A Gargoyle Christmas

By Kassandra Lea

Sequel to Promised

Just like he did for Halloween, Io has decided to go all out for Christmas, a holiday not typically celebrated by the family. With the decorations up, the only thing he needs to make it perfect is a blanket of fresh white snow. What’s Christmas without snowmen? There’s also the messy task of trying to, yet again, find the right gift for Cinder.

Meanwhile, Cinder has his plate full. Not only is he dealing with the sudden explosion of holiday decorations in Blackstone Manor, but the time has come for him to pick a new beta. Who is right for the position? If he doesn’t pick Io, will his beloved be hurt?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Dec 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781634862943

Kassandra Lea

Kassandra Lea’s stories have appeared in a number of anthologies. She lives in southern Wisconsin. For more information, visit facebook.com/leakassie.

Book preview

A Gargoyle Christmas

By Kassandra Lea

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2016 Kassandra Lea

ISBN 9781634862943

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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For Muzz and Steve.

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A Gargoyle Christmas

By Kassandra Lea

Chapter 1

Are you sure about this? Cinder asked, looking around.

Quite sure, sir, replied Daisy, a twinkle in her eye.

How she convinced him to trek out to the mall before it closed was beyond him. For one thing, she rarely left the comfort of the basement and all the books she presided over, so having her show up in his office to practically drag him out into the bustling atmosphere of the mall was strange. Yet, it was just the beginning. When she explained what she had in mind he thought for sure she must be sick or going loopy.

This is crazy.

Hush, sir.

Despite himself, Cinder felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Daisy was the only gargoyle he knew who would admonish him while following it up with a sign of respect. Then again, she’d always been a bit of an odd duck. A knockout who dressed modestly, threw her hair up in a ponytail and sported glasses he knew for a fact she did not need.

But it was all part of who she was and he adored her.

This plan, on the other hand, was a different story.

Christmas time at the mall, it sent shivers down his spine. Too many people in one place. Though he lacked the social awkwardness that kept Daisy cooped up with her books, the idea of being around so many humans bugged him. What if somehow things went terribly wrong and their true forms were spotted? Gargoyles around the world might suffer. After all, normal people didn’t lurk in the darkness and sprout leathery batwings to get around.

Cinder shifted his weight. Why this, of all things?

Do you love him?

He arched an eyebrow. The line they were standing in moved. Why ask me that?

Because it’s an easy enough to answer question.

Io, she