Page 38 of Guardian of Shadows

Tony pointed his beer bottle at Luna’s dad. “If it wouldn’t kill Elle in the process, I would have already done it. I don’t want Elle anywhere near him, but as he’s already shown, he can get to her wherever she is.”

“All the more reason for me to go back and do as he asks until Queen Zarina returns,” Elle said softly. “Between her and the princess, one of them has to find a way to remove the sigil.”

“And if they can’t?” Tessa asked. Tony growled low in his chest, and his mom held up her hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger, Kid. Someone has to ask the hard questions.”

“Then I’ll offer him every penny I have to my name. His greed has to win out at some point.”

“We can only hope,” Gregor said. “Your mom and I will pitch in to sweeten the pot.”

Carleigh raised her hand. “Me too. Hell, we could do a Clan-wide funding project, and you’d easily have a billion dollars in a few days.”

Elle sucked in a breath. “Did you say a billion?”

Chapter 13

Anthony tugged on a strand of Elle’s hair. “I told you we had money.”

Carleigh grabbed another treat off her plate. “Our parents are rich, and they passed down some of that to us, and we’re all taught how to invest.”

“Then why do you work? Why do any of you have jobs?” Elle asked.

“Because they also taught us how to be responsible. Besides, as much fun as laying around a pool sipping fruity drinks is, it actually gets boring.” Carleigh wiped her hands on a napkin, then took Elle’s free hand in hers. “We donate a large portion of our money each month to causes near and dear to our hearts. We do our best to counteract what the greedy one-percenters do. Those who have more than enough for a hundred lifetimes and still want more.”

Tessa scooted forward in her chair and propped her elbows on her thighs, the empty glass dangling from her fingertips. “Gregor and I might be retired, but that doesn’t mean we sit around the house all day doing nothing. Sure, we have Andy now, but he’s in school, so Gregor and I volunteer at several shelters. Rafe and Kaya sponsor fundraisers, and they’re also building several new homes for displaced kids. There are too many homeless teens who’ve either been kicked out of their homes or run away from their foster families for one reason or another, none of which are good. I’m with my son on this; offer Grevolus an obscene amount of money to remove the sigil. Everyone can be bought for the right price.”

Elle chewed on her bottom lip as she turned to Anthony, searching his eyes. He pushed his love and dedication to her through the bond. Her return pulse was mixed with apprehension as well as a willingness to do whatever she needed to keep Tony safe.

“What if he gets the money, then turns on us?” Elle whispered.

“At that point he’ll be surrounded by Gargoyles. Once he removes the sigil, we’ll detain him,” Tessa explained.

Elle blinked slowly before letting out a deep breath. “Okay. We’ll try it your way.”

Their plan had to work. Anthony dreaded coming face to face with Grevolus. It would take every bit of his resolve not to gut the male for all the pain he’d caused Elle over the years. He prayed the dark fae would take the money, remove the sigil, and let Elle get on with her life. It probably wouldn’t be that easy. It rarely was when a Goyle found their mate.

Lilly had arrived as they were sitting down to eat. She apologized to Elle for not finding a spell suitable for removing the sigil, but Elle was gracious, thanking the witch for trying. Anthony and Elle didn’t hang around after eating. Gregor and Tessa offered to go with them, but Anthony laid out a plan in which he needed them to remain in Atlanta until he called.

The sun was down by the time they arrived in Register, much later than Grevolus was expecting Elle back, but for whatever reason, he hadn’t called to ask why she stopped in Atlanta. The closer they got to the small town, the more Elle fretted. She was quiet, but the bond allowed Anthony to feel everything his mate did. He hated it, but he also wouldn’t lie and tell her everything would work out. If this were a human he was dealing with, Tony wouldn’t hesitate to declare a positive outcome, but Grevolus was a dark fae with unknown powers, and the unknown was what worried Anthony most.

Anthony was glad he had chosen to drive the Jeep instead of his Corvette when he turned into the mostly dirt driveway. Any gravel that had been there was barely visible. He parked in front of an old farmhouse and cut the motor. The porch, which ran the entire width of the house, was lit up with recessed lights as though Grevolus left them on for her. Elle stared at the building, her breathing getting shallower with each second. Anthony retook her hand and squeezed. When she didn’t look at him, he tugged. “Elle, Sweetheart, look at me.” When she did, her eyes were wet, and a single tear rolled down her cheek. “No matter what happens, remember I love you.”

“You do?”

“Yes. How could I not?”

The screen door on the front of the house opened, slamming closed behind a young woman. She stood on the porch with her hands on her hips. “Do you know her?”

“No, but she’s probably one of Grevolus’s conquests.” Elle sighed. “I love you too.” With that, she opened her door and dropped to the ground. Anthony followed suit, rounding the hood to stand beside his mate.

“Can I help you?” the woman asked.

“I doubt it,” Elle muttered. She grabbed Anthony’s hand, tugging him toward the house. “I live here, so maybe I should ask who you are?”

The woman scowled, glancing over her shoulder toward the door. “You live here.” It was more a statement than a question.

The door opened again, and Grevolus stepped out. Anthony knew it was him because of the male’s fae ears. “Odette?” He seemed surprised to see Elle, or Odette as he’d renamed her. “How is this possible?” he muttered so low, Anthony wouldn’t have heard if he weren’t a shifter. To the woman, Grevolus snarled, “Get back to packing.”

“Who is she?” The woman pointed in Elle’s direction.

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