Wraith(50)

It did. Being with de Florinville would offer protection that I couldn’t manage myself, not without my shadow form. What he didn’t know was that I was not going to leave the city. I’d see Ange and Becky out and wave at de Florinville as he tripped off with them. Then I was going to turn right back around and find this damn Stone before the goblins did. Now that I knew of its existence, I couldn’t just forget about it. Hell would come to the Highlands before I’d let the goblins take over the country. One city was bad enough.

‘Fine,’ I said, as if acceding to his will. ‘That’s a good idea.’

Marrock smiled grimly and snapped his fingers. A few moments later, another minion ran over with a map. Marrick rolled it out on a table and jabbed at the northeast corner. ‘Here,’ he said. ‘I have a tunnel under the walls which is accessed via an old school building. It takes you out beyond Stirling. You’ll come out close to an old church in the east. It’s not too far from the Gneiss encampment so you’ll need to be careful but it’s not impossible. For someone like Saiya, it will be a piece of cake.’

Gabriel de Florinville’s eyes grew sharp at that comment but he didn’t say anything. I nodded and checked my watch. ‘Three hours,’ I said. ‘That’ll give Ange and I enough time to retrieve Becky and get to the school. That should you give you two chance to get to the goblins and plant the necessary seeds to help our escape.’ I felt goose bumps of anticipation rising up across my skin. The next few hours might prove to be the most important of my life. ‘How do we get out of here without being noticed?’ I asked Marrock. I knew I could manage it on my own but, with Ange in tow, it would be far harder.

‘There’s a lane which leads out along the river. It’s rarely used by the goblins. The Elf can leave first. He’ll stall any goblins heading in this direction and divert them. Then you take the Horrocks woman and go. After that, I’ll head off and do what I can to delay Ghrashbreg and his bastards further.’ There was a note of macabre satisfaction in Marrock’s words, as if this were something he’d been waiting to do for a long time.

‘What do you get out of this, Marrock?’ I asked. I knew my motivation and Ange’s, I even understood de Florinville’s, but Marrock had no reason to jeopardise his life in this fashion. He was sitting pretty.

He flashed me a sudden smile. ‘Immortality, of course. That’s worth risking everything for. Instead of a dodgy black-market racketeer, history will remember me as the man who saved Scotland from goblin rule.’ My brow furrowed and Marrock grinned wryly. ‘Me and a few others.’ He patted my arm. ‘Wait here. I’ve got supplies I can pass over.’ He glanced at Ange. ‘I have some more appropriate clothes you can change into as well.’ He took her arm and marched her off in the direction of the bowling alley kitchen.

De Florinville didn’t even wait until Marrock was out of sight. ‘Can he be trusted?’

I bit back the answer that I knew Marrock a damn sight better than I knew him and tried to smile. ‘I believe so.’

The Dark Elf drew nearer to me, until our bodies were almost touching. I resisted the urge to step away. ‘What is he to you?’ His voice was a low, dangerous growl.

It was none of his damned business. ‘An old friend,’ I said shortly.

‘Friend?’ De Florinville’s eyes sparked.

It was on the tip of my tongue to say something flippant, challenging and entirely untrue about the wonderful sex I had with Marrock. I could even have said that I was carrying his child – but this wasn’t the time. The idea of being Gabriel de Florinville’s brood mare might turn my stomach but it meant he’d move hell and high water to keep me safe. I could use that.

‘Okay,’ I conceded, deciding to tell the truth. ‘Perhaps friend is stretching the truth. Marrock is self-serving and selfish but he’s not a liar and when he says he’s going to help us, I believe him. He has no more love for the goblins than the rest of us.’

‘He could have left Stirling years ago but he chose to stay.’

I sighed. ‘Lots of people chose to stay, de Florinville. This is our home.’

Something akin to anger flashed across his face. ‘Gabriel.’

I blinked. ‘Excuse me?’

He dipped his head towards mine. ‘My name is Gabriel. I’d like it very much if you’d call me by it.’ His voice lowered. ‘I want to hear it on your lips.’

My mouth suddenly felt very dry. This was beyond weird. Suddenly, though, I wanted to please him and to see the darkness reflected in his gaze replaced by something warmer. My tongue darted out and I wet my lips. His eyes followed the movement. ‘Gabriel,’ I whispered. I shook myself. What the hell was wrong with me?

He smiled, displaying even white teeth. My stomach did an odd flip that made no sense whatsoever. ‘That’s better.’ He scanned my face, drawing even closer. A strange, distant part of me noted that his hair looked very soft. ‘Once we are safely out of Stirling, Saiya, you and I have a great deal to talk about. I’m going to look forward to getting to know you a whole lot better.’ His expression grew tender. He was probably thinking about his future babies. He could piss off.

I drew in a breath and finally managed to move away. Gabriel – or rather de Florinville – looked disappointed. It was probably fortunate that Marrock returned with Ange, who was now dressed in an oversized boiler suit. At least it was a dark colour; it would help her stay hidden if we had to conceal ourselves in a hurry.