Azh wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her upright as the magic exploded against the wall. The impact shuddered through the building, shattering display cases and buckling the floor beneath their feet. The smell of garbage suddenly perfumed the air.
With a grimace Wynn opened her eyes to discover the massive hole that had been blown into the side of the building. The window was completely gone along with most of the wall. She’d even managed to explode the dumpster that had been in the alleyway.
Well, that explained the putrid stench, she wryly acknowledged, glancing up as the ceiling popped and cracked. It was getting ready to collapse.
“Go!” Azh said, gazing back at the infected goblins.
Wynn didn’t need to see the demons to feel their ruthless approach. The pulses of evil washed over her like a surging wave.
She ran.
Chapter 7
Azh allowed Wynn to take the lead as they raced out of the crumbling building and through the dark streets. He concentrated on creating a web of smoke around them. The thin layer didn’t make them invisible, but it would mask their scent and hide any tracks in case someone was hunting them.
He didn’t know what had happened to the demons. The plague. A curse. Dark magic. He’d never seen anything like it. But he did know that they were dangerous. And that they were somehow connected to Wynn.
Which meant they had to be destroyed.
The question was how.
Remaining on high alert as they left the elegant neighborhood and headed north, Azh was caught off guard when Wynn veered into the parking lot of a cheap motel. The single-story building stretched at an angle between a trailer park and an auto shop. The bricks had faded to a dull orange and the roof was missing several shingles. It looked like the sort of place where the dregs of human society would gather. Or demons who wanted to avoid the attention of the Vampire Cabal.
“Why are we here?” he asked, frowning as she halted in front of the door at the end of the building.
“This is my current lair.” There was a tingle of magic before the steel door swung open.
Arching a brow, Azh stepped into the small square dominated by a double bed and a cheap dresser with a television precariously propped on top of it. There was a closed door on the far wall that he assumed led to the bathroom.
“Sparse,” he murmured, silently noting the frayed canvas bag tossed in the corner. It was the only personal item visible.
Of course, she presumably had the ability to use dragon magic. That would give her the talent to hide dozens of items in the room. Or even on her person.
He had an assortment of weapons concealed by his weaves of magic, along with the history book he’d brought through the small portal.
Wynn snorted, heading to the fridge next to the dresser to pull out a bottle of water. She tried to act casual, but Azh didn’t miss the pallor of her skin and the way her hands trembled as she lifted the bottle to her lips.
She was still freaked out by the glowing green demons.
Draining the water, she at last sent him a chiding glance. “We can’t all have mysterious bat caves with fancy libraries and marble walls,” she said, obviously taking full advantage of the portal he’d opened to peek into the dragon lair. “You probably have a dozen slaves to cater to your every need.”
Azh resisted the urge to try to comfort her. Wynn didn’t want to share her emotions. She wanted to be a tough, kick-ass warrior. Better to distract her.
“No slaves, but I do have a large harem.”
As he hoped, she was immediately furious. “Ew, I knew you—”
“I’m kidding,” he interrupted her looming tirade. “Dragon females are the most dangerous creatures in this world. Any potential lover goes in with the understanding that they don’t take shit from anyone, including their mates.”
Her temper eased and something flared through her amazing eyes. Was that...gratitude?
“Good for them,” she retorted.
He folded his arms over his chest. She was still pale and shaky, but they couldn’t waste time. He had to have the answers he was seeking.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“I don’t know.”
