Azh was content to allow the silence to wrap around them as he concentrated on the small groups of humans and demons that spilled out ofthe pubs and restaurants that lined the streets. He assumed he’d sensed if any of them were carrying the corruption, but he couldn’t be sure. He intended to kill anything acting weird and ask questions later.
“Are you bothered by my dream?” Wynn abruptly broke the silence.
Ah. That’s why she’d been distracted. She’d been worried that her revelations had hurt him.
“I regret you were forced to endure it. You’ve had enough nightmares,” he said.
“Agreed, but I was talking about the possibility that Gabriela released the corruption.”
“It’s important that we discover the truth. The more information we have, the easier it will be to find the statue and close the rift.” His tone was firm. He wasn’t going to let her spend a second worried he blamed her for revealing Gabriela’s blunder.
“But you—”
“No one is perfect,” he overrode her protest. “And whatever her mistakes, she did sacrifice herself to protect her people.”
She met his steady gaze, giving a slow nod of her head. “True.”
“Gabriela is a legend among the dragons, but the reality of her will always be lost to the mists of time. Where she belongs.”
As he said the words, Azh felt something click inside him. As if a missing piece had settled into place. Or maybe it was the end of his childish fantasies. His mother had a point when she’d accused him of being obsessed with fairytales. Especially the ones where Gabriela rescued them from certain death.
But it was remarkably easy to accept that the truth was more complicated. He was more than ready to close the door on the past and concentrate on the future. A future that included the lovely woman walking next to him.
“I hope you’re right,” she said, her voice lowering to a soft whisper. “Her magic is growing stronger every day. I’m afraid it might eventually consume me.”
A growl rumbled in his throat. There wasn’t fear in her voice, but he could sense her churning concern. A concern that he shared, even if he didn’t want to admit it.
The magic inside her wasn’t meant for mages. Or humans. Or...anyone.
“I won’t let that happen,” he swore, meaning every word.
“You might not be able to stop it.”
He reached out to grasp her hand, tugging her to a stop. He’d started this journey with the intention of locating and destroying whoever daredto tamper with dragon powers, but now he knew he’d do whatever necessary to protect Wynn. She’d become a necessary reason for his existence.
“Trust me,” he urged.
“I...” Wynn’s words died on her lips, her eyes widening. “Azh.”
“What?” Azh glanced around, searching for what had startled her. He couldn’t see anything beyond the dark streets and closed businesses. Was it the magic inside her? “What’s wrong?”
“We triggered a fissure spell.”
“Shit.” Keeping a tight hold on her fingers, Azh released the weaves that muted his magic, allowing his power to boom through the air with concussive force. Instantly the ground began to shake and the nearby windows shattered. “Hold on, Wynn,” he commanded.
His flames whipped out, surrounding them in a layer of fiery protection, but it was too late. The trap had already opened, sucking Wynn into a gaping hole of darkness.
Azh roared in fury at the feel of Wynn’s fingers sliding from his grasp, her expression one of terror as she disappeared.
He was going to kill someone. Maybe a whole lot of someones.
And then he was going to burn shit to the ground.
Ignoring the flames that continued to whirl around him like a fiery tornado, Azh stomped to the end of the block. He could smell the gathered demons crammed into the small pub.
It had to be one of the royal fey who’d created the fissure. They were the only creatures who possessed the magic to rip a small hole in the fabric of space to create a gateway. When they were at their full powers in the ancient past they could travel from place to place with the openings or escape from their enemies. These days the magic was too unstable for personal use. They tended to crash without warning, trapping the user inside. But they could set a trap for an unwary enemy. And if the fey was truly gifted they could set tiny fissures around a large area that could only be triggered when a specific prey stepped into it.
A fey that powerful would be well known, even in a city as large as London. Unfortunately, the locals would no doubt be reluctant to snitch on a fellow demon. Especially one that could make their life a misery.
