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Most of time, she prowled on the lower level of the mansion, the area that had been Alec’s since he’d moved in. After spending twenty years underground in the dark, Alec had trouble with bright sunlight and heights.

On the second night she was in the house, Alec noticed her luminous jade green eyes in the hall. She didn’t enter his room, just paced in the dark hallway, watching him. Back then, they had no idea where she was from or if she understood English. Alec had thought that even if she didn’t understand, perhaps his voice would lull her to sleep. He’d appreciated when the dungeon guards talked because if he could hear their muffled voices on the far side of the basement, he knew they weren’t sneaking up on him.

Hoping to give her that same piece of mind, he’d begun talking quietly in his deep voice about his childhood with George and Coco, the schemes they’d plotted and the pranks they’d pulled. Sometimes he’d talk about his parents, but not often. That topic was beginning to hurt. He’d told her about the folly at the Drake keep in Wales and his brother’s love of all animals.

Eventually, he’d fallen asleep. When he woke the next day, Jade, as he’d begun to call her, was gone. The following evening, though, she’d returned. She was still in the hall, but a little closer than she’d been the night before. He’d smiled to himself in the dark, happy she’d chosen company rather than solitude.

On the sixth night, he’d had the disturbing realization that this was what he’d done in his cell too. He’d told himself stories about his life before the abduction to calm himself so he could sleep. The only difference now was that he was talking out loud and his bed was thankfully warm and soft.

Eventually, Jade left the hall and padded into his room. She’d stayed on the far side, climbing up on the back of his couch and watching him with those big green eyes of hers.

He’d worried at one point that she wasn’t shifting because she was embarrassed about her scars, so he’d shared some of his scars with her. Up until that point, he’d always worn flannel sleep pants or jeans, with long-sleeved shirts around her. He hadn’t known what she’d endured or why she’d chosen not to shift, so he was being cautious and respectful.

The night he’d brought up his own scars, he’d been sitting on the end of his bed, Jade a good fifteen feet away on the back of the couch. As gently as possible, he’d brought up the topic of scars, pushing up a sleeve and showing her one.

Jade had growled, her eyes squinted at him. Had he misjudged the situation? Without warning, she’d leapt across the room, dropping to the floor directly in front of him.

It had taken a moment for his heart to slow, but when it did, he realized that she hadn’t been attacking, merely getting a closer look. She’d craned her neck toward his arm while making almost birdlike chirping sounds. He hadn’t known how he knew, but he’d been sure she was offering him comfort, so he’d assured her he was all right now.

It became clear to Alec that Jade didn’t like leaving the house. Alec had a plan for that too. He’d gone out late at night, leaving the glass doors open to the patio, and lain down on a lounger, watching the moon over the water. He was sure if he waited long enough, she’d come find him.

And sure enough, he’d sensed it when Jade came to his bedroom doorway. Her scent was in his head and he’d recognize it anywhere. Listening intently, he’d heard her sniff, following his trail. She padded to the open glass doors and stood at the threshold, watching him.

Showing just how patient he could be, he pretended not to notice her as he tracked the moon’s progress across the sky. Finally, she stepped out onto the slate patio and lay down beside Alec’s chair. Still staring up, he rested his hand near her but refrained from touching her.

He tried not to be obvious, but he watched her study the world around them. She’d liked the squirrels, which had entertained him no end. At first, she just watched, but then she began to stalk them. One night, she’d committed to the hunt and had raced across the patio and up the tree. The squirrels chittered and squealed, hopping to other branches and trees to avoid her.

Alec had laughed, loving that she had allowed herself a bit of fun. When George had looked over the balcony from his bedroom to check on him, Alec had pointed at the tree and told his brother that Jade had scared the squirrels. George stared at the tree. Alec had known the moment his brother had finally spied her hidden on a branch. George had called good job to her and then gone back in. Alec had just been able to make out the soft sound of her purring, and he’d felt a warmth in his chest.

In the three months Jade had been living with them, she hadn’t shifted—at least as far as Alec knew—and she’d never spoken to him, but he felt a kinship with her, one she seemed to feel as well. He’d joked with her once that he, Fyr, and Jade should start a support group, as all three had dealt with similarly horrific childhoods. She hadn’t found that idea funny, turning her back on him and gazing out the window.

When his grandmother had told him that Coco was in danger, Alec had been worried about leaving Jade home alone, but he’d explained what was happening and had asked her what she wanted to do. She knew where the food was and how to get water. She’d been feeding herself for over a month. He’d offered to have someone stay with her, but she’d chosen to stay on her own. He hadn’t mentioned this to anyone, but he hoped she was using the solitude to shift.

He didn’t want to leave her without a way to communicate, so he’d left her an old phone, plugged in on his nightstand. He’d shown her the image that would pop up when he was calling and then he’d taught her how to swipe with her nose.

Walking in the sunshine in Greece, he decided it was time to call and check on her. It connected after three rings. “Jade? How are you?” He heard a soft chuff. “Have you terrorized any squirrels since I’ve been gone?” He grinned at the sound of her purring.

After he’d caught her up with what was happening in Greece, and that took a little while, he asked the question that had been weighing on him. “Have you decided yet? Do you want to see your family?”

It had only been a week since Sam and her great-uncle had come to tell them that they knew who Jade’s family was. Bracken had met them. He had their contact information. When Bracken had told her that, Jade had run from the room. After Sam and her great-uncle had left, Alec looked all over the house for her before finally finding her outside in a tree, hidden by branches.

He’d assured her nothing would happen until she was ready. He had her parents’ phone number, but he wouldn’t use it unless she wanted him to. He’d reminded her how devastated his family had been while he’d been gone and that maybe it would be good to at least let hers know she was alive.

She’d turned her head away from him, a sure sign the conversation was over.

Now, though, she’d had a little more time and quiet to consider it, so he asked again. She made a strange sound he couldn’t interpret and then he heard, “Not yet.”

Chapter 21

WHEREIN WE LONG FOR THE BORING TUNNELS OF YORE

The soldiers’ march became a run and my insides turned to liquid. I shouted at Stheno and Bracken to move back and give me room as I pulled my axe out of its sheath. Things were about to get very ugly. Bracken sent multiple lights into the air, helping me to see and giving Coco a signal. Honestly, it might have been better if I hadn’t seen exactly what was coming.

“Run toward Coco,” I shouted as we all took off at a sprint. There were too many soldiers to count, especially while running.

Unfortunately, seeing a gorgon flee from them seemed to inflame the warriors, who, as dead people, didn’t tire. If anything, they were moving faster. When a spear whiffed right past my head, I started weaving.

Once again, I heard Clive’s voice in my head, reminding me I needed to be in god-mode. The pounding of their feet on the ground almost knocked me off my own. I saw another spear out of the corner of my eye and ducked before it went through my ear.