Free On The Prowl by Catherine Vale Page B

more down there.”
    She glanced up at Daniel. He pointed back into the depression. When he turned he had the rapt look she’d seen before, when he’d made a discovery, the excitement now replacing the alpha-male posturing.
    “There are bones, Addison.” He jumped back down, sending up a cloud of amber dust. “Look.”
    He carefully lifted a decaying piece of wood, exposing a deeper trench. Despite not wanting to antagonize Griffin, she was drawn to look, and then step down beside Daniel. He crouched down and she joined him.
    “See, here and here.” He pointed and she looked. “The bones are the same as on the medallion, a man’s torso and a jaguar’s hind quarters.”
    “Could they be a fake? A skeleton constructed for ritual purposes?”
    Daniel shook his head. “I can’t be sure without further analysis. But I can’t really see anything in situ that looks like a manufactured skeleton. Here, where the spine changes from human to…well, to feline, it’s seamless. It happens within the vertebrae, not between them. And based on the age of the ruins…” He glanced around. “I think it’s the real thing, Addison.” His voice had dropped to almost a whisper.
    “If I can take these back, I can examine them, can know for sure.”
    Addison sat back, a trickle of apprehension running down her spine. “No, Daniel. You can’t. Griffin won’t allow it.” She glanced over her shoulder. Griffin stood, as still as a statue, watching. She knew by the look on his face he’d heard everything they’d said.
    “You cannot remove these. It’s…it’s not right, Daniel.”
    Daniel’s dark brows drew together. “Since when do you stand in the way of research, Addison?”
    “Since the people who these things belong to are still alive. It’s not a ruin, Daniel. It’s living for them. This isn’t a site; it’s their home.”
    “She is right. There is nothing here you can take. I will not allow it.”
    Addison and Daniel turned to look up at Griffin. She knew by the ominous look on his face there would be no argument. But Daniel started to speak. Addison set a hand on his arm.
    “Daniel. Let it go. Please. There’s something else, more important than this. I have the orchid.”
    Daniel’s expression changed and she saw a flash of guilt. “Oh, my God, Addison. I’m sorry. I got so involved in this…” He waved his hand over the ruins. “I’m sorry. So we can leave, go back to the Museum?”
    She felt buoyant for the first time in weeks, hopeful and optimistic. It was amazing that she’d found the orchid, that she and Griffin had brought it back, and now she could get on with finding a cure for Grace.
    “Yes, we can.”
    “ She cannot. I forbid her to leave.” Griffin’s voice cut through her elation and she turned on him, her emotions clouded with anger.

Chapter Eight
     
    Griffin thought for a moment she was going to strike him. It tore at him to watch the joy in her face fade, replaced by a darker emotion. Anger; anger at him.
     “You are still bound by our agreement. And you will not leave until that agreement is met.”
    “What the hell is he talking about now?” Daniel’s voice rose and the men standing around the edge of the dig moved forward. The swish of knives being pulled from sheaths cut through the air. Griffin glanced at each man and they held their ground. Even though this human had desecrated sacred ruins, he was important to Addison. He would not have him killed…yet.
    Addison looked up at Griffin, confusion and hurt mixing with the anger on her face. “But I need to go back. I can’t stay.”
    “You gave your word. And I am holding you to that word. Do you not honor your word?” He dropped his voice, directing his next words to her only.
    “I know the agreement has not been met. Trust me when I say you are still bound by it.”
    The effect of his words on her face tore at him, a mixture of distrust and loathing. More than anything he wanted her to stay, because not only was