“I know, right?” I flipped the bloody hair over my shoulder and preened, more relieved to see that stupid fae than I cared to admit.
Elian kicked at the creature beneath his feet. “You know, these assholes wouldn’t be half bad if I could figure out how to compel them. Maybe strap on a saddle.”
“Hard pass,” I said. “But you go right ahead. In the meantime, I need to change this bloody shirt before I puke. Any idea where the ladies’ room is?”
Elian laughed, but before he could shoot out his next retort, his face paled, his eyes going wide.
A dark shadow swept over him.
I sucked in a breath and blinked, and just like that, another gryphon swooped in. Before he could even raise his sword, the beast plucked Elian from the dead gryphon like an owl plucking a mouse from the field.
His sword fell to the ground.
And the gryphon soared into the smoke-filled sky.
17
HALEY
Go!” Jax shouted at Hudson. “I’ve got Haley. Go help Elian!”
Hudson met my gaze for an instant, my eyes wide with fear, his own pained, then took off at a sprint, his human form already beginning to morph. His muscles stretched and elongated, bones shifting, his body gaining in height and mass as the warrior form took shape. Hands and feet became talons not unlike those of the gryphons, and as his clothing fell away, his skin turned a deep, slate gray. By the time the massive leathery wings burst from between his shoulder blades, Hudson was already airborne.
I watched him soar higher and higher, following the path of the gryphon until both of them vanished into the darkness. I spun around in circles, head tipped, searching in all directions for any more assailants.
“I think we’re in the clear,” Jax finally said. “They don’t usually hunt in packs. That they were here at all is a fucking mystery.”
“But, Elian’s… That thing took him and…” I swayed on my feet, images of the dismembered fae soldiers flooding my mind.
Jax caught me and held me upright, his mouth close to my ear. “Pull it together,” he whispered. “Elian’s stronger than he looks, and Hudson’s already on his way. We’ve fought these things before—they just took us off guard tonight. It won’t happen again.”
“But—
“They’ll be back before you know it. Trust me—we know how to survive Midnight. That’s why you came to Elian for help, right? So stop freaking out before you lose your shit and make a mistake that gets us killed.”
I nodded, blowing out a shaky breath.
Jax was right. They were practically locals.Iwas the newbie here. And this was only day one. Hour one.Disasterone of what was probably many more to come.
If I lost it now, the mission would be over before it’d ever really begun.
Digging another water bottle from my pack, I did my best to rinse the gryphon’s blood from my hair, then swapped my shirt for a clean one.
“Hungry?” Jax asked, searching through his pack. “I’m guessing that blood spell took some of the wind out of your sails.”
I nodded, offering a grateful smile. “If I ever say no to food,that’swhen you need to start worrying.”
“Fresh out of jambalaya, but I’ve got an oat-and-honey granola bar and some beef jerky, if you’re interested.”
That got an even bigger smile. “Throw in a Fallen Angel, and you’ve got yourself a deal, demon.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“Is that even possible?” I teased, happy for the distraction it provided. Without it, I’d start thinking about Elian and Hudson and that freakshow fucking bird. “Aren’t demons supposed to be the tempters in this operation?”
“Free advice?” Jax tossed me the food, then readjusted his eye patch, his mouth pulling into a surly scowl. “Don’tevergive a demon reason to tempt you.”
I tried not to shiver at the dark warning in his voice.
