Chapter 159

'THAT WAS A NICE THOUGHT,' Alek commented while we walked to a favourite spot in the garden.

I wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned against him as we walked. 'He made it clear, when explaining stuff to me that not everyone would make it back. I'd hate for his family to miss out on saying goodbye.'

Alek looked at me disbelievingly. I shrugged, feeling a bit defensive.

'Well it's true, isn't it?' At least Ignatius had been upfront about it.

'It's likely,' he conceded. 'And I didn't think he was very close to his wife, that's all.'

'He seemed very fond of her when I asked.'

We reached the spot and settled on the grass beneath a tree.

'I'm only going on what I've heard.' Alek flashed a cheeky grin. 'We all know gossip isn't to be trusted.'

I laughed and climbed onto his lap, distracting him from lunch in the best possible way.

THE REMAINING WEEKS FLEW BY as we trained ourselves to exhaustion each evening. Even the griffons and Sito were hard at it, and it was a new experie