Stone Cold Mage 2: Of Witches and Gargoyles

by Jamie Hawke

  We went, because… well, we weren’t sure what else to do. Morning was coming fast, and we didn’t have time to get back to Gertrude’s place.

  Galahad stood in the doorway, holding it open and waiting for us to enter. To my surprise, there were at least a dozen others gathered within, all with that gold, glowing symbol on their necks. Men and women of the Order.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  Galahad walked over to the others, standing in their midst, and then went to one knee. “We are ready to serve.”

  I frowned, eyeing the others as they did the same.

  “I don’t follow,” I admitted.

  Galahad rose, and so the others did, too. “Senator Funai left distinct orders that this was to be done. He named these men and women as the only ones from the Order he could be one hundred percent certain with his trust, and said he hoped you would continue with his legacy.

  “How?” I truly wasn’t following.

  “I think he meant,” this time, Galahad stepped close, lowering his voice, “to become him. Only from time to time, naturally.”

  For a moment I still wasn’t following, then turned to him and frowned, then back to my team. “Can I do that?”

  Ebrill frowned, shrugged.

  “Probably?” Megha said but looked to Aerona.

  “The key will be really harnessing your transmutation power and holding it in place. We can work on that… together.”

  Her eyes moved away and then back to me, a slight smile at the edge of her lips. She seemed to be interested in working on more than just that, but not be totally committed.

  We would have to get to the bottom of that, but for now, needed to address the issue at hand.

  “He knew there was a possibility he might die…” I said, the words leaving my mouth like a cloud over water.

  “He knew he would die,” Galahad corrected me.

  I frowned, blinked, then looked to my team for confirmation. All gave me nods or smiles of affirmation.

  “I’ll do it,” I said. “I think. Most of this is still a bit unclear, but… if it’s good for the right side of the Order, if it’s good for the universe. Yes.”

  “You’ll need to continue your education, when not being the senator,” Galahad said.

  “What? How?”

  “During the day. We’ve seen to it that you’re still good to go for Johns Hopkins, and in fact they will make scheduling easy for you. Transportation and all that. When needed as the senator, you play the role. When not otherwise occupied, ensure you’re learning. Studying up on politics and economics, everything you will need to know to play the part.”

  “It’s a bit much, I’m sure,” Megha said, stepping up to us, eyes moving to the stairs. “But on another note, sunrise is almost upon us.”

  “Ah, right.” Galahad nodded to one of the women with the Order. “Silvia will show those of you who sleep during the day to the rooftop.”

  “A more secluded room will be fine.”

  “I assure you, magical defenses are in place.” He held her gaze, then nodded. “If you prefer.”

  Silvia nodded, gesturing them to the back staircase.

  “We’ll see you tonight,” Ebrill said as she and the other two gargoyles followed Silvia. Kordelia and Aerona smiled my way, the former blowing a kiss and laughing.

  “Stay safe,” I replied, then turned to Riland, Megha, and Steph. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m beat.”

  “This way,” Galahad said, gesturing me to another staircase. “Your quarters.”

  “Oh. We have our own house.”

  “Now you have two.” Galahad grinned, leaning in. “You wouldn’t prefer to stay under the same roof as the gargoyles? In case there’s trouble, I mean.”

  Shisa rubbed against my leg, giving me his answer. And who was I to argue with that?

  “Sold,” I said.

  “Actually, I don’t think I need sleep quite yet,” Riland said. “Mind if I stay here and get to know the rest of the team?”

  “Smart idea,” I replied, wishing I had the energy for it.

  One glance at Steph told me she was as drained as I was, so we followed Galahad, my mind swimming with the implications of what we were taking on. I wasn’t sure I fully comprehended it yet.

  26

  The next day was nothing but relaxing and recuperating. D.C. was in turmoil, the news station saying it had been a terrorist attack. The Order, led by Galahad—who apparently never needed rest—would watch the senator’s place, or what was now our place, while we explored. Riland had been buddying up with the man and a couple ladies, and when we found them, they were sitting in a reception room around a white couch-thing, the ladies laughing, one with a hand on Riland’s leg.

  I nodded to him, and he came over to where Megha and Steph stood with me.

  “What’s the deal?” I asked.

  He leaned in, lowering his voice. “Seeing if we can trust them. I think we can.”

  “And the lady?” Megha asked, eyebrow raised.

  Riland glanced back and chuckled. “Let’s be honest, the princess and me? Never was going to happen.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Go on, enjoy your day.” Riland indicated the door. “I’ll be here.”

  I raised an eyebrow, but said, “I could use a coffee. Maybe a scone?”

  “Sounds great to me,” Steph replied, and Megha nodded enthusiastically. Shisa moseyed out and looked up at us, then kept going. Apparently, he was fine with staying with Riland, which was best anyway since he would draw attention out there.

  Speaking of drawing attention. I licked my lips, eyes going to Megha. Her black ‘dress’ was damn revealing. Maybe not too much for somewhere like California, but in D.C. it was bound to stick out.

  “Maybe one of the ladies has something you could wear?” I offered.

  Her eyes narrowed, but she shrugged, then pulled off her dress and tossed it at me before turning to the ladies nearby. “Excuse me, but do you have anything more D.C.-appropriate for me to wear?”

  “I’ll get right on it,” the one who had been touching Riland’s leg said and bounded up to go off and find something. Riland shot me a glare, but then his eyes joined the rest of ours, staring at Megha’s nude form.

  She wasn’t bad to look at, that was for damn sure. Small in stature, but with a round ass and wide hips. The curve of her breasts pulled my attention, driving me to want to stand behind her and run my hands along the edges, cupping them, pinching those cute, perky nipples between my thumb and forefinger.

  Her eyes met mine, a half-smile on her lips, and then she waited. The lady returned with a purple skirt and white blouse. Very not Megha, but the outfit would do for walking around outside.

  When she was ready, the three of us headed out. Nowhere in mind, exactly, but we meandered around, and found a sunny spot with outdoor seating at a park. While Steph went to the bathroom, Megha had me get a couple of popsicles.

  “Back in the old days of Avalon, I always felt like an outsider,” Megha admitted, eyeing her popsicle and then giving it a very lovely, seductive lick. “It was a different time. A time when the type of actions you and the others are so open with was… frowned upon.”

  “It still is, by some,” I admitted.

  “Let’s not meet them.”

  “Agreed.” I took a lick of my popsicle, loving the sour strawberry lemonade, so refreshing. Not just in the heat, but with all the chaos lately, it was a cool reminder of simpler times, of a summer in the rose garden overlooking Portland. Of times with my mom, when she had still been passionate for the future, back when she still believed she and my dad were going places in life.

  It hadn’t lasted long, and by the time I was twelve I was able to smell the bullshit, able to notice the empty bottles and all that.

  At least there had been a time when it was all good. Then again, with a glance at Megha smiling so cutely in my direction, there was no doubt this was a great time—better, in many ways.
I could create my future, a new kind of life.

  For me and my team, there was a bright future. Maybe, when I was in the right place to do so, I would be able to help my parents do something more, too.

  “How do you feel now?” I asked.

  She laughed. “Like you got distracted. But that… I like you anyway.”

  “Thanks.”

  She laughed again, and I loved that laugh. Fuck, how was it I could be so into each of these ladies, and it not feel the slightest bit weird? I leaned over and kissed her. She smiled, licked her popsicle, and shrugged.

  “The thing is, we’re all together in this.” She turned, eyes roaming over the architecture of D.C. “It’s a lovely world, and more lovely with us all together. We need to get back, figure out how this will all work… how to find Yenifer. To be together.” Her eyes took on a spark of mischief as she looked me up and down. “Think… I mean, do you think you can handle her?”

  “In a fight?”

  “In the sheets.” She winked. “I think she’d totally destroy you, but that you’d love every second of it.”

  “Ebrill could heal me during, so… you know.”

  Another laugh. “True!” She tossed the rest of her popsicle into the nearby trash, took my hand, and said, “Let’s go.”

  I frowned, but then saw Steph walking back from the bathroom, and nodded. Steph wrapped my arm in hers, and the three of us took off. We walked around a bit more, stopped at a falafel cart to grab something to eat, and eventually headed back. We had a role to play in all this, and it was time.

  “I’ll be honest,” I told Megha as we made our way back to the senator’s house, “I woke up today and thought you’d be gone.”

  “Why’d you think that?” Steph asked.

  “Because he’s smart,” Megha replied. “I was considering it. Maybe I’ll leave tomorrow, I don’t know.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “This is a weird time. We don’t know where Yenifer is and I don’t know, I’m not the type to be tied down. Never was.”

  “Well, we’re glad you stayed,” Steph told her.

  We made it back to the house and I paused, looking each of them in the eyes in turn. “I had fun today. Let’s… try to enjoy more of our lives like this, sometimes. Right?”

  “I’d love that,” Steph said.

  Megha nodded. “As long as I’m around.”

  I chuckled, taking what I could from her.

  The door creaked open, and Galahad stood there, smiling pleasantly. “Good, you’re back.”

  “Was there trouble?” I asked.

  “I’ve been talking with Riland, about,” he turned to Steph, “your friends.”

  “My friends?” Steph frowned in confusion.

  “The wraith knights. My old friends, no? Well, if that’s so… I think I might be able to help them get some of their self-awareness back, help them to be themselves again.”

  Her eyes went wide, her lip twitching. All she could do was nod.

  “Come, let’s talk,” Galahad said, guiding her to the family room nearby.

  “Wait,” I said, and caught up to them. “Steph, does this mean… anything?”

  She smiled, hand on my arm. “As far as us? No, they were like… brothers, in a sense. Best friends. But even if they came back fully, it would be as family, not any sort of lovers at this point.”

  I nodded, knowing it was odd for me to even ask, considering my position with the witches and gargoyles. But I cared, and she seemed to get it.

  As they walked off, Megha cocked her head in thought. “You know… I’ve been wondering. What he’s talking about—now that we have access to Avalon and the Dark Lands, well… maybe there’s something to be done about the idea of turning to stone during the day?”

  “You think?”

  She nodded. “It’s worth trying, isn’t it? Let the ladies rest a little more, but then, before nightfall, I say we try it.”

  “Great idea,” I replied, giddy at the thought that, even if it was just a hope, we might be able to wake the gargoyles during the day. “What should we… er, do in the meantime?”

  She bit her lip, nodded to the stairs, and said, “I can think of a thing or two.”

  You can imagine, it didn’t take long for us to sprint up the stairs, for me to pick her up and smother her with my lips on her neck, to pull her new D.C. outfit off and toss her on the bed.

  I undid my belt and then went for my shirt, feeling before it was half-off that she was dealing with the rest of taking off my pants. My hard cock rocked up and down as it was freed.

  “Wait,” I said, taking her hand, looking at her beautiful body, then to her eyes. “Dance with me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Come on.” I pulled her in, bodies close, cock between her legs as we swayed back and forth. For a long, perfect moment we danced like that, her moaning and holding me tight. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she shoved me against the wall.

  Before I could say a thing, my attention was drawn to the bliss of the warmth of her mouth as it engulfed my cock.

  My moan was soft. I tossed my shirt aside and watched as her eyes met mine. She continued to stroke me, tip inside of her mouth, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I fumbled around for one of the condoms, quickly sliding it on. She eyed it with confusion.

  “What the fuck is that?”

  I laughed. “Just… to help you not get pregnant.”

  “This world of yours has some odd magic.” She stroked it, reminding me how annoying it was to have that extra layer between us, but a flow of energy coursed through her fingers that sent me into a spasm of lust and infatuation.

  I lifted her and held her thick ass in my hands, gripping it tight as I lowered her onto my cock. Oh, fuck, her tight pussy felt like Heaven. The condom wasn’t even there, as far as the sensations were concerned.

  The wall slammed into my back as she rode me, then we were on the ground and she was thrusting, our bodies like one. Her breasts heaved, then pressed against me. One second she had her face buried in my neck, then arched back, moving so I could rotate to be on top of her, face in her breasts, hands on her thighs, her ass, appreciating every inch of her. Every bit of her body.

  She let out a soft yelp, then a long moan, nails digging into my flesh. For a moment I felt her hands on my head, fingers running through my hair and then… moving into my skull. Her hands were on my brain, and it was sensational—like every bit of pleasure one could imagine taking hold of me at once, my cock surging larger than it ever had before.

  There was no holding it back, then, and I gripped her tight as I released into her. Well, into the condom, I guess. I was overcome with pleasure, obsessed with the beauty that was her… and those fingers retreating from my skull.

  We simply lay there together, enjoying each other’s warm, nude bodies. Megha pushed herself up and eyed me.

  “What?” I finally asked.

  “You fuck like a champ, and you’re not bad on the eyes.”

  “Thanks,” I replied, feeling suddenly very self-conscious. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  “Not so bad?” She laughed. “I’m fucking amazing.”

  “I know.” We kissed again.

  When she pulled back, she put a finger to my lips, tracing them, and then bopped my nose with a giggle. “I’m excited to see what happened with Steph and Galahad.”

  “Me too,” I replied. “To meet the knights.”

  She nodded.

  “Should we, then?”

  “In a minute,” Megha said, adjusting herself to straddle my face and take my limp dick in her mouth. I got the picture, and it was a nice one—her cute little pink asshole in my face, her pussy waiting to be licked.

  I dove in, eating her up, loving every second of it.

  All that other stuff would come soon, along with the reckoning with Fatiha, then the rest of the Nine. There was no rush. It would all come.

  But first it was our turn, again.

  Autho
r Notes

  Book 2 is done! Not super long, but I have more fun with them this way, and hope you do, too. For me, it’s like going to see a movie and enjoying it, such as John Wick, versus the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition. I love both but can’t handle the extended edition too often. It is amazing but drains my energy. Movies like John Wick, or shorter books in the two hundred to three hundred, maybe slightly more, page range are perfect for my attention span.

  I hope that, whether you’re like me or not, you enjoyed the story! Growing up, I was very into stories like these, and yes, cartoon shows about similar topics (not adult-oriented). So, for me it’s a blast to jump back into that frame of mind but as an adult might enjoy it.

  You’ll be glad to hear that Podium will be doing the audiobooks, although they might do them as a bundle (so one through three together, I imagine). That will mean a great deal for you, but also means you have to wait a little longer until the third book is out. My current plan is to do this as a trilogy, but let’s see what happens. Regardless, it will be a three-book arc, so if I do four through six, it will be a new arc, not a dragged-out story that would have fit better in three or four books.

  I might also do a thriller in between, or at least start one. I have seen some success in the Hollywood world lately (more to come—I’ve been asked to not say anything until there’s a press release… but sorry, it’s not a Jamie Hawke or Sloan book coming to film yet, more related to my screenwriting). Point being, they want me to do some thrillers. So, we’ll see! If I do it, I haven’t decided whether to do so as a traditional deal (because that might be an easier way to get movie rights sold) or keep doing it indie. Either way, probably not as Jamie Hawke, since it wouldn’t be harem/adult content. My plan is to do everything in those categories as Hawke, and here’s why, if you’re curious: Amazon algorithms. Amazon promotes books to readers who have read your other books. If I published my thriller as Hawke and it wasn’t of a certain adult nature, a lot of readers might not click on it, and then Amazon would consider it not interesting to readers (rather than just seeing that it has been shown to a different group of readers than those who would normally buy it). Anyway, I am probably boring you, but thought I would share. And if you’re reading this after all of that has come to pass, awesome! Check in and stop by the red-carpet events.