Page 29 of The Gargoyle's Grace
Chapter14
Magnus
Ihated to wake her, but… “Time to go, Little Rabbit.”
“Mmm. Five more minutes?”
She’d be missed if anyone went to get their breakfast and couldn’t find her anywhere, but I couldn’t deny her a little more time. “I’m going to tidy up, then I’ll fly you back.”
“Do we have to?” she grumbled, rolling away as I slid off the bed.
“Sadly, yes. We both have work to do.”
She muttered something incoherent then flung the covers back before stomping off to the bathroom.
I chuckled as I cleaned up the dishes we’d used and disposed of any food that couldn’t be saved. By the time I finished, she’d returned and was busily making the bed.
“Can we come back here?” she asked, looking around fondly as I locked the door behind us.
“As much as you’d like,” I promised.
With a curt nod, she reached out for me after I’d shifted. I happily lifted her against me before launching us into the sky. The flight back was not nearly as thrilling as the one out had been. Grace clung tightly to me, but knowing we were headed back to reality put a bit of a damper on the joy.
When we landed in the yard of the collegium, we had an audience. Vassago was already dressed in his finery and stood with his arms crossed as he spoke to Gaius.
Grace was unusually stone-faced as she met the two men’s gazes. “I’ll be inside preparing breakfast.” She gave Gaius as wide a berth as she could manage and all but jogged into the building.
“Has something happened?” I asked, a pit in my stomach. They were both stern, as though discussing ill news.
“A significant horde has popped up just beyond the edge of the city, in the Dread Forest.”
I stiffened, glad for the restful sleep I’d gotten. One of the oldest of our kind, a wily sorceress named Ophelia, kept her home where he was describing. “Ophelia.”
“Yes. She is in probable danger. As many soldiers as can be mustered have been called by the council to help fight them.” Gaius shifted on his feet. “We were hoping your archmage could join us as well.” His mouth twisted at this, as though the words tasted bad.
“I’m happy to join, I just need to get my blade. As for the archmage, he’s traveling. I’m not sure the best way to get him a message, but if he can come, I’m sure he will.”
Gaius bowed his head in a short nod.
“I’m happy to join you in my brother’s absence,” Vassago offered. “I could use a good workout.”
I cracked a smile at the demon, further amused when Gaius’s expression morphed from disbelief to outright shock. There were plenty of rumors that I had befriended a high-level demon or two. But I understood that seeing it in person was a very different scenario. We were creatures designed for and tasked with dispatching all demon kind that ventured earth-side. To have another demon volunteering to help? I’m sure it was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Not everything they say is truth,” I reminded him.
“Not half the things they say are,” he countered in agreement, quickly composing himself. “Though they’ll be glad to hear of your willingness to join. We’re rallying at the last gate on the main road.”
“We won’t be far behind you.”
He took off, a cloud of dust swirling in his wake.
“Shall we eat first?”
Vassago nodded, expression closed and thoughtful. “Absolutely. We need to fortify ourselves. It’s possible it sounds worse than it is, but…” He tilted his head to the side.
“It’s usually not. Can you get a message to your brother?”
“Yes, I’ll go do that now and meet you in the dining room.”
