“No.”
My throat is sore, constricted. “Why not?”
“I told them to bury her properly.”
I swallow. “They weren’t going to, were they?”
“No, they weren’t.”
I drop my head to my chest, my free hand flopping to my side. “What about my Storm Command.”
“They haven’t been touched. They’re fine.”
“Fine is a relative word, Grayson. One version of ‘fine’ is healthy and safe. Another version of ‘fine’ is starving and wounded but not dead.” At this point, I’m not ashamed to beg. “Please let them go.”
“It’s not up to me. I don’t control that situation.”
“Then you don’t know that they’re fine.”
He sighs. Tugs my hand. Pulls me to my feet. I stumble back to my cage, swinging between going into shock and trying to stay alert. I can’t allow myself to become vulnerable in this place. And until I see her body or hear it from someone I trust, I won’t truly believe she’s gone.
Priscilla waits for us when we get back. As we enter the room, she straightens from a lean against the table, flicking her hair behind her ear, smirking at me.
“Oh,” she pouts, putting on a sad face. “Is somebody upset?”
Grayson doesn’t react, taking me to the nearest chair, finally letting me go. He positions himself in a standing position at my side, his tone neutral. “Priscilla?”
She smiles sweetly. “Yes, Grayson?”
“Get out.”
She laughs. “Don’t tell me you feel sorry for her.”
I may be exhausted and emotionally drained, but I can still access my power. I harness the cold again, wondering if Grayson will stop me this time.
He must sense it, but to my surprise he doesn’t put up a shield between us. Instead, he narrows his eyes at Priscilla. “You should be more afraid of her.”
Priscilla is taken back, flicking her fingers at me. “What? Scared of that pitiful, littledoll—”
My eyes widen. Grayson said he never met Howl, but Priscilla must have. She must have told Grayson what Howl called me. My resolve strengthens. My power crackles, but Priscilla is either too proud or too stupid to acknowledge the danger.
Grayson says, “Leave, Priscilla. Before I let Marbella do what she wants.”
Her body language changes, becoming instantly threatening. “You’d better not betray me, Grayson.”
When he doesn’t answer, her frown deepens. “Fine, have your little moment. Just remember who will be there when it’s all over.”
She stalks from the room, glaring daggers at me. I consider turning her perfect ass to dust but that would rain all sorts of hellfire down on me from the other Elven Commanders and the consequences would be faced by my people: the gargoyles and my ladies. The Elven Command may not be able to hurt me, but they’ve made it clear that they can hurt…kill… the people I care about.
I shouldn’t have waited to come looking for my ladies. I should have stormed into Erawind as soon as Howl was dead. I should have done… something…anything…
I jump to my feet and head for the bedroom, closing the door behind me before I crawl into bed and pull the blankets over myself. Grayson lets me go, doesn’t try to stop me, doesn’t even tug on me.
I close my eyes and let the shock take over.
* * *
That night,after Grayson leans over me to retrieve his pillow and blanket, he leans in slowly, angled to drop a kiss right on my lips.
