Page 116 of Crown of the Fae King

I could have stood there much longer, imprinting yet another glorious sight into my memory, but when Griffon came outside without a shirt, I couldn’t make him freeze any longer than he had to. He’d claimed the cold didn’t affect him like it did me, but I couldn’t quite believe it.

He closed the door behind him, wrapped his arms around my waist, and lifted me up until our lips met. The wind swirled around us, and when I pulled back, we were already in the air. Massive, bronze wings rose and fell from his back.

“You tricked me,” I said.

“Best not to think too much beforehand,” he said in my ear. “The first step’s the hardest. Hold tight, now!”

His arms held me against him as we tilted. In my terror, I tried not to choke him. But I didn’t have to worry about my legs—the wind kept them up as we flew and soared over those icy mountaintops. My view consisted of the Milky Way and the graceful movement of wings. But only for a minute.

Again, I blacked out.

I came to lying across Griffon’s arms. We were still in the air. My stomach clenched against the drop, but considering the rest of the ride, we came down slowly. The lights of Dublin rose up to greet us and we settled on the gravel of a dark alley.

“No one seems to have noticed,” I whispered.

“Not a lot of people look up at this hour.”

He put me on my feet, and I leaned on my knees for a minute while the world in my head settled. He took his coat off my shoulders, slipped it on, and buttoned it shut. The wings had disappeared, but I’d missed it.

He bent to kiss me, but I shook my head. “I’ll start crying again.”

He kissed me anyway.

Hand in hand, we walked around to the front of my hotel, slowing when we reached the door. A few seconds later, Urban came out of nowhere, barreling toward us. While glaring at Griffon, he veered my way and pulled me into a bear hug.

Griffon smirked at the Highlander while he removed his coat, then gave me one last, heart-stopping stare before he bolted into the starry night.

“I’ll be damned,” Urban said, searching the sky.

“Yeah. Now I know why he always smells like fresh air. I assume Wickham lost his mind worrying?”

Urban nudged me toward the hotel doors. “Aye. He did. And he’s gone back to Oxford, in case ye make yer way home.”

“And you stayed—”

“Just in case.”

“I’m sorry you worried.”

Urban grinned. “I wasnae worried. That winged fairy wouldnae have hurt ye.”

“At least not yet.” I shivered. “Though, I did think I would freeze to death.”

He led me inside and put his heavy arm around my shoulders and tucked me in close. “A fairy with wings. Who would have guessed it?”

We headed to Urban’s room where he’d stored my bag. The phone was ringing before we got the door open. Urban answered, then handed it to me and mouthed,Griffon.

“Hello?”

“Lennon.”

“What are you up to?”

“I called to confess.”

I held my breath.

“I misled you before. I believe I wished you luck finding the Fae King.”

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