She blinked rapidly and Griffin suspected her eyes were flooding with tears, but she turned away before he could verify his hunch. And, gods, but he felt like a heel because she was right; he was leaving, and someone else would be assigned to Penelope, and there was a strong chance they would not see each other again.
He was new to Oliver’s brethren, the most prestigious of all gargoyles in the world. He had a lot to prove, and sneaking around trying to maintain a relationship he knew he wasn’t supposed to have in the first place was not exactly the best way to impress his new boss.
Yeah, Argyle was apparently doing it, or had at some point, but Argyle had been with Oliver for a thousand years. He could be forgiven a few transgressions here and there. Griffin had a long way to go before he could make those sorts of choices, and Sofia would have, no doubt, moved on with her life by then.
“I…” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I should not have… We should not have…”
“Story of my damn life,” she muttered, the bitterness as palpable as a living thing. “Just go.”
He didn’t want to. He wanted to stay, to wrap his arms around her and reassure her that he’d never leave her side. But, ultimately, Sofia and Penelope’s safety came first.
He had to talk to Oliver. He had to make sure they were both protected.
He walked toward the nearest French doors, his sneakers making almost no sound on the hardwood floor. And then he grasped the handle. And paused. Heard her shuddering breath.
Willed himself not to turn around. If she was openly crying, there was no way he’d be able to leave her.
But he had to. For her own sake. For Penelope’s sake.
He put pressure on the brass-plated handle, and the air made a sort of gasping noise as the door freed from its frame. He stepped out onto the porch and gently pulled the door shut behind him.
With a burst of speed born of frustration, he pushed off with his left foot and summoned the magic at the same time.
Sparks chased down his spine as his skin transformed from human flesh to pliable leather that helped wick away moisture when he was flying through clouds or rain. His tailbone elongated, his arms and legs shortened, and wings sprouted from his back. He didn’t even touch the ground as he silently commanded his wings to flap, to catch the wind, to lift him higher and higher, until he was so far up, he could not make out whether Sofia had run out onto the porch to watch him leave.
But he knew. He didn’t need to see, because he could feel it.
Chapter Twelve
Okay, yes, Sofia had known that Griffin would leave again, which meant she should not have slept with him. Again.
But she had, and now she had to pay the consequences.
The damage to her heart. And, apparently, to her dragon, who was currently sulking in a remote corner of her mind and refusing to speak to her. Which she ought to appreciate since the beast tended to do so at inopportune times, but honestly, she could use someone to chat with right about now.
Although what would she say? If she told her tale to anyone, they’d think she was a fool, and they’d be right. Sleeping with Griffin the first time could be forgiven. She had no idea that he’d slip away without saying goodbye, that he’d leave a three-month-old infant behind for her to raise. This time, however, she’d been fully aware of what she was getting into, and she’d made the choice anyway.
Best not to share her story with anyone. Keep it locked inside, as she had most things, for her entire life.
She sniffled and swiped at wetness on her cheek. Guess her tear ducts hadn’t gotten the memo.
A noise that sounded like someone heading down the stairs caused her to quickly wipe away any trace of sadness and turn around with a fake, bright smile plastered onto her lips. Antoinette and then Ketu came into view, and Antoinette studied her face, concern etched on her own, and Sofia wished not for the first time that the woman she’d once considered a friend had not become reeve. If she were still a bartender at Mitch’s, Sofia might have been willing to open up to her, to tell her the truth, or at least as much as she could.
But now she couldn’t. With Trennon living here and Antoinette actively trying to track Darius, there was far too much at risk. Like Sofia’s own life.
And her mother’s.
At least she didn’t need to worry about Darius doing anything to Penelope. When he’d shown up at the playground, she’d deliberately avoided summoning Penelope until she was certain he was gone. Yes, if he had been watching her, he knew Penelope was in her life, but hopefully he didn’t realize what the child meant to her. Or what the child was.
She doubted Darius knew much of anything at all about Daughters of Light, but he could find out easily enough by simply asking around. The first witch he came across would fill him in. And then he’d know just how valuable Penelope was, and he’d most certainly use that to his advantage.
Griffin’s replacement couldn’t get here fast enough.
She wasn’t necessarily worried that Darius would show up here, literally, in this house.
