Page 105 of Crown of Tides and Fury

That was it. I was about to take my last breath.

“Touch her and die.” The low growl echoed through the dungeon, every word laced with the promise of pain. It was hard to believe it had come from Griffon. But there were only the three of us.

Archer stepped back and sneered. “Touch her and die?Touch her and die…like Daphne did?”

“Like Daphne did.”

Archer’s brows rose and his face paled. His gaze flashed between Griffon and me, over and over again. Then a slow smile chased his pallor away. “Tell me. How was she able to seduce you when I hold the only key?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know that you’ve changed overnight.” He tapped his chin. “I wonder what Orion would think of such heroic…devotion.”

This time, there were no words to Griffon’s growl, but the threat was clear.

The following silence seemed to go on forever. I didn’t dare move.

“Archer, brother,” Griffon said, finally. “Do your promises mean nothing?”

His brother staggered back, his eyes wet, his face pained. “It is you who have broken your promises tonight. I was promised my sister. You want to change the plan? Fine.” He pointed to the dirt floor between them. “Deliver her yourself, now. Bring Daphne back.” He cocked his head. “No? Then your breach of promise nullifies mine. I will not protect this mortal a moment longer.”

Archer headed for the stairwell.

“It’s time to let go of the dead,” Griffon said, causing his brother to pause. “Time to turn our minds to saving the family we have left from Orion’s whims.”

His brother’s head shook, and without saying a word, he plunged into the stairwell and was gone…taking the keys with him.

* * *

Griffon stoodsilent for a long time, looking after his brother’s disappearing form. I thought for a minute he might run after the guy, but he didn’t. Instead, he turned to find me still cowering in the shadows.

“Come, my little mermaid. Let’s get you back to your friends.”

“But your brother took the key—”

With one casual wrenching motion, the gate came off its hinges and about two hundred pounds of iron was cast aside as if it were merely a nuisance.

Griffon snorted at the surprise on my face. “Do you not know me at all?”

I thought it best to bite my lips and say nothing. I thought I’d known him once upon a time, but now he was an enigma.

He reached his hand out and I wondered if the action might be to keep me from running and jumping into his arms. But I wouldn’t have. I was grateful to be alive, grateful he’d been willing to defy his brother to save me. But there was too much standing between us now, and I couldn’t trust him.

When he did look me in the eye, it was brief, like he worried I might figure out his secrets just by staring him down. The fact that he had more secrets only meant I should tread carefully. After all, I was still in a dungeon, and Archer made it sound like summoning Orion was as simple as pulling out a cell phone.

I took Griffon’s hand only for a second or two as he led me out of my cell, then I pulled my hand away.

He seemed concerned. “You’re all right to walk?”

“You didn’t starve me.”

“Still, this will be much quicker. Forgive me.” The last bit he said as he bent and hefted me over his shoulder. After a few long strides, all that was left of the dungeon was the glow of torchlight that followed us up the stairs and eventually faded to black.

It was like hanging over a horse as it ran up a hillside. All I could do was hold on for dear life and hope I didn’t fall off. It wasn’t long before fresh cool air filled my lungs and chased out the stale stuff. I could taste the sea and smell wet grass. I really would be free again!

Or would I?

We passed a large opening I suspected was the exit and kept climbing. He said he would return me to my friends. If he’d just put me down, I could find them.

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