With a sigh, I roll my shoulders and put them into a couple of backpacks. Then I shut off the lights and step out of the vault.
Gatlin’s sitting in the small hallway, book in hand, reading. He snaps it shut when I walk out. “All done?”
I look at him incredulously. “Have you been out here this whole time?”
He raises the book in his hand. “It’s quiet down here. Gave me time to read.”
I look at the dog-eared book in his hand. “How many times have you read it? A few hundred? It looks pretty worn.”
“It’s a favorite,” he says with a shrug. “Do you need more time?”
Feeling more settled after walking through the thoughts in my head, I hold up the two bags in my hand. “The arsenal.” For a second I hesitate, then realize I’m being stupid and walk into his arms for the huge hug I know is waiting for me. “Thank you. For being here in case I needed you.”
His arms enclose me as he draws me in tight. “I’ll always be here when you need me.”
A twinge of fear skates down my spine at his words. What if the gods don’t see it the same way? That’s the real gut-wrenching fear I’m afraid to face. What if they won’t let them stay with me?
His gryphon must sense my apprehension because he takes my hand and pulls me up the staircase into the garage where he makes me set down the bags.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going flying,” he tells me, dragging me outside with him. He sends a text to Jamison, then walks twenty feet away from me. Seconds later, a huge gust of wind blows my hair back as his gryphon forms in front of me.
My heart races as I look at the magnificent creature. Good thing we were being shot at that first time, as I’m not sure if I’d have gotten on. He extends a massive paw, and I use it to pull myself up onto his back. Curling my hands into the juncture where fur meets feathers, I lean forward until I’m practically lying on top of him.
Jamison and Hawthorne come rushing out of the house, yelling, but he takes a running leap and jumps, shooting straight into the sky.
The cool wind blows my hair back as the scent of myrrh and juniper teases my nose. I forgot he also smells of myrrh in this form. Flying with him is like stepping back into ancient Egypt. I close my eyes as the weight on my shoulders lifts, replaced by the exhilarating feeling of flying. Spreading my arms wider, I squeeze him the best I can.
“I needed you. And this. Thank you.”
He looks back with one menacing eagle eye and winks.
24
PHAEDRA
“Mathias is in,” Jamison’s cool voice announces when we get back from flying. He glares at Gatlin for a minute before he continues. “Matches start at the end of the week. He knows two of the nine other candidates. Nolan’s right hand, an old vampire by the name of Frederick, and Sarah, Nolan’s daughter.”
“That leaves a lot of new blood,” Hawthorne states with a frown. “Could be good or bad, depending on their views.” He leans back in my desk chair.
“Mathias says the first five matches will be to the death,” Jamison informs us, his voice tight with worry. I can tell by the permanent furrow on his forehead that he hates not being able to be there for Mathias.
Gatlin folds his arms and leans against the doorway. “Why only the first five? What about the rest of the matches?”
“Apparently, the first five will satisfy the masses and show the superiority and might of those who will lead them,” Jamisonexplains. “The final five matches will be judged and a rank given to the remaining contenders for a place on the new vampire council.”
Gatlin whistles. “That’s democratic of them. Are they planning on participating as a committee on the supernatural council, or will they elect one to be their voice?” He pauses for a second. “Or are they planning to withdraw entirely from the original council?”
“Mathias doesn’t know,” Jamison says, thrusting a hand through his golden-brown hair.
With everything going on, it’s practically mussed every day now. I kind of like it.
Focus.
Forcing myself back to the conversation, I can’t help but think about the repercussions of a collective council. “We need Bennett to make a move before they form the new council. Based on what your father said about his network, if we know about this, he does too. We need to make sure he’s also worried about this council they’re forming.”
Jamison looks at Hawthorne and tilts his head.
