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“Keep” simply didn’t do it. It begged for a more appropriate name like Doom Bastion of Shapeshifter Superiority. Probably with a big sign underscoring the sentiment, in case some dummy failed to get it.
Pack to the Outside World: We don’t like you. Stay out!
And Curran would brood and stalk along the walls.
“Who won?” I knew he would answer that one.
“I did.”
“How?”
“Threw him into the smaller water tower. He doesn’t like water. He shrunk.”
Below us the trees shivered in the morning breeze.
“Do you want it to be your turn now? Do you want to tell me what an idiot I am?” The violence in his voice sent shivers down my spine.
“Hold on, let me make sure there are no water towers around…”
He dragged his fingers across the stone rail. If he’d still had his claws, they would’ve left white scratches.
“You put that damn thing in my hand and I gave it away. I’ve got no necklace, no kid, two of my people dead, three are in the medward. There is a ward spell over the Honeycomb Gap and scouts tell me it’s full of monsters. Impressive performance all around. Go on. Take a shot.”
“I would’ve traded the necklace for Julie in a heartbeat.”
He glanced at me. The next moment I was pinned against the wall, his teeth an inch from my carotid. He sucked in my scent, his eyes still flooded with molten gold. His voice was a contained storm. “Knowing all I know now, I would do it again.”
“So would I. Let go of me.”
He released me and stepped back.
“If you can’t save a child, what’s the point of it all?” I told him. “Julie’s worth saving, and I don’t want to buy my safety with her blood. I’d die first.”
I leaned against the wall. “I should’ve put it all together sooner. Better yet, I should’ve left her with you.
That little shit Red couldn’t have taken her out of the Keep. I’m sick of being a day late and a dollar short.”
Our stares connected and we were quiet for a long minute, united by our misery. At least he understood me and I understood him.
“A fine pair we make,” he said.
“Yeah.”