Page 60 of Guardians of the Pack

‘Where does she go then, when you’re in Common?’

‘She fades.’

‘Yes, mypetit pois, but to where?’

Esme? What’s he talking about?

In my head Esme shifted from side to side, like a toddler trying to fib but not quite knowing how to do it. I guessed she didn’t figure it out, so she stayed silent.

Esme?

Let’s get a chair,she said finally.

What?

A table?

My tired mind connected the dots.You want to table it?

Yes. Let’s table it. We will discuss it another time, without interlopers listening in,she said pointedly. I’d forgotten that somehow Reynard could hear our conversations.

Done – but this isn’t over.

No, I fear not,she said unhappily. Her tail was between her legs for the first time that I could recall. That was enough to make me incredibly nervous of whatever she was hiding from me. Great.

I swallowed hard and tried to pretend that the ground hadn’t just been ripped from under me. Where did Esme go when I was in Common? I’d assumed she just had a nap or something. Well, that would teach me. We all know what they say about assumptions, and at that moment I really did feel like a complete ass.

Reynard cleared his throat then changed the topic. ‘You’ve put me in quite the position, lovey.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’ve forced me to owe a life debt to a witch. I despise witches, they’re a bunch of uptight cu—’

‘I had noticed your dislike,’ I interrupted hastily, ‘but I wanted you alive more than I wanted to respect your beliefs. Amber DeLea is the best healer I know.’

‘Wizards can heal too,’ he pointed out grumpily.

‘Maybe, but I don’t know any wizards that aren’t in the Connection. And I certainly don’t know any healing wizards. You were in a bad way. I don’t regret my decision.’

‘You might not regret your decision, but I don’t feel warm and fuzzy about it. The witchy bitch actually helped me – now she is my tormentor and my saviour in equal measure. She is my yin and my yang, and I don’t quite know what to do about it.’

‘Sorry, not sorry.’ I shrugged.

‘The youth of today are so eloquent,’ he said drily.

‘Yack it up, grandpa. Now, let’s get down to the main event. You were kidnapped and all but killed. Tell me you saw by whom.’

Reynard's expression darkened into a glower. ‘After you left the ogres’ den, I settled in to get comfy. Everything would have been fine but for those pesky crows. Apparently I’d secreted myself in a tree that they regularly roost in. Night had fallen, but I was waiting for the ruckus in the den to settle before I headed off. You created quite a stir, lovey. I was hoping to get some more information, but instead the little hoppy fuckers came back to their tree and started to make an unworldly racket.

‘That pinch-faced ogre bitch came out to investigate and, lo and behold, she found little old me. I didn’t have time to fly before she grabbed me and started slamming me into the tree. Repeatedly. She didn’t even ask me any questions,’ he complained balefully. ‘When I came to, I was in a stinking cell, though calling it a cell is generous. I think it was a dog crate. I was still looking around, trying to make sense of my surroundings, and I spotted your fella.’

My heart started to race. My fella? The only fella I had was Greg. Oh please God, no – he couldn’t be involved. I wouldn’t believe it!

‘The little shit wasn’t trying to disguise himself – he wanted me to know. He also wanted me to live so that I could tell you all this. His plan nearly went tits up when your wolves went psycho because they couldn’t find you. Suddenly, looking after me was the least of their worries, and I was left bleeding out whilst they gathered to hunt for you. I almost hoped that I’d pop my clogs before a healer got to me, but then I remembered that I’m a selfish prick who very much wants to live, no matter how painful my existence might be.’

‘Reynard, stop blathering and tell me.’

‘There are four of them. It’s like a bad joke: an ogre, a witch, a griffin and a succubus walked into a bar…’

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