Chapter 31
Thirty-One
Grayson
Martin was back! He was well and truly back.
Relief sang through me like water through a desert.
I felt like I could breathe again, like anything and everything was possible.
The ground below my feet was soft as a cloud and my strides were just as airy.
Walking down the hall, I refused to release Keir’s hand.
His flesh-covered bones felt too good. Not that I didn’t like his tree form, but it was too close to the time when I worried I’d never get to see his serious, humanoid features again.
Our walk was made mostly in silence with the occasional gasped remark regarding the state of the compound.
Cracks ran through nearly every wall and along the ceiling.
Debris littered the halls, and dirt and gravel could be heard filtering through areas in the walls.
I seriously questioned the stability of the compound and wondered if we were safer inside or out.
We arrived at Keir’s door, relieved to see that it seemed to be standing. I was also relieved and not the least bit surprised to see Tabitha and Jima had beaten us to Keir’s door.
“What took ya so long?” Henry said, evidently present as well and situated on Jima’s shoulder.
Tabitha tsked. “As if we’ve been here all that long.”
“It has only been a few moments,” Elvira agreed. Her form was much hazier than typical, and I could see the wall through her body. Still, she was there which meant Tabitha had regained enough strength to manifest her.
I suddenly remembered that Tabitha wasn’t alone in her quarters and asked, “Is Navarre all right?”
Flat hand held aloft, Tabitha tilted it back and forth. “Sort of. It is always difficult to tell with Navarre. I can say that he is not physically injured. Little Fang also seems unharmed, although she is very upset and jittery.”
“Sounds about right,” Henry sagely agreed. “Can’t say I feel much different than the predatory cat.”
Martin leaned over and whispered, “Henry and Little Fang have a bit of history.”
Martin’s voice wasn’t soft enough, and Henry shouted, “That little shit tried to eat me!”
“As I said, you have history.” Martin defended his position.
“And you defended yourself quite admirably,” Tabitha chimed in. “I do not believe Little Fang will soon forget the lesson.”
Henry splayed his fingers, showcasing his minuscule claws. “She didn’t expect her meal to fight back.” Henry cackled as if it had all been in good fun.
Before Henry could regale us with the tale, Tabitha stepped closer to Martin and reached for his free hand, squeezing it within her weathered fingers. “It is very good to see you in this form, Martin.” Going up on tiptoes, Tabitha pulled Martin into a hug.
When Tabitha pulled away, Jima hollered, “My turn,” before practically leaping into Martin’s arms. Henry gave a shout of displeasure and held on to Jima’s hair for dear life. A string of curses spewed from his mouth.
Ignoring Henry, Martin gave Jima a good squeeze before releasing him. “Thank you. It’s good to be back in this form. I love my oaken body, but—”
“What are you all doing out here?” Keir’s confused voice cut off whatever Martin was going to say. “You should all be resting, not…whatever this is.” He waved his hand around, careful of the wyvern eggs bundled within a swath of cloth that was draped over Keir’s shoulder like a swaddle.
Henry made an incredulous noise. “What does it look like we’re doin?”
Keir’s eyes narrowed. “It looks like you plan on going with me, which we already discussed is completely unnecessary and—”
“And nothing.” Martin returned the favor and cut Keir off. “Don’t act so surprised. You know us better than that.”
Tabitha nodded. “Just like we know you well enough to count on you cheating and heading topside before your twenty-four hours are up.” Tabitha wagged a scolding finger in Keir’s direction. “Shame on you, going back on your promise.”
Keir’s bowed head and pink cheeks indicated he felt somewhat ashamed.
“I wasn’t planning on going back on my promise.
I just thought I’d start heading that direction a little early.
None of us are getting out through the main entrance.
Of course, there’s more than one exit, but I’m not sure if those paths are clear or not. ”
“Fair point,” Jima said, giving a firm nod.
I looked up at Martin and said, “Martin’s courtyard is still open to the sky.”
“It is.” Martin’s fingers cinched down on mine. “As long as Tabitha, Jima, and Henry don’t mind a lift from my branches, we should be able to get everyone out.”
Keir could transform into his gryphon form, and I could easily head up in my wisp form. By way of agreement, everyone turned and began heading back down the hall. Only Keir stayed behind. “We aren’t finished discussing this,” he stubbornly said.
“Oh, but I believe we are,” Tabitha answered. “Wouldn’t you agree, Elvira?”
“I would agree that Keir is being exceptionally obtuse,” Elvira answered. I could only see her from her knees up, her lower legs invisible to my eyes.
Keir rumbled something that sounded like a growl but began following, nonetheless. “Stubborn. The lot of you are nothing but stubborn.”
Henry taunted, “Takes one to know one.”
“What are we, toddlers?” Tabitha clucked her tongue.
Chuckles were heard all around, but soon our passage became silent.
I, for one, used the time to contemplate our choices.
Martin had damn near sacrificed himself to create a barrier that would protect everyone.
It seemed beyond stupid to throw that sacrificial attempt away now.
“Martin, do you remember what you thought when you created the barrier?” I asked as we continued walking toward Martin’s quarters.
Martin flinched, a sure sign of his discomfort. “What do you mean?”
“Magic can be very specific,” I verbally mused. “Especially protective magic like this.” I waved a hand in the air, indicating the barrier covering the compound. “Intention is everything. What did you intend when you created the barrier? Exactly who or what did you mean to protect?”
Martin’s footsteps faltered, coming to a stop.
Our small entourage followed suit, each pair of ears attuned to our conversation.
Eyebrows pulled low and lips little more than a thin line, Martin took the time to contemplate the question.
“I… It’s a little fuzzy.” He swallowed hard. “It all happened so quickly.”
“I know,” I answered, even though I didn’t have a clue what Martin had truly been through. “But it’s important that you try and remember.”
Eyes slipping closed, Martin concentrated, a deeply grooved V forming between his brows.
“I remember thinking that I needed to protect my friends and family—everyone associated with the Magical Usage Council and the home we lived in. I didn’t want anyone getting through that could hurt them. That wanted to hurt them or you.”
A smile lit up my face. Grabbing ahold of Martin’s cheeks, I laid a wet, smacking kiss on his lips. “That’s my honey-boo.”
“Ugh. Barf.” Henry made a gagging noise.
Ignoring Henry, I smacked Martin on the ass, making him jump.
“I stand by what I said weeks ago: you’ve got one fine ass.
” I winked at Martin’s gaping mouth before turning to the others.
Excitement threatened to overrun me. The look in Tabitha’s eyes indicated she’d followed and knew what I’d been getting at.
“We’re done sacrificing shit,” I boldly stated.
“Even if those eggs tell Thalia that the building needs to be razed to the ground and everyone inside snuffed out, they can all just bugger off with that shit.” I turned, staring up at Keir.
“None of this is your fault. I know everyone here’s told you that already, and now I’m saying it too.
You’ve done nothing but protect those eggs since Martin and I found them.
If they don’t see a reason to return the favor, then screw ’em. ”
“Gray, I don’t think—”
I slashed my arm through the air. “No, Martin. You’ve all said it at one time or another. We’re not losing anyone else, and yes, I consider myself part of this effed-up family you’ve managed to cobble together.”
Keir inhaled, shaking his head in the negative. “Someone has to leave the barrier and give the eggs to Thalia. That someone should and will be me.”
“Oh, you can give her the eggs. I’ve got no beef against that. What I’m saying is that you don’t have to leave the barrier to do it.” I hooked a thumb over my shoulder, toward Martin. “My exceptionally smart, brave, and sacrificial lover made sure of that.”
“It’s all in the intention,” Tabitha hummed.
Jima came on board when he said, “And Martin made sure to not only protect the compound, but those within the Magical Usage Council. That includes all of us.”
I aggressively nodded. “Exactly. Pixie barriers aren’t static.
Homes change. They grow in size and occupancy.
Land is the same way. A bonded pixie’s barrier isn’t set in stone.
It changes with the parameters set for it, protecting that which the pixie deems important.
I’d call it protecting their treasure. I’m sure pixies see it differently.
The terminology isn’t important. The intent is. ”
Martin inhaled. “Are you saying the barrier will morph and change, wrapping itself around each and every one of us?”
I considered the question and shrugged. “I doubt it can do so if we move very far away from the compound, but while we’re close by, I’d bet all our lives that it will.
Don’t you see, Keir? You can give the eggs back, but you don’t have to do it without the barrier’s protection.
None of us have to do that. We’ll all be safe topside.
” There was a chance I was wrong, but I thought that chance too slim to truly contemplate.
“Hot damn!” Henry clapped his hands. “What are we waitin’ for? Let’s get this idiocy over with so we can all crawl back into bed.”
“Agreed,” Tabitha stated. “Let us put an end to this interminable waiting.”