My pulse quickened at the idea. But then I remembered my resolve to put some distance between us. “I think I’ll eat my muffin and then I’ll go take Hugo and Woolf for a walk.”
“Just as long as you don’t do anything to tire yourself too much.” He stood, and I felt his presence towering over me before he turned to walk away. “I’ll see you later.”
“See you, and thanks again for the muffin,” I called after him.
“Anytime.”
I didn’t talk to Nikolas again that day, a feat I accomplished by eating lunch with Sahir in his office and then by grabbing a sandwich to take to my room for dinner.
The next morning, as luck would have it, Nikolas was called away on Mohiri business. I was actually glad to train with Callum again, something that surprised both of us. I surprised my old trainer by demonstrating my new ability to use my Mori’s strength to pick up heavy objects. It was the first time I’d ever received a nod of approval from him. We worked on my reflexes after that, and though I managed to avoid being pummeled only once, he admitted I was finally making progress.
It wasn’t until that evening at dinner that I saw Nikolas again and only in passing. He entered the dining hall as I was leaving, and I was immensely relieved that none of the crazy feelings resurfaced. I couldn’t imagine how awkward it would have been living under the same roof with someone, having to see them every day while harboring unrequited feelings for them. We were both immortal and forever is a long time to try to avoid someone. But now things could go back to normal – as normal as my life could be.
I was in the common room after dinner watching an awful sci-fi movie with Michael when a flustered-looking Sahir found me. “Sara, there you are. Can you come with me? I need your help.”
“Sure. What’s up?” I got up from the couch and joined him by the door.
“We got a new creature in today and it is . . . ” He exited by the main door. “Come on, it’s easier if I just show you.”
A new creature? Bursting with curiosity, I hurried to catch up with him. “What kind of creature, and what to you expect me to do with it?”
“She’s a griffin, and she is – ”
“Whoa!” My feet skidded to a stop on the grass. “A . . . a griffin?”
Sahir stopped a few feet ahead and looked soberly at me. “A young griffin. From what I can tell she is little more than a child.”
My mouth refused to close so I slapped a hand over it. “Oh my God.” If there was one race more elusive and protective of their children than trolls, it was griffins, and they were just as vicious when one of their young was threatened. Not that I’d ever seen a real live griffin or had dreamed of doing so. Griffins are not native to North America; they live in the most remote mountains of southern Africa. Capturing one, especially a young one, was almost unheard of.
“Some of our people raided a warlock in Los Angeles who was raising demons, and they found her locked up in a cage. Griffins have powerful blood, and we believe he was using hers to create a protective spell against the demons.” Sahir shook his head in disgust and started walking again. “He refused to say how he got his hands on her, so we have to try to track down her flock. It won’t be easy; griffins don’t like to deal with outsiders.”
“What can I do?”
“She flew up to the rafters before we could shut her cage door, and she’s been throwing herself at the windows. You obviously have a way with Hugo and Woolf, and I’m hoping you can help calm her before she hurts herself.”
We were almost at the menagerie when the door to the arena opened and Nikolas and Chris stepped outside. Judging by the swords they carried, they had just finished sparring.
“Where’s the fire?” Chris asked.
“The young griffin we got in today is in distress, and Sara is going to help me with her,” Sahir told them.
Chris gave me a lopsided smile. “Griffin wrangling? Another one of your talents, cousin?”
Nikolas strode toward us. “Griffins can be very dangerous when they are cornered. Sara is not going in there unprotected.”
Ah, now there’s the old Nikolas I know and – I let the thought die a quick death. “She’s just a child, Nikolas.”
He stepped in front of me. “That child could easily rip a grizzly bear apart with her claws.”
“So could the troll you thought was going to kill me,” I said, reminding him of the night he met Remy.
Sahir stared at us. “Troll?”
“I’ll tell you about him later. Let’s take care of your griffin first.” Excitement curled in my stomach. I was about to meet a real live griffin.