Page 117 of Happily Ever Witch
Which it was absolutely about to.
The familiar-looking, human one wasn’t bright enough to notice. “Woah! Pants would be nice.” He held up a palm to block the bottom half of Trevelyan from his sight. “I thought gryphons didn’t care much about modesty, butwow… I guess dragons are even more --um-- open.”
Trevelyan frowned at that unexpectedly innocent remark.
The winged-guy put a hand on the other man’s arm, as if preparing to physically yank him out of danger. He thought Trevelyan was a threat. It was a wise guess.
The human smiled, continuing to avert his eyes. It almost seemed like he was deliberately ignoring the brewing violence. Either that or he was a dimwit. Trevelyan was betting on a dimwit. “Hi, I’m Galahad Airbourne. You must be Trevelyan.”
Some of Trevelyan’s aggression faded, because he recognized this puritanical man, now. He was indeed Sir Galahad of Camelot. There wasn’t a sentient organism on the planet who couldn’t identify the knight. He was famous for charity work, and his glistening handsomeness, and his TV shows. He’d also helped wipe out the entire gryphon race, if the rumors were true, and now Esmeralda said he was married to one.
Trevelyan’s eyes flicked back to the winged-guy, who was silently watching him. A gryphon. These were the men Scarlett Riding-Wolf had hired to save Esmeralda from Wonderland. He relaxed slightly.
“Trystan Airbourne?” He surmised. “Midas sent you?”
The gryphon inclined his head, still waiting for a fight to break out.
As if Trevelyan didn’t have bigger problems than some flying asshole and his celebrity husband. Gryphons were so hostile and paranoid.
Impatient now, Trevelyan waved a hand to create a pair of drawstring pants for himself. “Where is my witch?” He repeated in a marginally less dire tone. “Did she go back to the Enchanted Forest?” That made sense.
If Trevelyan wasn’t a heartless monster, far beyond having his feelings hurt, his feelings would perhaps beslightlyhurt that she didn’t even nudge him awake to say goodbye, but… no. Obviously, he wasn’t upset, at all.
Obviously.
Esmeralda wasn’t in any trouble. That voice he thought he’d heard in his head was nothing. His mate had simply run off, fleeing his company and forsaking their True Love bond. Not a big deal. He was barely even bothered.
Obviously.
It would be a pain in the ass to go get Esmeralda again, but at least she was safe. And Trevelyan needed to level her ridiculous homeland into a hellscape of blackened rocks anyway, so a trip to the Four Kingdoms wasn’t out of his way. He would simply retrieve his errant mate, kill her meddling family, and all would be well.
Raining or not, things could be worse.
“Esmeralda went to go find Marrok.” Galahad told him, dropping his hand in relief now that Trevelyan was dressed. “She left you a letter, I think.” He pointed over to an envelope on the counter.
Trevelyan’s insides slid towards his knees.
Things were worse.
Esmeralda had gone to the Club Kingdom? She’d beenseriousabout rescuing the wolf? No. That was impossible. The witch was too smart to do something so rash. How did she even get through the force field around the Heart Palace? She wouldn’t go off into Wonderland alone. No. She knew the Queen of Clubs was plotting her death.
“No.” He heard himself say out loud.
“Yes. She texted Scarlett about it. Said we’re supposed to save you and then come back for her later.” Galahad gave an earnest nod. “Scarlett was a little put out about the idea. I’ve been instructed to threaten you, about how she’s not going to let you keep Esmeralda, if you can’t be a more supportive True Love.” He leaned closer to Trevelyan. “Letty’s not your biggest fan. You’rereallygoing to have to work at being a great brother-in-law, if you want to gain her approval.”
Trevelyan stared at him.
“Did I mention the letter?” Galahad prompted guilelessly.
Trevelyan went stalking over to grab it. Esmeralda had written his name on the front, in her large feminine script. He suddenly recalled telling her multiple times that he’d leave a note if he ever ran out on her. His teeth ground together so tightly it was a wonder they didn’t shatter.
Galahad kept talking, without a care in the world. “Trys and I would like to help Esmeralda free the wolf, but we’re trapped in the castle, too.” He adopted a thoughtful look. “I guess it’s because we weren’t in Wonderland when the spell was cast, so it views us as interlopers. Hey!” He looked at the gryphon, bubbling with ideas. “When do you think you actuallybecome a legit ‘citizen’ of somewhere, anyhow? Like does it take a certain amount of time? Or is it some events have to take place to emotionally link you to the spot? Or do you have to take some affirmative step to distance yourself from your former home…?”
The gryphon cut off the merry avalanche of words. “Knight?”
“Yeah?”
“Stop.”
