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As if on cue, Vi and Blu climbed up the chair and planted themselves on Eldon, plunking their bodies down before rolling over and curling up like it was nap time.

Eldon’s wide eyes shone with either surprise or disbelief. Probably a mix of both.

My own lips twitched with humor. A gryphon taken down by a house dweller and two tiny wyvern young. It was an image I’d take with me to my grave.

“Gryphon visitors have landed on the lawn,” Elvira announced, her ghostly body manifesting near the fireplace.

“Thank you, Elvira.” I turned to Lazarus and said, “I’ll be right back,” before hurrying off to change. My clothing wasn’t military-grade, but it was its own type of armor. Looking respectable was the first step in gaining that respect. I’m sure not everyone felt that way. For me, clothing was a psychological boost, and I wasn’t fool enough to believe I didn’t need all the help I could get.

I stared, not trusting my eyes. How many years had it been since I’d seen my cousin? No, not years. Centuries. And yet time meant nothing when I stared at the girl—now a full-grown female gryphon—that I’d played with as a child.

Lulabelle. She was magnificently beautiful. Lulabelle’s wings were always more golden than mine. My youthful jealousy had sometimes felt overwhelming. Staring at her feathers, still gorgeous despite the overcast sky, I found that familiar green spark flare within. Only now, as an adult, that jealousy was overridden by the sheer appreciation that comes from beholding something beautiful.

The fur covering Lulabelle’s torso was no less impressive. A lighter shade of gold, my cousin’s feathers and fur lived in mutual harmony, each accentuating the other. That beauty was tempered by Lulabelle’s powerful wicked-looking eagle beak, her front talons and rear claws. The three gryphons flanking her were unknown to me and paled in comparison to my cousin.

Lulabelle’s eyes had always reminded me of the rising sun—a pale, golden yellow holding the promise of a new day. Those eyes were sharper now and held a hint of wariness I wished didn’t belong. Lulabelle’s sharp eyes assessed me from the other side of the barrier. As far as I knew, she hadn’t attempted to come any closer.

Lazarus was at my side, just as I knew he would be. There was no question regarding his position in my life, at least as far as I was concerned. Despite not being able to see her, I knew Elvira was close by. She would be Tabitha’s eyes and ears, and Tabby could then communicate to the rest of the council members.

Hands clasped behind my back, I kept my body at ease as I welcomed our guests. “Lulabelle, it’s been a long time.”

Clicking her beak, Lulabelle appeared to huff before she transformed into her humanoid form. Smoothing down her silk, lavender blouse, Lulabelle tossed her golden hair over her shoulder. The myriad of browns and golds in my hair were much starker than Lulabelle’s lighter shades. “Nearly three centuries, and that’s all you have to say?” Lulabelle tapped her foot on the grass, hands resting on her hips. “But I suppose it’s accurate enough. Hello, cousin.”

One of the massive gryphons beside her moved closer, snapping its beak and digging their talons into the ground. Holding out a hand, Lulabelle calmly said, “That’s enough, Xavier. We are here to talk only. That is my grandmother’s wish. It is what she and Jaakobah agreed to.”

Lulabelle’s eyes narrowed as her gaze flicked from me to Lazarus. Even as a child, Lulabelle’s thoughts had been difficult to read. She was a master of controlled expression.

“Grandmother sent you?” My late mother and Lulabelle’s mother were sisters. I left out the part about Jaakobah.

Lulabelle nodded, her typically masked expression grim. “She did.” Inhaling, Lulabelle’s eyes fluttered closed before opening again, a stony tightness to her features, any previous hint of warmth long gone. “You are accused of harboring a murderer, Keir Montenegro. Is this true?”

Lazarus’s fingers landed on my shoulder, tightening with quiet support. “It is not,” I answered.

“Then your younger brother, Eldon, is not somewhere deep within the compound you call home?”

I could lie and say he wasn’t. I considered it, considered all my previous reasons for wanting to keep Eldon’s presence a secret. Those reasons seemed remote now. Not that they’d been unreasonable, only that now the situation had changed and my response needed to change with them.

Inhaling deeply, I threw my shoulders back, pressing out my chest and answered, “Eldon is here.”

A subtle eye twitch was all the response Lulabelle gave. The gryphon closest to her stomped their feet and spread their wings as if getting ready to lunge for me. Again, Lulabelle held up a halting hand, settling Xavier.

“But you just said⁠—”

“I said I wasn’t housing a murderer, and I am not. Eldon did not kill your aunt and my mother.”

“Lies.” The word started on a growl and ended in more humanoid speech. Evidently tired of being a silent sentinel, Xavier transformed into his humanoid self. Taking a step toward me, he shook his fist in my direction. Spittle flew from his mouth as he accused, “Either Eldon lies or you do. Either way makes no difference to me. Even your father Hunapo accuses Eldon of the crime.”

I ground my teeth and answered, “My father is unwell.”

Xavier reared back as if I’d slapped him. “You have lost your honor as well as your mind, Keir of the Montenegro flight.” Turning toward Lulabelle, Xavier wrapped his fingers around her wrist, tugging her. “It is just as Jaakobah said. Keir tries to twist our thinking by confounding the facts.”

Facts. The word held a sour ring. “And were you witness to these facts?” I questioned.

Xavier’s cheeks heated. “I have the word of two respected gryphon leaders.” Sharp gaze focusing in on Lazarus, Xavier’s tone turned bitter. “I do not have deviants whispering in my ear, spouting false truths.”

I couldn’t help my sharp intake of breath. “You don’t even know Lazarus. You⁠—”

“I don’t need to know him. He is not gryphon and therefore does not have the best interest of our species at heart.” Xavier spoke with the surety of one who is positive they are correct with absolutely no room for doubt. Such blind faith, ignorance, and passion were a toxic combination that would only lead our species to ruin.