My thoughts cut to Griffin. To what he had said.
I will not marry him. I will do whatever I must to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Chapter 7
Depths of Insanity
Griffin
Present Day – Catastro Sea
Griffin watched as the priests and High Priestess made their way back to their ship. When he was positive they were gone, he turned to Drago. “Now what?”
Drago squeezed Griffin’s shoulder. “Now, brother, we plan a wedding.”
The High Priestess’s final words circulated through Griffin's mind.
You have three weeks to host the ceremony. Otherwise, she will be joining us on our land. And if she changes her mind? I will remind you that she isoursto protect.
Protect? Griffin scoffed at the thought. As if anyone in that country was capable of protection. All they did waskeepthe Cherished.
A hard punch to the face literally knocked Griffin out of his spiraling, reminding him that Julian was there.
“You son of a bitch!” Julian tackled him to the ground, landing on top of him, and causing the breath to be knocked from Griffin’s lungs. Julian relentlessly punched his face, but Griffin didn't fight him or even try to shake him off. This would be the least of his concerns. He knew without a doubt, Raven would be the most violent offender.
Drago didn’t offer to help, Griffin had already warned his brother this might occur. That he would handle it himself.
He welcomed each punch even as he felt his lip burst. He hoped that his bruised and bloodied face would create sympathy from Raven when he found her later.
Julian stopped once he realized Griffin wouldn’t give him the fight he wanted.
“Are you done?” Griffin bared his teeth, tasting copper as he looked up at Julian.
The sun was nearly gone now, the last bits of orange and red lighting up Julian’s eyes, a replication of the rage there. They flickered and swirled, an inferno with no room to breathe. And in their depths, Griffin witnessed as bits of insanity crept their way in.
Julian didn’t move, panting a few times as he continued to stare down at Griffin. “Not even close. But for now.”
Griffin blinked, and what he had seen in Julian’s depths disappeared. But he would remember it. He would watch for it. He couldn’t have a loose cannon by Raven’s side. “You may not believe me, but it was the only way to keep her safe, to keep them from taking her.”
“You're right, I don't trust you. Back in that prison, I thought we were friends. But that wasn't the case at all, was it? You were always one of her pawns, weren't you? AndAnadilput you on my path on purpose.”
“I don’t know,” Griffin admitted. “I worked with her over the years before everything happened, but afterwards I never directly did again.”
Julian seemingly accepted the explanation, getting up and off of Griffin. Julian offered a hand, and Griffin took it warily. He knew that Julian wasn't happy, but he was setting that aside…for now.
Julian didn’t release Griffin immediately, squeezing his hand tighter. “You will not take her choice from her. If she doesn’t want to marry you, she won’t.”
“Even if that means we go to war with a country of priests?” Griffin asked, lowering his voice so he could not be overheard.
The deck in their vicinity was empty now, the crew working around them in near silence, but Griffin didn’t trust them.
Trust had gotten him nowhere. It had ruined everything he built.
And one of them could very well be Ivan. Hidden in the masses. They still hadn’t found him anywhere. They had all turned this ship upside down searching for him, but there hadn’t been a trace, and it left Griffin on edge.
“Yes. I will go to war with whoever I must if it means keeping Raven safe. If it means reuniting her with Sparrow,” Julian spat.
“Good.” Griffin tore his hand out of Julian’s. Julian would be part of the next step in his plan, but it wasn’t time for that, not yet. “We will arrive tomorrow. We must prepare for it.” He wiped his face, smiling at the sight of blood on his palm.
