She heaved a loud sigh. “And if it’s a human they’re going to be too distracted to get any sensible answers from them. They can’t help themselves when you’re around. They turn into babbling idiots.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Humans weren’t prepared to be in the presence of a full-fledged dragon. They were either overcome with lust or fear when they caught sight of Azh. Many times both.
“Leave the door open,” he instead commanded.
She rolled her eyes. “Like you couldn’t huff and puff and blow down Buckingham Palace, let alone a puny cottage.”
He held her gaze, his jaw tight with the effort to control the beast who smoldered deep in his eyes. The dragon wasn’t happy with her demand that she face the unknown human on her own.
“I want to hear what she has to say,” he explained between clenched teeth.
“Fine.”
On the point of turning away, Wynn found herself grabbed by the shoulders and hauled against Azh’s hard body. She tilted back her head in surprise, barely given time to brace herself as he swooped his head down to kiss her with a savage hunger. Wynn instinctively grasped his sweatshirt, her knees going weak as heat blasted through her.
For a long moment they simply melted into the desire that instantly sizzled between them. It wasn’t just need that brought an edge of urgency to the embrace. It was the whispering fear this might be their last kiss.
Eventually it was a whiff of something nasty coming from the cauldron in the center of the circle that brought Wynn back to her senses. This wasn’t going to be her last kiss, she fiercely swore.
She didn’t care what it took, she was going to defeat the dragon magic that was pulsing inside her, as if struggling to be released.
“Stay here,” she commanded, turning away. One glance into that gorgeous face and she would be a goner.
Feeling his gaze burning into her back, Wynn walked along the edge of the circle until she was past the untrimmed hedge that hid the cottage from view. A quick glance assured her it was in better condition than the others, but it was still in dire need of repairs. The thatched roof was shabby and the windows coated in dust. Even the front step needed a good scrubbing, although there was a new sign next to it painted with the words:
Herbal Healing by Charlotte
With a shudder, Wynn walked up the narrow path and knocked on the wooden door. She hoped the herbal healing wasn’t the stench coming from the cauldron. That stuff smelled nasty.
There was a long silence, as if whoever was inside was hoping that Wynn would assume the cottage was empty and leave.Wynn knocked again, this time with enough force to send a cloud of decaying straw drifting from the roof.
There was another long silence before the door cracked open to reveal an older woman with long, tangled gray hair that framed her gaunt face and wary blue eyes.
“Yes?” She glanced over Wynn’s shoulder as if sensing Azh’s presence in the distance. When she couldn’t see any lurking danger, she returned her attention to Wynn. “What do you want?”
“Are you Charlotte?”
“Yes, but I don’t take clients this late.”
“That’s okay. I’m not here for your healing.”
Charlotte furrowed her brow. “Are you lost?”
“No.” Wynn’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I’m hoping that I’m finally home.”
“Home? Are you from the village? Do I know you?”
“Perhaps.” Wynn reached up to touch the glittering medallion.
The watery blue eyes widened as the woman pulled open the door wide enough to reveal the interior of the small cottage. Wynn caught a glimpse of a sofa with worn cushions pulled close to the stone fireplace and a wooden table with one chair. There were dozens of leatherbound books piled on the flagstone floor along with glass bottles filled with potions. The ceiling was low, with open beams that had bundles of herbs tied together hanging from them.
“Where did you get that?”
“It was seared into my flesh when your coven tried to burn me alive,” Wynn said in blunt tones.
“What? I don’t...” The words trailed away as the blue gaze locked on Wynn’s face. Then she released a hiss of shock. “Oh, blessed goddess. Gwen? Gwen Winsor? How is this possible? I watched you die.”
Wynn was briefly distracted by the woman’s horrified words. Her name was Gwen Winsor? Ew. It sounded like a stuck up aristocrat. No way she was going back to that. She was Wynn. Magic thief, escape artist, and dragon lover. Wild and free.
