hardworking. Notice that no one is carrying weapons.'
'None that we can see, that is.'
How like him, she mused with a grin, to suspect everyone of foul play. He was a warrior to the marrow of his bones.
'Get ready,' Gray said. To their left, a group of robed—what the hell were they? They were as ugly as legend claimed Medusa was, with too-big, black eyes, a too-big beaky nose, and hair comprised of serpents. Those snakes hissed and slithered from their heads. Gray slid his hand down, wrapping his fingers around Jewel's. They jolted into motion. Because his backpack was under his robe, he looked like he was some sort of humped-backed creature.
'Pull your hood tight around your face,' he said, and as he spoke, he fitted the hilt of one of his blades in his hand, covering the metal with the cuff of his clothing. When she complied, he added quietly, 'We're going to try and blend in with those snake—things.'
'Gorgons,' she said. 'Do not look directly in their eyes; if your gaze meets one of theirs, you will be turned into stone.'
'Ah, shit.'
'Why bother trying to blend in with them? No one will recognize us with these robes covering our faces, and we aren't being followed.'
'In case anyone is questioned, they won't know that two individuals entered the city at a specific time. Anyone who sees us will think we're part of this group, and I highly doubt the demon queen will make the connection.'
Ah, that made sense. If she hadn't been glad to have Gray with her before, this would have convinced her. 'I can project my thoughts into their heads and convince them we are not even here.'
'That tires you out, and I need you strong.'
The Gorgons didn't pay them any heed as they came up behind them. They were too busy discussing— my gods. Her ears perked, and she listened intently, frowning all the while. A cold sweat trickled over her skin. Back and forth the Gorgons threw comments about the demon and vampire armies that had passed through their village, demanding to know if they'd seen a human male and female. Jewel stiffened.
The vampires and demons were working together? How... odd. The two races had never outright warred, but they had never allied themselves, either. What had brought them to mutual terms?
Reeling, she glanced up at Gray. His face was partially shadowed by his hood, but she saw the grim line of his lips. Had he understood them? She projected her consciousness into his mind, but met with that frustrating block.
He squeezed her hand, and she bit her lip. Did he know she'd just tried to read him?
'Where were they headed?' she asked the Gorgon in front of her, using their harsh dialect of the Atlantean language.
All of them skidded to a halt and turned to her.
Gray growled low in his throat, but he kept his head turned.
'Well?' she demanded, pretending she had every right to be among their group and question them. 'Toward Javar's palace,' one of them answered, and they all kicked into motion.
Which meant her enemy was headed away from the Inner City. That was good, but... Why journey all the way to Javar's, the former High King of the dragons? Javar had been dead for many months, and Darius, the new king, had sent a legion of his men to protect the palace from invaders.
This made no sense.
The moment she and Gray passed through the city gates, they pulled away from the Gorgons.
'The point was to blend in with those things, not announce we were there and didn't belong,' Gray whispered in her ear, his tone fierce. He claimed the lead, but retained a tight grip on her hand.
Three-headed dogs bolted from behind a stone hut and frolicked around her feet as carts and vendors came into view. The scent of sweet pies and meat tempted her nostrils. Her mouth watered. Beautiful, brilliantly colored clothes greeted her eyes, and gems sparkled in the light.
She wanted to taste every kind of food, try on every piece of material, cover herself in the jewelry. 'Look for a weapons dealer.'
'Of course,' she said, a wealth of disappointment in those two words. 'Can we explore the city after?' 'We have to—' He threw a glance over his shoulder, then paused. He turned toward her, facing her fully. She slammed into him.
When she steadied, the long length of her lashes swept up and her gaze met his. 'Is something wrong?'
Silent, Gray stood in place, studying Jewel's face and the eager gleam in her eyes, making them sparkle like sapphires. A smile half curved her lips, and a rosy glow lit her cheeks. There was a palpable air of excitement radiating from her.
She'd never looked more beautiful, more alive—and the sight of her hit him straight in the gut. He was unable to move, could hardly breathe.
He'd thought to get business out of the way first. It had seemed like the most important thing at the time, the smart plan of action. Now, looking at her, the only thing he could think of, the only need inside him, was to make her happy.
During their trek to the city, he'd thought of nothing but giving this sweetly innocent woman the perfect gift. When she'd told him of the romantic play that delighted her mother, he'd heard the wistfulness in her voice and had known she desired the same for herself. He wasn't a writer; he wasn't an actor. But he didn't want to give Jewel the same things he'd given other women. Flowers seemed cliche and candy didn't seem good enough.
He didn't know why, he only knew that it was important, necessary, that he do something for her he'd never done for another.
She wanted to explore the city, then by God they'd explore the city.
'We've got a little time to play first,' he said, his voice rougher than he would have liked. Her eyes widened. 'Really?'
'Just be sure to keep your face hidden and be on the lookout for demons or vampires.' 'We're safe from them. They're headed in the opposite direction.'
'Sometimes armies hide in the shadows, sweetheart, and sneak inside. Now, where do you want to go first?'
Grinning, she glanced left and right, spun, glanced left and right again. 'There,' she said, pointing to a booth of jewelry. Something caught the corner of her eye, and she spun again. 'No, there.' This time she pointed to a table piled high with some kind of fruit and laughed. 'Everywhere. I want to see everything at once.'
The sound of her rich laughter was like a sensual battering ram, hitting him with thousand-pound force. He'd seen women take pleasure in shopping before, but never like this. Never with a potent enthusiasm that wrapped around him, tightening him in a delicious hold.
'Come on,' he said, taking her hand, loving the feel of her soft skin, her delicate bones. He led her to a table of sparkling gemstones. 'One thing at a time. We'll get to all of it, I swear to God.'
Her gaze lingered on the rainbow of jewels, and she gasped. Her fingers lovingly traced an emerald torque, caressed an amethyst ring, and savored a gold and silver linked chain. The amount of wealth glistening up at him was staggering.
A male creature manned the table and watched them with an assessing stare. Though he possessed the body of a man, he had the face of a bull, with horns jutting from his forehead and fur on his cheeks.
Kind of freaky to see, in Gray's opinion.
'See something you like?' the man—bull—
It was in that moment Gray realized he understood every word. The bull-man had spoken in the guttural Atlantean language, and so had the ugly Gorgons, for that matter. Gray had understood them, as well, and had listened to their conversation about the demons and vampires. He had simply been too wrapped in their words to realize they weren't speaking English. Now...
How the hell had he learned Atlantean? One day he hadn't understood a damn word of it, and now he knew the entire freaking language.
'Everything is so beautiful,' Jewel breathed, cutting into his thoughts. She raised an armband with one hand
