Rise of the Gryphon (Belador #4)(95)

“He was not an old man but Conlan O’Meary wearing a glamour.”

“So Conlan is the Belador traitor after all.”

Kizira shook her head. “No. When he offered to join up with us, we suspected a trick.”

“You didn’t help him escape the prison beneath VIPER’s southeastern headquarters?”

“Why would we risk our people when we didn’t need him?”

Well, duh. “If Conlan’s not the traitor, then who is?”

“That I can’t tell you.”

Evalle wondered, “Do you think Qu- . . . our mutual friend helped Conlan escape?”

Kizira bared her teeth. “How can you think that? He is too honorable to do such a thing. What kind of friend are you?”

Maybe not a good one if a Medb had to stand up for Quinn. Evalle held up her hand. “I didn’t say I believed he did. Where’s Conlan?”

“When he failed to prove his loyalty to Flaevynn, she threw him in the dungeon. Cathbad claims you are significant in Flaevynn’s plans, but trust me when I say that can change and you’ll end up in the dungeon if you don’t prove to her you can be trusted to execute the attack.”

“Aren’t you concerned about the Beladors stopping the gryphons?”

“No, and if you’re digging for a weakness, save your breath. Nothing can prevent the gryphons from succeeding. Once they leave here as a unit, they’ll follow my every command. All of you will.”

What happened to us being allies? “I thought—”

“Don’t misunderstand me, Evalle. The attack will happen, and not just because I have no choice in the matter. I need it to succeed. It’s up to you to protect those you love, just as it is up to me to do the same.”

That killed the tiny warm and fuzzy feeling Evalle had been suffering. But changing her tune now would alert Kizira that Evalle had made a mistake in seeing Kizira as an ally. “I want my four hours to start in Atlanta, but I need a few minutes in my room, alone, before I leave.”

“No, you don’t. Lanna is content to practice her teleporting.”

“Just send her back with me.”

“No. I’d be a fool to let you walk out of here with nothing to lose. Lanna is insurance that you will steal the Triquetra, deliver the message and return in four hours. I’ll give you two minutes with Lanna, then it’s up to you to convince Flaevynn you are under my control.” Kizira lifted her hands.





THIRTY-SIX





Evalle deserved an Academy Award for acting subservient in front of Flaevynn to prove that Kizira’s compulsion spell had Evalle under control. The minute the queen agreed to the trust test, Kizira teleported Evalle to the mortal world.

When the spinning ended, Quinn’s luxurious hotel suite in downtown Atlanta came into focus. Evalle didn’t fall down or throw up. Maybe teleporting was like being seasick. If you did it often enough, you got used to the vertigo.

She glanced over to catch Kizira looking longingly at Quinn’s bedroom. “You know Macha will toast him if she ever finds out about you two.”

Kizira stiffened and turned around. “Your four hours are ticking.”

Good point. With one tiny window of time, Evalle was not wasting it here. “His Triquetra’s not on the door. Guess he only needs it to keep out uninvited Medb.”

“He hides it on top of the cabinet next to the door, something only someone close to him would know,” Kizira tossed right back with smug arrogance.

Crossing the room, Evalle reached up and felt a piece of flat metal that sizzled with energy. She was almost disappointed that Kizira had been right.

Evalle couldn’t pick it up, just as Lanna had explained, until she said a Gaelic phrase. Then the flat blade came to her hand. “Good thing we checked with Lanna,” Evalle pointed out, reminding Kizira she hadn’t known everything.

She pulled the triangular-shaped Belador throwing blade down and reached again to find the leather case for carrying it sitting on top of the cabinet. Tucking the blade in the case and both in her jacket pocket, Evalle turned to Kizira. “Where do you want to meet?”

“When it’s time, I’ll find you wherever you are, now that you’re bonded to me.”

Right now Evalle had to find Storm, and she needed Kizira’s help if she wanted to get rolling.

Heat warming her chest drew her eyes down to where the emerald glowed. The gem hadn’t changed at all in Medb Land.

Would Storm know she was back?

All she wanted was to finish here and go to him.

She wouldn’t have this opportunity if not for Kizira.

It galled her to thank the priestess for anything, but Kizira had given Evalle a new set of clothes and her custom sunglasses even though the light didn’t bother her now. Evalle hadn’t shared that new ability with anyone yet, which was why Kizira had brought her here while it was still dark out.

Monday night. Would the invasion happen tomorrow?

That was the impression Evalle had gotten from Kizira’s short word game.

Evalle felt every second tick against her. “I appreciate the clothes. Think you could conjure me up a motorcycle downstairs?”

“Teleporting would be more efficient.”

For Storm, Evalle would teleport across the world. “I like the way you’re thinking.”