Page 28 of Curses & Keys (Curses & Gods #1)

GATLIN

S luggish from the toll of healing, I rest my back against the trunk of a tree while I wait for her to return. “Too fucking close. I barely got us out of there. They had a small army with them. Has to be a council member. Nobody else knows where we live.”

He knows I’m pissed, but I don’t tell him it was worth it. It’s been ages since I’ve flown with a rider, sharing the skies and wind with someone else. In the old days, gryphons had riders assigned to them, and I miss it.

Jamison softly curses on the other end, bringing my attention back to the call. “Can’t talk right now. Location?”

Phaedra strides into view, hair mussed from the ride, with a white plastic bag in her hand. Her long legs eat up the sidewalk as her head swivels to find me. “Hyde Park.”

“Seven,” Jamison murmurs into the phone. “Keep her safe.” He hangs up.

Her blue eyes are dark with worry as she strides up to me. “Here.” She thrusts the bag into my hands as well as one of the guns she’s still carrying. For a brief second, her worried eyes scan my naked body, but when she realizes I’m okay, she mutters something and turns her back to me.

I smirk. Shifters don’t have much modesty.

Although if she’d stared longer, my reaction would have been hard to conceal.

Reaching into the bag, I pull out a XXXL white t-shirt with a bright red double-decker bus on it, a pair of loose cotton pants, and canvas shoes.

I wince. “Guess the park wasn’t the best landing place. ”

She laughs and tucks a piece of hair behind her delicate ear.

“Sorry. No military shops nearby. You’ll look like a tourist, which isn’t a bad thing.

” She stops talking when a couple strolls by staring at me with wide eyes.

“When you’re in your other form, they don’t see you, do they?

I thought it was odd when nobody started screaming bloody hell at the sight of a giant gryphon landing in the park. ”

“Gryphons were created by the Magi in ancient Persia,” I explain to her while I dress. “We served at their command. They gifted us with invisibility so we could carry out our duties. It’s only viable in our shifter form, though.”

“Wow. Ancient Persia. No wonder you’re cranky and bossy,” she murmurs with a sort of reverence. “So, you didn’t come through a portal like other shifters?”

“I was here long before most humans,” I gruffly admit. The years weigh on me heavily. Never thought I’d be alive this long. “You can turn around.”

She swivels to face me, and her face scrunches up as she tries to hold her laughter in. Sputtering, she nods several times, then manages to get a few words out. “That is one massive bus.” Laughter bursts out of her as she stares at my broad chest.

Huffing in irritation, I wait for her to find control.

When she continues to laugh, I can’t help but roll my eyes at her amusement.

Taking her hand in mine, I head toward the park exit, stopping only to purchase a flat cap to shove on my head.

It won’t hide my hair but will help shield my face from the cameras.

“Did you know your gryphon smells like juniper and myrrh?” She muses with a side glance toward me. “In human form, though, I can only detect the juniper.”

I tear my gaze from the map on my phone to give her an incredulous look, barely resisting the urge to sniff myself. “What does that have to do with anything?”

She lifts a shoulder, but her cheeks flush. “Nothing. Never mind.” Her gaze sweeps past me to the sidewalk in front of us. “I turned off my phone. You should too.”

Keeping her hand in mine, I veer north toward “seven”—the seventh safe house on our private list. It’s about twenty minutes away, but I haven’t been there and need to doublecheck the GPS. “I don’t know exactly where we’re going, and I can’t conjure a portal.”

After a few minutes, she tugs me to a stop. “I need water and a burner.”

Suspicious, I shake my head. “We need to keep going.”

Her right eyebrow rises. Jerking her hand from mine, she backs up a few steps. “Fine. I’ll meet you at the bank in two days.”

Furious, I step into her space. “You’ve got a whole fucking army after you. There’s no way in hell you’re going anywhere without me.” I lightly tap her chest with my finger. “You’re not dying on my watch. Got it?”

She brushes my finger away and pivots away from me.

“Don’t be so melodramatic. The leak is on your side.

Nobody knows my contacts or safe houses.

Besides…you’re not exactly inconspicuous.

I’m sure every camera in the city has picked you up.

It’s only a matter of time before they swoop in and grab us. ”

My jaw locks for a second, then I scoff. “I’m sure we’re both on their radar. You think you can disappear without them noticing?” In disbelief, I watch as she keeps walking. Striding up beside her, I grab her elbow.

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.

She snorts. “I’m not in London often, so I doubt they’ll detect a pattern.

Besides, it’s the safest place in the city.

” When I give her a skeptical glance, she continues.

“This is a special wing with private entrances, advanced tech, and a myriad of protection spells. Nasty ones. Trust me.” At the sight of my raised eyebrow or maybe it’s the expression on my face, her lips compress.

“Fine. Don’t trust me. Your choice. Quite frankly, I’m tired.

I need a shower, and this is where I’m staying. ”

I get into the elevator. “You’d better be right.”