You put Emily at risk tonight, he accused, because he couldnt think of how to put his feelings into words. He was too afraid of making an idiot of himself. It was better to be harsh than vulnerable.
A deep scowl furrowed between her arched brows. I didnt make her come along. You ever try to talk her out of something once shes made up her mind? Besides, she can take care of herself. You and Sam treat her like a china doll rather than a capable female.
Perhaps he and Sam were guilty of behaving too protectively toward Emily, but it was how they had both been raised to treat womeneven ones as capable as Emily and Finley. He tried to remember that they could fend for themselves quite nicely, and most of the time he succeeded, but his natural tendency was to play the gentleman.
Is that what this was about? he asked in a deceptively calm tone. To prove just how capable you and Em are?
Bright amber eyes narrowed thoughtfully. What are you really angry about? That I entered the fight or that someone other than you came up with a plan that worked? Dalton wants to meet with me.
Her words stung like a slap, and Griffin winced accordingly. Is that what she thought of him? You may have noticed I came up with a similar plan, which you would have known, had you talked to me.
She snorted. Daltond see through you and Sam in a second. Youre too fine. Too good.
Perhaps Im concerned about the fact that you have developed a penchant for unsavory company, he replied, making a dig of his own. Perhaps Im angry because were supposed to work together, and you went behind my back. He should have known she was up to something. She probably did this just to rub his face in it.
She shrugged. You would have tried to stop me. She didnt say a word about the kind of company she preferred, which stuck the thorn in Griff s pride just a little further.
Youre bloody right I would have! He squeezed the mechanical owl so hard the beak cut into his palm. And then you could have persuaded me to your side. You could have made me see that your plan was our best option. He raked a hand through his hair. But you didnt trust me, and you came up with your plan just to spite me, and that is what makes me so damn angry.
Finley stared at him, eyes wide, mouth wide. Griffin
He cut her off. I had to sit therehelplessand watch as you took beating after beating tonight, and I couldnt show any emotion. I couldnt cheer when you won or show my fear when you got hurt. I couldnt do anything.
Bloody hell, he was not used to feeling helpless.
You didnt need to do anything! She threw her hands in the air. The rest of us are capable people, Griffin. Youre not the only one who can take charge of a situation.
She was right, but it was his crew and he felt responsible for them. He set the little brass owlwarm from his hands on the polished top of the dresser. Reno Dalton is not Jack Dandy, Finley. Hell kill you if he suspects youre playing him. Is that a risk youre willing to take?
Finley nodded curtly. If it will help Jasper.
Finley nodded curtly. If it will help Jasper.
All right, then. He kept his opinions tucked inside. If its not too much trouble, I would like to hear the rest of your plan tomorrow morning when were all together. That way, there will be no more surprises, and well all know our parts.
She said something, but Griffin wasnt listening. He was suddenly so exhausted that all he wanted was his bed. There was no point in discussing this further. Finley wanted to help Jasper, and he couldnt fault her for that. He might not like how she went about it, but shed gotten closer to Dalton than he had. If he was jealous of how she looked at Dalton, that was his problem alone. He would either trust her not to get involved with the criminal or he would not. It was entirely possible that Dalton would win her over and she would fully give in to her darker nature.
He met her gaze steadilyunemotionally. I stood by you when you were questioned about Lord Felixs murder. Ive done everything I can to help you, and in return you He stopped and shook his head. This isnt about me. Either you want to be part of this team, or you dont. Thats your decision.
Her eyes narrowed. Youve given me a lot of ultimatums recently, Your Grace.
Not ultimatums, choices. Youre no longer two sides of a whole, Finley. You are one personsingular. That means choosing who you want to bewhere you want to be.
Let me guess, she began bitterly. If I decide to be part of the group, that means I have to tell you everything I do.
Of course not. If you decide to stay, it means you dont run off on your own. It means you have respect for the people who have accepted you as a friend. I saw how you looked at Daltonhow he looked at you. Youre attracted to the danger he offers.
A smirk twisted her lips. Is this the part where you remind me of how dangerous you can be?
She was mocking him. Mocking him. Deep inside his chest it felt as though someone flicked a switchor punched a hole.
The lights flashednot just in this room but also in the buildings visible through the window. The little owl began to hop around the dresser. The portable telegraph machine in his pocket began to hum, as did the one on Finleys nightstand. And somewhere in the building a boiler fired uphe could hear the echo of it in the pipes.
Griffin.
The bulb in the lamp beside the bed blew, throwing glass everywhere. Finley cried out. Griffin!
It took all of his strength, but somehow he managed to regain control. The lights returned to normal. The little owl and the telegraphs quieted.
Finley stared at him as though she didnt recognize him as though he frightened her.
Pivoting on his heel, he tore open the door and stepped into the hall. The door to Emilys room opened, and she stuck her head out. The cat just powered up all by itself. Any idea ... Oh, dear God.
Griffin glanced at her. He could only imagine how he appeared to hersweat dripping down his brow, eyes wide and crazed. No doubt he was pale. Lord, it felt as though electricity danced between his fingersin his head.
Get in here, lad, she commanded.
Griffin heard the urgency in her voice and followed her into the room. She grabbed his hand, but he jerked back. His control was too fragile. If she touched him, the Aether would rush through his fingers into hers. He couldnt risk hurting her.
She led him out onto the balcony, the cat clinking behind them. Outside, the summer air was warm but carried a lovely breeze, which helped cool Griffins fevered head. Still, he had to fight to remain in control as he watched Emily flick switches and push buttons inside the cats control panel. Suddenly, the metal panther began to shudder, click and whirl. He couldnt quite believe his eyes as the automaton began to reshape itself. The legs disappeared, as did the tail. A long vertical rod extended from the inside, opening to resemble a double row of long fan bladesa propeller.
When it was done, the cat had completely metamorphosed into something Griffin couldnt identify.
Its my Icarus construct, Emily explained, guiding him toward the thing that had two belts lying loose on its top. A flying machine.
This cant be safe, Griffin remarked as she made him straddle the thing, then sit so she could quickly fasten one of the belts around him.
He thought he heard her mutter, Were about to find out, but he prayed that wasnt true as she climbed on in front and fastened the other belt around her hips. She pulled goggles over her eyes. Hang on, lad!
The propeller above his head began to whirl and sputter. Griffin wrapped his hands around the post for supportand to let a little of his power crawl along the metal. If he could make things power on, then it stood to reason he could give them a boost, as well. Maybe the slight drain would keep him from losing control too quickly.
The propeller whirled so fast it seemed one singular piece. The machine lifted off the balcony and lurched forward.
Griffin glanced down as his feet dangled over empty night air. The lights of Manhattan Island twinkled around them below them. The wind whipped through his hair and brought water to his eyes, so that soon, it was difficult to see anything at all. He would have to get Emily to take him out again when he could actually enjoy the sensation of flying.
The wind cooled a short while later as they flew over water. Bedloes Island was where they were headedthe place where the Statue of Liberty stood.
Emily flew them as close to the torch as she could. Youre going to have to jump, she shouted. Grab the light and let go!
Griffin unbuckled the belt and let himself slip to the terrace belowthe rim of the lit torch. It was so bright it was almost blinding, intensifying the growing ache behind his eyes. He didnt know why Emily hadnt taken him to the water below. Perhaps she thought he might drown. He was only glad to be so far away from people.
He waited until the sound of the propeller faded away Emily knew to get as far away as she couldbefore placing his hand on the base of the light that made the torch appear to burn. All of his focus went into that torch and its bulb.
And then he let go of all the energy inside him. The release made him throw back his head and scream. For a second, he would have sworn that he saw light come out of his own mouth as he channeled everything into the torch and outward. It always flowed outward, unable to be contained.
Then there was a huge flash, and everything went black.
The next morning, Finley opened her eyes after a fitful night. Shed gottenat bestfour hours sleep. The rest of the time had been spent thinking of Griffin, the awful things theyd said to each other, the fact that she had pushed him so far his power flared.
She shouldnt have mocked him. She hadnt meant to, though she wasnt quite certain what it was she had meant to do.
Looking back at the weeks shed spent with her new friends, there had been several shameful times when she had acted alone. She had snuck off to visit Jack Dandywhich led to a strange, flirtatious friendship. One night, she disappeared and had no recollection of where she had been. Lord Felix, the son of her former employer, died that night. Even she couldnt say with certainty that she hadnt killed him. Fortunately, her name had been cleared. Later, she chased after Sam without alerting anyone else, and the two of them had ended up in a battle with an automaton, which could have killed them both.