Skata. “Nick’s gotta be pissed.”
“He is. His healer had to put twenty-four stitches in his arm. He was going to kick Gryphon out of the colony tomorrow. Orpheus was going to go with him. I’m guessing Gryphon figured that out and ran before it could happen.”
“Gryphon wouldn’t want O sacrificing anymore for him. What about Theron?”
“Theron wasn’t sure what to do about the situation and he didn’t have time to decide. Before he could come up with a solution, Gryphon bolted.”
“Shit. Nick’s men will kill him if they find him first.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “Which is why the Argonauts are out looking for him right this minute. Theron left Phineus here to make sure we were okay, but the others…they’ll find him, Titus.”
Titus ground his teeth and pushed the covers off his legs. “It wasn’t his fault. I should be helping to look for him.”
Callia rushed back to his side of the bed. “No way. You’re in no condition to move yet. Even superhero genes need time to work.”
“Get out of my way, female.”
Callia held her bare hands up. “Don’t make me use these again.”
Titus glared up at her, then remembered the way her emotional transfer had knocked him on his ass. Dammit, he hated the fact he was so freakin’ weak. Not physically—at least not normally—but emotionally. Just the slightest touch from another person could cripple him.
He clenched his teeth in frustration, but eased back against the bed again, not wanting a repeat of the I’m-a-giant-pussy ordeal. Especially in front of Callia. “Maybe I’ll just rest for a few more minutes.”
“Smart ándras,” Callia said, lowering her hands. I really didn’t want to zap you again. “I’ll be right on the other side of that door if you need anything. And don’t worry, I’ll be sure to keep you updated as I hear news.”
That didn’t leave him feeling all reassured. It only pissed him off even more.
She moved to the door, paused, and looked back. “Phineus was right. Most people wouldn’t be nearly as forgiving after what Gryphon did. You’re a special man, Titus.”
No, he wasn’t. He was cursed. And not only did he know why, he also knew he deserved it.
“Save your praise for someone who’s worthy.” He closed his eyes, blocking out her way-too-gentle eyes as he tried like hell not to hear her thoughts. “I just know what it’s like to be tormented by voices. And trust me, yours and everyone else’s are nothing compared to the voice that’s haunting Gryphon. I wouldn’t wish that shit on anyone.”
A shiver racked Maelea’s body. Startled, she jolted awake. Confusion hit as her eyes adjusted to the weird glow. Something hard pressed against her face. Bracing one hand beneath her, she pushed up and looked around.
The cavern. The underground waterfall. The river. Trying to escape the half-breed colony. Gryphon.
Memories rushed in on a wave and doused her spirits. It hadn’t been a dream after all.
She moved to sitting, swallowed down the panic. Something fell from her shoulder. Looking down, she realized it was her shirt. She was wearing nothing but her bra and underwear, but her pants and shirt—still slightly damp—had been draped over her like a blanket.
She reached for the garments and scanned the dark cavern illuminated only by the green glow coming from the bottom of the lake. Nothing moved around her. No sound echoed except that of rushing water. No sign anyone else had ever been here besides her.
She had no idea how much time had passed or how long she’d been asleep, but the fact that her clothes were still damp told her it hadn’t been that long.
Rising on unsteady legs, she tugged on her long-sleeved black shirt and noticed Gryphon’s clothes were missing.
A clicking sound echoed somewhere to her right before she could wonder where he’d gone. She swiveled in that direction on bare feet, hands stilling in the process of tugging her shirt down. Listening carefully, she waited, but the sound didn’t repeat.
Her imagination. It had to be. Logic told her Gryphon had likely ditched her when she was asleep. Now that they were away from the half-breed sentries and he was warm, he didn’t need her anymore. She should have been relieved by that fact—she wanted away from him too—so why wasn’t she? Irritation brewing, she reached for her pants and shoved her foot in the right leg. A click echoed somewhere close again.
Her head came up. Her hands froze on the garment. “Gryphon?”
More clicks echoed in the shadows. Maelea’s heart rate kicked up as she frantically scanned the eerily illuminated darkness, searching for the source of the noise.
“It’s scared,” a raspy voice whispered.
Maelea’s adrenaline surged. That definitely wasn’t Gryphon’s voice. They weren’t alone down here after all. She tugged her pants the rest of the way on, hastily buttoned them.
“Scared is fine so long as it’s tasty,” another voice said, this one just as raspy, but deeper.
Oh, shit. Maelea scrambled for her boots. Shoved one foot in, then the other, the whole time scanning the dim cavern for signs of whoever or whatever was out there.
A sniffing sound echoed. Then, “It’s female.”
“We haven’t had a female in ages!”
Pulse racing, Maelea looked all around her for something to use as a weapon. Only, shit, there was nothing. No loose rocks, no twigs, nothing to grab on to and swing or hurl to defend herself.
She eyed the river. Even though it was freakin’ freezing, if she had to, she’d jump back in and let it carry her downstream.
Shuffling echoed, followed by more clicks. Maelea moved for the river just as a three-foot-high gnomish creature peeked out from behind a boulder and blinked at her with wide, catlike eyes.
She hesitated, because what stared back at her was not the monster she expected. If anything, it was cute. Pointy ears, a long chin, and a nose that twitched from side to side. Yeah, it had scales and long claws, but the way it gripped the rock, the way those eyes seemed to grow bigger the longer it looked at her, it was as if it was more afraid of her than she was of it.
“Don’t antagonize it!” a voice hissed from behind the rock.
A little of her adrenaline waned. She tried to look around the creature to the voice behind. Still couldn’t see anything else. “Who…who are you?”
“It’s talking to me,” the one gripping the rock whispered, his knuckles turning white. “What do I do?”
“Don’t answer it!”
Oh yeah, they were definitely scared. Maelea let out a relieved breath. She was otherworldly herself. She knew there were creatures in the world not often seen by humans. That didn’t automatically mean they were evil. Look at her.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” she said. “Why don’t you come into the light so I can see you both better?”
The creature stared at her for long seconds. Then the clicking echoed again, and cautiously, the other one moved out to stand next to the first.
Oh, man. They really were cute. The second even had a tuft of white hair on the top of his head between his pointy ears.
A thought occurred. Maybe they knew the way out. “Where did you both come from?”
“It’s talking to us,” the first said, leaning toward the second. “What should we do?”
The one with the white fur tipped his head, regarded her with narrowed eyes. Then licked his lips, baring yellow-stained, razor-sharp teeth. “Let’s eat it. Boys!”
A flurry of movement sounded from the boulders at their backs. Then at least ten more of the scaly creatures popped out of the shadows. All showcasing the same sharp teeth, all staring at her as if she were lunch.