Page 15 of Griffin Undone
“I had a run-in with a group of Anigma soldiers almost twenty-four hours ago.”
Sun’s expression didn’t alter, but he hadn’t changed so much in the intervening years that I didn’t pick up a tick of interest. “In Nashville?”
“Surprised?”
Sun eyed me warily. “And?”
Considering for a moment, I finally settled on, “Let’s just say after the tussle ended, I was the one with the bone.”
“And what was that bone?”
I shook my head. “I won’t tell you that, not here and not without the Aomai. But I can tell you,” I rushed to say when Sun seemed ready to interrupt, “that it will be more than worth your while.”
“And if we help, what do we get then? Will you finally turn yourself in?”
My snort was involuntary. “Funny. No.”
“Fine.” A flick of his hand and five warriors stepped from the surrounding shadows. “We’ll take you anyway.”
I didn’t move. “You don’t want to do that, Sun.”
“Of course I do. You murdered three of your own people. Your parents, for God’s sake.”
“Did I?” Sun’s words should have stabbed deep, just like the reference to our clan, but I only felt a curious emptiness as they passed my former friend’s lips. They hadn’t even dug far enough to know Maddox was still alive; how could they presume to know what else had occurred? “Then you know what I’m capable of. You’ll never get what I’m hiding if you take me in. And you want it. Trust me; it’s more valuable than you could ever imagine. But”—I held my hands out at my sides, away from my weapons; the ones they could see, anyway—“have it your way.”
Sun knew a bluff when he saw it. The prince turned to face down the steps of the Parthenon, conflict plain in the lines around his eyes and tight mouth as he stared out into the darkened park. His fingers absently caressed his knife hilt. “You’re not making this easy on yourself, Arik.”
I leaned back, allowing the ridges of the column to dig into my shoulder blades and add an irritated edge to my words. “When have I ever, Prince?”
“I do what I have to do to protect our people,” Sun growled. “Now tell me flat out, why should I risk our most prized healer on a wild-goose chase?”
“Because you don’t have a choice,” I spat back. “Yourclan’s future may very well depend on it.” Not that they’d ever get their hands on her. “Now are you going to give me what I want, or are you going to keep blowing smoke up my ass? I’ve got places to be.”
When Sun didn’t respond, I took one step, then two, coming even with Sun, then brushing by him without a glance—and without a single concern at giving the warrior my back. Let the pussy try; I wasn’t the easy prey I’d been centuries ago.
I was halfway down the length of the building when another shifter stepped from the darkness at the end of the colonnade, a long hooded cape obscuring his tall form, hiding his face. Psych power radiated around the male, swamping me even from several yards away.
The Aomai.
I watched the figure more warily than I’d ever watched Sun. The prince’s footsteps closed the distance between us, coming up on my flank. A telepathic swell washed over my senses, telling me the two males were speaking. Maybe arguing, given the strength of the surge. I watched the healer and wondered if he would win the fight.
Finally Sun spoke, sounding resigned. “We’ll go.”
Score one for the cloaked man.I turned my head, looking for my own points. “Only the two of you will accompany me.” I might have to give in to Sun’s presence, but no one else. I wouldn’t risk the Archai trying to take the female by force. “No weapons, no tricks.” When Sun opened his mouth to protest, I cut him off. “I mean it. You need what I have to offer,brother.” The last word came out a faint sneer. Impatience—mine and my griffin’s—deepened my voice, growling through my vocal cords. “I need what you have to offer. I promise not to kill you until we’ve both gotten what we need.”
“I could kill you simply for threatening the Archai prince,” Sun warned.
“But you won’t.”
Sun’s fingers twitched against his knife’s hilt, but he conceded with a hard nod. “You have a deal, Arik. Don’t make me make you regret it.” He turned abruptly and walked into the dark.
I will, Prince.I was certain of that. But then, my life was full of the consequences of things I regretted. I doubted I’d lose sleep over this one any more than the others.
ChapterEight
Arik
Archai history shrouded the Aomai in whispered secrets and iron-clad rules. Kept separate from the clans, he was unknown, unconnected, unprejudiced. Tradition insisted that the isolated nature of our ultimate healer, the one who could restore not only our bodies but our minds, was necessary for the work he did.
