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A knife of guilt dug into Evalle’s chest as she avoided meeting Storm’s gaze from where he stood on the castle steps.
He tracked her like a heat-seeking missile from the moment she stepped into view. Surprisingly, he’d stood firm when she paused halfway across the field to watch the gryphons fly far above her head.
The giant beasts swooped in and out of puffy clouds floating across a powder-blue sky.
Garwyli had to be behind Storm staying put and not rushing out to check her wound.
That druid would forever be dear to her after aiding Evalle to return something precious to Storm—his soul. He reminded her of a grandfather, based on what others had described of theirs.
She’d never had one, but if she did she’d want him to be like Garwyli. What a kind soul to believe she really could call up her gryphon again.
At some point, she had to accept the reality she could no longer shift.
Watching the rhythmic flow of the colorful gryphons move gracefully back and forth mesmerized her.
Just one more time, she wished to shift again and take flight.
Her cruel conscience said, Not happening so let it go.
Not bad. She’d admitted the inevitable to herself and hadn’t fallen into a fetal position.
A high-pitched screech ripped through the air.
Her heart pounded wildly. That sounded like Feenix.
He couldn’t fly that high, could he?
She recognized the golden-headed gryphon as Bernie. He would never harm Feenix. But that second one, Ixxter, better known as the jerk of the pack, had bullied the others in the past. She’d thought that was behind Ixxter after she’d helped Tristan rescue him from being tortured. He wouldn’t hurt her gargoyle, right?
Ixxter knew she’d ... her thoughts slammed into each other.
She’d do what?
Not a damn thing. She held back a scream of frustration. Then she remembered she could talk to them telepathically.
She shouted mind-to-mind. Bernie. Is Feenix up there?
The golden-headed gryphon had been gaining altitude when he swung around and looked down. Evalle?
Yes! Where is Feenix?
I told Ixxter not to take him up but ...
Liar, Ixxter charged in his Slavic accent. You’re the one who said he needed to stretch his wings.
I’m not the one who took him higher, Bernie argued.
Don’t be a pussy tattletale, Ixxter accused as his gryphon blindsided Bernie.
Evalle glanced at Storm who had started down the steps.
She had to deal with this.
Storm dealt with enough and this was her territory. Lifting an arm, she held a palm out, asking her mate to wait.
Storm did, but he didn’t retreat. Just stood there watching with arms crossed.
Turning her head up, Evalle sent another telepathic message. Where is Feenix, Ixxter?
Having good time, he sent back.
Another screech higher up had the hair standing on Evalle’s arms. She would use every last ounce of her energy to bleed that gryphon if anything harmed her gargoyle.
She sent back. That is not his happy sound, asshole. If you...
At that moment, a small green shape came spiraling down from way up, passing Bernie and Ixxter.
Bernie broke free, but he’d never catch Feenix.
Evalle called up her kinetics and pushed her hands up to slow her baby’s descent.
Nothing happened.
Panicked, she screamed telepathically at them, Get Feenix!
I’m trying, Bernie called back. He’d flipped over and started flapping his wings in a wobbly dive.
Feenix’s wings weren’t even fanning the air to slow himself. He didn’t look alert.
Ixxter folded his wings and barreled downward. His larger body dropped like a boulder.
Evalle yelled, “Feenix, fly! Open your wings.”
No response.
Her stomach clenched.
Seconds slowed to microseconds.
Too close to the ground, Ixxter spread his black wings that caught wind with a yank, slinging him sideways toward Feenix. A giant claw extended and snatched Feenix out of the air right before Ixxter banked inches above the ground. Flapping hard, he shot up then circled to come back around and land fifty feet away. Covered in black and red feathers, his huge chest heaved hard breaths.
Evalle ran toward Ixxter’s gryphon. “Feenix!”
The gryphon lowered Feenix, but Evalle got there to scoop up her gargoyle before he touched the ground.
She backed away, giving him a little shake. “Come on, baby, wake up.” She could feel his little heart beating and his chest move with fast panting.
Sounding out of breath, Ixxter spoke in her head. He is not dead. Just disoriented from flying high. Maybe could not breathe or something.
She flashed the gryphon a look of death.
What happened to your kinetics, Evalle? You should have saved gargoyle.
That shoved guilt deeper in her chest. She hadn’t been able to protect Feenix. Words stuck in her throat along with the need to lash out in frustration. She bit down to hold all that back.
Everyone would panic the minute she sounded upset and come rushing to help.
Feenix opened his bright orange eyes, pulling her attention back to him.
“Evalle?” He gave her a gap-toothed smile.
She could breathe again.
Feenix looked up and around. “Where ith Bernie?”
She hugged her gargoyle and Feenix forgot about Bernie. He used a chubby paw to pat her back. “You mith me?”
Swallowing, she said, “Always.” She pulled him back to face her. “What happened?”
“I fly.” His eyes glowed with excitement.
“Why did you sound scared?” She had to ask Feenix questions he could answer with his limited vocabulary.
He looked up again then back to her with a worried face. “Too high.”
Ixxter broke in telepathically. That is because he is not familiar with flying so much. You can not keep something with wings locked up.
That dig cut to the bone, but she managed to hide her reaction. If she sounded defensive, Ixxter would take it as a win.
Bernie’s silver-feathered gryphon landed and walked to the side between her and Ixxter. Having a golden eagle head marked him as special, thought to be one of the more powerful gryphons until he shifted into a scrawny little guy who feared his own shadow. His rambling voice came into Evalle’s head.
I’m sorry, Evalle. Feenix kept flying a little higher every time I saw him take off. I thought he might enjoy some exercise, but I didn’t mean for him to go that high.
Shut up, Bernie, Ixxter cut in. You’re just pissing Evalle off more.
I’m not the one she’s pissed at, Bernie countered telepathically.
Both gryphon gazes cut to her.
She kissed Feenix’s head, careful not to let one of his horns stick her. Then she put him on the ground and turned her fury on Ixxter, who had taken Feenix too high.
Feenix had not feared gryphons from the first.
He thought they were big playmates.
Some might be, but Ixxter thought he knew better than anyone else.
She would normally be thanking someone for saving her gargoyle, but she wouldn’t rush in with appreciation when Ixxter had been the one to put Feenix at risk.
She continued with telepathy since these two couldn’t speak out loud in this form. What the hell were you thinking, Ixxter?
That your gargoyle deserved some freedom.
That’s not your decision to make, she sent back with a load of anger.
So is better to keep him locked in box?
She gave up and shouted out loud at Ixxter. “He’s never been put in a box. He has an entire floor of a building as a playroom.”
Ixxter’s growl was the only warning before energy pulsed and the black gryphon shifted into a man who towered over her. He wasn’t particularly attractive, but he had a beefed-up body that belonged to a Spartan warrior.
His gaze skated past her. “You need your hand held?”
She looked over to see Storm walking her way again.
Dammit. She shook her head at her mate.
That didn’t go over well, but Storm paused fifty feet away.
Adrianna had just climbed the castle steps and stood quietly, taking it all in.
Guards had paused then shifted their stance as if ready to come to her aid. She appreciated everyone more than they would know, but she could still make her own decisions.
Everyone tried to keep her calm. They didn’t want to upset her.
She didn’t want calm. Her body shook with unspent fury. She wanted to bust out her gryphon and teach Ixxter-the-bully a lesson.
But that wouldn’t happen, would it?
Turning back to him, she checked on Feenix who had hooked an arm around her leg and nibbled on the tip of one claw.
“You owe me apology,” Ixxter demanded.
“What?” Evalle curled her fingers to hide the trembling.
Too shy to shift in front of women unless he had clothes handy, Bernie could only speak telepathically. You should apologize to Evalle and keep the peace, Ixxter.
“Shut up, Bernie,” Ixxter said out loud. He hit his chest with his fist when he said, “I save gargoyle and she yells at me.”
She’d been giving him a chance to explain. “I owe you a fist sandwich, Ixxter.” She crossed her arms. “You should take Bernie’s advice. It would be a nice change to see you act like a normal, uh ... ”
“Human being? Is that word you look for?” Ixxter sneered. “I am normal for gryphon. I did nothing wrong. Apologize.” His shoulder muscles bulged when he hunched his back and stepped in to meet her.
Evalle shoved Feenix further behind her and hoped Storm stayed back. She had no intention of fighting Ixxter, but she wanted him to know he couldn’t intimidate her. She might have lost some power and strength, but she still possessed the ability to win a verbal argument.
Ixxter had to acknowledge that he’d taken a risk with Feenix and scared her baby.
She needed one win.
Who was she if she couldn’t gain that?
In a blast of energy, Tristan appeared in human form between them and shoved a palm hard at Ixxter who rocked back two steps.
Evalle swiped hair off her face.
Just great. Saved again.
No Belador or Alterant-gryphon would look at her the same after today. They’d all been tiptoeing around her as it was and now Tristan had come in like a principal breaking up a schoolyard argument over a toy.
Wait, where was Feenix?
She twisted around looking for him. Her gargoyle tapped the bright blue petals of a flower growing close to the ground.
When she turned back, Tristan first took in Ixxter then arched an eyebrow full of question at her.
Speaking loud enough for Bernie, Ixxter, and Evalle to know they were all being addressed, Tristan asked, “What the hell started this?”
Evalle snapped, “Ixxter,” at the same moment her opponent shouted, “Evalle.”
Tristan held up a hand for silence and turned to Bernie but said nothing. That meant those two were conversing telepathically and Tristan had chosen to shield his words from Evalle and Ixxter.
Nodding as if to end their conversation, Tristan faced Ixxter and Evalle, saying, “Bernie tells me they were flying with Feenix.”
Ixxter snarled, “Bernie squeals like little girl.”
Bernie’s gryphon made a threatening sound.
As the leader of the Alterant-gryphon pack, Tristan made a louder growl adding, “Everyone shut the fuck up for one minute so I can sort this out. I called to Petrina who has been teaching Feenix how to maneuver. My sister said she left when you showed up, Ixxter. She didn’t want to get into a conflict.” Then Tristan grumbled under his breath. “Must be nice to have that choice.”
“Evalle owes me apology,” Ixxter shouted.
“So you’re the victim?” Evalle asked, lifting her hands in disbelief. She kept up her angry mask, but leave it to Ixxter to point out how she’d failed Feenix. Had Feenix been longing for a chance to fly in the open? Her sweet little gargoyle had seemed content, but it was her job to know what he needed.
Tristan shook his head. He probably regretted agreeing to take over leading the gryphons from Evalle.
She crossed her arms, losing patience, but she’d conceded the position of pack leader to him. He’d earned everyone’s respect, including hers. He might not have the most diplomatic style, but he’d been sorting through gryphon issues for months when she’d been in Atlanta and she would not undermine his authority.
Ixxter gave Evalle a dark look but stopped mouthing off. Good to see that jerk could show respect for Tristan as well.
Sounding tired, which made sense because Tristan must have just teleported back from Atlanta and into this mess, he started again.
“As I was saying, Bernie indicated that Ixxter took Feenix to a higher level than Petrina had set before leaving.” Without slowing, Tristan said, “Stop shouting in my head, Ixxter. She may not be your leader, but she’s my sister and I trust her word. She warned everyone to be careful with Feenix. Sounds like you owe Evalle and Petrina an apology.”
Ixxter cursed and said, “You are fools. Gargoyle is testing wings. He would go too high at some point. What would happen if one of us is not around when he tries? I tell you what. He falls like rock and hits ground. I did you favor show him not to go too high. Now he knows.” At that, Ixxter exploded into his gryphon and flew away.
“Ikther?” Feenix asked in a forlorn voice. “Where go?”
Evalle squatted down in front of Feenix. “He went home for a bit.” Ixxter’s words kept banging around in her head. She had to ask, “Did you go too high, Feenix?”
He nodded with droopy eyes. “Yeth.”
“Are you going to do that again?”
“Noooo. High not good. Ikther tell me.”
Shit. She hated to admit Ixxter had a point. In his own screwed-up way, he’d shown Feenix his limits and had made an impression all the warnings in the world would not.
In addition to that, Ixxter had been right.
She owed him an apology.
Her anger lost steam. She had a sinking feeling she’d failed on yet another front. Sucking up her pride, she called telepathically to Ixxter, allowing Tristan and Bernie to hear her words.
Ixxter, it’s Evalle. You were right. I talked to Feenix and he said you taught him to not go that high again. I’m sorry if I overreacted.
Tristan gave her a pensive expression, clearly waiting on Ixxter’s reply, too.
Ixxter said, Thank you. I would not harm baby gargoyle. You should know that.
Evalle sighed and sent back, You’re right. I should. I’ll try to not judge so quickly next time.
Is no problem, Evalle. We are only human. Ixxter’s laugh followed that.
Evalle smiled.
Tristan cocked his head. “Did you understand what he meant?”
“Yes, he was making a joke. Consider that progress with Ixxter.” She chuckled, relieved she’d fixed one problem.
Bernie must have said something telepathically to Tristan who waved him off. The gryphon took a few steps, flapping his wings and lifted off.
Tristan stepped over to her. “If you want to kick Ixxter’s butt, come back in gryphon form. I have no doubt you’d take him, and I’ll bring the beer.”
She’d never be able to do that, but Tristan still treated her as an equal, which felt good. Smiling she said, “You’re on. You look beat.”
“Yeah, I have to go give Daegan a report on what’s going on in Atlanta, then I’m taking a couple hours down time,” he admitted.
“Hours? You could probably use a couple days.”
“Not yet.”
See? Tristan and the Belador teams back home needed help.
Feenix lifted a blue flower and waddled over to gift her with it. “For Evalle.”
She put it behind her ear. “Thank you, baby.”
He clapped his pudgy paws and made a chortling sound.
That washed away the last of her tension. Watching him play with the gryphons brought a question to mind she needed an answer for before she talked to Storm.
She wanted Feenix with her if she could get a day back in Atlanta, but this wasn’t about her. It was about doing a better job making her gargoyle happy.
“Feenix, do you want to go home?”
She got her answer when his face fell.
“No. I good.”
Evalle dropped to her knees. “Oh, baby, I didn’t mean you had misbehaved. You’ve been wonderful.”
He gave her his special grin. “Thay?”
“Yes, you can stay. Everyone loves having you here. If I go back with Storm for a day or two, would you want to go with us or stay here and fly?”
Feenix looked up, then at Evalle, then back up and at Evalle again. “Thay?” he asked, sounding unsure if that was the right answer.
She hated to leave him, but she wouldn’t deny him this joy. She had one more idea for fixing her power loss, which required going back to Atlanta.
Smiling to reassure him, she said, “It’s okay with me if you stay. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Yes. Thay!” He clapped and waddled around as if dancing. A large yellow and white butterfly came floating by three feet off the ground.
Feenix grinned and lifted into the air, flapping just enough to follow his new playmate.
She called out, “Will you stay with the butterfly?” That might keep him close to the ground if the bug didn’t fly into the woods or go way up in the air.
His orange eyes blazed at her in a quick glance. “Yeth.”
Little bat-like wings stayed busy as Feenix angled to the side and banked to the right in a sweeping movement as he watched the butterfly and chortled the whole time.
Now that was his happy sound.
She had never flown with him.
He’d been cooped up in her underground apartment until she’d met Storm and eventually moved into their building.
A powerful energy approached slowly from behind.
Storm stepped up beside her. “The butterfly won’t go any higher or leave this area.”
She should have known Storm had been behind Feenix’s new toy.
Tristan had started to walk off, but turned back to say, “I’m headed to meet with Daegan. He asked for you two to join us. By the way, Storm, here’s your phone.”
Storm caught it from Tristan’s toss.
Evalle asked, “What do you expect him to do with that in this realm, Tristan?”
Storm answered, “I asked him to take my phone to the human realm in case I had messages from the twins or someone else.”
“Oh. Good thinking.” Evalle had the best mate to keep up with people like the pair of teenage male witches living in their building.
Tristan said, “Someone’s been blowing up that phone the whole time I was in Atlanta today.”
Storm frowned as he scrolled the multiple messages from the same number. “No kidding.”
“What’s going on?” Evalle asked.
“My uncle is trying to reach me.”
“Uncle?” Storm had family? Evalle thought he had no one after his father died.
Why did she pick up irritation coming from him?
“Yes. No big deal. Let’s talk later.” Storm’s grim tone held an angry undercurrent. He closed the phone and changed the subject. “Before we meet with Daegan, are you ready to go home?”
Yes, she was, but she’d told Storm she’d bond once they got out of Treoir.
His face held so much hope, she didn’t know what to say. As much as she wanted to be with him in Atlanta, she couldn’t bond with him yet. Not until she figured out what was going on with her powers.
Evalle admitted, “Sure, I’d like to go, but I don’t think Daegan will let me leave until I’m battle-ready.”
“I heard Daegan will teleport us.”
“Really?”
“Yes, but not for you to be patrolling the streets.”
Her heart dropped at confirmation.
“Evalle?”
She knew when she failed with Hoyt she’d lost her chance to return to duty, but deep inside she’d held a tiny hope of joining the teams again. Pulling her shoulders back and her chin up, she did her best to sound confident. “I’m ready.”
Storm gave her a loaded look, but she hadn’t lied. She was as much as she’d ever be, based on today.
When they reached the platform for the entrance to the castle, Evalle said, “Go ahead. I want to talk to Adrianna before we leave if the dragon really is going to teleport us.”
He paused with the indecision she’d seen on his face too often lately but nodded. “See you inside.”
Once the door closed behind him so Evalle knew he couldn’t hear her words, she walked over to Adrianna and quipped, “Quite a show today, huh?”
The witch gave her a smirk. “You’re lucky Storm hasn’t locked you in a room yet. He’s a hair from losing control.”
Evalle put both hands on her head and slid them down to her neck, trying to wipe away another slug of guilt. “I know. I’m the worst mate ever. I have no idea why he still wants to bond with me.”
Adrianna said nothing.
“Okay, yes, I know he loves me,” Evalle said, smiling at the stupid comment. She hoped he still would if she convinced Adrianna to do something back in Atlanta.
“Love doesn’t begin to cover what that man feels for you, Evalle. He’s determined to bring your gryphon back. That’s why he’s pushing even harder to bond with you now.”
“That’s a problem.” Evalle had wanted to share this with Storm first, but she’d like to give him some good news for once.
Adrianna lost her relaxed expression. “Why?”
Lowering her voice, Evalle said, “My powers are failing. My kinetics didn’t work to stop Feenix a few minutes ago and ... ” She paused to lift her right arm and show it to the witch. “These lines showed up this morning.”
Leaning close to study Evalle’s arm, Adrianna asked, “What do you think that’s all about?”
“Have no fucking clue, to be honest. It may be coincidence, but they showed up this morning and now my powers are getting weak. I agreed to bond with Storm as soon as we got back to the human world. He has some special place he wants to do the ceremony, but what if my powers drain his when we do this?”
“That could be a problem.”
Tristan’s voice came into Evalle’s mind. Hurry the fuck up, Evalle. What are you doing?
Answering the same way, she said, I’m coming. Give me sixty seconds.
Tick tock.
Hurrying to finish, Evalle said, “I have to get inside, but I have an idea of what might bring my gryphon back.”
“Oh?” Adrianna asked with a load of curiosity.
“You said you didn’t want to use Witchlock here in Treoir, but what about when we go back to Atlanta? Are you willing to try it out on me there?”
The witch’s mouth fell open then closed. “I want to say yes, because I’d gladly help with anything I could, but I have no idea what would happen if I use Witchlock on an Alterant-gryphon.”
“Understood.”
Arching an eyebrow, Adrianna sniped, “You may understand, but Storm will unleash his jaguar on me if I harm you.”
“You’re not going to kill me, Adrianna. I know you have more control than that.”
The witch looked around and moved her lips in some silent conversation with herself. She turned back with her voice in that perfect calm tone she spoke in most of the time. “Yes, I’m fairly certain I won’t kill you, but you may shift into something other than a gryphon. You started out as a ... ”
“A hideous beast,” Evalle supplied. “I’m willing to shift into anything if it means hanging onto my powers. I don’t want to be a liability if I bond with Storm.”
The doors to the castle opened and Tristan called out, “Hey. What’s going on?”
Evalle gave Tristan the evil eye. He crossed his arms.
Ignoring him, Evalle asked Adrianna, “Will you try?”
“Give me a minute to think. We’d have to do it before you bond. Mixing my power with his is way too big of a gamble.”
“Got it.” Evalle took off, hoping Adrianna would agree to teleport to Atlanta with them.
