Griff leftwhen the other two did, but I knew he’d be back. I was feeling nicely buzzed, both from the wine and also from the feel of his body pressed against mine at dinner. And that confused me even more. I ran a hand through my hair as I cleaned up the remains of our dinner. He had pulled away earlier today, which made me think he wasn’t interested, and yet drew me closer to him this evening so that our bodies were flush together.
Did he want me or not?
I headed into my bedroom, thoughts of Griff warring with those of the Veil. Despite my best efforts, I’d made zero progress on either subject today.
The walking contradiction returned when I was already in bed, climbing in behind me.
I flopped onto my side just as his arm came around my waist. We were closer than usual tonight, my ass firmly nestled against him.
Was he?—
I shifted in the bed in such a way that put me even more solidly in contact with him, causing him to take a sharp breath.
Hewashard.
Grinning to myself, I closed my eyes. He wasn’t nearly as unaffected by me as he tried to appear.
Take that, Champion.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
When the first hufen attacked, we were not prepared, and had no idea what was happening to our people. We quickly learned, however, of the infection. Of the blight that was passing over our land. Caused by darkness. And only healed by death.
—From the journal of Violet Andrever
Still dripping sweat from my morning training, I walked back to my room to find Griff waiting outside my door, an odd place to find him for starters. His usual controlled demeanor seemed forced, his body tense. Wordlessly, I opened the door, and he followed me in.
He had started dropping his mask around me, and while I appreciated that, the look on his face made my stomach drop. “What happened?”
“There’s been a hufen attack. Rathnure Village was decimated.” I could see the indecision warring across his features, weighing his need to protect me with his duties to Serentyn.
“Take me with you,” I blurted out.
His jaw tightened, the muscles in his arms bulging as he crossed them over his chest. “Absolutely not.”
I approached him and rested a hand on his arm, feeling that familiar jolt of energy. “They’re my people, Griff. This is my home. Ineed to know what’s happening out there.” I paused, knowing how this would sound. “And something is telling me I need to go with you.”
He stared long and hard at me. I held his gaze and didn’t back down, letting him see my determination. I saw the exact moment he weakened, his shoulders dropping.
“IfI take you,” he said, stressing theif,“I need you to do exactly what I tell you. No arguments. No heroics. Can you promise me that?”
“Yes, I promise,” I whispered.
His eyes softened almost imperceptibly, before he sighed heavily, jerking his head to the door. “Get your gear. Fast.”
I hurriedly changed out of my sweat-soaked clothes, strapping Anamlae to my hip. Throwing my travel coat on, I followed him quickly out of the castle and past the barrier, my heart racing. I couldn’t believe he was actually taking me with him.
“Finn, I’m taking the princess with me.”
“What?”came the immediate shocked response. I still had no idea why I could overhear their telepathic conversations. Yet another mystery I needed to solve about my growing powers. But it did give me valuable insight. Sometimes.
“Griff, no, she’s not ready?—”
“She’s ready,”he interrupted, opening his arms to me.“Cover for us.”
“Dammit, Griff!”
