“Leave, Ian. There’s nothing for you here.”
Ian gave us a sweeping glance. A muscle jumped in his cheek. He gave Kyla a sharp nod, and then he whirled, stalking back toward his car.
Kyla moved past me.
“Hey–” I started, and she shook her head.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll see you later.”
Fair enough. I’d had my share of sibling drama over the years. No one could fuck you up like family.
Nathaniel stared at the griffin as Kyla walked away. The griffin bent his front legs, lowering his head in a regal bow. It wasn’t a submissive move. It was the acknowledgement of one dangerous creature to another.
Nathaniel studied him for a long moment. Finally, he lowered his head in a shallow nod. The griffin rose and wandered after Kyla.
Nathaniel raised one eyebrow at me.
“I need to clean up, then I’ll fill you in.”
He merely nodded. I wasn’t fooled by his patient demeanor. It was unlikely the Alpha was used to waiting for anything.
Lilith was sitting in the living room when I arrived back in the cabin. Her mouth dropped open at the state of me, and I pre-emptively flipped her off. Surprise flashed through me at her amused grin.
A low curse sounded, and I turned toward the kitchen. Ag was standing in the doorway, expression displeased.
What else was new?
“What have you done?” he snapped.
I was so tired I could barely get the words out. “I danced to an unseelie tune and now I know where to get the sword.”
“To your arm,” he clarified, stepping forward.
Oh, that.
I’d avoided looking at it. Since I’d wrapped my shirt around it, it had settled down to a dull throb, but I sure wasn’t looking forward to peeling my sad excuse for first-aid off of it.
Ag was instantly next to me, and I jolted back, but he’d already caught hold of my arm and was untying my t-shirt.
“I didn’t realize you had mother hen tendencies,” I murmured as Ag unwrapped the bandage.
“Quiet.”
I rolled my eyes. Behind Ag, Vas stepped into the room and grinned at me.
“It looks worse than it is.”
“And how would you know that?” Ag raised his voice. “This needs the healer.”
“No it doesn’t,” I started, and he merely ignored me.
“Go bathe. You’re of no help to Samael if you die from a nasty infection before he can wake.”
My mouth dropped open as Ag got to his feet and stalked out the door, likely to contact Eldan himself.
“I would’ve thought he’d be happy for me to get a nasty infection,” I said sullenly.
Vas shook his head at me. “He may not like your choices, but he doesn’t want you dead.”
