If there was something rotten in the Agency, then that was a distinct possibility. And it meant that Maisie might be in serious danger. The eagle might be planning to kill her, not just keep her in custody in order to question her.
If he drops her, I’ll catch her. And if he doesn’t, I’ll chase him to the ends of the earth to get her back.
It seemed the eagle reallywasheading toward Castle Hill, looming up over the city like a hunchbacked mountain.
I’ll catch it before it gets there.
He could see Maisie’s silhouetted form, clutched in the eagle’s talons. And, with his eagle’s vision, he could see that shewasn’t hurt – but shewasbeating on the eagle’s talons with her fists, which Rhys didn’t think was a great idea when she was so high up. But he couldn’t exactly say he blamed her either.
She knows we will catch her if she falls,his griffin growled.And we will.
He was catching up with the eagle now, and the eagle seemed to know it. It was beating its wings desperately, but even with the head start it had had, there was no way it could outrun a pissed-off griffin who was protecting its mate.
How will we get Maisie out of its talons without hurting her, though?Rhys wondered, as he gained on it.I don’t want her to be any more frightened than she already is.
We will know what to do when the time is right,the griffin said, and Rhys just had to trust it was correct. In any case, theright timewas coming up fast – he’d just have to think of something.
The eagle seemed to sense his proximity and it dipped its wings suddenly, plummeting a short way – Rhys heard Maisie’s short, sharp scream as it dropped through the air, and red misted his vision.
Out mate! Our mate!
With difficulty, Rhys tried to wrestle his mind back from the griffin’s control. If he wasn’t careful, it would take over his mind, and then he didn’t know what would happen. There’d been cases of shifters – even someone like Euan – who’d lost control of their animal sides and let it take them over, and had woken up covered in the blood of the people they’d unknowingly killed while the animal’s rage had taken over their minds. The only way to deal with it was to suppress their animal side so hard that it could never emerge again – and lose the ability to shift along with it.
If I do that, we’re both dead,Rhys tried to tell the griffin as it raged within him, screaming for the blood of whoever woulddare to harm its mate.We have to worktogether.Do you understand?
But the griffin wasn’t having it. The sound of Maisie’s scream had unlocked something within him that he couldn’t push back down. He’d always known the mate bond was strong, but he’d never known a power like this before.
Rhys struggled against it, and managed to claw back a little control. He couldn’t just allow the griffin to take over here – at times like this, it was nothing but pure rage. But he knew he’d need his wits about him if Maisie wasn’t going to be hurt.
You hear me?He shouted at the griffin.Maisie’s life is on the line here. Calm the fuck down!
Thatat least seemed to pull the griffin back from whatever rampage it was on the brink of. The thought of Maisie being harmed sent a cold shiver straight through him.
Okay. We have tothink.
The eagle had a tight grip on Maisie, its talons wrapped around her upper arms. Rhys knew he’d have to force it to land somehow – and the closest place for it to do that was on the top of Castle Hill. He didn’t think he’d be able to force it down into the town itself – the eagle would probably resist doing that, as it would expose both of them to human eyes.
I’ll do it if I have to,Rhys thought,but it’ll be a last resort. Castle Hill is my best option.
Rhys’s griffin let out a screech of fury, and then it too folded its wings and followed the eagle down. The eagle had pulled up from its dive and was now weaving through the sky, clearly trying to evade him, but Rhys was not only faster than it, it also seemed he was more maneuverable.
He matched the eagle pace for pace, swooping down from above before swerving around it, driving it closer and closer to the mountain, forcing it to lose speed and altitude as it went.
Please hang on, Maisie,Rhys thought desperately, though he knew this had to be completely terrifying for her.I have to end this.
He dropped a little, before leveling out and coming up below the eagle. Maisie’s face was white with fear, and, far from the beating she’d been giving the eagle’s talons before, now she was hanging on to them for dear life.
I’m sorry, Maisie,Rhys tried to – somehow – psychically transmit to her.I’ll get you out of here. I promise.
And somehow, maybe, Maisiecouldunderstand him.
He saw the ghost of a smile pass over her face, and she nodded, her dark blonde hair whipping across her face in the wind.
Somehow, Rhys could sense the trust she was placing in him. He might have been sure that no matter what, he’d keep her safe. But she also seemed to believe it just as strongly.
Determination rose up in him, stronger even than before.I won’t let you down, Maisie. Not now, not ever.
He had to finish this. He had to get Maisie back to solid earth. Beating his wings, he rose higher once more.
