Gryton still looked skeptical but seemed willing to put his trust in her. “Very well. You haven’t misled me. But I still don’t know if I’ll be able to rescue Shadowlight from the Battle Goddess’s domain.”
“Oh. You won’t need to worry about that. I’ve already sent another for that purpose.”
“You sent Gregory, after all? I thought you said he was attending to Lillian.”
“Oh, he has a plan to rescue Shadowlight. It involves sinking his claws into you, but I came up with a better, less risky idea about how to extract the young gargoyle cub from our enemy.”
One of Gryton’s eyebrows arched in question.
Ah, she’d surprised him. It only lasted a moment before his expression smoothed into understanding. “You’ve sent the berserker. But why? She is nowhere near ready to undertake her part in your plan. Her hope of successfully freeing Shadowlight is far less than my own odds.”
“My son, you have so much to learn. This is a long game. I don’t expect the hybrid to succeed. Not right away. First, she needs to see what true evil is. She needs to focus all that potential she has locked inside her. Only then will we be able to shape her into a weapon to aim at the heart of the Battle Goddess.”
Gryton looked unhappy. “If she goes after Shadowlight, she will become the Battle Goddess’s weapon as well, not yours.”
“Like you are?”
“That’s different.”
“Not so very much. And, yes, the Battle Goddess will teach her hate. But the human is a rare soul. Her moral code is an iron core that runs deep. The Battle Goddess will not be able to corrupt her. Besides, Shadowlight will need a friend in the unfortunate situation he has found himself in. The shared hardship will only cement their bond of friendship into something truly astounding.”
“How can you be so confident the human hybrid will survive with her morals intact?”
“Because,” Daryna said with absolute certainty that came from far outside her own mind. “Shadowlight finding and saving Anna was Divine will.”
Gryton laughed, a harsh sound full of bitter amusement. “It must be true. Only the Divine Ones would create such a harrowing and complex path to inflict upon some hapless soul.”
“The Divine Ones set many tests and trials so that our souls may learn and grow.”
“Then I must be very well learned.”
“Indeed,” Daryna said. “However, there is still much you must learn, and time is short. I still need to heal you, weave a few spells, and then go seek out Lillian and Gregory. All before they realize I’m missing.”
“Life is never dull, is it Mother?”
“No, my son,” Daryna said with genuine mirth. “It never is. Now let me teach you how to lie so that even the Battle Goddess won’t know the truth from falsehood.”
Chapter 30
A POUNDING ON THE DOOR jolted Lillian out of deep sleep. Gregory growled out something dark and menacing, which was quite a feat since he was in human form. But that didn’t impede his reflexes at all. He was already fully awake and stalking buck-naked toward the door.
“Gregory. For the love of God, put clothes on.”
Of course he ignored her.
Lillian grabbed her own robe and pulled it on moments before Gregory jerked the door open. “Are the Lord of the Underworld and the Lady of Battles presently battling on the front lawn?”
Gran stood framed by the door. Major Resnick was at her shoulder and looking downright impatient. Lillian’s grandmother answered first, her voice sounding a touch distracted as she took in Gregory’s form. “No. I don’t think so, my boy. Something else has come up though.”
Lillian was bringing Gregory a robe to wear when Major Resnick pushed past him like he wasn’t afraid of getting bounced back out into the hall by an angry, naked human-formed gargoyle.
“Anna is missing. Do you know anything about it?”
Each word came out clipped and barely controlled. It was completely unlike the Resnick she had gotten to know. Gregory must have sensed it as well, for he merely took the robe Lillian offered and answered truthfully. “No. We haven’t seen Anna since she left with you after Shadowlight was taken. I wasn’t aware she was missing.”
Lillian stepped in closer. “Anna was really broken up about what happened to Shadowlight. Are you sure she hasn’t gone someplace to be alone? She might be out in the forest hunting.”
Resnick snorted. “Oh, I’m pretty sure she’s out hunting, but it’s not deer. We have security footage of her going into the restricted area, attacking fellow soldiers, and then stealing an assortment of the modified assault rifles and side arms.”
“You’re certain it was Anna?” Gregory asked. “Several species of Fae can shapeshift and make themselves look like someone else.”
“I remember. Like you did when you pretended to be one of my men.” Resnick shook his head. “Unfortunately, no, I don’t think that’s what happened. Anna was clearly using shadow magic.” Resnick tripped over the word magic like he was still having trouble using the term. “Only a gargoyle has that ability, correct?”
“Yes,” Gregory agreed.
“The only reason we know it was her is that we just had the banshee ward-spell the surveillance cameras to better protect the compound.”
“Give me a few moments and I’ll be able to confirm if it was Anna and not a shapeshifter,” Gregory said as he closed his eyes and summoned magic.
The beginnings of a spell raised gooseflesh upon Lillian’s arms. After a moment, he huffed angrily. “There are only two gargoyles in the Mortal Realm. Lillian and me.”
Lillian jerked in surprise. “You’re saying Anna is gone. Do you think Gryton got to her like he did Whitethorn and Goswin?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Gregory growled. “Take me to the place where Anna trespassed. I should be able to pick up her scent and then determine if she was forced into doing this.”
Resnick nodded. “If Gryton didn’t get to her, then I fear she’s gone after him on her own to take revenge for what happened to Shadowlight. She might even now be Gryton’s prisoner.”
“I wouldn’t be so certain of that,” Gregory said, closing his eyes. A moment later, Lillian felt him call power as he shifted back to his gargoyle form.
She stared at Gregory, but it wasn’t because he’d shifted. She was getting better at reading his thoughts. “My God. You think Anna has gone after Shadowlight. But how is that even possible. She doesn’t have the power or knowledge to get to the Magic Realm. You once said that traveling between the realms took a lot of magical strength.”
“Yes, it does. And, no, Anna couldn’t get there on her own. But if she had help...”
The Mother’s Sorceress.
Gregory thought Anna had somehow convinced Daryna to help. Lillian was worried for Anna, of course, but she couldn’t bring herself to regret the woman’s decision. If Anna had managed to convince the Sorceress to help, it meant that Daryna thought Anna had a chance of rescuing Shadowlight.
Resnick tilted his head to look up at Gregory. “There’s only one problem. Anna would never go against orders.”
Gregory’s tail lashed back and forth with a great deal of violence. When Lillian touched his thoughts, she felt his ongoing internal debate. He was thinking about sharing something with Resnick he’d rather not.
At last Gregory sighed and drew in a deep breath. “There is something we have not shared with you or your superiors. It regards Anna and Shadowlight and how the young gargoyle managed to save Anna’s life. It wasn’t natural; not even for a gargoyle.”
Resnick froze in place, waiting for Gregory to continue.
“Shadowlight was altered by the Battle Goddess. One such change is his ability to use his blood to heal others. Although, it doesn’t just heal them; it changes them as it did Anna. That part you know. What you don’t know is that there is a magical component that binds them together. Anna is Shadowlight’s second.”
“Second?”
“Second in C
ommand,” Gregory clarified. “If fate had not intervened, Shadowlight would have grown up to lead the Battle Goddess’s armies, but he would also possess the ability to convert others and enslave them. Anna is already soul-bound to him. That bond will only grow stronger as he ages. Already her need to save him is affecting her thinking. It’s a mindless need to protect. One that I don’t know if Anna can fight.”
Lillian, still linked to Gregory’s thoughts, sorted through them for the one answer she still wanted.
If Anna couldn’t reach Shadowlight on her own, would she seek out someone else who could?
Gregory’s thoughts were darkening and becoming more upset, but he did share them. “There are very few beings with the strength to travel between the realms. Presently, there are only three here in the Mortal Realm—myself, my Sorceress, and Commander Gryton.”
Either Anna had gone hunting Gryton and had been captured and taken prisoner. Or Daryna had helped Anna reach the Magic Realm.
Daryna was a much better alternative to hope for than Gryton, but Lillian didn’t know what would have changed the Sorceress’s mind. She’d been most adamant that it was too dangerous for either herself or Gregory. If it was too hazardous to the Avatars, what possible chance did Anna have?
Resnick’s expression told them that Gregory’s comment had clarified some conclusion he’d already come to. “Then we can only assume she went after Commander Gryton and he was waiting for such a move and has already captured and transported her like the cub.”
“That is the greatest likelihood.” With a deeply unhappy growl, Gregory continued. “I will track Anna’s trail and get to the bottom of this. As soon as I know what is truly afoot, I will pass the information along to you.”
Major Resnick nodded sharply. “I’ll brief my superiors.”
After the military man had left with Gran in tow, Lillian turned to Gregory and asked the other question in her mind that he didn’t want to face.
“Do you know where Daryna is?”
“No,” Gregory said with horror and disbelief in his voice. “And I cannot sense her anywhere near. She has hidden her presence from me. But I will find her.”
And by his tone, Daryna was in for a world of trouble when he did.
“Then it’s possible she’s been working with Gryton all along. I’m coming with you.”
“No. The child. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m pregnant. Not dying. And no, I don’t want to risk our child, but I must go. If Daryna has been playing with us all along,” which Lillian thought was entirely the truth, “then I can’t trust you to deal with her. I’ll make the hard decision. You can’t. Killing her would destroy a part of you.”
“Lillian,” Gregory said in a gruff voice edged with pain. “You are no match for her. Besides, we don’t know that she’s tainted. It’s possible that the amount of magic she’s called upon today has hastened her body’s degradation. Thus, her mind and judgment may be impaired. If so, I will do what I can to help heal the damage.”
“You don’t know that though.”
“No. That’s why you can’t come.”
“That’s why I am coming, you great overprotective idiot. I am the one being in all the realms she won’t kill. She needs my body, so the soul and power of the Mother’s Sorceress will have a home to return to. And she wants this child.” Lillian rested her hands on her belly. “She’s wanted to have your child for a very long time. Anyone can see that.”
Gregory glanced down at his talons. “And I have wanted to grant her that wish for many lifetimes. It has been my great, secret shame. Even the thought is a betrayal of my vows to the Divine Ones.”
“Gregory, they are the ones at fault. Wishing to have a child with the one you love should never be a sin.”
“A part of me agrees with you, but that changes nothing.”
“Fine. You’re unreasonable, but so too am I. This is the last time I say this. I am going. Now let’s go see what has become of Anna and if it’s Gryton or Daryna who is at fault.”
Gregory was slow to nod agreement, but eventually, he did. Smart male.
It wasn’t until he started for the door that she noticed that he was clothed, and his arm and wrist bands were back in place. However, she was still naked under her robe. “Hold up. I need to shift and then dress.”
He halted with his hand on the door but nodded and waited patiently for her to shapeshift into her gargoyle form and dress. Then, together, they headed down to the front drive where Resnick was waiting with a small convoy of armored vehicles.
Chapter 31
GREGORY HAD ALLOWED himself to be crammed into one of the vehicles with Lillian. There really wasn’t room for one gargoyle, let alone two. But Resnick had insisted.
And he’d learned when to pick his battles in a long-ago lifetime.
They arrived at the military headquarters a short time later, and he and Lillian were escorted inside. Already, he’d caught a hint of Anna’s trail. Her scent was the same as he remembered. There was no hint of either Gryton or Daryna. So, Anna had been by herself, at least at this point.
Gregory continued deeper into the building where the weapons were stored just to be certain. But again, he found nothing unusual in her scent. He followed the trail back to the surface and on outside, north and west away from the military’s base.
Anna had continued out of town and into the forest. Resnick and his team were still following him, but they were having a more difficult time in the forest.
Gregory continued at a fast run. About twenty minutes outside of town, he found a clearing in the forest where a great weaving had been created.
The spell had already unraveled, the energy dissipating back into the surrounding land. But he would recognize the essence of that power anywhere. It was the match to his own.
“Daryna was here a short time ago. Maybe four hours ago at most. This was a spell woven with the purpose of transporting Anna to the Magic Realm. I can see that much from what remains of the spell.”
“It was not Gryton then?”
Gregory felt his ears pin to his head and his wings clamp tight to his back. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Afterward, Daryna traveled from this location to another north of here.”
Lillian’s expression and body language mirrored his own, and he knew that as much as she didn’t like Daryna, she’d truly hoped for his sake her suspicions were wrong.
“Do we follow? Or do you want to gather more of our Fae allies?” Lillian asked.
“We’ll go alone. There’s nothing the Fae can do that won’t get them killed.”
Looking uncertain, Lillian nodded.
Gregory wrapped one wing around her shoulders. “I must first prepare some battle spells. It would be better here than later when danger might be coming at us from an unknown direction. We do not yet know for certain if Gryton is involved with this, but I can’t rule out that he somehow enslaved Daryna.”
Even as he said the words, he didn’t know how they could be true. Daryna was too powerful to be enslaved by one such as Gryton.
AFTER GREGORY HAD WOVEN several spells of protection to cocoon her body in an invisible force, Lillian had sat a little way away with her tail curled around her legs and her wings folded tight to her back while Gregory finished preparing other, deadlier spells. When he at last called her back to his side, she went. Together, they would face whatever they would find on the other side of the portal. She passed through the portal spell and experienced the strange sensation of having the ground shift underneath her feet. After a few queasy seconds, Lillian found herself in an unknown forest. The trees here were different. When Lillian started forward, Gregory forestalled her.
“Traps.”
Lillian nodded in understanding. Her dryad blood tuned into the trees around her and she realized they were whispering to her. They spoke of a hard-minded fire elemental who had bled upon the ground and burned their roots with his heat.
‘Gryton is here,’ Lillian whispered into Grego
ry’s mind.
‘I know. I can smell his blood, but not sense him at all. The Mother’s Sorceress has been weaving a spell of protection around him.’
Lillian was still mulling over that bit of news when Gregory pointed out a narrow crevice in the bedrock wall that rose up out of the ground in front of them. The land here was rockier, the bones of the earth showing through more readily.
Venturing into a cave was always a bad idea as far as Lillian was concerned.
As he moved slowly forward, Lillian followed, her swords held at the ready. She could feel where Gregory’s spells of protection hummed along her body, tingling with an unpleasant itch. However, the mild discomfort was well worth it if those same spells could protect her and her child from danger. While she knew she had to be here—that knowledge anchored deep in her being—that didn’t mean she wanted to go into that cave.
But she entered anyway, ducking to avoid scraping her horns on the low ceiling. Ahead, she could see the dim flickering of fire against the tunnel walls.
Had she not been so focused on the dangers of the traps and what other surprises might be waiting for them in the cave, she would have registered the scent of a campfire much sooner.
Someone planned to be here for a while if they’d gone to the trouble of building a fire.
The narrow tunnel they were following opened into a vast cavern, and Gregory straightened to his full height.
“Hello, my protector.” Daryna’s voice was all calm confidence as usual.
But Gregory’s menacing growl spurred Lillian into pushing past the barrier of his wings. On the opposite side of the campfire, Daryna stood with one hand wrapped around Commander Gryton’s arm as if physically holding him in place.
Lillian wasn’t sure what she found more stunning—that Daryna could hold Gryton against his will or that Tin Man hadn’t launched an attack yet.
“Gregory, wait,” Daryna said, her tone beseeching him to listen. “It’s not what it looks like. I haven’t turned traitor. There are things you do not know. Critical information that will fill in so many blanks.”
The Complete Gargoyle and Sorceress Boxset (Books 1-9) Page 95