Page 42 of Curses & Keys
She raises her narrowed gaze to mine. “Yes. All I need is a phone.”
I thought my place was damn near impenetrable. Maybe she’s right. I’m burned. With only the two weapons, we need to find somewhere that isn’t known to anyone who works for the council, including our group.
“Fine,” I grudgingly concede as I motion to the convenience store behind her. “They have burners.”
She pats my arm. “I knew you’d see reason.” With a jaunty smile, she heads into the store while I stand there gritting my teeth.
Most females would be hysterical with everything that’s been thrown at them. She acts like it’s an everyday occurrence. Not that I’m complaining. It’s just…unusual.
A minute later, she returns with a couple of waters and a burner. I gulp down my water in seconds. Healing burns a lot of calories and makes me incredibly dehydrated. “Where did you get the money?”
She pats her pocket. “I learned a long time ago to carry an untraceable credit card, some cash, and anything valuable on my body, not in a bag. It’s saved me more times than I can count.”
She holds up a finger and moves closer to the building, then dials the phone. “SOS. Corner of…” Her eyes swivel to me, and she raises an eyebrow.
“Oxford and Duke,” I supply with a smirk. Maybe I’m useful after all.
She repeats my words and hangs up a second later. “One minute.”
I snort, not believing anyone will be here in a minute. We can’t use portals in the middle of London where a human might see it.
“You’d better be right. We’re sitting ducks, standing here on a busy street. And I’m a walking billboard for London’s double-deckers.” With a grimace, I glance down at my clothes.
Uneasy with waiting, I subtly move to shield her from the passersby, but she quickly shoves at my back with her small hand.
“Move, or we’ll miss it, and I’m dreading it enough as it is. I don’t want to have to wait for the next one,” she practically snarls at me. “Not to mention, she’ll double her already outrageous fee.”
Surprised, I shift to the side in curiosity. Her eyes are darting from one corner to the other. Suddenly, the phone in her hand buzzes, and she moves onto the sidewalk.
“There,” she motions with her head. “Follow in my exact footsteps. Do not deviate.”
Irritated at her orders, I bite the snarl at the tip of my tongue and do what she says. With complete confidence, she strides toward the street. Cars and buses are whizzing by at top speed. A few bicycles careen around the corner. I reach out to grab her and pull her back to safety, but between one second and the next, she disappears. Astonished, I stop and scan the area.
A trembling hand appears in front of me and grabs my shirt, yanking me toward the street. It’s only then that I realize it’s a portal. As I pass through, I stare at the barely seen wavering edge. Remarkable. There’s little to separate it from the real world. If she hadn’t guided me, I would have missed it. I’ve never seen one so transparent.
When we step through, we’re in another part of London. Shoreditch. Almost thirty minutes from where we entered. From there, she pulls me through another nearly transparent portal, but instead of a street this time, we step into a bustling office of some sort. Marble floors grace the entryway. A receptionist sits behind a large mahogany desk, greeting visitors. Blank walls give no indication as to where we are. The portal closes behind us. Unease skates down my spine. I don’t like it.
“Stay here,” she murmurs to me. “I mean it. They’re not your friends.” With those words, she strides off toward one of the hallways. “I’ll be back in two minutes.”
My fists clench. I don’t have the faintest clue where I am, but if she doesn’t come back in exactly two minutes, I’ll tear this place apart to get to her. I’m responsible for her safety, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone prevent me from doing my job. The receptionist at the desk eyes me with a dark look, as if he knows exactly who I am and what I’m thinking and he’s relishing the idea of putting me in my place. I meet his gaze with a clear warning.
He raises a cool eyebrow, and I take a step forward, but before I can say something, Phaedra emerges from the back.
“Next time,” he promises, and a snarl rips from my throat.
Phaedra cocks a hip and rolls her eyes. “Stand down. A fight between a dragon and a gryphon would be a hell of a match, but not today. I don’t have time for this bullshit.”
Dragon, huh? No wonder he wouldn’t back down. A worthy opponent indeed. A fleeting expression of respect crosses his face.
Phaedra pivots and heads toward the entrance, where another portal opens. This one is much more visible, and familiar, than the previous two. “Let’s go.”
She disappears, and I hurry to catch up with her. This is getting tiring, and my patience is wearing thin. It’s almost like she’s protecting me.Damn it.
This time, we land in the lobby of a hotel. Wait. The rich chocolate brown walls, gold accents, and white marble floors are unmistakable. “Is this The Hari?”
She smiles. “They keep a suite of rooms for those who need extra privacy. I like to stay here when I come to town.” She gets on the elevator. “Coming?”
With a frown, I cross my arms, refusing to step into the box. “Hotels have cameras everywhere. They’ll find us in minutes.” I smirk. “Plus, if you’re a regular…” I leave the statement hanging.
