Oh dear Lord, was that his logic?
“Aye. We do,” Griff said, his voice a deep growl. He cleared his throat, looking back down at Danny. “Well, lad, ready to get going?”
“Yes!” Danny shouted, seizing Griff’s hand. “Are you coming too, Sir John?”
“I must stay and guard the door.” John flipped his visor shut again. “Though I must admit, I am not accustomed to stopping assailants by offering them lollipops.”
“All right if we stop off at a couple of my friends’ places along the way?” Griff asked Danny as they started up the road. “They’re two you haven’t met yet, but I think you’d like them.”
Danny looked a little worried. “We won’t be late for the party, will we?”
“I promise, we’ll get there in plenty of time.” Griff looked over Danny’s head at Hayley, smiling. The si
ght made her heart leap—he hadn’t smiled properly like that since, well, Reiner. “I’ve never known a boy to be so excited about a party. I only hope it lives up to his expectations.”
“I’m sure it will,” Hayley said, smiling back. Just friends, she reminded herself sternly. Friends on a nice fun night out. As friends. “He’s been obsessed ever since you mentioned it. So, who are you taking us to visit?”
“Hugh, for one.” Griff turned off the main street. “He won’t come to the party—too many people—but he secretly loves getting trick-or-treaters. Most people don’t realize it, but he’s got a hidden soft spot for children, our Hugh. But first, I wanted to drop by on someone else. I want to have one last try at convincing her to join us.”
The street got narrow, and darker, as Griff led them deeper into the maze of alleyways. There weren’t many pumpkins in this neighborhood. Hayley wouldn’t have felt safe on her own, but she trusted Griff to know what he was doing.
“Here we go,” Griff said, stopping outside a dented door with peeling paint. Someone had carefully cut Happy Halloween! out of newspaper print, sticking the letters to the inside of the window. “You want to knock, Danny?”
Danny gave Griff a slightly dubious look, but dutifully knocked. The door opened instant, as if someone had been waiting right on the other side.
“Trick or treat!” announced a beaming teenage girl in a home-made fairy princess costume and a wheelchair. Pink glittering ribbons were woven through the spokes.
Danny frowned. “That’s what I’m supposed to say!”
“Sorry,” the girl said cheerfully. “I just like saying it too. I never get to go out myself. Hi, Big G! And you’re Hayley, right? I’m Hope.”
“Nice to meet you,” Hayley said, carefully shaking the offered hand. Hope’s bones were as delicate as a bird’s, her fingers barely able to grip Hayley’s. “Are you a…?”
“Shifter?” Hope wheeled her chair back a little, letting them into the narrow hallway. “Nope, that’s my sister. Unfortunately. You’re wasting your time, G. She won’t come. She won’t even let me come.”
“Hmm.” Griff’s mouth tightened. “Well, let me see what I can do.”
“Good luck.” Hope did not sound hopeful. Her thin shoulders heaved in a tragic sigh. “I cannot wait until I’m eighteen, and can finally do what I want.”
Griff patted her on the shoulder as he edged round her wheelchair. “She’s just trying to look out for you, you know.”
“Yeah, well, I wish she wouldn’t.” Hope turned her attention back to Danny, brightening again. “Hey, I hope you like candy, because I’ve got a ton. Turns out most kids around here prefer throwing eggs to getting treats.”
Hayley left Danny rummaging enthusiastically in the offered bucket of candy, following Griff down the short, dark hallway. “What sort of shifter is her sister?” she asked in an undertone.
Griff shot her a swift, strangely guarded glance. “Wyvern.”
Wyvern? Where have I heard that before…?
Hayley grabbed Griff’s wrist as he raised his hand to knock on a closed door. It was the first time she’d touched him for weeks. She made herself ignore the rush of desire that shot through her blood.
“Wyvern as in wyvern venom?” she hissed. “As in the poison you made me inject you with? The poison that nearly killed you?”
“That wasn’t her fault.” Shaking her off, Griff firmly knocked on the door. “Ivy? I know you’re in there. You can’t hide from me.”
The door opened a crack, revealing one green eye and a sliver of sulky expression. “You should listen to your friend, G. Just go away.”
“I can’t do that, Ivy.” Griff put his shoulder to the door, shoving it open. “Please come out.”