Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross Page A

they’re dropping the bodies.”
    “These things you’re referring to,” said Kol, flint in his voice, “wouldn’t happen to be other leads you failed to mention.”
    I paused a second. “I didn’t withhold anything. I just forgot to tell you.”
    “Lie.”
    Damn it. He was right.
    Lorian sighed. “She does need a proper education on Morgons and our history. More than her fairytales and university teachings.”
    “That’s not my job.”
    “Fine. Then take her to someone who will. Petrus. Besides, he can give you more insight into the cult’s obsession with dumping the bodies in Devlin Wood.”
    Kol dragged his gaze from me. “I can’t take her to Drakos. You know that.”
    Lorian made a snorting noise. “He hardly lives inside the city limits of Drakos. He’s more like a hermit. Like you.”
    “I can pass her any information from Petrus.”
    “Oh, no, no, no,” I interrupted. “I don’t think so. No offense. But you’d be the worst secondary source ever.”
    Cold blue pinned me again. “And why is that?”
    “You’re extremely…taciturn.”
    Sorcha snickered beside me.
    I ignored her, focusing on Kol. “I need to speak to the primary source. This Petrus guy.”
    Without batting an eye, he spoke directly to Lorian again. “She can’t drive there, and she has no wings.”
    Lorian arched a brow as if that answered the question.
    Sorcha piped up cheerfully. “I have tons of flying harnesses.”
    I straightened. “I’m not flying with anybody, especially not him .”
    Did he just roll his eyes at me?
    Lorian’s otherworldly gaze settled on me. “How exactly do you think Borgus plans to take you, Moira? All of his victims have been abducted by flight. If you intend to follow through with this plan, then you’ll definitely be flying. Better you get used to the sensation, so you won’t be terrified and lose your wits if we’re going to do this at all.”
    He was right. I swallowed hard. “Fine,” I conceded quickly. “I’ll go see this hermit, Petrus.”
    Lorian added, “And be aware that I’m not convinced this is the best course of action. As a matter of fact, your sister would flay us all just for considering the idea. Kol and I will have to discuss it at length before we decide to take such a risk.”
    “Fine,” I bit out, trying my best not to sound petulant.
    “Tell me the other leads you’re withholding,” Kol demanded.
    “I’ve got an appointment to see the owner of the salon where Maxine Mendale worked”—I glanced at my watch—“in thirty minutes. And I’m visiting a bar owner tonight about the night she disappeared.”
    I could’ve easily visited Mikal at his house, but I didn’t want to visit him in a place with so many intimate memories. No. I wouldn’t give him hope of any kind of reconciliation by meeting in a place where we were once lovers. Still, I had to find out anything he could give me about Maxine and the night she vanished. I had to find him at his club.
    I stood from the table. Kol stood with me.
    “Where are you going?” I put a hand on my hip.
    “ We are going to the salon. Not that it’ll be much help.”
    “If you don’t think it’ll help, why bother? I can just relate any information they give me.”
    “The same way I can relate any information from Petrus.”
    A stand-off. I narrowed my eyes and pressed my lips together, wanting to spit nails. He was infuriating to the nth degree.
    “Fine. Meet me at Carella’s on Lexington Avenue within thirty minutes.” I stood from the table.
    He scoffed. “I’ll be there in five.” His eyes gave me a once-over as if pitying my feeble human body. With a nod to Lorian and Sorcha, he took two long strides, and with one beat of his wings, shot straight up into the air, soaring higher and higher toward the gathering clouds.
    “Show-off,” I mumbled under my breath. I swallowed hard to lessen the fluttering in my stomach from watching the fastest launch I’d ever seen.
    Lorian walked to the edge