Part 40 (1/2)
”It appears so,” Levet said in bored tones. He clearly hadn't developed a warm and fuzzy relations.h.i.+p with the prince. ”He claims she was a victim of her family. I believe she also helped to rescue his people.”
Rya chuckled. She truly liked Finn, but she couldn't deny that she relished the thought of him having to fight for his female.
It would make him appreciate her.
”I hope she makes him happy,” she said with complete sincerity.
”She no doubt will.” Levet tilted his head to the side, as if considering the prince's future with his Sylvermyst. ”So long as she does not kill him in his sleep.”
Rya made a choked sound of shock. ”Levet.”
”She is a dark fey,” he said with a faux innocence. ”It is what they do.”
Rya rolled her eyes. Finn's future wasn't her concern. Instead, she turned her attention to more important matters.
”Did mother help Blayze yet?”
Levet surprisingly shook his head. ”Non.”
Rya stiffened, concern clenching her heart. ”Is something wrong?”
Levet widened his gray eyes. ”You were missing.”
”I don't understand.”
”Obviously, your mother has devoted her energy to locating you. She has not had the time or strength to concern herself with the dragon.”
”Oh.” Rya bit her lip.
”It took us a great deal of power to discover that you had managed to escape that nasty mist,” Levet explained.
”Yes. That was...” She grimaced, the memory of how close they'd come to being squished by the hideous fog still capable of sending chills through her body. ”Terrifying.”
”And even more power to track you to this lair,” he continued.
”I tried to reach out, but the area is protected by runes.”
”Very potent ones.” The gargoyle glanced toward the tunnel outside the open door. ”I'm impressed.”
Rya wasn't. She might logically comprehend the need to protect their lair, but it was aggravating that she was trapped in this cell.
”Where is Mother now?” she demanded, needing a distraction.
Levet gave an airy wave of his hand. ”She collapsed after opening this portal.”
Rya gasped. ”Oh no,” she breathed. ”You said she was fine.”
He continued to look remarkably unconcerned. Although it was hard to tell with his lumpy little features.
”It was just exhaustion,” he said in soothing tones. ”I promise she will soon recover, but she did not have the strength to come and find you.” He puffed out his chest as he spread his wings. ”So, of course, I volunteered. I am, after all, the official KISA.”
Rea.s.sured, Rya allowed her lips to twitch with rueful humor. She'd never met an official Knight In s.h.i.+ning Armor before, but she was fairly certain this one was the most unique.
”Thank you,” she murmured.
”It is what I do.” Suitably pleased by Rya's grat.i.tude, the gargoyle waved a hand toward the opening of the portal. ”We should go. Your mother is waiting.”
Rya gave a sharp shake of her head. ”I can't leave without Torque.”
”Why not?”
She rolled her eyes. ”Because he's my betrothed.”
”If he is your betrothed then should he not be here to protect you?”
”He's visiting with his mother.”
Levet blinked in surprise. ”He has a mother?”
”Everyone has a mother,” she said, ignoring the fact that there were a few demons, including vampires, that didn't have mothers in the traditional sense.
Levet gave a flick of his tail. ”I a.s.sumed he crawled from beneath a rock.”
Rya sent her companion a chiding frown. ”Be nice.”
”I do not know why I should.” Levet deliberately glanced around the empty s.p.a.ce. ”He has left you trapped in a cell while he is enjoying his resurrection.”
She was briefly confused. Resurrection?
Then she realized what he meant.
”Reunion,” she corrected before giving a small shake of her head. ”Never mind. I can't leave the cell because of the runes.”
Levet's lips parted, but before he could speak he was tilting back his head to sniff the air.
”Fire imps,” he murmured.
”Yes.”
He waddled toward the door, still sniffing the air. ”I have never met one before,” he muttered, his wings fluttering. ”Oh la, la.”
Rya frowned in confusion. ”What is it?”
Levet moved to one side, and the reason for his sudden distraction strolled into the room carrying a tray.
The young female had dark hair that was pulled into a knot on top of her head. Her face was thin, with pale, delicate features, and she had eyes that were nearly as blue as Torque's.
A pretty young creature who had clearly bedazzled the gargoyle.
”I have brought your dinner.” Her gaze shyly moved toward Levet. ”I did not know that you had company or I would have brought another plate of food.”