Page 116 of Phoenix Rise

“Can you do it?” I pressed.

The Satyr straightened. “Give me an hour to round the cameras up. I’ll meet you at the van.”

* * *

The hotel bar had closed two hours ago.

It didn’t stop me from gaining access through an empty upper-room window and ghosting down the bar itself.

Most realms I worked in had little to no technology, but that didn’t mean the Guild hadn’t run Haki and me through intensive training for more sophisticated systems. This one was far from state-of-the-art. The lock on the internal door was a breeze to pick, and I blocked the security camera between it and the office by covering it with a bit of tape.

The office gave me access to the other three in the main bar area, and I turned them off just long enough to install my own versions. I was done in minutes. Turned the cameras back on, removed the tape, relocked the door.

Mission accomplished.

I climbed stairs to the roof, keeping my cloak hood raised to foil the two cameras along them. Flying between the towns was much faster than driving, but not without its risks in this realm. They did have flying machines here, so I had to stay low to avoid radar systems, but high enough that I wasn’t seen.

I checked for cameras on the roof. I hadn’t come in this way, but even when I didn’t find any, I stayed in the shadows. Rolled up my cloak and embraced my beast.

Moments later, I was in the air.

Jacques was on the way with his van, and would monitor the cameras I had just installed. Haki had the cluster of towns to the west.

I winged toward the last grouping. I should have just enough time to get this done before the sun rose and made Dragon flight impossible. If Galeran behaved according to plan, he’d send his mercs in sometime over the next few nights.

With my cloak rolled and clutched in my talons, I winged my way over the devastated forest. Even flying, you could smell that river. I longed to climb above the clouds and let the moonlight dance over my wings. But I wasn’t here to enjoy myself. I had something I needed to do.

Surveillance was a familiar activity, part of a trained assassin’s routine. As such, I should find it soothing. It was surprising, therefore, when a shiver ran down my spine.

I had the strangest sensation that I wasn’t alone.

My intuition had kept me alive over the years, so ignoring it wasn’t in the cards. I banked, following the river, and sensed wings fluttering. Not quite a sound—I couldn’t get a grip on it. Was there someone pacing me in the clouds? I changed direction again, and reached, trying to figure out just what it was...

I saw nothing. Yet as I looked ahead again, I had the impression of a glimmer, as though I spotted, out of the corner of my eye, moonlight reflecting off scales. I glanced behind me so fast my neck twinged.

Nothing. I flew alone.

Was I losing my mind? I didn’t want an answer because my mental state was precarious enough. But phantom Dragons were a new tangent.

Then eyes, gleaming green, flashed through my mind.

It was allin my head.

Dreading the answer, I asked the question.Matt?

Yeah, you scaly bugger.

His words shocked me—they were so clear. And his mindvoice even contained his accent and annoying slang. Along with other things—images flashed through me—he was lying on a bed, with his arms folded around a lissome form.

Anna.

I gritted my teeth. My response was immediate and poorly considered.You guys are worse than Kalahops.

What the bleeding hell is a Kalahop?The Aussie asked.

Why had I even replied to him? I wasn’t accustomed to controlling my thoughts the way I controlled my body. But now I needed to explain.An animal that spends most of its time fornicating.

Is it handsome in a fuzzy kind of way?

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