I really believe we can. He watched her expression closely.

Her hands were shaking. She pressed them together. But if we attack him, we’re putting Ferion’s life on the line.

I didn’t say it would be easy or without risk, and we couldn’t attempt anything without some serious planning. The one thing I know for sure is we can’t let Ferion rule the Elven demesne while Malphas controls him. We have to free him, and free ourselves.

Slowly he bent and angled his head. She froze, waiting to see what he would do next.

He put his lips on her cheek. They were warm against her chilled skin. The sensation caused her trembling to increase.

In the barest thread of sound, hardly more than his lips moving against her skin, he whispered, “Come to New York. We can figure out what we need to do then.”

ELEVEN

I

nstead of lifting his head afterward, he kept his lips pressed against her cheek, resting against her, breathing her in.

The sensation ran along her nerves, causing the private place between her legs to throb.

Heated images ran through her mind.

The way his gentle fingers had probed at her sensitive flesh, discovering exactly the right way to give her the most pleasure, the urgent need with which he had suckled at her breasts.

The way his powerful body had moved to cover hers as together they positioned his cock at her entrance, and he had pressed inside her. Even though it had been years, it felt as powerful as if it had happened yesterday.

It grew harder to stand on her own. She needed to pull away from him, to let the cold fresh breeze clear her mind, but she was so hungry for his touch, she found herself leaning into him instead. She gripped the edges of his jean jacket for support, while she tried to think.

She whispered, “I told everyone I wouldn’t go to the masque this year.”

“Say you changed your mind,” he murmured. He touched the delicate skin at her throat, stroking his fingers along her skin. “Say you need a break. That’s valid, Bel, especially since you’ve worked just as hard, if not harder, than anybody else to get your demesne back on its feet. And think about it – there’s no better time for you to come to New York without rousing suspicion. The masque is next week. Is Ferion attending?”

She shook her head. “No, he said he would stay home as well.”

“If you came right away, that would give us several days to figure out a plan of action. We can talk everything over, free from his scrutiny.”

Indecision gripped her. She held herself tense, trying to see her way clear to the best decision.

She felt as if she were surrounded by a wall of thorn bushes, and everywhere she turned, wicked, needlelike thorns were ready to tear into her flesh. Her mind spun in circles, looking for a way out of the trap.

If she did nothing, Ferion might very well remain under Malphas’s control, which would be disastrous for both him and the Elven demesne.

Things couldn’t continue the way they were, but moving forward felt full of danger and uncertainty. Graydon was talking about going to war against one of the most dangerous creatures on earth, a first-generation Djinn.

Yet if she went to New York, Graydon would be there.

Opening her eyes, she looked up at him. The expression in his shadowed gaze made all her uncertainty vanish.

She said, “I’ll come.”

His body tightened. “When?”

She lifted her shoulders in an uncertain shrug. “As soon as I possibly can. The flight itself is a short one. Perhaps by tomorrow night? It will look too strange if I try to come by myself, so I’ll have to bring at least one guard. I can say that since I’m the only one going, with probably Linwe, there won’t be any need to send staff to open up the Elven residence in the city.”

That strategy would also prevent Ferion from keeping watch on her through house attendants. She hated that she had thought of that, or that it was a realistic danger.

Her plan solidified in her mind. She told him, “I’ll stay at a hotel, if I can get a room or a suite at this late date.”

“I’ll make sure you get a suite,” he promised. “New York gets so crowded around the time of the masque, we always keep a few suites in reserve at some of the best hotels, to cover unexpected contingencies. I can send you an email with the reservation.”

That made things significantly easier. “And I’ll contact you once I arrive.”

He took a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll expect to hear from you by tomorrow night.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t want to say good-bye,” he muttered. “As stupid as it sounds, I feel superstitious about letting you out of my sight right now.”

“I know what you mean. I feel the same way.” She threw her arms around his neck.

He hugged her tight. Bel, he said telepathically. I want you to know, I would be doing this for Ferion’s sake, regardless of anything else.

For some reason, that brought tears to her eyes. He really was such a good man. Stroking his hair, she told him, I believe you.

A lot has changed over the last two hundred years. When we find our way free of this, all I want is the chance for you and me to figure out what we might mean to each other. His arms tightened. Okay?

I would really love that, Graydon, she told him wistfully.

With obvious reluctance, he released her. Until tomorrow night.

She rested her hand on his chest and promised, See you soon.

Watching her, he backed up a few steps. Then he turned, shapeshifted into the gryphon and leaped into the air. He was only visible for a few moments, then his form rippled and faded from sight as his cloaking spell took hold.

Gods. To see the gryphon again, after all these years. He was glorious. Watching him soar like that, with such power and grace… She felt unbelievably heavy, like a lump of clay forever trapped on earth, and she longed to ride in the air with him again.