Page 90 of Crown of Tides and Fury

Griffon shrugged. “You left me few options. Your solicitor has blocked my calls. I might have left you a note on your gate, or evenknockedat your gate, if I could find it.”

Wickham stopped swinging and smoothly rolled out of the hammock and onto his feet. “Something pressing?”

“Indeed. I wanted to see Lennon again, obviously.”

I didn’t believe it for a second.

“And?”

“And I have a…a proposal for her.”

“A poor choice of words,” I said, before I could stop myself. But it was hard not to react to such a blatant punch in the gut. No one there—not even the three in the tent—would assume the proposal he suggested was romantic. And I was no longer the version of Lennon Todd who would keep her mouth shut and pretend she was fine.

I wasn’t fine.

“Forgive me,” he said, though he didn’t seem contrite in the slightest.

Had he chosen those words on purpose? Or was it intended to distract me? I had to get my head in the game, kisses be damned!

I huffed, impatient. “What do you want?”

“An exchange.”

I forced my ass to stay where it was, no matter how my heart leapt around in my chest.

“Go on.”

“I’ll give you Fallon and her grandmother…”

“If?”

He turned his head then. If possible, his eyes would have bored holes through Wickham’s face and out the back of his head. “If you give me Wickham.”

Ivy lifted her butt off her campstool, unbent slowly, and smirked. She raised her stirring stick to point it at Griffon, the red coal and white ash of the tip hovered a foot from his expensive suitcoat. Smoke curled off it like a cigarette.

“Sorry, Old Sock,” she said, “but Wickham isn’t hers to offer.”

Griffon smiled all the way to his eyes. “Then perhaps I should deal with you.”

In the blink of an eye, the stick lay on the ground and Wickham stood toe to toe with the Fae. “Keep yer shirt on, Professor. And I do mean that literally.”

Griffon’s head swiveled. He looked down into Wickham’s eyes. “You say you want to save the world, so save it. Come willingly. No doubt your…minions,” he glanced my way for a micro-second, “can harvest the child’s power without you. You can make the ultimate sacrifice. A most beloved martyr, remembered forever. Savior of…your world.”

“And if I dinnae?”

“Ah, but you want to, don’t you?” Griffon took two steps back and held out his arms. “I’ve been told you have the power ofPlace. You can escape me at any time. It would take…herculean efforts to keep you contained. I would need…assurances…”

“You’ll get none,” Wickham said, as if he could see behind him, where Ivy was about to lose her shit. “It appears none of us is interested in yer offer.”

He put his hand behind him and waved his fingers at his wife. Ivy lunged, grabbed them, and the two of them popped out.

“Oops,” I said, innocently. “I guess I missed my ride.” I knew for a fact Wickham would be back for me, but maybe, without an audience, I could get Griffon to give up information about Fallon. Or maybe he’d let that mask slip and give me a glimpse of the Griffon I ached for.

“He’ll be back, so I’ll be quick,” Griffon said, keeping his distance. “Find a way to hand over Wickham, and I will give you the girl.”

“You’re still after revenge?” I couldn’t believe it. “Did you not read the police report?”

“I don’t care what happened. I only care that I can get my sister back. Orion is willing to exchange her for your witch.”

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