“Stay behind me,” he murmured to Maisie, even as he tried to work out what the best way to approach the situation was.Should he show some aggression and fight his way out, or try to sweet-talk them?
He didn’t think they were the type to be sweet-talked.
You should destroy them with a wave of righteous fury,said the griffin.How dare they attempt to prevent a griffin from protecting its mate.
Rhys rolled his eyes.That’s very helpful. Thanks.
I see that you have finally started to thank me for my excellent advice. It has taken far too long, but I suppose that it is better late than never.
Rhys thought about trying to explain the concept of sarcasm to a griffin, but decided that he had better things to do. And he knew that it wouldn’t be a fruitful experience.
Suddenly, the griffin’s head jerked up, eagle eyes widening.
We have company.
Rhys looked around, unable to see anyone suspicious, but in this, at least, he trusted his griffin’s instincts.
A moment later, the drone of an approaching boat engine at the edge of his hearing caught his attention. At almost the same moment, he saw one of the goons lift his walkie talkie, and instinctively he knew that they were talking to whoever was approaching.
“Is something going on?” whispered Maisie, leaning in close to his side.
“Yeah,” he muttered back. “I don’t know if it’s good or bad – but we should probably assume it’s bad.”
I would not be so certain of that,his griffin said suddenly.
You sure?Rhys asked, surprised.
No,the griffin said, in an exceedingly rare admission of imperfection.But I believe that those approaching may not be enemies.
The boat was close enough now that Maisie could hear it, and she turned as it glid across the water, maneuvering smoothly into an empty berth.
“That’s one fancy boat,” Maisie said. “Should we be running away from it?”
“The griffin thinks it’s safe. Probably.”
Maisie grinned weakly. “Well, if the griffin says so, then it must be true.”
I would never lie to you!the griffin bellowed, making Rhys wince.Tell her that we would only ever speak truths to her! Tell her that we are devoted to her always!
Rhys tried – and mostly succeeded – to not sigh audibly.Keep your shirt on. You know that she knows that.
She must know it even more! She can never know it enough!
He hadn’t thought that he would be relieved for the mystery boat to arrive – but, he thought, it was better than dealing with his griffin’s haranguing. If he followed all of his griffin’s romantic advice… well, it didn’t even bear thinking about.
The boat wasn’t as opulent as the yacht had been, but it was definitely more high-tech. Rhys was pretty sure it was a military or spy craft masquerading as a luxury vessel, and doing a bit of a piss-poor job of it… though some of that came down to the occupants. They were obviouslytryingto look like they were rich bastards out on a joyride in their pleasure craft, but they weren’t quite pulling it off.
Not good.
Rhys didn’t want to start doubting his griffin’s instincts now, but in a choice between choosing to trust these guys weren’t their enemies and risking Maisie’s safety, or making a break for it now while the going was still good, he knew which one he’d choose.
The goon put away his walkie talkie and nodded at one of the agents on the boat. So, they were definitely all in cahoots.
That certainly doesn’t put me at ease,Rhys thought grimly.Time to shift, and I don’t care who sees it.
“Step back a little,” he murmured to Maisie, as the guys on the boat started leaping out of it up onto the dock and heading their way – and Rhys could tell from their faces that they meant business.
“Are you – are you going to –” Maisie whispered, looking up at him with wide eyes. “But people will –”
