Evalle’s heart had climbed up her throat and almost strangled her as she’d neared her gryphon pack. When they set their wings and landed, she drew a shaky breath of air.
She mirrored Tristan’s action to land.
He was clearly in the lead.
As she slowed and set her wings, so did her small army that would die quickly beneath the Belador gryphon claws.
But Tristan and company was no match for some of the massive beasts Germanus had shown her yesterday.
On the ground, she turned to give her group a stay-put stare. They remained still.
Hmm. Who knew obedience training worked with a look?
Surprisingly, Storm and Daegan weren’t with the gryphons. She was glad she didn’t have to face Storm, but shocked that Daegan would send Tristan and the pack on their own.
Or had Tristan figured out where she was and took it on himself to come here? That sounded like Tristan, but she couldn’t fault him for keeping their dragon king safe.
It was her job to send the gryphons back alive.
Stepping forward just enough to break out of her group, she sent a telepathic message to Tristan. Thank you for coming. Please go home. This is a death trap.
Tristan replied, We know. No fun if this was easy, right? What the hell happened to you? Why aren’t you healing?
She’d missed him. Long story and you don’t have time to hear it. You have to teleport out of here, all of you, right now. If you don’t, I have to battle you. I don’t have a choice. The guy in charge is called—
Germanus, Tristan said. We know that, too.
What you don’t know is that he’s holding a teenager he intends to kill if I don’t battle, she shouted mind to mind. He’s seen me fight others like the ones behind me. He’ll know if I don’t fight hard.
Tristan muttered, Shit on a stick. We planned to teleport you out of here.
She attempted a sad smile around her ripped beak. You can’t.
I get that now. We have to find the kid first.
She didn’t want to go into the whole explanation about the Noirre in her chest. She would bet that Germanus had stuck some in Kellman by now, just so he had to stay here, too.
Did Abandinu even notice the population growth here?
Tristan said, Daegan wants to know where the boy is being held.
Evalle held her breath. Daegan is here?
Hell, yes. So is the tomcat.
Her heart did a backflip. She couldn’t decide whether to jump around and celebrate or start crying at the idea of seeing Storm one more time.
She did neither, because Tristan warned, Don’t show any reaction, Evalle. That’s why we wanted you to see the gryphons first and why I’m talking to you instead of Daegan, but he can hear us. Also, we know about Abandinu and that he has a soft spot for flying creatures. We figured he might not smoke the gryphons.
She admitted, I haven’t seen Abandinu since I arrived and Germanus thinks the god has abandoned him.
Daegan’s voice boomed in Evalle’s head. That’s good. Abandinu may not care if we destroy that castle and Germanus.
She implored Daegan, Please get everyone out of here. This bunch behind me is not the entire army. Germanus intends for me to fight you as a distraction, then while your guard is down he will send the real army. Daegan … he has a dragon.
When Daegan said nothing, Evalle said, Please tell Storm I love him and there is no way to teleport me out of here. Just take him and leave.
Daegan said, We heard that I could not teleport you out, but this battle is not over yet. As for Storm, Adrianna would have to put a Witchlock spell on your mate to get him out of here right now and she would no sooner do that than the rest of us would.
Adrianna was here, too?
Daegan said, About the boy Germanus is holding …
The sound of thunderous wings reached her ears as every Treoir gryphon lifted its head at the sound.
She swept her eagle-shaped head to look as well.
Germanus must have realized she was communicating ... or this was exactly what he’d planned.
His two gargoyles flew in the lead with Germanus on the back of one.
The time had come for her to choose.
Battle her friends to protect Kellman?
Or fight beside her friends, knowing the boy would die?