My eyes widened. “It doesn’t work both ways?”
“Only if they want it to. They can block me easily.” She sighed and rose. “They don’t care if I entertain myself, but maybe this is one pleasure I’ll forgo.” She gestured to a bag I hadn’t noticed at her feet. “I brought you the crystals Lucas asked for. He’d better complete the task I’ve given him, or my mates will demand restitution.” Her glance returned to the hall. “We are very active in the slave trade.”
My stomach clenched. “Thank you for the warning.”
Laresse’s lips twitched. “I don’t offer many. Hitzus are not known for generous gestures. But Lucas has a rare quality among thieves—integrity. And he’s helped me out a time or two. So, I owe him.” She offered a wistful smile. “Just not enough to pay for those.” She pointed to the bag before turning away.
I closed the door behind her and picked up the bag.
29
Marcus
Once out of Drundas, we flew until the sun dropped below the mountains.
It was difficult to determine the exact moment of sunset, considering the dense cloud cover. We’d flown as much through them as under them. Our cloaks shed the worst of the constant drizzle, but the wind drove the moisture past the fastenings at the neck and whipped it up beneath the hems.
The forest and road below were cast in perpetual shadow as the two Dragons followed the route that snaked through the trees and the peaks that towered on each side. It was hardly a straight path—this range was rugged and rough. I couldn’t imagine the effort it had taken to blast through.
I pushed my face into the damp wind and reveled in every moment. If this was what it meant to have wings, bring them on.
You are a Gryphon at heart,Iskar said approvingly.
We’d put Kiko behind me on Vali’s neck, as hours of sniffing Satyr pheromones might have led to scaly consequences. Although I now had my doubts about it—the demon inside seemed to have a singular focus.
The Satyr clung to Vali’s neck spikes as though her life depended on it and uttered little gasps whenever the Dragon banked or dropped. If carrying two was slowing Vali down, I couldn’t tell.
“Are we there yet?” Kiko moaned, for at least the twentieth time.
I turned my head to answer her. “I think Havoc has a destination in mind.”
As if on cue, Havoc slowed to a hover ahead of us, and Vali drew close. The big red Dragon pointed his talons into the forest below.
“Inn,” he said, and took us down.
He barely fit between the trees on each side of the road. Vali landed behind him with a sodden thump. It elicited a startled squeal from Kiko.
“Sorrys,” the Dragona said. “Nots used to passengers.”
“Ground, ground, ground, ground, ground—” chanted Kiko as she slid down the Dragona’s side and landed in an untidy sprawl on the dirt road.
I followed her with what I hoped was more decorum, stretching once my feet were firmly planted. I was stiff, but riding Dragonback for hours was infinitely preferable to being carried.
I looked around. No inn.
“It’s arounds thats bend.” Havoc pointed. “This iss the overnight station betweens Drundas and Sarti. We’ve stopped earlys enoughs, shoulds be room.”
“Can’t we keep going?” I cast an eye to the dying sun. “Dragon night vision is good.”
Vali even managed to make shifting to human a graceful thing. “Not good enough for this terrain,” she said. “Too much cloud cover at night. We’ll fly right into a mountain.”
Havoc’s copper eyes swung to her, and then away again. The red Dragon seemed uncomfortable around Vali. I guessed that mating Riley when she’d adopted Vali’s Dragon form had messed with his mind.
It certainly messed with mine.
Breathe,coached Iskar.
I eyed Havoc. He didn’t seem inclined to shift to human. “Aren’t you coming with us?”
