Page 78 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

“Aye. Yer brother’s tongue slips more often than a numpty on ice. He had to confess it all. Though I must say she never struck me as a Lucy. Now. Where is she?”

“She’s not with me today.”

“But she’swithye?”

“Yes. Lennon iswithme.”

Archer slipped in from the hallway with a short sword at the ready. His face was puffy, his eyes drooped. At the sight of Griffon, his shoulders slumped. “Brother.” He lowered the weapon and closed his eyes. “I heard a man’s voice. Had to be certain. Thought it might be Muddy. I worry he might have an invitation tucked away for a rainy day.”

“Muddy is dead.”

Bridie’s face crumpled. “That’s a pity.”

“Yes.” Griffon ducked to catch her full attention. “It was a pity he deserved killing.”

She blinked. “Did he?”

“He brought Orion to my doorstep. He took Lennon from me.”

Her hand flew to her mouth and he instantly regretted worrying her.

“I got her back, love. She’s safe now.” He imagined Orion coming near her with Kivi on hand. “In fact, she may never be in danger again.”

“She’s got her dragon, then?”

Griffon and his brother stared, open-mouthed, at the mortal woman who’d never taken much of an interest in Fae matters. A woman for whom they avoided unpleasant subjects, who apparently held the answers to questions they never would have thought to ask.

Griffon eventually found his tongue. “Just what do you know of dragons, Mother?”

She rolled her eyes and went back to the oven to set the timer. “M’ daughter was a DeNoy hunter. Ye don’t imagine she discussed her business with meee? Who better to entrust with her seeecrets?”

“That’s it.” Griffon pointed to the door. “Both of you. In the car. Now.”

Bridie was affronted. “I have a goose in the oven. Why must we go to the car?”

“Because your walls have a hundred ears…at least.”

* * *

I didn’t getup when Griffon did. I pretended to still be half asleep when he leaned over to kiss my lips and wish me Happy Christmas. If I’d made a big deal out of his leaving, with breakfast and an emotional goodbye, he would know I was worried.

If I didn’t make a big fuss, he’d be back in a few hours—like he’d just gone to the store…for a handful of rocks to keep my dragon happy.

I promised myself I wouldn’t fret unless he wasn’t back by six that evening. After all, he was going to visit his mother for Christmas, and if past was prologue, it meant Bridie had been baking for a day or two and would expect him to stick around long enough to make a dent in her buffet.

“She’ll keep him as long as she can,” I told the eggs frying in the pan.

When I was dressed and ready to face the day—with its tease of sunshine—I called Kivi to me. I hardly gave our routine much thought until I was seated above her shoulders and waiting to see which direction we would turn.

“Son of Fae is gone,” she said. “We are free.”

“Son of Fae will be back soon, with the cloch realtas, so don’t go nuts.” When she didn’t respond, I pushed harder. “Understood?”

She shook her heavy head. “If not now, when?”

I laughed. “You mean, when can you go nuts?”

When can I show you…home?

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