He gestured sharply at the mythological who watched the scene with a bored expression, his arms crossed over his chest as he let the beasts tear into each other.
Griffin spoke again, stabbing a finger at the fight.
The mythological’s movements were slow and unwilling as he uncrossed his arms and straightened, turning a cruel expression on the two snarling beasts. One moment he was motionless, then the next he was between them, his powerful hands prying them apart as he tossed them in opposite directions.
Shea’s heart sank at the display. He was supernaturally fast and incredibly strong. Those beasts would have weighed well over a hundred pounds each, the red back nearly three hundred, and he’d just tossed them around like they were feathers.
Any plans her team made would require they take the mythological out of the equation first. Let him react in any way and they were as good as dead.
Griffin stalked over to the mythological, his face full of rage. He gestured at the two beasts as they slunk to opposite sides of the canyon. Even from here she could hear his shouting, though the words remained indistinct.
Hate blazed from the mythological’s eyes, and he snapped something in response.
Griffin sneered and grabbed at the chain around his neck. Shea struggled to see what hung from it but was unsuccessful given the distance. The mythological’s mouth opened and a horrifying sound of pain echoed up from below.
The mythological fell to the ground, cowering and making an agonized sound Shea knew would live in her nightmares. The beasts also shied away from Griffin and whatever he held in his hand.
It was never easy for Shea to watch a living creature in pain, and this was no different. She felt sick to her stomach as she watched Griffin torture them, releasing the necklace, just to grab it again when it looked like the mythological had recovered.
Eventually, he lost interest in the game. He leaned over and said something to the mythological, something that had the creature’s face turning guarded. Griffin sauntered off, ignoring the mythological at his back.
A mistake. The expression on the creature’s face sent shivers down Shea’s spine. It said he would gladly repay Griffin’s kindness a thousand times over in as bloody and painful a way as possible.
The scene answered the question of why the mythologicals were accompanying Griffin in the first place. That necklace, whatever it was, played a part in this. Shea was willing to bet it allowed Griffin to exert control over them.
This explained why Orion had dropped her off at the first demarcation. No doubt he didn’t want to get close enough for any effects to take hold. There was no telling how far its influence reached.
It would have been nice if Covath had explained any of this. She’d bet anything that the necklace was what he’d asked her to salvage and return to him. Given its capabilities, the mythologicals wouldn’t want it to fall into anyone else’s hands. Shea had to admit she didn’t want that either, even if she knew in the back of her mind how valuable such an item might be.
A plan began to form. It was fraught with risk and not guaranteed success by any means. She’d have to do a lot of fast-talking to convince the rest of its possibilities, but she thought it might be their best option.
Covath had revealed the mythologicals weren’t necessarily happy to be at the beck and call of a human, changed and twisted by whatever resided here in the Badlands though he may be. Taking this into consideration might help their cause.
Still, there were many factors in play that could tip things in one direction or another. She had no idea how tightly the mythological was bound to his master’s will.
Yes, there was a lot to consider, even with this inkling of a plan.
Shea settled in to wait, ignoring the discomfort in her body as her legs and arms protested remaining in one position for so long—the itch that had taken residence in the middle of her back, or the fact her bladder kept reminding her it had been several hours since she’d last emptied it. All those concerns faded as she began to plot and observe.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“That’s a horrible plan,” Trenton said.
“It’s not that bad.” Shea returned defensively.
He lifted an eyebrow and shook his head.
She glanced at Buck for support. His gaze moved from her to Trenton and back again before he gave her a regretful shrug.
“I agree with Trenton,” he said. “There are too many unknowns for us to risk approaching the mythological without knowing where his loyalties lie. He could side with you or he could kill you.”
Shea looked to her father and Reece, hoping to find support on either of their faces. Both of them shook their heads.
“Much as it pains me to admit, I agree with the barbarians,” Reece said, nodding toward Trenton and Buck. “It has disaster written all over it.”
“I know you want to get back to your warlord but jumping headfirst into danger isn’t the best way to do that,” Patrick said, his gaze firm.
“This has nothing to do with that,” Shea snapped, anger coursing through her at the insinuation she was rushing because she wanted to return to Fallon.
