Page 317 of The Protective Gryphen

They both giggled, and then went soundly to sleep, happy that they’d solved the mystery.

It had been quiet.

Until now.

It was the cold breeze on Ian’s ear that pulled him from sleep. It was the whispering of words that really woke him up.

Looking at Gryphen’s arm, he could see the numbers lit up giving him the time on his military watch.

Someone was late.

It was quarter to six.

Well, shit.

When he heard the whisper again, he blinked, and that’s when he saw her.

Ceit was there standing by the foot of their bed, beckoning him to follow.

Well, of course, he was going to.

Slowly getting out of bed, being careful not to wake Gryphen, he pulled on his jeans, shirt, hoodie, and boots. As he crept out of their room, closing the door behind him, Ian followed her down the stairs.

She was just in front of him, the long train of her dress trailing down the stone steps as she led him somewhere.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“To find me,” she said. “I need you to bring me back here. My story isn’t done being told. The truth must come out, and my heir must come home.”

Well, that sounded ominous.

In the kitchen, Ian pulled on his winter gear, and took the ring from the tea canister. As he left the house, the cold hit him in the face, but at least it wasn’t snowing.

Small miracle there.

He followed her out of the garage, through the courtyard, and to the stables.

“Follow me,” she said, walking down the trail they followed last night to watch the sunset. “I’ll show you where they left me to rot.”

This should have freaked him out, but it didn’t. Not in the least. Ian wanted to give her peace. After losing her husband to another lover, it was the least he could do.

Ian raced into the stable, and grabbed the things he needed for Juliet.

And then, he did the stupidest, craziest, and most ridiculous thing he’d ever done.

Nancy followed a dead woman into the cold morning air to find her grave.

Yep.

Gryphen was going to kill him.

No doubt.

* * * The Ravensmire Chronicles * * *

Inside

Ten Minutes Later

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