Page 28 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

“Why?”

He seemed slightly embarrassed. “If something happened to me, I didnae want him to wonder—”

“And?”

“And nothin’. He didn’t want me goin’ back home alooone. I told him to bugger off.”

“He thinks you let a psycho into your apartment.”

“Naturally. He said if fairies were after ye, that ye were probably dangerous.” He noticed my expression and shook his head. “I’m just jokin’.”

“So, what’s he going to do?”

“Probably call me every hour until ye’re gone.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? What does that mean? Ye’re goin’ to run off, or ye’re coming back with me?”

I was cold, hungry, and worn out from running on the adrenaline rush that came with driving off a cliff in the dark. I didn’t want to curl up on a church pew for the night, or wait at the ferry dock Orion might be watching. And I sure as hell wouldn’t try to call Wickham.

This guy couldn’t hurt me. If he really wanted the money, he could have it—minus a few bills for my ferry ride and a meal or two.

“I’m coming back with you.”

He grinned. “That’s a pity.”

“Why?”

“Obviously, I was gearin’ up to eat two hamburgers.”

* * *

We headed backup the street. Two couples slowed to greet the lawyer, and though he greeted them in return, we kept a steady pace and he didn’t bother introducing me. I was beginning to believe Jamie Godstone was an honest to goodness Samaritan at heart. He was funny and used his wit to keep me from worrying about his possible ulterior motives.

As we neared the church, I looked for the dark form of Archer’s car. It was still there, but two human shadows separated from it, moving around, checking the doors, looking for a way in.

Jamie followed my gaze and moved closer. He shifted the food sack to his left hand and wrapped his right arm around my shoulders. “Eyes on the ground,” he said quietly. “I’ll watch ‘em.”

I dropped my chin and whispered to Hank, begging him not to hiss, telling him we were safe but only if he stayed calm. If one of those shadows belonged to Orion, a little hiss and I’d be dead. Or worse. Being locked in a dungeon by a man who loved me was bad enough. I knew I wouldn’t last long at someone else’s mercy. If Orion found out I was DeNoy, however, there was no telling what he would do to me, or with me.

Would he use me against my friends?

I should have insisted that Griffon take me somewhere other than his mother’s. Maybe by now we would have figured out what being a DeNoy meant.

Jamie kept us moving, and once we’d passed the church, each step was torture, waiting to be pounced on from behind. But soon we were standing at the door to his building. I turned only slightly to glance back while he unlocked the door. One of the shadows came out of the church and joined the other at the car. I couldn’t see their faces, their hair, but neither of them had a big head of blond curls.

At least, I didn’t think so.

It was a pity I’d lost that little pin feather when Griffon swept me off my feet outside Hope House. If I ever got him back, I’d insist he give me another one. Maybe a dozen, for emergencies like this.

We made it to Jamie’s flat without incident. While he located plates for our dinner, I moved to the window and peeked around the end of the curtains. From my angle, I could almost see where the car was parked, and I jumped when both the dark figures came into view, headed up the street, scanning.

“Just how good can fairies smell,” I wondered aloud.

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