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slightly. “Sometimes grownups have differences of opinion, but it’s nothing for you to worry about. You’re safe, little Miss.”
    She nuzzled her furry head under his chin and settled down in his lap as he reclaimed his seat near the fire. The woman—stronger of will than he had expected—sat opposite them at the scarred wooden table. Her cunning gaze took in everything about the way Miss relaxed and sought shelter in his arms. Tomlin stood at his side, fear on his young face.
    “Tom, would you fetch refreshments? There’s a good lad.” He sent the boy off with a reassuring wink though Tomlin looked back over his shoulder several times as he made his way across the common room toward his father and the kitchen entrance.
    Hugh continued to stroke Miss’s neck and back, trying to reassure her. It was clear she did not like the tension in the air and Hugh regretted scaring her. She was a very sensitive youngster.
    The woman watched, saying nothing for several moments. That surprised him. He would’ve expected any other woman to launch into a barrage of questions or criticisms. Instead, this foreign beauty simply watched him with a measuring gleam in her fascinating hazel eyes.
    Tomlin arrived with a tray that held finer crockery than Hugh had seen in the inn before. No doubt Mrs. Hobson was pulling out all the stops for the high born lady visiting her humble establishment. Tea and cakes on a dainty plate were placed in front of her by Tomlin’s shaking hands. Something about this lady had even the boy on edge. When Tom had finished setting out the teapot and cups, he took his leave faster than Hugh had ever seen him move. He headed back to his father on the double and stayed there, watching their table with wide eyes.
    Miss’s head rose and she eyed the goodies on the table. Hugh didn’t know if gryphons ate sweets, but he figured a little sugary treat wouldn’t hurt her. He picked out a fruit pastry and held it for her. She sniffed at it curiously before her little tongue licked out and took a swipe of the fruit spread on the surface.
    Her eyes lit with pleasure a moment before she practically pounced on the rest of the pastry, taking it between her paws as she sat curled on Hugh’s lap. Hugh was very aware of the lady sipping her tea and watching them with a deliberate, measuring gaze. He was also careful to monitor the level of magic in the air around her, but so far she hadn’t made another aggressive move. She seemed more into watching him than making another move toward Miss. Which was fine with Hugh. He wanted to know more about her.
    Not for any personal reason, he assured himself. True, she was gorgeous in a foreign sort of way and there was a sparking intelligence behind her dreamy gaze. There was no doubt she was a beauty of the first water. Not that it mattered to Hugh. If she posed a threat to Miss, he’d take her down just like he’d take down anyone or anything that threatened the youngster.
    “Mr. Hobson tells me you claim never to have dealt with a gryphon before. Yet you are very good with her.” The woman’s soft voice sent a shiver down his spine, shocking him. Since when did nothing more than a sexy female voice have the power to make his cock twitch with interest?
    “Is that merely an observation or a question?” He sat back in his chair, keeping careful hold on Miss even as he moved instinctively away.
    “Mr. Hobson says you are from Draconia.” She changed her tactics as she took a dainty bite out of a pastry. “What brings you to Helios?”
    “With due respect, milady, that is my business.”
    Her eyes narrowed but she held whatever her first instinctual words would have been. For a moment she focused on the food before meeting his gaze once more. A challenging light was in her eyes.
    “What is the source of your magic?”
    A direct question. Hugh had to admire her nerve.
    “I was born this way,” he countered, stroking Miss’s flank with a subtle, deliberate slowness. He