“The cell he provides you with will be nicer.Come along.”He grasped her wrist again.
She couldn’t pull away this time, and she dug her one good heel into the street, but it did no good.He was terribly strong for a man who’d just been worn out by a tiny bit of metal.But then working alchemy with small things always did that—pumped the body with energy and heat and power a man had to work off before returning to normal.Even, apparently, if he was barely strong enough to begin with.She wouldn’t be able to fight him off, so she jogged to keep up with him.
Too soon, Temple’s terrace house came into view.
“Please.”She was begging and hated it.“Don’t.Take me somewhere else safe.Your lodgings!”
He recoiled, still holding her wrist.“Not for anything.Listen, Miss Grant, I did not rescue you to become your manservant.”
“Whydidyou do this?”
“I have reasons, none of which are your business.Now, one foot in front of the other, Miss Grant.I know you can do it.”Another step toward Temple.
“Take me to… to…” Where?Where might she convince him to take her that he would agree to.“The potion shop!”
“Pardon?”
“Lady Guinevere’s Potions.In Finsbury Square.”
“I know where it is.Why would you go there?”
“It’s terribly safe.All those guards she keeps about.She gave Diana refuge when she was running fromyou.”
Chester winced.
“I just need one night to figure out my arguments.”To figure out how to keep her freedom when Temple went wildly overprotective.As hewoulddo.
“No.I’m not dragging this out longer than I have to.”
“Then don’t!”She shouted it.“Go scurry away like a coward.You have my gratitude for releasing me.I no longer need you.”
He held her gaze with deep, unreadable eyes for an eternity.Then he dropped her wrist.“Do what you want.”
She didn’t wait for him to finish speaking.She turned and ran all the way to Finsbury Square.
Lady Guinevere’s Potion shop rose high above her, pale in the moonlight.The wooden sign above the front door swung in the light breeze, and the slivered moon reflected in the large glass windows.She ran around the side of the building and slowed in the alley.
Footsteps behind her, heavy breathing.
She whirled around, holding her makeshift club high.
Apollo Chester held his hands up, wheezing.“Don’t swing!I’m too pretty to mangle.”
“Oh God.”Her arms fell limp to her sides.“What are you doing here?”
“Had to make sure you weren’t abducted again.I won’t release you a second time.Too much work.”
“Go away.”She started down the alley and rounded the building.There was a back door here… Ah.Yes.There.She stopped before it and lifted her fist.
The door swung open.A huge shadow filled it.A man.“Whad’ya want?”
Her mouth went dry, and she leaned—just a very tiny little bit—toward Chester.“I’m Sybil Grant.I need help.”
The man grunted.She could only see the dark outline of his body, but she recognized his movement.He looked over his shoulder.Then he stepped aside, and a light flashed on.
A woman in a dressing gown stood in the glow of a fairy orb.Her long flame-colored hair was braided into a thick plait that ran over her shoulder and down to her waist.Lady Guinevere.
“Come in,” she said.
