She didn’t even feel it. She ran, slogging through the thickness of it, her heart in her throat as she realized she was leaving a perfect trail for them to follow. She wasn’t going to make it. Even though Panahasi was dead, someone would raise an alarm, alert Apep, and surely then she would die. And she had no doubt in her mind that it would be slow and agonizing.

And that was when something slammed into her body from behind driving her down into the deep snow. She screamed, tears rising frantically in her eyes, her breath thundering out of her as she clawed at the snow and tried to escape with every fiber of her being.

“Kat! Doona be afraid. I’ve got you!”

And in the next instant she was airborne, snow falling away from her body as the arms he had wrapped around her chest pulled her in tight. She could feel the wash of air from the powerful pumping of his wings. She should have been terrified. She was flying in the air at breakneck speed with nothing but a pair of hands to hold her safely.

But they were his hands. His. Her Gargoyle. And she had never felt safer in all of her life.

That was when she was aware of a second person in flight beside them. Kamen.

“You came together?” she asked, her teeth chattering from her wet, cold state.

“Aye. We were just trying to figure out a way to find you. Then suddenly there you were. Hang on.” He dipped and reeled, drawing them down low, into the trees.

Okay, now she began to worry. Limbs and branches were everywhere, sometimes just a hairsbreadth from striking her. He flew so swiftly she had no idea how he was able to anticipate them. She suspected he didn’t exactly have a flight plan, either.

“Oh my god! Go up! You need to go higher!”

“No, I canna. There’s no one chasing us yet, but that doesna mean Panahasi willna send more of his minions after us. Flying low keeps us out of easy sight.”

“Panahasi is dead! I-I killed him. And the ones who know I was there, I don’t think they even knew why. Except that he wanted the Amulet.”

He seemed to absorb the news of Panahasi’s death quite well. He slowed, bringing them back down to the snow. Kamen followed until all three of them had settled into the cold, icy fine softness of it.

Ahnvil turned her to him, quickly inspecting her. Finding she didn’t have a scratch on her, he seemed to exhale in relief. Then his eyes fell on the diamond and ruby bracelet she wore.

“Now, doona tell me he was giving you gifts. Was he trying tae kill you or woo you?”

“I found the bracelet myself on his workbench. I honestly don’t think he knew what it was or he wouldn’t have left it out in the open like that I’m sure. Then again he is something of a moron. Or rather, was.”

“Time for tales of conquests are for later,” Kamen said. “Right now, we need to leave this place behind.” He reached out to put his hand on Ahnvil’s shoulder and his other hand on Kat’s arm. He closed his eyes and in an instant they were streaking.

By the time they came to a halt both she and Ahnvil were so nauseated and dizzy they had to cling to one another to keep upright. After a moment, Kat lost one peanut butter sandwich … or rather what was left of it. Which was not very much so she was heaving hard without much production. She felt Ahnvil’s stone hands in her hair, holding it back, slowly turning to flesh as he patiently stroked her neck and back.

“There now. Easy now, Kat lass,” he soothed her softly until she finally was able to see straight.

“God, I am never doing that again,” she vowed.

“Which part?” Ahnvil asked with a gentle smile. “Kick arse and rescue yourself or the streak?”

She laughed shakily. “I’ll never put myself in the position to have to do the first again, and I’ll never do that second thing, period.”

“I doona blame you. Come, lass, let’s get you inside where it’s safe and warm you up.”

His kindness and his caring knew no bounds. He did not yell at her for her stupidity as he helped her undress and get into the tub, brush her teeth, and do all the little things that would make her feel more human and at rest. He did not question her about the bracelet or how she had managed to escape as he dressed her in a clean T-shirt. He did not remind her of her close call and the fact that she had just murdered a man as he drew her onto the bed, holding her up tight and close under his arm.

He waited until she was fully quieted, until she was feeling safe and completely under his protection, before he began.

“Tell me everything,” he said softly. “If you’re ready.”

“I am,” she said. She began to describe everything that had happened, and every time he realized how close she had come to danger, his hold on her tightened. Whether it was to control his temper or to give her comfort, she didn’t know. But she suspected it was a combination of the two.

“I have come to realize,” he said after she had fallen quiet, “that Panahasi was acting completely independently of Apep. Thanks to all of the good gods for that. If Apep had gotten a hold of you …” He closed his eyes, suppressing the tremor that threatened to wash through him. She is safe, he kept trying to remind himself. She is protected in your arms.

But it didn’t change the fact that he had failed to protect her in the first place.

“I’m sorry,” he said with heartfelt sincerity. “I was wrong. If not for Kamen’s teachings you might be dead right now.” He reached down to finger the newest bauble on her wrist. “It is because of him that you are safe right now, and that is no’ a debt I will forget.”

“And you’ll let him teach me more? I mean, I will want to know most of the serious Djynn stuff from an actual Djynn like Grey, but Kamen can teach me more of the basics. You’re okay with that?”

“You were right when you said it is not up tae me. You do what you need tae do, Kat. I willna interfere.”

She looked up into his face, sliding around so she was lying on his chest and looking into his eyes. “I understand why you hate him. I don’t want to upset you.”

“I admit, I hate him less at the moment.” He touched her at the corner of her lips, the stroke endearing and warm. “He’s brought something back to me that means far more than the ills of being enslaved.”

Kat felt her throat tightening up and unexpected tears jumped into her eyes once more. She’d been an emotional wreck since this whole adventure had begun, but this was an entirely different feeling.