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‘‘She went to Paris,’’ Jarilith said quickly as he dashed for a door to a back room. ‘‘I don’t see the harm in telling you that as you are related to the lady. Your portal is ready in room number three. Have a pleasant journey . . .’’

His voice trailed off as he bolted.

I turned a frown on Gabriel. ‘‘You really wouldn’t have let me be bad cop? I’m very good at it, as you can see.’’

‘‘I’m sorry,’’ he said, his dimples belying the grave look he was trying to maintain. He gave me a gentle push in the direction of the room containing our portal. ‘‘Wyverns have some standards to maintain with their mates, and one of them is always being the bad cop. Although I do admit that you have a particularly effective manner. Would you really have castrated him to get the information about your twin?’’

‘‘Would you really have burnt him to a crisp for not answering?’’ I countered.

Gabriel grinned. I smiled back at him.

‘‘Such a bloodthirsty little bird,’’ he said fondly, giving my butt a little pinch.

Savian stood still for a moment, giving us an odd, disbelieving look before shaking his head and following. ‘‘You two are the strangest couple I’ve ever met. And I have to tell you—I’ve met some real weirdos.’’

It was early evening by the time we made it to the house that Gabriel said was Drake’s home away from home while in Paris. The portal we’d taken had ended up dumping us in a slaughterhouse, which I am horrified to admit caused me to behave in a manner that no doubt embarrassed Gabriel by the quality of dramatics I felt necessary.

‘‘Ironic that you’d react so strongly to a little pig’s blood given that you just threatened to cut off someone’s balls,’’ Savian’s voice said over my head as I hunched over a railing and vomited up my last meal.

I heaved again, scrabbling at my ankle sheath, blindly waving my dagger in his direction.

‘‘Shutting up now,’’ he said. He laughed as he said it, though, the rat.

‘‘There is a mortal saying about those who live by the sword,’’ Gabriel started to say.

I wiped my mouth on a handful of tissue and straightened up enough to glare at him. ‘‘Not the time, dragon.’’

‘‘So I see,’’ he answered, his dimples trying hard to emerge.

‘‘I wouldn’t if I were you,’’ I told them with a black look.

He laughed and rubbed the small of my back. ‘‘Are you better now?’’

‘‘Moderately.’’ I looked down at myself. ‘‘Ugh. I’m covered in animal blood. I need a shower, a toothbrush, and a fresh change of clothes. I don’t suppose you keep a house here, too?’’

He shook his head as he escorted me away from the railing, Savian trailing behind us. ‘‘No. Our clothing will be at Drake’s house. We will go there and see what he has found out.’’

Luckily, it didn’t take long to get to Drake’s house. I eyed it as Gabriel paid off the cab that had dropped us at its door. ‘‘Are all you wyverns loaded like this?’’ I whispered as we entered the house.

Gabriel’s lips curled. ‘‘Do you fear I won’t have enough resources to keep you in the style to which you have become accustomed?’’

‘‘Hardly,’’ I said with a snort. ‘‘My apartment consists of one room, three bookcases, and a bathroom I share with two girls next door.’’

‘‘There you are. We’d almost given up on you,’’ Aisling said as she caught sight of us.

‘‘I don’t suppose anyone has heard from or seen Cyrene?’’ I asked once Savian was introduced and a brief explanation had been given of our past few hours.

‘‘No, we haven’t seen or heard from her. Do you think something happened to her?’’ Aisling asked.

‘‘All we know is that she left London for Paris in the company of a dragon.’’ My gaze flicked over to where Drake stood.

‘‘Kostya?’’ he asked Gabriel.

‘‘We do not know for certain,’’ he answered carefully. ‘‘Although it crossed my mind.’’

‘‘Why would Kostya want to come to Paris with Cyrene?’’ Aisling asked.

I shook my head and trudged wearily up the stairs to the room she had given us. I puzzled over that very question while I washed off the effects of the afternoon. It didn’t seem to