Iron and Hemlock #8
Sam moved to block her way as well, shifting sideways with his back to her. He barely spared her a glance. “What? You want the fae to continue pestering you? Griff told us he was haunting your dreams.”
Jordon opened her mouth to answer, then stiffened as Sage moved behind her and began to efficiently fasten the back of her gown. She watched the battle, wincing from time to time. Naturu was fast for such a big monster. It was fortunate Griff was faster.
“You need a ladies’ maid,” Sage murmured, fastening the last hook.
“I need an Uzi,” Jordon shot back, twitching with the urge to help Griff. She needed a weapon!
The sound of a meaty smack made her look back at the battle. Griffin flew through the air and smashed into an oak trunk. There was a cracking sound, and he was still.
When he didn’t move, Naturu relaxed. He stood on the lawn in a watchful, but not aggressive, stance.
Jordon feared the worse when the men stood back and let her through.
She ran to Griffin, checked as gently as she could for a pulse.
She couldn’t tell if he was breathing. “Griff, please wake up! Can you hear me? Please.” There was blood, but she wasn’t sure how much of it was his.
For all she knew his worst injuries were internal.
Panic threatened, but she fought it down.
The grief was harder. How could she care so much in such a short time?
“Griffin? Please. I don’t want you to go.
” Did he stir? Hoping her words were reaching him, she pleaded, “Please live – for me? I’ll stay here for you.
It’s not so bad, really, even if it is stuffed full of griffins and gargoyles.
I don’t mind if you’re feathery once in a while. ”
He actually laughed, though it was weak. “You hated dinner. You’re afraid.”
She drew a shaky breath. “I’m afraid of losing you. There! Are you happy now? I admitted it.”
His body heaved as if he were trying to get to his feet. “I need to finish him.” He groaned and flopped back down.
“You need a doctor, or a vet,” she said severely, trying to push him back down. Remembering Naturu, she turned around, but the griffin hadn’t moved. There seemed to be some kind of force field surrounding her and Griffin. “What is this?”
Abruptly, Naturu was his fae self once again. He smiled bitterly. “My sister has decided to take a hand in things, it seems. She has no sense of fair play.” He considered Jordon broodingly. “I’ve half a mind to claim my prize anyway. I’ve clearly won.”
Abruptly Griffin was on his feet, looking far too hale for a creature near death. “Not today, foul one. Why don’t you take yourself off?”
Naturu’s eyes sparked, but then he looked at the house. “Ah, sister! Very well. I’ll humour you for now. There are other ways we can settle this matter.” With an enigmatic glance at Jordon, he disappeared in a swirl of black smoke.
Jordon stared at the place where he’d been, then she turned to glower at Griffin. “You were playing possum.”
He took a step towards her and winced. “Mostly.”
She bit her lip, unsure if he were truly hurt. “It might help if you turned back into a human. I can’t see your injuries through your feathers.”
Abruptly, he was a naked man, covered in gore. He smiled ruefully as she started. “You’ll have to get used to it, darling. After all, you did promise to stay here with me.”
She pursed her lips. She had said that. She was starting to realize that she’d meant it, too. She really did want to be with him. “I didn’t say how long I’d stay.”
He smiled and pulled her close, ignoring the way she squirmed away from the blood. “Finicky, tricky woman. Just try and leave.” He kissed her temple, smiling to himself. “You’ll have to wait until the dressmaker finishes your clothes, at least. This one is ruined.”
Though she suspected he’d ruined her dress on purpose, Jordon did stay until she had new clothes. She remained through the summer, in fact, and on into the fall. By then the babe she carried was obvious to all.
Griffin had let her go two days before presenting her with a ring. “We’re married,” he said flatly. “We’ll have a ceremony here and do things the human way so that there’s no doubt. You’re staying with me, though.”
She frowned at the ring, then squinted up at the ceiling, which was now blessedly free of cobwebs. The new maids had been busy. “I don’t know. There are a lot of things about my time that I might miss. Good coffee—”
“Mrs Yuimen makes excellent coffee,” he said sternly.
“Books—”
“I’ll give you the library. We’ll kick Sage out,” he promised.
She looked at him and smiled softly. “You. If I went back, I would definitely miss you.” His expression made her heart go soft.
There were many things about her new home that were strange to Jordon, and none stranger than her new husband.
She loved him though, this knight who had saved her from a bad end.
If she must live in a faerie tale, at least she would get a happily ever after.
That was something even a modern girl could appreciate.