Page 102 of Crown of Tides and Fury

Griffon folded his arms. “You know where she is.”

“Bring. Her. Out!”

Persi cocked her head, still grinning. “I suggest you do what he says.” A ring tone played and she reached in her pocket, answered the mobile, then offered it to him. “Wickham would like a word.”

I’ve failed!

After days of waiting, praying, all hope was lost. No witch’s spell could help Wickham find cell reception four stories underground. He wasn’t coming.

Griffon glanced up at the top of the tower, half-expecting to find a crow perched there. But that was impossible.Hewas the crow and Lennon his mermaid princess. And the most poignant of ironies was that Wickham Muir was the Fae King in this mad folly.

Laughter escaped him as he faced Persi once again, reached for the phone, and put it to his ear. “Wickham.”

“Professor. I just wanted to let ye know I willnae be comin’. I admit yer plan was fiendishly clever, to use my own spells to capture me. But I’m afraid I cannae oblige ye. Too much is at stake.”

“You’re right. Too much. Lennon, Fallon, Annag...”

“If this is about yer sister, she didnae have to die. She chose to—”

“I’ll just have to find another way. Orion is intent on getting his hands on Lennon, in order to get to you. I was hoping I could make him forget her altogether--”

“Join us.”

The offer startled another bark of laughter from him. “I take my own side in this—”

“There are only two sides, Griffon. Right and Wrong. And everyone will be choosin’.”

“Wrong.”

“Come again?”

“You are wrong. There are millions of sides in this. Everyone on their own. You and yours. Me and mine.”

“Dinnae be a fool. Join us—”

“You made that impossible the moment you touched Daphne and Archer!”

“Your sister chose for them both. She gave the orders. Those men all but ripped Lennon apart in that taxi! She shouldn’t have survived it!”

An invisible fist punched clean through Griffon’s gut, bending him physically in half. He knew how obsessive his sister could be—had been—and how merciless when someone stood in her way. He’d refused to believe the Daphne he adored might have earned Wickham’s punishment. He’d known there was more to the story but assumed hot-headed Highlanders were to blame.

He knew in his bones Wickham was telling the truth. He couldn’t play ignorant anymore. And now he had an image…

Oh, Lennon. My poor brave Lennon.

What an arrogant fool he’d been! Lennon had asked if he’d bothered to see the report. He hadn’t. He’d chosen sides against her and never bothered to listen. Such hubris was unforgiveable!

“Take her,” he groaned. “You can take her. But I need time.” He straightened, took a deep breath. “Tell your army to stand down. I must handle my brother carefully. If I don’t, he will summon Orion and his minions.”

“Give the phone to Persi.”

39

Bitter Is The Flavor Of The Day

Earlier…

I had completely lost track of time. All hours looked the same in torchlight and shadows. I woke from a long nap guessing it was morning when Griffon arrived.

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