Her luck had been trending south lately, but this was ridiculous. Strange nightmares, weird magic she couldn’t control, and now a dangerous, sexy, majestic...had she mentioned sexy...dragon chasing her?
Releasing a harsh sigh as she reached the top of the steps, Wynn pushed open the door. There was no surprise when it easily swung inward. Hexx was a true rat. As soon as he sensed a sinking ship he’d bailed. Which was why she was there.
Unless she got a few hours of sleep she was going to pass out.
Once she was rested she would try to figure out what she’d done to attract Azh’s attention, and more importantly, how to get rid of him. He might be the most gorgeous male she’d ever encountered, but he was a complication. A huge, delicious, sexy...there it was again. Sexy.
No, no, no.
She sternly banished any thought of Azh and his sexy complications.
Entering the apartment, she crept through the stacks of boxes and totes, her muscles tense as she prepared to flee at the least hint of danger. By the time she reached the recliner set near the window, she had convinced herself she was alone. If there was anyone or anything hidden in the cramped space, she couldn’t detect it.
For now that was good enough.
Flopping into the chair, she winced as a rusty spring jabbed into her butt. Hexx had worn the cushion as thin as a pancake. Unfortunately, beggars couldn’t be choosers and she was too exhausted to try to find something more comfortable.
With a deep sigh, she pushed back the chair until it was in full reclining position and closed her eyes. With a speed that would shock anyone that had never been sleep deprived, physically exhausted, and magically drained, Wynn tumbled into a welcomed puddle of nothingness.
She drifted in the abyss for what felt like a second but might have been several hours before the nightmare found her.
It started as a regular dream. She was strolling through the streets of London, enjoying the sound of the nightly crowds spilling out of the local pubs. She didn’t know where she was headed, and it didn’t matter. It was enough to share the vibrant sense of joy that oozed from the locals. Humans might not be immortal, but they made up for their shortened life span by embracing each moment.
She turned the corner, belatedly realizing that she was heading to the small magic shop at the end of the block. It was owned by Axton and his clan of goblins who sold knock off cauldrons and crystal balls, as well as rare spices and herbs to the local coven. He was a regular customer who bought the low-ticket items she managed to steal.
Halfway down the block, Wynn abruptly stopped, hit by a nasty wave of magic. It felt like someone had tossed a bucket of filth from above. The magic poured over her and she abruptly realized that she was frozen in place. It was like her feet were stuck to the cobblestonesand invisible bands were wrapped around her body. Tilting back her head, Wynn parted her lips to scream, only no sound came out.
She was completely helpless.
Her heart thundered in her chest, a layer of sweat coating her skin as she watched Axton step out of his shop, surrounded by a dozen lesser demons. None of them were particularly dangerous. The auras surrounding their bulky bodies were a dull red despite the fact they were living in the center of a powerful Gyre. But Wynn sensed a foul perversion wrapped around them. As if they were coated in evil.
Slowly they walked toward her, none of them speaking or even acknowledging each other. As if they didn’t know anyone else was there. The silence made their slow advance creepy as hell. Then they moved through a pool of light from a streetlamp and the creep factor was cranked from high to a sizzling sense of panic.
Each of the demons was staring at her with hungry expressions and eyes that glowed with a sickly green light. As if they were infected by a putrefying disease.
Or possessed.
Horror beat through Wynn, her body bowing into a painful arch as she struggled to break free of the ruthless bonds. She couldn’t budge. She was well and truly trapped.
Wynn silently screamed as the demons marched closer and closer, stretching out their hands. No! She couldn’t let them touch her. She didn’t know exactly what would happen, but she knew it would be bad. Really, really bad.
With a last desperate effort, Wynn bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood. The sharp pain was enough to shatter the nightmare, allowing her to wrench open her eyes and suck in deep gulps of air to fill her starved lungs.
It was getting worse, she silently acknowledged. The dreams were more vivid and the sense of danger more intense. As if the nightmares were learning how to transform into reality.
It was terrifying.
With an effort, Wynn pulled her fingernails out of the arms of the chair where they’d dug into the leather and forced herself to her feet. Her knees were shaky and her face drenched in sweat. She needed a shower and fresh clothes, but right now it was the sharp pangs of her stomach that demanded attention.
Squeezing through the stacks of boxes, Wynn stepped into the narrow opening where Hexx had a micro-fridge and microwave precariously perchedon a wooden counter. She opened the fridge to discover a jug of sour milk and a couple containers of moldy takeout along with a six-pack of beer. With a grimace she shut the door and opened the cardboard box on the counter.
One glazed donut remained.
“Score!” she breathed, grabbing the pastry and shoving it in her mouth.
It was stale and the glaze stuck to her fingers, but it tasted like nirvana as she licked the sugar from her lips.
Unable to find anything else edible, Wynn was turning toward the nearby totes to grab a few items she could sell for some quick cash when the creak of the door hinges warned her that someone was entering the apartment.
