Page 78 of Primal Dragon

“You’re human. You’re far more vulnerable and since I haven’t claimed you…”

Quinn sighed. “This isn’t going to work. I don’t believe for one second if I were a dragon or anything else supernatural that you would be less obnoxious.”

He smirked. “You’re definitely right about that, but right now I’ve had you for about six hours. I need time to adjust, Quinn, please. Don’t take it personally.”

Warren came back through the door. “Everything all right?”

Quinn shook her head. “No, I’m not sure I want to do this and Henrik’s being a controlling dick.”

“Look, this is none of my business, but you should know it’s a shifter instinct. Even with a female wolf, who I promise is far scarier than any of the males, we would have to curb the same impulses. It’s not sexist. We protect what is ours. Pack, clan, family, mate…”

Henrik gave him a little growl but nodded at him grateful for the backup.

Quinn’s shoulders eased. “All right, I’ll let it slide for now.”

19

The Fae Market

Quinn’s stomach clenched as she watched Warren disappear through the portal. She was excited to enter another plane, another thing to tick off the bucket list. But didn’t people always get stuck in the other realm and have to go through a whole journey before they could come back?

Henrik held out his hand. “Are you ready?”

Quinn glanced at him. She knew he didn’t want her to go. She put her hand in his and swallowed a mouthful of air. He gently led the way through the brick wall. She was waiting to faceplant into the side of the stadium, but it never came. Instead she was in a sea of teal and purple lights and then the world came into focus around them.

Where the stadium stood was now a huge, wooded area surrounding a valley filled with wooden carts. There were merchants selling items, patrons going from cart to cart, and others just sitting together eating, chatting, laughing, and being jovial.

It was another world, like they had stepped into a Renaissance Festival.

The fae were much easier to spot among the rest of them. She assumed there was a mixture of creatures moving all around her now, but the fae were more ethereal. Their pointed ears were more poignant. They had big, bright eyes that were slanted. Their cheekbones more defined. They were incredibly attractive creatures, even more so in their own world.

“What is this place?” she murmured.

Henrik glanced down at her. “It’s sort of like the foyer to the fae world. Beyond the woods is another doorway. It’s been closed for a very long time, but out of desperation, they’ve reopened the doorway.”

“You would be desperate if your people were dying too, Dragon.”

They turned to find Arthur looking grumpier than usual. His gaze dropped down to where the two of them were holding hands.

“It’s not as though it’s legal for me to claim my mate,” Henrik growled.

“Didn’t stop her from marking you anyway.”

Warren’s brows rose. Had he not noticed Quinn’s bite on his crux of his shoulder and neck? She supposed it was mostly covered by the Henley.

“What are we doing here, Arthur?” Warren asked.

“Follow me.”

They moved through the marketplace. There was food Quinn had never seen before. There were endless bottles of different colored liquids, sands, and unknown substances. There were jaws of animals, and other body parts and bones, glowing spheres, and gemstones she’d never seen before.

They stopped at a tent at the far end of the market. Arthur pulled back the purple curtain and Warren ducked to go inside. Henrik and Quinn followed with Arthur bringing up the rear.

Inside it didn’t look like a tent at all—there were shelves lined against the walls that were covered in inventory. There were bottles, jars, tins, and boxes each sitting above a label. There was a table near the back of the tent with a woman sitting behind it. She had crystal ball on the table and not much else.

“Welcome to my shop, gentlemen and milady. I am Lady Wyxl. What may I help you with?”

The woman didn’t look fae, but then Quinn couldn’t tell what she might be.

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