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The wide doubledoors flew open, crashing into the wall with a bang that had Surah reaching for a phantom blade. A reaction she hadn’t had for years, a life and lab away from her training days. A male strode in, loamy dark wings flaring to full mast, nostrils flaring when he saw Surah. Iron grey hair was braided tightly away from his face; he wore all black in a style Surah felt she shouldrecognize.
“Father?” Sililu's voice wasedged.
Oh.
Prince Ludargo Cernea ignored his daughter, fixing eyes on Surah. “Your brothers are fighting, Lady Surah.” He glanced at his daughter, glare cutting. “I would suggest you be moved tointervene.”
“Fuck.” The expletive slipped out as Surah kicked herself intogear.
“No, you stay here,” Ludargo said, slashing an arm towards his daughter as Sililu followed after her. Surah grabbed her upper arm, pulling heralong.
“My handmaid will remain with me,” Surah snapped, the words tumbling out almost before she realized she said them. She felt the sudden tension in the tightening of her muscles, struggled to push aside her own shock as well at her impulsiveness. But she wouldn’t leave an ant at the mercy of this man–he had eyes like a snake. Ludargo froze for a splitsecond.
“So,” he said softly, staring at his daughter. “That was yourgame.”
“There are no times for games; follow ornot.”
Ludargo turned on his heels as Surah passed him, ignoring the guards who flanked them silently. They strode through the halls of the compound, Surah not quite ready to forgo all dignity and run. Now, more than ever, it was vital she present a front of strength andcunning.
It sounded like Geza was having a particularly rowdy party. Surah knew better, especially as she recognized the roar of her lover from behind the closed doors. A double row of guards stood between Surah and herbrother.
She paused before they were within ear reach, turning slightly to meet Ludargo's eyes. “Whose side are youon?”
“My own,” came the pointed reply. “I will not act against you–or my daughter. But I will not act for you, if you proveweak.”
Surah nodded; fair enough. One of these days, she would have to figure out exactly what was in it for Ludargo to be here, treating with the Ioveanu’s for an alliance. The guards eyed her stoically as she approached with the air of a woman who intended on walking right through them, allowing ice to creep into her eyes, and the promise of retribution if she was thwarted. To her surprise, they parted–albeit at the last possible moment. It saved Surah from looking like a fool, running smack into the rock hard chests of males who trained in battle on a daily basis. She vowed she would take back up the skills she'd thought to leavebehind.
They also allowed Sililu and her father in. Surah filed the cooperation away to analyze at a later time. It could be they belonged to Kausar–it could be they were uneasy with the discord betweenPrinces.
She stopped inside the doors, waiting until they closed behind her and Sililu was at her side. Inhaling, she roared. The two males faltered, recognizing her voice. Half-human though she was, wingless and weaker than the average gargoyle, the one trait she did carry was herroar.
Malin's wings faltered. The Princes' were in the air—no blades drawn, it hadn't deteriorated that far—and Surah's fury erupted. The amount of energy the eldest gargoyle would have to expend to remain in gargoyle form and in theair….
“Are you twomorons?”
Geza snarled, turning in midair and streaking towards Surah. Malin darted after, snagging his ankle and flinging him backwards with a massive surge of strength, face twisting. He dropped an entire foot in the air from thestrain.
“This won't work,” Sililu said and launchedupwards.
She flew towards the pair with a grace and precision that spoke of flight training–unusual for a woman, coming between the two with a deftness that impressed Surah. She managed not to get caught in the crossfire of fists and battling wings. The males surged apart, momentarily startled by the appearance of the female. Neither would risk harming her. She hovered in the air between them with strong sweeps of her wings, a dark purple flush of anger on hercheeks.
“You are fools allowing yourselves to be manipulated,” she snapped. “You have a common enemy–do you think Lavinia Mogren is doing anything but laughing at you rightnow?”
Surah folded her arms, relaxing. She couldn't have dealt with this betterherself.
“Go back to your quarters,” Gezayelled.
“No.” She turned her back on him, looking at Malin. “Lord Malin, Iam—”
“I know who you are,” he rumbled. They landed, perhaps a mutual decision, Sililu angling her body, so Geza would have to go through her to get to his brother. Surah watched Malin, his rigidly controlled posture which suggested–to someone familiar with the Prince–that he was exhausted. When Malin stumbled over his own feet, swiftly correcting himself, Surah gritted her teeth. Thefool.
“And did you know that your mate has accepted me as herhandmaiden?”
Well, hell. Surah's arms dropped to her sides and she strode forward. Malin's head swung towards her, eyes glowing. “What thefuck?”
Surah had heard Malin swear before, just not lately. Unexpectedly, a tenor laugh rang out in the hallway, bouncing off the walls as Geza landed gracefully. He swiped the back of his hand along his mouth, blotting a thin stream of blood. Malin watched Surah, ignoring a similar cut along hisbrow.
