Page 112 of Heartsong
“All in good time.” The professor approached with his hands raised, as if he wasn’t a threat.
“Frey, he’s got magick!”
The guard holding her yanked her arm, and then the barrel of a gun dug into her side. “Shut up,” he hissed.
Frey’s growl grew louder, his shoulders bunching. He sneered as Glendower continued to slowly approach. “Rydych chi’n dilyn yr hen ffyrdd?”
“Mae hud yn llifo yn fy ngwaed.”
“Derwydd.”
“Yes. We are kin,rhyfelwr.”
Frey’s nostrils flared in rage. “You would use magick against my mate? We arenotkin.”
“I mean neither of you harm. I admit, this isn’t how I wanted introductions to go. Now, let’s go inside like civilized people—it’s quite a lot of work to glamour a whole block. We’ll speak while we wait for another car.”
“I will have my mate.”
“Upstairs.”
Frey snarled again as her guard pressed the gun up under her ribs, making Anna wince.
They stood at an impasse for a long moment, Glendower holding perfectly still and Frey coiling his muscles, ready to pounce. Anna locked her knees to keep herself upright even when she wanted to crumple—one movement from her and she worried Frey would retaliate and Glendower would magick him, too.
The silence was broken when a familiar white van trundled onto her street.
“Ah, excellent. They’re here.” Glendower waved a hand, and the van passed through the haze of glamour, coming to a stop behind the SUV. When the driver of the van rolled down his window, the professor said, “Keep the engine running. I’ll call when it’s time.”
To Frey he said, “There are more men in that van. Let’s not make this ugly. I only want to talk.”
Muscles shaking with the effort of not attacking, Frey’s nose wrinkled as he hissed at the professor. But when he turned his gaze to Anna, she gave him a small nod.
Divide and conquer, she figured. They both stood a better chance with fewer guards.
Finally, Frey grated, “Very well.”
He unfurled his wings and gave a mighty flap, sending all the guards stumbling backward. He leapt into the air and hovered above them, gaze trained on Anna.
Glendower waved at the guards to fall into formation around him and Anna. He wrapped a hand around her elbow and pulled her into motion.
“Shall we, my dear?”
“He’s going to rip you apart. You know that, right?” she felt the need to growl.
But Glendower only smiled. “I’m intrigued to see what he can do.”
31
Frey stepped through the open window into the apartment, not sure the walls could contain his rage. Captain chirped curiously at him, and Frey quickly bundled him into Anna’s bedchamber.
The sound of the key turning in the lock raked up his spine, and Frey stood in the center of the apartment, waiting for them.
Men in black gear surged into the apartment, invading his and Anna’s home. The insult disgusted him, and his lips peeled back to bare his fangs as Anna was brought in with the older man who’d done all the talking and wished to do more.
Her eyes were wide with fright, and she carried herself as if in pain. His rage only grew, as did his pride in her—she stood beside her captor bravely, her mouth set in grim but determined lines.
My beautiful, brave mate. Stay strong, and I will get to you.
