Page 51 (1/2)

"Then what does itI’ve known Tonya? I trust her--" His words caaze Dios There was one reason so her to send a uess"

"Now the question is--"

Nefri gririo needed her cal tide of fear

She didn’t knohy Gaius would have discovered a sudden interest in Santiago Orhio would do whatever was necessary to rescue the feer

And there wasn’t a da she could do to stop hio spoke his thoughts out loud, his barely leased fury dropping the te to convince e for Tonya"

"But?" she pro the lack of conviction in his voice

"But it’s not Gaius’s style" With a sharpback and forth, his hand instinctively reaching to pull out the Roer he kept tucked in his back pocket "He can be a hammer when necessary, but he prefers to be subtle He’s a ried to deceive her He’d hidden his true intentions behind his genuine grief to gain access to her clan beyond the Veil

A knowledge that still burned like acid against her pride But she wasn’t going to allow his abuse of her trust to blind her to facts

"Yes, if he is actually still in the position to be er ried "It wasn’t supposed to"

He continued his pacing, his hands clenching and unclenching until he at last came to an abrupt halt directly in front of her "Nefri"

"Yes?"

"Tonya is family"

She reached to place a hand on his arm, able to sense his distress at Tonya’s capture It was far er of an employer Or a friend

It was deeper More personal

"You rescued her," she said softly

He gave a low hiss of shock "I’ to suspect you truly can read htened on his arave you a hoht you honor and discipline and that a leader cares for those who are vulnerable"

He slid the dagger back into his pocket, his eyes dark with painful memories "It’s not ument with a tribe of trolls and was sold to a slaver"

Levet gave a violent flutter of his wings "Evor?"

The two"Sí"

The tiny gargoyle trembled Nefri had heard rumors that Levet had been held captive by the brutal slaver, along with Viper’s mate, Shay

"A very bad reed "If Tonya hadn’t been so strong she would never have survived" His lol trickled froain I can’t leave her in the hands of Gaius"

"Of course not" Nefri studied his stubborn expression with open concern "But, Santiago--"

"I know it’s a trap," he interrupted her cautious words "I have to go"

"Gaius will be waiting for you"

The dark eyes s I can do to prevent that"

The fear that she was trying so desperately to control threatened to explode as she glared at hie your mind, am I?"

His touch was tender as he cupped her face in his hands, but he gave a firaze squarely, her centuries of experience allowing her to transform the fear into stark resolve What made a clan chief a leader was their ability to control their eer any need to try and sneak up on hiuarded "You have a plan?"