Eric said, “And me.”
Noro smiled. “I’ll let him know. And I have no doubt he feels the same way about all of you. Until next time.”
He took off, leaping and twisting his powerful body upwards into the night sky, beating his wings until he soared above them.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?” Colton asked.
Ramsay put a hand on his shoulder. “He’ll be fine. It’s his own pride, remember? They don’t think he’s their enemy. Not yet, anyway.”
“Hopefully it stays that way,” Eric mumbled. “He’s the only one protecting Matheson and the baby until we get him out of the gryphons’ talons.”
With an unspoken prayer of hope, they raised their heads and watched as the golden speck of Noro’s body grew smaller and smaller, disappearing into the clouds below the mountains.
Chapter 5
Neil was going to pay.
Part of me wanted to purposely start a physical fight with him and make it seem like he was hurting me just because I knew the gryphons would be on him lightning-fast. Maybe they’d lockhimin jail cell. That way I’d never have to see his stupid, traitorous face again.
I stormed down the hall towards the throne room, where I’d seen Neil standing amongst the gryphon guards. Bastian scurried closely behind me, mumbling anxiously, like he’d be struck down if I ever left his sight.
That was okay--I had no intention of trying to escape. Not right now. In fact, I wanted all eyes on me when I picked this fight with Neil.
Let them see what kind of man he truly is,I thought bitterly.
King Blaze was absent from the hall, likely gone to sulk in his own personal room after learning I was already knocked up, but Neil was still there, brooding. I felt smug knowing that the king had given him a verbal smack after he told me to watch my mouth.
That’s right, Neil. You can’t bully me here. I may be a prisoner, but my life is worth ten times more than yours.
A few other gryphon guards standing like statues in the hall straightened up at my approach, their unblinking eyes watching me. They didn’t look suspicious--if anything, they actually seemed curious. Nobody scolded me for leaving my room. Apparently I had enough freedom to do so, and they trusted Bastian to keep watch on me. It seemed like I could do no wrong.
Emboldened by this, I marched up to Neil, still in his wolf form. He raised his lip irritably and pressed his ears back against his skull.
“Matheson,” he mumbled, like I’d come to give him bad news.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Neil.”
I noticed that he didn’t shift to human form to return my conversation, which was considered a bit rude. I wondered if he was doing it on purpose to antagonize me, or if everyone in the pride’s territory assumed their animal form out of convenience, given the size of the place. Only Bastian and I were in our human skins.
“Can I speak to you?” I asked stiffly.
Neil returned my terse tone. “You already are.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Bastian frown.
As much as I wanted to scream at him, I held myself back. I lowered my voice so it didn’t echo through the grand hall. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why did you sell me out?”
The fur on the back of Neil’s neck rose. “It was… a necessary evil.”
“What?” I demanded.
Neil’s eyes flicked to Bastian, then back to me. “I mean what I said.”
Fury rose in me like bile in my throat. “So not only do you not regret what you did, but you’re proud of it?”
“Yes.”
My jaw dropped. I wanted to throw myself at him and punch the smug look off his face. I didn't think anyone would stop me, except maybe for the fact that I might’ve broken my own hand on his teeth.
