His wings extended over the clouds, sweeping through the wisps of white as the pale light of dawn broke through the misty morning.

Maximus had been in the air since Poet had reached out to him, scouring the industrial area of South Bank for any signs of her. He had been hoping she would visit him again, and while he had been expecting her, her presence had come as a shock all the same.

She’s here somewhere, he thought, his giant body sliding lower toward a mass of abandoned warehouses, sniffing the air with his snout, trying to detect the sweetness of her scent through the foggy London morning. Tell me where you are, Poet, he begged, knowing that he had to return to his hotel before his massive form was seen soaring through the sky. He didn’t want to give up.

The previous night had been spent searching for Nick and Mya, his gut telling him that they were responsible for what had happened to the princess, but he had come up empty-handed. They were not at their respective flats, nor were they at any of their usual haunts, according to friends.

There is only one thing left to do, Maximus thought grimly, turning away from the river and flying back toward his lodgings.

He fell back into his form, his silver-grey body melding into his mortal form in the back alley. A drunk gasped when he landed, but Maximus left him in peace. The old-timer posed no threat to him.

Not the way Poet poses a threat to you, an unwarranted voice chimed in his head.

Maximus scowled and slipped in through the back entrance. His immediate concern was not what was going to happen after he found Poet. It was if he was going to find Poet at all.

You should just let the chips fall where they may, the devil on his shoulder told him. You will be better off without that girl. This problem is taking care of itself.

“Shut up!” Maximus barked aloud as he entered the lobby. Several guests eyed him oddly, but he ignored them. He forsook the elevator and climbed the stairs to his room, grinding his teeth together as he contemplated what he was about to do.

It’s the only way, he thought. If I go to the police with my suspicions, they will wonder how I know so much and probably detain me until it’s too late. Once those two have the money, they will kill Poet.

But Maximus also knew what was going to happen if he reached out for help. He shook his head, vowing to deal with that later. He couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.

Shoving his way into his room, he reached for his cell, dialing before he could change his mind.

“Hello, brother,” Titus greeted him. “I am surprised to hear from you after our conversation last night.”

“I need your help,” Maximus told him without preamble. “I need you to trace two mobiles for me.” There was a long pause.

“I could do that,” Titus agreed.

Maximus knew that. After all, his brother owned one of the biggest technological corporations in the world. Tracking a cell phone was less than child’s play; it was almost second nature.

“Here are the numbers,” Maximus said, reaching into his pocket for the cards he had secured from Professor Kincaid.

“Before I do this for you,” Titus interrupted, “you have to tell me what this is about.”

Maximus was silent, debating lying to his brother, but he knew that Titus would eventually hear the news one way or another.

“I am looking for the girl,” he answered. “She’s in the hands of these people.”

“Max…”

“Titus, I have to find her!” The passion in his voice must have instilled something in Titus, because Maximus heard him inhale sharply.

“Max, Father wants you to go home.”

“And I will,” he replied shortly. “After I find Poet.”

Another long pause ensued.

“Give me the numbers. I will see if I can get their location,” Titus relented.

Maximus sighed with relief, almost shouting the numbers into his brother’s ear.

“Hang on the line,” Titus instructed.

Maximus sat on the edge of his bed, his heart racing with anticipation. Outside his window, the sun fought to break through the gloomy clouds. Maximus took it as a good sign.

It’s going to be a good day, he told himself optimistically. A quick glance at the alarm clock told him that it was eight thirty, and his optimism was immediately gone. In a few hours, it would be too late.

“Can you go any faster?” Maximus finally asked, the stress of the moment affecting him to the point of shaking.

“I’m going as fast as I can,” Titus replied smoothly. “Talking to you is prolonging the trace.” Maximus chomped down on his lower lip to prevent any more outbursts. “Okay,” Titus said. “I have a trace on one phone. The other one is off.”

“Text me the address,” Maximus said tersely.

“I already did.” As he said it, Maximus’ phone pinged.

“Thank you, Brother,” he said sincerely.

“Maximus!” Titus called before he could hang up.

“Yes?”

“You better know what you’re doing,” his brother said. “By saving her, you’re only prolonging the inevitable. If she knows what we think she does, there is no way to protect her from Father.”

“I will deal with that later,” Maximus said grimly. “I have to go, Titus.”

“Max…”

“Titus, I don’t have much time.”

“Be careful,” Titus murmured. “Despite his unbalanced mind at times, Father can still be a ruthless enemy when he’s lucid.”

“I am perfectly aware,” Maximus replied tensely. “You forget I have lived it for the past seven hundred years.”

“I haven’t forgotten anything,” Titus answered. “On the contrary, it seems you are the one who has forgotten. I am just reminding you. Do what you must and get home before he comes looking for you. God knows he hasn’t been out in the world for centuries. Who knows what he’ll do if he finds you and her together.”

“I have to go,” Maximus said again. He had enough to worry about without imagining Rui flying into London like some mad dragon king, hellbent on killing Poet. He disconnected the call before Titus could say anything else.

Glancing at the address, he felt his heart welling with disappointment. The phone had pinged from the apartment Maximus had listed as Nick Taylor’s last known address. Either Nick was there, or his phone had been left behind. In any case, Maximus had no choice but to go back to Oxford and look for Nick again.

On a whim, he texted Titus, not wanting to be kept on the phone with his brother again.

Can you check the numbers and see if they move or relocate?

Slipping the phone back into his pocket, Maximus opened the door to his hotel.

“Mr. Maximus Williams?” the plain clothed policeman in front of him asked, flashing his badge. Maximus stifled a sigh and nodded.

“Yes,” he answered.

“Chief Inspector Charlie Downs,” the policeman introduced himself. “Will you please come with me, sir?” His question left no room for argument, and Maximus suppressed the urge to run, knowing that it would only cause him problems in the future.

“Of course,” he replied tightly. “Where to?”

“Scotland Yard, sir. We have some questions about your whereabouts last night.”

Maximus drummed his fingers on the table impatiently, glancing at his wristwatch again.

They haul me down here and then leave me waiting for an hour, he thought grimly, pulling out his cell phone. There was no text from Titus yet, so Nick Taylor might still be at his flat, if he had been there in the first place.

It was ten o’clock, and Maximus had had enough. He rose to his feet, pulling open the door just in time to see Chief Inspector Downs walk in.

“It looks like we keep running into one another when you’re on your way out,” the copper joked. Maximus did not smile.

“I’m sure you’re aware that King Henry is supposed to be making a ransom drop in exchange for his daughter soon,” he said curtly. “I would rather be waiting on news about Poet’s return than staring at the walls in here. No offense.”

“None taken,” the detective replied, smiling. “And I can see your eagerness to leave, so let me get right to it, shall we?”

“Please,” Maximus agreed, turning to take a chair across from the inspector.

“Can you tell me where you were last night?” Downs asked, and Maximus felt his back tense.

“I was out looking for Poet,” he answered, trying to keep his voice steady. “I haven’t been able to relax, and I needed to keep myself occupied, futile as that seems.”

“I see. How did you do that?”

Maximus’ eyes met the inspector’s, and he felt a small fission of alarm coursing through him.

“On foot,” he said slowly. “Why do you ask?”

“Why would you think she’s within walking distance?”

“Can you tell me what this is about?”

“I would prefer to ask the questions here, Mr. Williams,” Chief Inspector replied evenly. “Can you tell me where your search took you?”

Maximus shrugged. “I’m afraid I can’t. I am not familiar with London, actually.”

The lead detective’s face twisted into a smile that didn’t meet his cold, grey eyes.

“That was going to be my next question,” he sighed, sitting back. “How did you manage to weasel your way into the princess’ life, under the radar of her security?”

Maximus bristled, fully understanding that he was being questioned about the kidnapping again. There was no time for these trivialities. “We met on campus at Oxford. I was auditing classes, considering taking some of my own. I happened to see her, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

“Ah, love at first sight,” Downs said. “How romantic.”

“Look, mate,” Maximus began, “I know you have a job to do here, but I really think you would be better off getting ready for the hand-off, don’t you? Something tells me these people are not pros. They are taking on a kingdom, after all.”

“People?” Downs echoed. “More than one that you know of?”

Maximus grunted in frustration. “You can’t hold me here without cause,” he said shortly. “I know my rights.”

“Do you spend a lot of time with the police then?”

“Don’t twist my words,” Maximus snapped, rising. “If there’s nothing else—”

“You are free to go, Mr. Williams,” the inspector said, “but I do have one last question for you. How did you manage to evade the detail we had on you last night?”

Maximus froze in his spot. Of course. Of course they had been following him. They had suspected he had Poet all along, and he had almost blown his cover by shifting last night.

“I cannot speak to the incompetence of your own men,” he replied. “It seems to be a recurring theme around here, though. First the princess is kidnapped from under the noses of the King’s Guard, and then you lose your eyes on me.”

The phony smile faded completely from Downs’ lips.

“We are watching you, Williams,” he growled. “We will find where you have hidden her, and you better pray that not one hair on her head is harmed or you will find your testes in a vice until kingdom come, do you understand?”

“Forgive me if I have absolutely no faith in your abilities as an enforcer of justice,” Maximus spat back, reaching for the doorknob. “Good day.”

He hurried into the corridor, glancing over his shoulder to see if he was being followed. It felt as if all eyes were on him, but he knew he had to shift if he wanted to get away undetected. He had to find Nick and Mya before noon. Once they had the money, it would be too late for Poet.

Maximus rushed outside, ducking through the side streets and looking for a place to hide until he could gauge his surveillance. He glanced at his watch again. It was ten thirty.

Shit! he cursed. I need to get to Nick’s flat.

The tube was the only solution. It would ensure his anonymity, even if he was being followed. In morning traffic, he had a good chance of getting where he needed to be.

Maximus ran through the streets, trying to orient himself with the nearest subway station. Pulling up his phone, he downloaded the underground map and finally found the entrance to St. James Park. He made his way to the platform and stole onto a train heading west, where he lost the reception on his phone.

God, please still be there, he begged, his chest pounding as he willed the train to move faster toward his destination. He was cutting it too close, knowing that the pick-up was near. If Nick was still at his flat, he would be raring to leave any minute.

Maximus hoped he was not too late.

He barely felt his feet on the steps leading into the street, and it took everything in his power not to shift into flight as he sprinted through Oxford. Spinning around the corner of Reading and Herkimer Streets, Maximus saw Nick’s flat looming before him.

At that moment, his cell phone pinged in his pocket.

Your boy is on the move. He just left the location I gave you, Titus’ text read.

Maximus raised his head, almost as if he had been guided by an invisible string. Nick raced down the front steps of his building, a panicked expression on his face.

Without pausing to think, Maximus increased his pace. He pushed past the unsuspecting pedestrians, knocking some aside as he closed the distance between him and his unseeing prey. His heart thudding, he leaped into the air, his body transitioning on primal need. As his mouth jutted into a scaly, reptilian face, his wings broke free from his shoulders.

A scream of terror filled his ears, but Maximus did not turn to see who he had terrified in his shift. He only had eyes for the rodent scurrying down the street, only several paces from him.

Nick never saw him until Maximus was atop him, pinning the skinny grad student to the ground with massive, pinching claws. The smell of urine filled his nostrils as he emanated scalding puffs of smoke.

“Where… is… she?” The voice he emitted was otherworldly and terrifying.

Nick’s face turned translucent with fear. “Wh-what are you?”

Maximus’ head fell back, and he released a screech so loud, all the window in the vicinity reverberated. The swell of screaming increased, and even in his most primitive state, Maximus knew that he had precious seconds to get the information he needed.

“Where… is… she?” he repeated. The words hurt coming from the depth of his charred windpipe, but he would not relent until he had an answer.

“S-S-South B-B-Bank,” Nick choked. “Near the—”

Maximus did not allow him to finish. He bared his rows of teeth, a gleaming mass of silver and white reflecting off the sun’s rays as he plucked Poet’s captor up on one jagged canine. Tossing him carelessly onto his majestic back, Maximus began to run, his claws clicking against the pavement as the hordes ran out of his way, ducking for cover.

With a final ferocious roar, Maximus jumped into the sky, his leather wings covering the street in a shadow before he spiraled upward into the sun. At the last moment, knowing that Nick was about to fall off his scales, Maximus leveled his body, feeling the light fall of the boy against his back.

You can’t die yet, he thought grimly. Not until you take me to Poet.