‘‘Here,’’ I whispered to Gabriel as I came out of the shadow world. The door handle had a couple of spots on it that glittered even in the dim light of the naked bulb overhead. ‘‘This has to be it.’’

‘‘Get behind me and stay shadowed,’’ he said, pulling a gun out of his jacket pocket.

I blinked in surprise at the weapon. Most people in the Otherworld scorned the use of modern weaponry as too crass for a society that valued personal abilities over brute strength. But such things weren’t unknown, although I had no idea that dragons subscribed to the use of firearms.

‘‘I don’t under normal conditions. I prefer a sword for close contact, but I do not trust Kostya to hold to such things as honor.’’

I didn’t have time to answer that before Gabriel screwed a silencer on the gun and shot the lock three times, kicking the door open immediately thereafter.

Dagger in hand, I remained shadowed as I followed him into the apartment. It was small but neat, a tiny kitchen immediately off the entrance. That opened into a main living area, which held the usual couch, TV, and a couple of bookcases. It was empty of dragons, however . . . and anyone else.

‘‘There?’’ I asked, nodding toward a closed door. Gabriel moved so fast I couldn’t keep up with him, although the sound of the door being slammed back made me jump. I hurried after him, stopping in surprise at the doorway.

Gabriel knelt on the bed between two people.

‘‘Are they all right?’’ I asked, coming out of the shadows to offer him my dagger. He cut the bonds holding Maata and Tipene, both of whom had been securely bound and gagged.

Maata started talking the second Gabriel had her gag off. I didn’t understand what she was saying, it being in some language that had an oddly beautiful cadence. As soon as he got her arms free, she sat up and saw me, switching immediately to English.

‘‘I knew it was only a matter of time before you found us, although it took a little more time than I’d hoped. Excuse me.’’ She bolted to a room leading off the bedroom.

Gabriel cut the bonds holding his other bodyguard. Tipene looked furious as he leaped off the bed.

‘‘We have failed you, Gabriel. I will resign my post immediately.’’

Gabriel looked at him with somber appraisal for a moment before grinning and enveloping the larger man in a bear hug. ‘‘Now is not the time for foolish talk. We have much work to do in finding Kostya.’’

‘‘Kostya? Is he here?’’ Tipene asked with a puzzled frown.

‘‘It wasn’t Kostya who kidnapped you?’’ I asked.

Tipene shook his head. ‘‘No. It was two others, the two ouroboros who took us in Greece. They used drugs on us!’’

The outrage in his voice was clearly evident.