Page 104 of Crown of Tides and Fury

Waiting. For Wickham.

Lennon?A voice rang in my head.

My heart jumped, and I hoped whoever it was could hear my thoughts back. I’m here!

We’ll have you out soon, lass.It was Brian or Flann. I couldn’t tell which.

Tell Wickham to stay away!

Wickham’s not here.

I smiled and thought as clearly as I could.They think you brought an army.

Sure, but you don’t think we’d come without one.

The voice was gone, and I began to pray for my friends. If they’d raised an army, I hoped it included some of those Highlanders who had fought Orion’s monsters before. But even though they’d triumphed at Soni’s wedding, not all had survived.

My chest collapsed when I thought about my friends fighting Griffon.

Would they gang up on him?

“Archer! Archer, listen to me. You’ve got to find your brother and get out of here. Take him away. Come back when it’s over, do you understand? He’s no match for these guys! They won’t forgive him for taking me. They’ll make him pay—”

“Like they made me pay?” Archer inched out of the shadows. “Vengeful bastards, aren’t they, these friends of yours? Well, don’t you worry. We’re on Orion’s side, aye? And Orion won’t let his princely winged friend suffer. Better save your worry for those mortals. And yourself, of course.”

He wasn’t listening! “Look, Archer. If you care about Griffon like you cared about your sister, get him out of here. You know, just in case.”

The sneer fell away. He moved close and searched my eyes, like he was expecting some trick. His head jerked sharply to the side and a few seconds later, footsteps echoed in the stairwell. Loud, clear, purposeful. Archer and I stared at the dark arch and waited to see who would join us.

40

200 Lbs Of Nuisance

The footfalls slowed slightly as they neared the dungeon…just as Griffon’s always did!

“Griffon,” I breathed, and he appeared.

They made an odd set, he and Archer. One tall, muscular, and shirtless. The other shorter and buried in layers of robes and velvet. Salt and pepper, light and dark. One at least tolerant, the other hateful.

Griffon’s gaze shot to mine as if he’d heard my whisper, then he turned his attention to his brother. “The witch isn’t coming. He recognized the trap. Has probably used the place any number of times before. I should have guessed it.” He dropped his gaze to the floor. “Forgive me.”

Archer’s head fell back for a moment, then he erupted with rage. He reached for the nearest torch and pulled it free, then he swung around to throw it into my cell. But Griffon was there, to catch his arm.

“Stop. It’s over!”

“We still have her. Orion will give us Daphne for her. We should have summoned him days ago!”

“She was the means to an end, a way to catch Wickham. We’ll get nothing for her alone, and he has been warned. Her people will never trade Wickham for her. They’ll fight, but they won’t give him up.”

“Fine.” Archer stepped back. “Then we’ll fight. Summon him.”

“Orion’s wrath is not worth the risk.”

“His wrath? For what? He specifically asked for her.”

“Listen to me. He’s mad, and his lust for vengeance is volatile. He’ll be frustrated when we explain she’s useless. Do you want him taking out that frustration on our mother?”

Archer scoffed. “You cannot persuade me, brother, as if I were some student hanging on your every word. Besides,” he looked for me in the shadows, “if she’s of no use, I have the right to finish her here and now.”

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