“Lex—”
“Save it. MJ’s already given me a speech. I’ll be fine. I’ll fly again.”
I held my words, knowing all about MJ’s speeches. If she couldn’t get through to him, then I sure as hell couldn’t. Plus, this was his choice.With more than two hundred years under his belt, he could decide for himself what was best.
“Okay.”
He turned, finally looking at me, his already suspicious expression narrowing further.
“Did you get into another fight without me?”
He seemed a bit put out by that idea.
“I wouldn’t call it a fight. More a beatdown. I’m taking a page out of Alexei’s training book.”
“My training…” He abruptly sat up, wincing as he jostled his wings. “You didn’t! Is he here now?”
“Yep.”
“You’d better hope Lucille never sees this!”
I lifted a brow.
“Why do you think he’s here at the ass crack of dawn?”
“Damn,” he muttered. “I kinda wish I’d been there to see that.”
“It wasn’t anything special. More like beating a punching bag that barely moved.”
Alexei laughed.
“Now you know how I felt.”
“Yeah. Except I have the added benefit of knowing their guardian bond is some kind of forced cordistella bond.”
Based on the way Alexei didn’t shout or come up with some outlandish remark, I realized MJ had filled him in.
“You tested him with your Soul Sword.”
“He felt something, but it didn’t burn him like it should’ve.”
Alexei slowly shook his head.
“I’m actually surprised you let him live.”
“Me too,” I grumbled, glancing out his window. The evergreens still had snow on their boughs. For now.
“Ridigar deserted, Lex. I believe he’s involved in Cecilee’s disappearance and the flyers.”
“Hells.”
“I sent some Dreads out to search, but I don’t believe we’ll find him.”
Alexei nodded, pressing his tongue into his cheek and staring at nothing in particular.
“I’m assuming Anya didn’t give you anything?”
“Nothing we didn’t already know.”
