Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(102)

“Are you crazy?” Kizira yelled from behind her.

Crazy didn’t begin to cover the homicidal rush surging through Evalle. She flipped around to face Kizira. “One minute was all I needed. You owed me ten.”

“I would have given them to you if I could. I bought you as much time as possible. We’re leaving here in one hour. Angering Flaevynn right now will not serve either of us.”

One hour? That cut through the red haze of anger blinding Evalle. “I am going with you.”

“Not if you don’t get moving and calm down while you’re at it.”

“Take me to the queen bitch.”

“Get the Triquetra.”

Evalle took in her jeans, the leather jacket and blue sweater. What had happened to Storm’s shirt? She panicked. “Where’s the long-sleeved T-shirt I had on?”

Kizira made a grinding noise deep in her throat. “I sent it to the bed in your room with Lanna, for crying out loud. It smells of him. Wearing that around Flaevynn would cause her to question what you were doing in Atlanta when you were supposed to only be there to retrieve the Triquetra.”

Got it.

Evalle would draw blood if anything happened to that shirt. Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out the soft case shielding the Triquetra. “Let’s go.”

Evalle’s location changed so quickly that she didn’t have time to blink. She was back in Flaevynn’s personal chamber, where the witch sat on a golden throne. Pompous bitch had it carved to look like a dragon.

The dragon’s head moved until its eyes narrowed at Evalle.

Ohh-kay.

Kizira’s demeanor changed in a flash to stiff and professional. “Evalle was successful in completing her task.”

Flaevynn pointed a long black fingernail sparkling with diamonds at Kizira, whose face turned red. The priestess clawed at her throat, making gagging noises as tears spilled from her eyes.

Evalle caught on quickly. “She’s not lying. I have it.” She withdrew the Triquetra from the case, then played up her role, snarling, “I hope you’re happy. I stole a Belador warded Triquetra.”

Flaevynn’s acidic eyes, heavily lined and sprouting lashes an inch long, whipped at Evalle. “How do I know someone didn’t give it to you?”

Didn’t I make that same point to Kizira? “Because I was forbidden from even speaking to a Belador or VIPER agent when Kizira compelled me,” Evalle spat. “She was so thorough I couldn’t have accepted this even if someone handed it to me on the street. And this belongs to Vladimir Quinn of the Beladors, who is . . . was one of my best friends.”

The strangling noises stopped.

Evalle glanced over at Kizira, whose throat now sported claw marks. The priestess leaned over, a hand on her knee as she fought for a breath.

“Is this true, Kizira?” Flaevynn asked.

Standing upright again and coughing first, Kizira nodded. “Yes. And the hotel security tapes will show Evalle leaving his room with the Triquetra in her hand.”

If Tzader and Quinn didn’t figure out how to stop Kizira and the gryphons from the cryptic note Evalle left with Storm, then Evalle hoped they’d at least realize the one thing she tried to make very clear—that Evalle was a threat to Brina, and thus the Beladors. If they had any doubt that she’d joined the Medb, that hotel security tape would probably cinch the deal. She couldn’t stand to consider how low Quinn and Tzader would think of her, but if they survived the attack on Treoir, that would have to be enough.

She only regretted not having a chance to tell Storm in person that she loved him and to ask him to please forgive anything he heard about her after tomorrow, which evidently was today. She’d lost all track of time zipping between realms.

Drawing herself up with regal poise, Flaevynn said, “I compel you to tell the truth or bite off your own tongue, Evalle. Now, tell me why I should trust you.”

“You shouldn’t—”

Kizira made a small noise.

Evalle pasted contempt on her face as she looked at Kizira, then back at Flaevynn, and continued, “I was saying you shouldn’t trust me if I wasn’t compelled. I would do all in my power to help the Beladors if I could, but I can’t, and the minute I show up as a gryphon they’ll have every reason to kill me. Self-preservation alone will force me to defend myself, and Kizira’s control over my actions will force me to carry out your plan.” Evalle made sure she loaded plenty of bitterness on her words. Not hard to do when it flowed in her veins, because she’d spoken the truth.

Flaevynn lifted a hand as if calling someone.

Cathbad appeared next to her throne. He observed Kizira for an unguarded moment but washed his face of emotion so quickly that Evalle wasn’t sure she’d actually seen concern.

Addressing Cathbad, Flaevynn said, “As you can see, they’re back. I am convinced of Evalle’s loyalty. I want all the attack plans laid out here, where I can observe.”

He cast a furtive glance at Kizira, who ignored him when he said, “I have spoken to our contact who will be on Treoir.”

That blasted Belador traitor who was costing her everything. She’d cut that throat in a heartbeat.

Cathbad went on. “Our contact tells me the coast of the island is heavily guarded, but he will open an area one hundred yards wide for Kizira and our army of gryphons to enter.”