He waved a hand toward the surrounding mist. “I thought this place would protect you from the nightmares. I just made them worse.”
“It wasn’t this place,” she assured him, sitting up and glancing around, as if reassuring herself they were alone in the mist. “I think she’s trying to tell me something.”
“About the corruption?”
“She was screaming to release her. I think she was sending me a warning.” Wynn grimaced. “Not much help when I don’t know how I’m supposed to do that.”
“Did you see her come through the rift in your dream?”
“No. I felt her touch the corruption with the magic and everything went black.”
Azh’s brief hope that they might at least have a location to search for the rift was crushed before it could fully form. Annoying, but predictable. It couldn’t be as simple as Gabriela coming to Wynn in a dream to tell her exactly where to go and how to end the threat.
Where was the fun in that?
“Then we continue with our original plan,” he abruptly announced.
If Wynn was disappointed that he didn’t have a better strategy, she didn’t reveal it as she shoved herself to her feet and squared her shoulders.
“Okay.” She pressed her hand to her stomach as it rumbled in a loud protest. “But first dinner. I’m starving.”
Azh grasped her hand as he opened the portal and they stepped onto the streets of London that were now shadowed with the encroaching night. He paused as he absorbed their surroundings. The business offices had closed hours ago, but the locals and eager tourists were still strolling the streets in search of entertainment. Assuring himself that there was nothing but humans and a few demons in the area, he allowed Wynn to lead him toward the river.
“When you say dinner, do you mean donuts?” he demanded.
She hesitated at a corner, as if trying to remember her way. “Something a little more substantial than that,” she assured him, abruptly turning to the left and picking up her pace. “My favorite chippie is just a few blocks away.”
Azh smelled the hot grease and vinegar before she halted in front of a narrow building with a blue awning above the glass door. They walked into the brightly lit restaurant and stood in line, ignoring the curious glances from the crowd of customers.
More than a few of the gazes lingered on him, no doubt sensing the power that hummed in the air no matter how tightly he leashed his magic, but most of them openly stared at the woman next to him. Despite the old coat that hung on her slender frame and the strands of golden hair that had come lose from her braid, Wynn’s luminous beauty was mesmerizing. The delicate features, the astonishing lavender eyes, and the don’t-screw-with-me vibe.
And best of all, she didn’t even seem to notice the stir she was causing. She was solely focused on feeding her belly before moving on.
Hiding his smile of pleasure at simply being near Wynn, he remained silent as she ordered enough to satisfy two hungry dragons. She remained distracted as she handed him a box of food and headed out of the shop and down the street.
Popping the lid off her dinner, she grabbed one of the deep-fried fish, shoving it into her mouth as if she truly was starving.
“Mmm.” She closed her eyes in bliss. “Divine.”
A hunger that had nothing to do with fish and chips blasted through Azh, nearly sending him to his knees. Gods above, she was glorious. No wonder she was quickly driving him to the edge of sanity.
“Agreed,” he growled.
She opened her eyes, easily sensing his desire. How could she miss it? The heat blasted through the air like a furnace. A faint blush stained her cheeks, but she pretended to be oblivious as she glanced toward his untouched meal.
“I didn’t even think to ask,” she said.
“Ask what?”
“Do dragons eat human food?”
“We eat humans.”
She blinked. “Seriously?”
“Of course not.” He paused, realizing he wasn’t being entirely honest. His ancestors hadn’t been choosy when it came to snack time. “At least, not anymore.” Opening the box, Azh tasted the fish and then a handful of the chips. The salt, vinegar, and hot grease hit his tongue with a burst of savory goodness. “You’re right, this is divine.”
They consumed the food in large bites before dumping the empty boxes in the nearest trash bin. Wynn licked her fingers as they crossed the bridge and headed along the south bank. She appeared lost in thought as they strolled toward Battersea.
