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“Fine, you overgrown buzzard,” she growled. “We’ll just sit here and take up space.”
With that, she plopped down onto the ground. Thorne blinked at her, his head tilting in that avian way birds do. Then his wings rustled, and he began pecking at the ground and digging at the dirt with his talon.
Godsdamn dick of a beast.
And that was how the High Witch found her.
“Why are you sitting in the dirt?”
Talwyn looked up, startled out of her thoughts. She hadn’t heard the Witch approach, and the griffin certainly hadn’t given her any type of warning. No, he had moved off the path as far as his lead would let him, now digging for whatever the hell he was looking for.
She quickly pushed to her feet, dusting off the back of her pants. Hazel stared back at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.
“We were going for a walk together. To bond,” Talwyn gritted out, yanking on the lead. Thorne didn’t even look at her. When she turned back to Hazel, she could have sworn there was the briefest glimmer of amusement on her face, but if there had been, it was fleeting.
The High Witch walked over to the griffin, Thorne raising his head at her approach. His wings shifted, feathers flaring slightly, but when Hazel lifted a hand, he bowed his head and allowed her to run a hand along his broad neck.
Dirty godsdamn traitor.
“Do you know why the griffins were banished to our kingdoms?” Hazel asked, continuing to stroke Thorne’s neck.
“The Witches were the only beings who could control them,” Talwyn replied.
“And do you think that is what we do? Control them?” Hazel countered.
Talwyn blinked at her, knowing this was some kind of trick question. “Is that not what you do with any animal?”
“Did you once control your wolves?”
“They were not mine to control.”
The High Witch arched a brow. “No?”
She pursed her lips, fists clenching at her sides.
Hazel’s attention returned to the griffin. “Most griffins select their riders when they are fledglings.”
“What?” Talwyn demanded. “If most Witchesraisetheir griffins, how am I supposed to bond with a full-grown one?”
“Thorne was once bonded with another.”
“What happened to his rider?”
“She was killed by Alaric, but she left Thorne long before that.” When Talwyn stared at her in confusion, she added, “Thorne was Eliné’s griffin.”
Talwyn opened her mouth, then closed it. She tried to speak again, but nothing. Hazel continued stroking the griffin’s neck.
“After your mother’s death, Eliné did not visit nearly as often. The responsibilities of running four Courts and caring for you took all her time, as they should have. The last time she visited was when Scarlett was born here. She said goodbye to Thorne, and he has not let anyone ride him since.” Hazel’s violet gaze connected with Talwyn’s. “Until you.”
Talwyn still didn’t know what to say. She’d always known her aunt was close with the Witches, but close enough to have a bond with a griffin? She hadn’t known that Eliné had once visited the Witch Kingdoms so often that she’d flown in the skies with them.
“We cannot force a bond. Griffins value control as much as a Witch does,” Hazel continued.
“He did not exactly choose me,” Talwyn grumbled, crossing her arms.
“Of course he did. I just told you he has not let another ride him since Eliné left him behind.”
“So, what am I supposed to do?”
