“Hold it,” Jean said. “We have a problem to solve.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from yelling at my sister. She did not get to armchair coach my relationship. “What problem, Jean?” I snapped.
“I can’t pick up the Feather.”
My head was so full of anger and hurt, it took me several seconds to figure out what she was saying.
“The Valkyrie Feather,” she said slowly. “It’s stuck in the safe.”
I closed my eyes and took a breath. Then another. I wanted to yell, I wanted to cry, but no matter what I wanted, I had a job to do. “All right. Okay. We got this. Here’s what we’re going to do. Myra, you’re still on the library.”
“I agree,” she said.
“Ryder, if we’re in close quarters, I’m just going to fight with you. So I’d like you to go home, or to work, or go find Bathin and make sure he’s not doing anything he shouldn’t with his mother. Xtelle signed the contract and is here legitimately now.”
“I still think you should let me go over the contract again,” he said. “Demons always find a loophole. Let me look through it one more time.”
“With your buddy, Mithra?” He knew how I felt about that god who hated my family. He knew how I felt about Mithra trying to mess around with anything in Ordinary, including my boyfriend.
He just pressed his lips together and shook his head. Disappointed.
“Jean,” I said, “you and I will return the items. I’ll apologize, I’ll explain, and if they want me arrested, you can take me in.”
I made eye contact which each of them in turn, lastly Ryder, who dropped his gaze after a very short stare down.
“Understood?” I asked.
Myra was already walking my way. “Understood, Chief. Come on, Ryder. Let’s do our part.” She touched his arm as she walked past him, but didn’t drag him with her.
Ryder walked toward me. He took his time, stretching out that small space into what felt like hours.
“We need to talk,” he said, quietly, his head bent so he was sure not to lose eye contact with me. “After you get done with Jean, we need to talk. I’ll go check on Bathin and make sure things are fine on that level, then I’ll be home. I’d like you to be home too. Let me know if you can make it.”
Then he stepped forward and dropped his arms around me again. I didn’t lean as hard into him this time, but I didn’t pull away. He shifted so he was just a little closer, one last gentle squeeze, and then he let go, not fast, not angry, every inch of his body transmitting he might be angry, but he wasn’t done with this yet. Wasn’t done with us.
“Yeah,” I said. “Okay.”
Then he was past me and out the door.
I closed my eyes and counted my heartbeats, trying to steady the ache in my chest.
“I think you’re reading too much into everything,” Jean said. “He’s worried. That’s all, Delaney. We’re all worried. And his worry came out a little angry. And condescending. I’m worried too.”
“I know,” I said. “But it’s not like I was going around looking for another jerk who wants to use me as a bargaining chip.”
She made a rude noise. “I’m not worried about that. Demons are old news. We’ve taken them on and defeated them. I’m worried about what Bertie is going to do to you when she finds out you stole her Feather.” She gave me a wide grin. “You are so doomed.”
“Well you’re about to have a front and center seat for that delightful event. Let’s get the Feather.”
She did a short bow, her hand toward my room, and I strolled back to the bedroom to retrieve the Feather of my doom.
Chapter Eighteen
The werewolves were not amused.I carried the Heartwood carefully out in front of me, having decided that my scent was already on it, so putting it in a cloth or other carrying case wouldn’t make any difference.
Plus, I didn’t want it harmed. If I kept it in my tight grip, I could get it back to the Wolfes safely.
Before Jean and I even reached the front door of Granny Wolfe’s house, half a dozen family members had silently joined us. They walked beside us, walked behind us, men and women caging us in with their bodies.
