Page 118 of Heartsong
With a flap of her wings, Carrie bounded after the other two and landed on the obsidian male’s back. She locked her arms around his shoulders and hung on as he bucked.
“We can help you, Dragan!”
“Not yet,” the big male rumbled, trying to throw Carrie off.
Carrie growled with frustration before lifting her head and calling to Gavin, “I think we’re done here, my love!”
Gavin’s face was terrifying, stark lines carved in his statuesque features. His gaze swung over the destruction, and his nostrils flared in a huff.
His body exploded with blue flame, the magick licking across the walls and ceiling. The smell of ozone saturated the apartment, nearly choking Anna. The sparks around Glendower winked out, and the professor crumpled to the floor.
“I’m done playing,mwydyn. Leave with your life and be grateful.”
Anna’s knees almost buckled with terror, the raw power rolling off of Gavin burning the back of her tongue.
Glendower pushed to his feet, glaring. “How many years have you had, and you still know nothing? All those guardians in that museum and not one has come to life. I’ve done in a year what you couldn’t do in centuries.”
Gavin’s lip peeled back, and Anna knew now what a mouse felt like just before a hawk ripped it apart.
“Get out.”
The professor sneered, then righted his coat and began at a steady but limping gait toward the door. “This isn’t over,” he said before unlocking and opening the door.
“If you value your life, it will be.”
Glowering, Glendower said, “Dragan. Let’s go.”
The obsidian gargoyle’s hands dropped to his sides and he turned to follow the professor out, no expression on his face. Carrie slid off his back before he reached the door, watching on sadly as he disappeared with Glendower.
The ruined apartment fell silent with their departure.
Anna couldn’t quite believe it.
The shaking started in her hands and feet then worked its way up her limbs.
“F-Frey?”
“Anna!”
In a moment, he was there, pulling her into his arms. Anna collapsed against his chest, comforted by his familiar strength. The shaking only grew worse, but Frey held her tight, held her together. She clutched him close, wishing she could just bury herself inside him, meld them together and never come out.
The tears started next, though she didn’t truly cry. Fat, salty tears stung her cheeks and cracked lips, and hiccups clogged her throat.
“I—I thought—”
“I know, I know,fynghân. I have you. I’m here.”
Even from the shelter of his body and over the sobs that wracked her, Anna heard the wail of sirens growing louder.
“Oh no,” she groaned.
“We need to leave.”
She looked up with a gasp to see Gavin standing there, just a step away. Frey growled, baring his fangs and covering her with his wings.
“Fae,” he hissed.
“Indeed. I’m sorry to meet like this, but we must leave. I cannot manipulate all the human authorities and neighbors.”
