Page 73 of Twist of Fate

Fred blinked again.

Luke gave up trying not to smile.

Connal did not appear equally distracted. He turned to Igneous. “Cosmo said Silenus sent you to examine the warehouse.”

“We have returned,” Igneous confirmed.

“What did you find?”

“Enough magical residue remained for us to determine how the structure functioned,” Balthazar said. “The king has ordered us to give our full account before the council.”

“Can you identify who created it?” Luke asked.

“No,” Igneous said. “But the structure reveals what it was intended to contain.”

Connal’s hand tightened slightly around Luke’s arm.

“Why are you here instead of with Silenus?” Connal asked.

“We were ordered to report our return to you and remain near the humans until the council assembled,” Balthazar said. “You were unavailable.”

Gomez looked pointedly at Luke’s damp hair.

Luke glared at him.

“I remain silent,” Gomez said. “Heroically.”

The gargoyles returned to their positions against the wall.

Gomez watched in fascination as Igneous and Balthazar folded their wings. Fred remained facing the bed for another moment before turning.

“Wait,” Gomez said. “You’re staying in here?”

“We were ordered to protect you,” Igneous replied.

“By pretending to be statues.”

“We do not pretend,” Igneous repeated.

“Right. Sorry. By resting aggressively.”

Balthazar’s mouth twitched.

Gomez caught it. “He almost smiled. Luke, did you see that?”

“I saw.”

“I’m winning them over.”

“You’ve known them for three minutes.”

“And already Fred finds me interesting.”

Fred settled into place and went completely still.

Gomez leaned toward Luke. “Do you think he can still hear me?”

“Yes,” Igneous said.