Grinding her teeth against the blast of fear, Wynn forced herself to concentrate on the tingle of magic that flowed from the silver strand to create a chilled breeze. It wasn’t as strong as she wanted, but after a struggle to get started, it managed to clear away the fog, revealing they were standing on the banks of the Thames. Around them the empty countryside was sleeping beneath the thick layer of darkness, the lights from a distant village the only visible sign of life.
“Axton would trade his own mother to save his skin,” she said, her eyes darting from side to side in search of hidden dangers.
“Is anything familiar?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “It looks like every other rural part of the country.”
Azh nodded toward the soft glow in the distance. “There’s a village in that direction.”
“It’s a place to start.”
They walked side by side, both on high alert as the heavy silence pressed against them. Wynn rarely spent time in the country, but she did know that she should be hearing the sounds of tiny animals scampering in the nearby fields or the croak of frogs from the river.
Had they been frightened off by Azh’s powerful presence? Or was there something else that had sent them into hiding?
Rounding a curve in the pathway, Wynn felt a familiar tingle sweep over her. She came to an abrupt halt.
“Wait.”
“Do you recognize something?”
“No, but I can feel magic.”
Azh moved with blinding speed to stand next to her, his power sizzling through the air.
“Demon?”
“Human.” She pointed toward a patch of oak trees that blocked the view of the rolling landscape. “There’s a circle in that direction.”
Reaching into the pocket of her coat, she pulled out the medallion they’d found in the destroyed pawnshop and slipped it over her head.
Azh studied her with a worried expression. “What are you doing?”
“Reclaiming my past.”
His gaze lowered to the medallion that shimmered as if reacting to the magic that drifted on the soft breeze.
“Just...” His words trailed away with a heavy sigh. Smart dragon. He knew that trying to tell her to be careful was a waste of breath. “All right, let’s go.”
She sent him an encouraging smile, veering off the pathway to follow the scent of brewing herbs that was thick in the air. Whoever had created the circle was using it to add extra magic to a brewing potion. She wasn’t familiar with the spell, but it had to be powerful for her to detect it from such a distance.
Entering the thickly wooded area, they instinctively slowed. Neither had forgotten the traps set by Pheral. The fissures should have been destroyed the moment the demon died, but it was always possible he’d tied the magic to one of his goons. Not to mention the fact there could be other traps set by completely unknown enemies.
At last reaching the center of the woods, they discovered a large clearing where the outline of an ancient circle was dug deep into the earth and surrounded by large rocks. Closer to the edge of the trees, there were a dozen cottages and outbuildings in various stages of decay. A few were still standing, although they were empty shells, and others had already crumbled into piles of rotting timbers. Whatever had happened to the small village had been a slow decline, not a quick desertion.
“It looks abandoned, but someone has to be close by.” Wynn nodded toward the heavy cast iron cauldron bubbling over an open fire in the middle of the circle. “No one would leave such a potent brew unattended.”
Azh tilted back his head, as if testing the air. “There’s a cottage hidden behind the bushes,” he at last announced. “I can smell a human inside.”
“I think I should have a chat with them.”
“Weshould have a chat.”
Wynn turned to face her companion, meeting his stern gaze with a determined expression.
“I’m not trying to keep you away, Azh, but I need you to stay here to keep a watch on my back.” She glanced toward the bubbling pot, a chill inching down her spine. She couldn’t explain what she was feeling, but she sensed a dark magic hovering just out of sight. Like a monster preparing to leap from the shadows. “There’s a heaviness in the atmosphere that’s giving me the creeps.”
Azh folded his arms over his chest. “And?”
