Page 23 of The Milliner and the Griffin Rider

Chloe swallowed and refocused on the hat in front of her. Surely he wouldn’t abandon Maddie so easily. Maddie would have a way out, even if Chloe didn’t. She stabbed a needle into the hat. She couldn’t do anything else, but at least she could complete all the promised orders before Gannon demanded complete repayment of the mortgage and evicted them from their store when they failed to pay.

She had been foolish from start to finish. Her instincts had protested against attempting to deceive the duke, and even against handing an egg to Gannon. Maddie had been concerned as well. But Chloe had pushed that all aside, convinced that necessity required her to ignore both her friend and her own senses as they warned her she was on the wrong path. And all it had done was land her in worse trouble.

She should have trusted her own knowledge of what was right instead of focusing only on the fear of what she could lose. She should have known that fear would always steer her wrong.

If she had gone to the Duke openly, she would have soon discovered her mistake. Lord Crane would have directed her to the true Duke of Everard, and he would have taken action against Gannon. Now that she knew how diligently the real Duke took care of his responsibilities—and how carefully he guarded his griffins—she couldn’t doubt it.

But instead she had lost his trust. If she tried to tell him all the details about Gannon now, would he even believe her?

She worked for hours without pausing, keeping her hands busy. Even when darkness fell outside and Maddie departed for her accommodation, Chloe remained.

She continued working until a familiar voice made her dart to her feet, ribbons and feathers flying everywhere.

I am here. Sage sounded excited. Please open the door.

Chloe dashed to the back room’s external door and flung it open. “Sage!” she gasped as the griffin pushed past her into the workroom, looking around with interest.

The griffin had grown enough that she barely fit into the crowded space, and when she turned to look at Chloe, she knocked over a chair. The griffin didn’t react, however, apparently unbothered by the chaos she was bringing to the previously ordered workspace.

Your store is interesting. I’m pleased to have left the estate for the first time.

“But how did you get here?” Chloe closed the door, rushing forward to embrace the griffin. “And why have you come?”

I can now fly. Sage sounded smugly self-satisfied.

Chloe gasped and pulled back. “You had your first flight! You’ve grown strong enough?” Her voice fell. “Without me? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to attempt it today?”

You were not needed. Ranger assisted me. It is a griffin matter, and human assistance isn’t required.

Chloe’s chest seized, and she pulled back slightly from Sage. She knew the griffin was merely being honest and matter-of-fact, in the way of her kind. But after everything that had happened, the pain of another rejection, however small, hit her hard.

Sage must have sensed her response, because she lowered her head and butted the top of it gently against Chloe’s arm.

But you are still my chosen heart friend. We will fly together many times.

Chloe smiled, her disappointment forgotten. “Truly? Ranger thinks you will grow big and strong enough to safely carry me?” She had feared Sage might never recover enough to safely bear a human rider.

How many times had she dreamed of the day when Sage would grow large enough and strong enough that Harrison taught them to fly together? Her mood fell again. That would never happen now.

Ranger and Sage would insist she learn, but Harrison would assign one of the other riders to the task of teaching them. Her days of personal training from the captain were over.

“So you flew here?” she asked Sage, trying to redirect her thoughts. “Did you come to tell me the news?”

Ranger sent me. We have a task to complete.

“A task?” Chloe stepped back, noticing for the first time that Sage had a small leather satchel attached to her torso by means of a harness clearly designed for a griffin. “What are you carrying?”

It is a griffin egg.

Chloe backed further away, shaking her head. Wild thoughts filled her mind of Sage stealing a griffin egg for her.

But Sage would never do that. And she had mentioned Ranger. Ranger meant Harrison.

“Why would you bring a griffin egg here? It needs to be safe with the flock so the griffin inside can grow strong.”

It is our oldest egg. The chick inside is already strong. And for now it is still in my presence. It can even endure a few hours away from all griffins without weakening.

“But why take the risk?”