Chapter 32
GRIFFITH
My fingers shake, fear that I made the wrong choice and have somehow hurt Clem flooding my body like poison.
Then her skin moves. In any other situation, I’d probably find it creepy to watch as pieces of flesh stretch toward each other, but right now, it’s the most beautiful gods-damn thing I’ve ever witnessed.
The fibers of Clem stitch together, and unlike with the rejuvenation spell, this time, there’s a scar. A reminder of what she went through.
And somehow, having the scar there gives this cure a more solid feel. Like there needs to be proof of the original injury. It wasn’t an easy fix, like humans often assume magic to be.
Clem’s stare meets mine, her eyes full of wondrous hope. “It worked?”
“Looks like.” There’s no hiding the ragged relief in my voice. “How do you feel? Any pain?”
She carefully prods the wound, as if worried the wrong touch might reopen it. But, no, it stays scarred over. “There’s a little twinge. But it feels … natural. Like it’s almost finished healing.”
The breath I let out could easily be mistaken for a sob, and I’m careful, as if handling a baby bird, when I gather her into my arms.
“Our deal,” Luke says, dragging my attention to him over Clem’s.
I nod, ready to pay my debt. I would’ve paid a higher price for Clem’s health. Given my life for it.
“What’s their name?”
The hunter is a master at hiding his emotions, but there’s a twitch in the corner of his eye when he speaks. “Freya.”
Confusion has me frowning. I know a good amount of townsfolk by first name at least.
But I’ve never heard of a Freya living or even visiting here.
“What mythic type are they?” Maybe knowing who they associate with will jog a memory.
“She’s a monster.”
I turn to Levi, expecting him to be wearing a look of recognition. As the monster council member, he should know the names of all his constituents.
“We don’t have anyone living in Folk Haven by that name,” Levi tells Luke. “No monster anyway. Could they be using a different name?”
Luke blinks. “Unlikely, but possible.”
“What does she look like?”
“Beautiful.” He clears his throat. “Female. Late twenties. Tan skin. Dark brown hair. When she shifts, she has black wings.”
Attention shifts to Georgiana. If there was a winged monster flying around, then the winged mythic would be the one most likely to know. Her face is pinched, and she gives one shake of her head.
“And you’re sure she’s here?” Levi asks.
“Coming to Folk Haven was always her plan.” Luke turns his head, gazing in the direction of the lake. “It may be that she’s not here. Yet.”
There’s a tug in my veins, a pressure to fulfill the vow I made. Not knowing the mythic doesn’t wash the vow away. Just makes it more complicated to follow through on.
Hadn’t considered they might not be where he said they would be.
“I’ll be staying until she comes,” Luke announces to the group as if he has any say in the matter.
“You might have healed Clementine, but that doesn’t mean we’re about to let a hunter wander back out into the world.” Juan studies the interloper. “You might claim to mean us no harm, but that’s too big of a risk to take on your word alone.”
Luke merely blinks. “Then we’re agreed. I’ll stay.”
The Council members share a look, and I can imagine what they’re all silently trying to figure out.
Where the hell are they going to keep a hunter?
The cell in the police office is temporary, and they don’t have enough staff to add babysitting a hunter twenty-four/seven to their workload.
And is that what the town is going to do? Just sit on him until the mystery mythic he’s looking for shows up?
What then?
Luke has his chat with this mysterious Freya, and then …
Then shit needs to get figured out.
Fuck, am I glad I’m not on The Council. My immediate future is tied to the guy, but I have no idea what the best recourse is to deal with a human who may or may not be dangerous and hasn’t done anything yet but easily could.
“I could use a new pet.”
Everyone turns to face Sev, who was the one to speak. That’s when I realize the dagger has disappeared. Since the monster looks entirely relaxed, I suspect he was the one to hide it away when we were distracted.
“He’s not a stray animal,” Georgiana hisses. “He’s a hunter.”
“Not in the way you mean it.” Luke’s voice is steady, seemingly unconcerned that he’s not in charge of his fate at the moment.
“What other meaning could there be?”
Luke’s focus is on the monster who offered to make him a pet. “What is your name?”
I guess we never did a proper introduction, and I wonder if mythics in this town err on the side of not speaking this monster’s name. If there’s a superstition about not drawing his attention.
“This is Sev,” Levi offers.
There’s no outward change to Luke’s expression, but he seems to go extra still.
Has he heard of him before? I got the feeling Sev prefers to remain unknown.
“I’ll stay with you.”
“Stay is a generous word.”
“You have a dungeon?”
“If only.”
Luke faces me. “I’ll stay anywhere. Any condition. As long as you fulfill your vow.”
Well, I bound myself in blood, so it’s not like I can back out of it. “This Freya must be someone special.”
“She is.”
This arrangement doesn’t seem like it’s going to get figured out in the next few minutes, and other than needing to know where he ends up, I’m not part of this.
“I’m taking Clem home,” I announce, and Carl’s sigh of relief is audible. Meeting Luke’s eyes, I do my best to focus on the fact that he brought the cure to us and not how he was the reason she was in danger in the first place. “I will do everything I can to fulfill my vow.”
His jaw clenches, but then he nods. His gaze flicks to Clem. “I’m sorry you were hurt because of me.”
“Just keep away from me.” She stands on her own and walks under her own power to my truck, where Shrimp watches her with his head stuck out the window, tongue lolling. She presses her forehead to his, smiling as he sniffs her hair and cheeks before licking her face.
He and I have the same urge.
I stand by the door, making sure she’s able to climb in fine on her own, then circle around to the driver’s seat.
As I back out, the view of The Council in the midst of what looks like a debate disappears from view.
Relieved at being away from the political machinations, I turn the wheels toward home.
Is it home for her too?
Now that Clem is healed and the threat of the hunter has been dealt with, she’s truly free to do as she wants.
Will she stay, or will she go?
As we’re pulling up the driveway, Clem lets out a deep sigh, and I turn my head to find her smiling at me. My chest grows warm and heavy with hope.
“Your house is beautiful. I don’t know if I ever told you that.”
My throat is suddenly thick. “No. You haven’t mentioned it. You think so?”
She hums an affirmation. “You did good work.”
I raise a brow at her, and her smile grows.
“Carl might have listed off all the renovations you made to the place.” She leans across the console as I park. “My favorite is the master bath.”
“Oh, yeah? Mermaid likes the big bathtub?”
Clem nods, her eyes sparking with delight. “Plenty of room for two.”
Then she shoves open the door and sprints for the house. Shrimp jumps down, bounding after her, and my whole body shivers at the peal of laughter that drifts back to me.
After I reach over to shut the door she left open, I follow in her wake.
Ready to do anything to convince her to stay.