Page 30 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

We steppedout into the cool darkness of a street that no longer felt menacing, and I asked, “Where to now?”

Griffon nodded his chin at Archer. “He’s going back to Bridie’s, to make sure she’s all right and to see ifThe Queevnaknow more about the DeNoy.”

“Oh! Then he can return the dress and shoes.” I handed Archer the duffle. “Your cash is inside too. Thanks for the loan.” I smiled up at Griffon. “And where arewegoing?”

“How do you feel about Yarmouth?”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Archer snorted and rolled his eyes. “A reunion of lovers. How…unappetizing. Have ye got my keys?”

“Sorry. I locked them in the car, under the seat.”

“Right, then. Take care.” He winked and headed across the street.

Griffon took off his coat, put it over my jacket, then turned up the collar. “Not a long flight, but a cold one.” Then he removed his fancy shirt and I tucked it inside the coat. He led me over to the streetlight and unfurled his wings, then looked up at the window where Jamie stood watching. He put his fingers to his forehead in a sort of salute, then scooped me into his arms and jumped into the air. I wondered if we rose slowly just to give Jamie a good look.

If he hadn’t believed my story about being chased by the Fae, he’d believe it now.

“You’re cute when you’re jealous,” I shouted.

Our “flight” lasted less than an hour, and I was amazed at how much colder the air became as we descended. I realized my ability to remain conscious was completely within his control because this time, I never passed out. I could tell when the oxygen was too thin and asked him to take us down a little. But otherwise, we were able to talk a little along the way, though it required shouting.

Draped across his arms, I was able to bury my hands in my pockets, and when my face got too cold, I tucked my head beneath his chin and pressed my cheek to his warm skin. He didn’t seem to mind my icy touch. And by the time we touched earth again, the coldest parts of me were the tops of my denim covered thighs and my toes. A little rubbing and stomping took care of that, but I was still eager to get inside.

Thorley Housewas engraved on a plaque by the door of a flat-faced, two story, rock house. In the dark, the dimly lit upper windows looked like two sleepy eyes with the lids half-closed.

Griffon knocked on the door. After a minute, it opened and Annag’s familiar face broke into a smile. “As I live and breathe! A visitor!” She grabbed my shoulders and pulled me close to kiss my cheeks and force me inside. She cut Griffon a sharp look. “Ye remember what a visitor is now, do ye?” To me she said, “Now he’ll give me a lecture about safety measures. Mark my words.”

“A simple thanks will do,” he said, then gave the woman a peck on the cheek.

She batted at his shoulder and put her hands on her hips. “Did ye remember yer shirt this time?”

I pulled his shirt out from under the coat and handed it to him, then shrugged out of the hulking thing and hung it on one of the dozen large pegs on the wall. The woman bustled us into the kitchen and asked if we were hungry and was delighted when we both admitted we hadn’t eaten. She opened the door to a very full fridge, then laughed when she saw Griffon had buttoned his shirt wrong. Before he could figure it out, she was there, rebuttoning the whole thing.

Over her head, he and I exchanged a look.

I couldn’t help myself. “I’m relieved to see he’s not keeping you in a dungeon somewhere.”

He winced, and I almost felt guilty. But not quite.

“We’re here for our own safety,” Annag said, “and we know it. Luckily, he comes nearly every day to escort us to the beach. And he sits with her so I can gant about when I need to. Spoils her to the moon and back again, but I beat it out of her when he’s not here.”

Griffon gasped. “You wouldn’t!”

She laughed. “I havenae. Yet.”

We ate meat pies and drank apple cider while Annag asked me about my friends. She wondered if they might be coming to visit as well.

Griffon gave his head a little shake to suggest we not bother the woman with the details of my sudden change of companions.

“Not for a while,” I said, and was caught off guard by a yawn.

“It’s nearly one,” she said quietly. “I’ll slip in with Fallon so Lennon can have my room,” She gave Griffon the same look Bridie had given him when discussing sleeping arrangements.

“That’s kind of you,” I said, “but I’ll be fine on the couch—”

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