by Raquel Dove
Alexandra landed with a thud on a pile of sparkling metal objects. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness of the cave that the griffin had taken her to. The entire back section was filled from floor to ceiling with gold and silver objects. A tangled nest of small trees sat in the middle of the cave, and a smaller griffin was curled up on top of it with black eyes that were trained on Alex.
The griffin pair greeted each other, rubbing necks and making clicking sounds as they nuzzled each other. The griffin that had captured Alex curled up next to the nest and laid his head to rest on his paws. Alex had assumed that Balthazar would be right behind the griffin to rescue her, but as the hours passed with no sign of him, she became disheartened.
Aside from tossing her onto his treasure pile, the griffin had completely ignored her, so Alex began to feel her way around toward the entrance of the cave. Her eyes nervously watched the pair of massive beasts that appeared to be sleeping. She stepped up to the lip of the cave and peered over the edge. Her head swam with the dizzying height. A rocky canyon spread out as far as she could see and killed any hope of her escaping on her own.
“There’s no need to be anxious little creature,” the griffin suddenly spoke just behind her. She whirled back around to face him. “This is your new home, and I make sure all my treasures are well taken care of.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” Alex said with heavy sarcasm as she motioned to the haphazard pile of objects stacked in the back of the cave. The griffin made a huffing sound that Alex took to be a laugh of some sort.
“Balthazar will come for me,” she said, but her words lacked the confidence she was forcing onto her face. She crossed her arms over her chest in an effort to look more intimidating.
“Will he?” the griffin asked sitting up on his hind legs and glaring down at Alex with his lidless black eyes. “Demons aren’t known to be particularly heroic. Why would he do such a thing?”
“He’ll come,” Alex said, looking away and back out to the canyon outside. She didn’t know if he even could come for her this time. She didn’t see any way to get up the sheer face of the canyon wall without flying, and she was fairly certain that Balthazar didn’t have that ability.
“What are you?” the griffin asked, inching closer to her. His beak bobbed in the air as if he was scenting something. Alex considered not telling him, or even lying to him, but she didn’t really see a point. She was just tired of fighting with everyone that kidnapped her. She might as well tell him and cut right to the chase.
“I’m human,” Alex said slowly. Her eyes were wide as she watched the griffin step a little closer to her. She backed up dangerously close to the edge of the cave lip to get away from him.
“Is that so?” the griffin asked, pulling back with excitement in his voice. “It’s been many centuries since I’ve heard of a human in these lands. Have the worlds once more merged?”
“Merged?” Alex asked, with her brows pulled together in confusion. “You mean humans have been here before?”
“Yes, of course. Although it was quite some time ago,” the griffin said, his voice softened. “Now, do step back inside. I would very much hate for the newest piece in my collection to take such a nasty tumble.”
Alex did as he asked, watching him carefully as she took wide steps back into the front of the cave.
“My name is Shirdal,” he said. His voice was kind and full of excitement.
“Alexandra.”
The griffin dipped his neck, spreading his wings out behind him and bending his knees in a bow. “It’s very much a pleasure to make your acquaintance Alexandra.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Alex said, a smile growing on her face as she became a little more comfortable in the griffin’s presence. He had kidnapped her, yes, but he wasn’t being unkind and he hadn’t hurt her. She didn’t see any reason not to be nice until Balthazar came for her, if he came for her.
“This is my mate,” Shirdal said, motioning to the griffin sitting on the nest. “However, she is incapable of speech. Please, come back inside our home and we can chat further.”
Alex stepped deeper into the cool darkness of the cave, settling down on the hard floor next to the nest. She pulled her thighs up next to her chest and rested her chin on her knees. The female griffin was watching her intently, her solid black eyes darting from Shirdal to Alex.
“Tell me something Alexandra,” Shirdal said as he settled next to his mate. “You seem rather attached to this demon.”
“Do I?” Alex said, trying to hide the blush from her cheeks. She wanted to deny it, but he was right. Was it that easy to read the feelings she had for Balthazar on her face? She certainly hoped not. It was terribly embarrassing. Especially knowing that the demon could smell it out so easily.
“Yes, indeed you do,” Shirdal said and Alex could hear the amusement in his voice. She could have sworn she saw the muscled corners of his beak twitching upward. “I was just a young cub when humans last roamed in our world, but I do remember a lack of affinity for the demonic kind. What is it about this one that has you so…attached?”
“Well, he’s going to help me get back home,” Alex said. She fidgeted a little on the cold rock floor. “That’s why we needed…”
“One of my eggs,” Shirdal said, dipping his head as he finished her sentence.
“I’m sorry,” Alex said with softened eyes. She shook her head, not knowing what to say. “I didn’t think… It’s not…”
“I know,” Shirdal said. “I take no offense. It is the demon that has misled you. I would caution you to be careful around his kind.”
“What do you mean?” Alex asked, her brows pulling together. “Why would you say that?”
“I’m a very old creature, Alexandra,” Shirdal said, “and I have seen many things. The demon will come for you, of that I have no doubt. It’s a natural ability of mine to see the value he places on you. That doesn’t worry me. A demon is no match for a griffin. But what worries me is the affection that I see you have for him.”
“No” Alex said shaking her head forcefully as her cheeks heated up. “Trust me, there’s no affection. I mean, we promised to help each other. But, don’t get me wrong, there ‘s no affection. Nope. No way. Huh uh. He’s a stuck-up, self-important, spoiled demon prince. No affections. No sir.”
Alexandra’s cheeks heated to a rosy blush at the thought of having such feelings for Balthazar. Her reaction had only served to prove his point and Alex knew it. She clamped her mouth shut before she could say anything else that would confirm his suspicions.
“Did you say a demon prince?” Shirdal asked. His voice had suddenly turned harsh. He straightened up a little and his feathered neck fluffed out.
“Well, yeah,” Alex said, blinking at the sudden shift in his demeanor. “He’s from Devas. But I think he’s going to become the Lord Sultan soon.”
“A Devasi Lord Sultan,” Shirdal mumbled, his neck feathers puffed out further as he reared back and began to pace the cave floor. “This could be trouble.”
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