Chapter 211

GREDEL WALKED WITH A HAND on Phroma's neck, mind far away while he imagined the estate and what Citaan and Rirae might be doing. His daughter's tiny face and the delighted smile she made when he bent over the carved wooden cradle beside their bed, brought a smile to his face. The crazy curled mop of turquoise hair, the same shade as Citaan's and those beautiful big gold eyes creasing with laughter when he teased her, pretending to bite a tiny slipper covered foot.

A loud shout pulled him out, and he spun to look back, sword in hand.

'It's Cat!' Phroma thought in alarm.

The blaze of light was so bright he couldn't make Cat out at the centre, then his stomach dropped when he spotted the focus of her fury. Gredel bolted, shoving through the gathering soldiers.

'Catherine! CAT, STOP!'

It took only moments to reach Loushka. The griffon bent her knee just as he jumped, seizing the edge of the griffon's shoulder armour, and swung up to crouch in front of Cat. 'Cat, stop it!'