Page 105 of Ashborne Forged

I unharnessed Kham, and rolled the harness up to toss it into the crotch of the tree where it would pass casual inspection among the branches and leaves.

I quickly changed out of my leathers and into the formal suit I’d worn to the wedding. It was wrinkled, but that would be attributed to the travel.

I folded my leathers, and the spares I’d brought for Grace, and tucked them under the harness in the tree.

I spent long minutes checking every weapon secreted on my body, debating the merits of hiding one of them out here, just in case. But in the end, I felt safer taking them.

Then it was done. My bags were over my shoulder.

I stood in the dark in the woods next to Ashford, and a chill skated down my spine.

I have to get out of here.

No.

I had to be here. And I had to be everything I never wanted to be. And everything that was wrong. Because I needed their help.

The nausea surged into my throat and I swallowed it.

‘Kham.’

‘I’m here. I won’t leave.’

‘You have to.’

He snorted and wheeled to face me, keeping his wings flush against his body so he wouldn’t run into the trees. ‘What? Why?’ He dropped his head and nudged me with his nose, blowing vapor over me that somehow eased the fear a little bit.

‘They can’t know about you.’

‘I beg to differ. With me at your back, they won’t dare—’

‘With you at my back, they’ll step carefully, and hide the truth. I’ll end up with a knife at my throat and nothing to show for it. They have to see me as weak. They have to believe I need them.’

It wouldn’t be a lie. I was weak. Had never felt weaker, in fact.

He rumbled his disapproval, but sighed. ‘I will hide,’ he conceded, ‘Though I’ll remain in range to speak. And each night at high moon, I’ll come here, to this tree, and I’ll wait until the hour before dawn. If you need me, come.’

I nodded, and hugged his nose. ‘I will.’

Neither of us moved. Him, because he waited for me. And me because I knew, the moment I stepped away, this nightmare began.

But then I imagined Grace, helpless in Breckon’s grip, and I shuddered.

Worth it.

Swallowing back another wave of sickness, I stroked Kham’s snout one final time, then scratched behind his eye-ridge with trembling fingers.

‘Don’t leave,’ I sent.

‘I won’t.’

I was grateful he didn’t tease as I took a deep breath, and turned away, fixed my eyes on the manor house between the trees, and walked straight to the wide, grand steps that led from the round, pebbled driveway, to the front door.

It seemed impossible. Unreal. A dream. All at once, completely alien, and so familiar. It was only moments before the gravel crunched under my footsteps, and then I placed one boot on the first, deep stair.

It felt like only a blink passed before I stood at the door.

Lifting my hand to grasp the heavy, brass knocker that fell from the mouth of a horrific gargoyle, I hesitated before I touched it.