagan. He flirts with literally everyone who approaches his counter. It’s clearly his thing; an over-the-top charm that probably doubles his daily tip-jar earnings.

When I glance down at Teagan, I catch the mischievous curl at the corner of his lips. The subtle glance he shoots my way out of the corner of his eye tells me everything I need to know. Of course, he’s doing this on purpose. He’s deliberately toying with a monster just to see if he can make my inner gargoyle snap.

"Just a large black drip coffee," I reply. "Thank you."

"Hmm. Classic and a little predictable," Seth quips, pouring the dark roast into a cup and securing the lid. He hands it to me from over the counter, his fingers deliberately lingering against mine for a second longer than necessary. "Let me know if you need anything else."

I take the cup without breaking eye contact, nodding once in formal acknowledgment. "This is sufficient."

Teagan chuckles and accepts his iced latte. He takes a slow sip while watching me over the rim of the cup, his brown eyes sparkling.

"Thanks, Seth," Teagan says softly, leaning in a fraction closer across the counter. "I appreciate the caffeine."

"Anytime, beautiful," Seth winks, turning back to the espresso machine to wipe down the steam wand with a practiced flair. "You two don't be strangers."

“Enough of the cheesy flirting, Teag.” I place my hand lightly on the small of Teagan's back, using just enough of my claws to remind him I’m here as I guide him away from the counter and toward a small corner table near one of the open library archways. The moment his back is turned away from Seth, Teagan lets out a soft, melodic laugh that he has clearly been holding. Brat.

"You’re terrible," I mutter, pulling out a chair for him before taking my own seat opposite of him. The chair groans slightly under my weight, but it holds.

"Me?" Teagan asks, holding a hand over his chest in mock innocence as he takes another sip of his latte. "What did I do? I was just being polite to our local mummy barista."

Leaning forward over the small table, I keep my voice low. "No, you were flirting with him to get a rise out of me. And you were enjoying every damn second of it."