“I can’t say, Jess. He believes something important is there and needs to check. Mitch will tell us all when he’s back,” Diar said, placing a hand on Jess’s.
She nodded and turned to gaze out of the window.
“I might be a cripple, but I can fight and outshoot most of them. Against the Murtair, I could potentially struggle, but I could hold them off long enough for you to escape.”
“Murtair? Mitch mentioned them before. What are they, Diar?” Jess asked.
“Hunter assassins. Bred to take rogue Hunters out. Mitch has fought several off, and so have I, and we barely escaped. Those assholes kill without compunction or hesitation.”
“And you’ve had to fight them off?” Rhett inquired.
“Yes. They’ve attacked both of us. Mitch and I being free gives ideas to the rest of those trapped in a life they don’t want. We aren’t the only ones trying to escape. If there were somewhere for those trapped to go, they’d flee,” Diar said.
Jess and Leon exchanged glances. They knew someone who could perhaps build a pocket realm for those imprisoned. But they wouldn’t speak of it now. They didn’t know Diar well enough.
A car pulled up, and Jess headed to the front window and saw Mitch climb out. His demeanour was grim, but Mitch wore a satisfied expression on his face.
Mitch paused when he entered the house and saw Rhett and Leon.
“What’s happened?” he demanded.
“Nothing. They believed you were going back to your family,” Jess replied.
Mitch laughed. “I thought you guys were meant to be clever. Idiots,” he snorted and grabbed Jess for a kiss.
“I found Gargoyle,” Mitch announced after he’d finished and grinned.
Jess jolted and gaped at him. Rhett and Leon exchanged grim glances. “He’s at your family’s home? Wait, how do you know it was him?”
“As Alexander ranted at me, he winked. Believe it or not, Gargoyle’s sat in the corner quite happily, and from what I can tell, he’s unharmed. I don’t think they realise who they have landed,” Mitch replied.
Jess barked out a laugh. “That’s about right. We have to break him out somehow. He’s been in contact with Tisiphone after a long silence. Sounds like Gargoyle’s ready to come home.”
“Rescuing him will be hard. They’ve got guards everywhere, and the family is on high alert because of what I’ve done. We’ll need a plan,” Mitch said.
“Can you make a map?” Rhett asked.
“Sure. Whoever goes in to fetch him, I’ll go with. I know the ins and outs of that house; if they get trapped, they’ll need me to find a quick escape route,” Mitch offered.
Jess felt panic well up for a brief moment. They’d be able to flee quicker than Mitch would. She glanced at Diar. “Mitch, we have an exit plan that you don’t.”
“I’m not letting your siblings face this alone,” Mitch stated.
Panic faded into pride and love. This guy was truly her soulmate. Mitch wasn’t prepared to let her family face danger if he could help. All the pain she’d experienced, and it had led to this. A man who really loved her.
Pandora/Andie
She leaned her head on Luc’s shoulder. Luc, in turn, rested his on hers. Pandora snorted a little, and Luc laughed too.
“Does anyone suspect yet?” Pandora asked.
“For all my meddling? No. How surprising that is,” Luc replied.
“Time seems to be marching faster. I can visualise the end, and where before it was centuries away, it appears to be close now.”
“Don’t panic, my love. Everything will fall into place, and then it’s in their hands.”
“Are they strong enough?” Pandora asked with worry.
