Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(114)

When the druid’s form stopped spinning, a breathtaking man with searing brown eyes gave her an admiring once-over. “Hello, Maeve.”

“Good to see you again, Cathbad. It’s been too long.” She grinned at her own joke. “Can you believe that fool managed to figure it all out but never realized the whole point was for the two of us to be reincarnated?”

Returning her grin with a dazzling one, the original Cathbad the Druid said, “Now we’ll show this world what a real queen and powerful druid can do.”





FIFTY





Evalle couldn’t take another heartbreak, or so she thought until she walked outside to find Quinn carrying Kizira’s body toward the castle.

Behind him, gryphons were coming in to land across the open field. The warlocks and witches had been driven out of Treoir.

Evalle called to Tristan telepathically. I’ll meet with you before I leave, but I need you to keep the gryphons back where you are until I can come and talk to them.

I’ll do that, Tristan answered. As long as Macha doesn’t try to screw with us.

Technically, the gryphons had to follow Evalle’s orders regardless, but she understood Tristan’s concerns. Macha isn’t going to bother you because she needs you right now.

How do you see that?

Brina is missing, but her hologram is still inside the castle, which is affecting the Beladors. She’d finally gotten Tzader to walk away from Brina’s hologram that hovered in the solar like a grand effigy. He had a sick, kicked-in-the-nuts look, but Tzader still commanded a force of Belador warriors whose powers were now in question.

Do the warriors have any powers? Tristan asked.

Some have limited use of their powers, but they can’t link, and telepathy is spotty. Not having a Treoir descendant physically in the castle doesn’t seem to be affecting our gryphon powers.

Tristan chuckled, but not in a nice way.

Evalle ignored it. The gryphons will become a new security force—

What?

Will you work with me for once, Tristan? I got you out of T?μr Medb, with your sister and your two Rías buddies. Alive, I might add.

After a grumbling noise, Tristan said, Macha better feed us well.

Evalle smiled. She will. Just bunch up everyone and I’ll come see you after I talk to her.

Quinn reached Evalle. His legs moved as if he trudged through quicksand. Eyes swollen and red. His mouth sagged.

Evalle walked down the steps to meet him. “I’m sorry, Quinn. We had a plan that was going to save Brina and Treoir, plus get Kizira out of the Medb.”

Tears trickled down his face. “She did a better job of protecting me than I did of protecting her.”

There was nothing Evalle could say that would make anything he was feeling go away. She swallowed, and it hurt. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him that Lanna was missing. Not yet.

Tzader stepped down beside her, silent and staring at Quinn before he finally said, “I’ll convince Macha to let you take her body back to bury.”

Quinn nodded his thanks. His Adam’s apple moved hard against his throat.

Tzader angled his head at Evalle. “Macha wants to see you.”

Walking over to Quinn, Evalle gave him a hug and held him a minute, fighting back tears that wouldn’t help Kizira. She bent and kissed Kizira on the forehead. “Thank you for wanting peace and for loving Quinn.”

She turned and climbed the steps, then waded through the destruction and a cluster of warriors to find Macha still standing in the solar, staring at Brina’s hologram.

Macha didn’t acknowledge Evalle’s presence.

Evalle was in no mood to waste time. “The gryphons will remain to protect the island. There are two Rías, but they have control of their beast and will do whatever Tristan tells them.”

Turning to her, the goddess said, “Why would we trust these gryphons?”

Evalle had used up her allotment of patience. “Because they have to follow the orders of their leader, the most powerful gryphon.”

“Who is that?”

“Me.”

“Very well, they can stay.”

That wasn’t enough for Evalle. Not after what every one of them had done to save Treoir. “And they are to be treated like the guardian protectors they are, not like outsiders. Every gryphon out there has Belador blood coursing through his or her veins and just fought next to our warriors to run the Medb witches and warlocks off of Treoir.”

Macha lifted her chin with an astonished look, but when the goddess didn’t threaten to turn Evalle into ashes, Evalle added in a nicer tone, “I’ll explain their duties to them before I leave.”

“Very well. And your duty is simple. You do nothing but hunt for Brina. That takes top priority.”

“Actually, I’m going after the one person I know who can help me find her.”

“Who?”

“Storm.”

“I heard Tzader mention finding your note in Storm’s house, on his nightstand. You’ve lain with him without permission.” The goddess dropped that with plenty of accusation.

“That’s my business.”

“I will not approve of you mating with him.”

“Again, my business, and this conversation is not helping to find Brina.”