Page 119 of Heartsong
“We’ll gonowherewith you!” Frey roared.
“Frey.” Anna peeked out from behind a wing to see Carrie standing beside her husband. She looked up at Frey with a sad sort of awe. “He took no part in what happened, you can trust him. He’s my heartsong.”
“I know you, but…” Frey’s brows hung low, his eyes almost haunted as he stared at Carrie. “It cannot be.”
“I wasn’t at the Gorsedd that night, so the curse didn’t take me. Gavren and I have spent the years searching for you, protecting you.”
The wailing sirens grew louder, drawing Carrie’s attention to the windows. Blue and red lights flashed from the street.
“We’ll explain everything, but please, come with us now. You’ll be safe.”
“We’ve been told that already tonight,” Anna said.
Carrie gave her a sad smile. “No restraint required. You two are clan. I can’t…” Her eyes glistened, and Gavin tucked her into his side as she wiped at a stray tear. “I can’t tell you what it means to me to have clan. Please, allow us to explain. Let us show you.”
Frey’s rumble beneath her cheek was unhappy but not threatening. He looked down at her, holding her cheek in his palm. “It’s up to you, my Anna.”
“She did ask nicely.”
Gavin nodded. “We’ll go, then.”
“What about…?” Anna nodded at the unconscious guards littered around her destroyed apartment. She didn’t quite know if she meant the men or all her broken things.
Yeah, they were only things, but they werehers. This was her home. In a matter of minutes, everything she’d collected and earned throughout her was literally shattered. She could hardly look at it.
“Tomorrow’s problem, I think,” said Gavin, his expression softening as he looked upon Anna. “I can repair most of it.”
She didn’t think she could ever forget how his eyes had glowed and magick had burned around him, like he was some pagan god risen from the underworld, but that small bit of compassion in his gaze now went a long way.
Frey moved to pick her up, but Anna’s stomach dropped when she realized—“Wait, where’s Captain? We can’t leave without him! Frey—” She heard the hysterical note in her voice, and clutched at her middle as it shook. The adrenaline crash had her stomach revolting and she didn’t want to stay here any longer, but she couldn’t bear the idea of leaving without Cappy.
“I know, I’ll get him. He’s in the bedchamber. Just stay here. Stay right here, I’ll be right back.” He pressed a fervent kiss to her forehead before rushing to her bedroom.
She watched on desperately, feeling herself cracking around the edges now that his arms weren’t around her. A breath finally invaded her lungs when Frey emerged a moment later carrying a terrified Captain. The yellow of his eyes was almost hidden by his blown pupils.
Frey ducked into the bathroom and returned holding both Captain and a migraine injection. “For your head.”
More tears burst out, and with a sob she said, “I love you so much, Frey.”
A devastating smile overtook his mouth. “I have loved you for millennia, my Anna, and will love you longer still.” He held out Captain, and she was able to unlock her arms to take him. Captain sank his claws into her shoulder, but she didn’t care.
“Now, you hold Captain,” Frey swept her into his arms, holding her bridal style and covering her and Cappy with a wing up to her chin like a blanket, “and I’ll hold you.”
Burying her face against him, she kissed the side of his neck, feeling his strong pulse thrum under her lips.
“This will feel strange the first time, but it’s perfectly safe,” Gavin assured them.
She peered at Gavin just in time to see a rip open in the middle of her apartment, splitting the very air. Within it, every color swirled and light bent in every direction.
Carrie gave them a reassuring smile. “Traveling through the rift is a bit uncomfortable, but it beats Bay traffic!” Turning on the ball of her foot, she accepted the hand Gavin offered and stepped through into the colors and light. They enveloped her, and it almost looked like she passed through a doorway into another room.
“Where does it lead?” asked Frey.
“To our house in Tiburon,” answered Gavin.
“Will it hurt?” Frey’s arms tightened around her at her question. She didn’t think she could handle any more pain today, and the thought of Cappy in pain had more tears rolling down her face.
“No, I promise. It’s just…different.”
