Kraft glanced at her and thought her more than attractive. Fascinating, amazing, utterly lovely.
“For a lesser being.” Khent showed his teeth.
Then Riley showed hers, accompanied by a deep growl.
Seeing Khent’s surprise made the conversation worth it. Kraft laughed. “She’s a lot tougher than you think. Way too much for you to handle.”
Khent snorted. “I’m already bored with the conversation. Now what’s this scent of death all over the two of you?”
“We need Mormo.”
“Who?” Riley asked.
“The magician,” Khent explained. “Hecate’s slave.”
“Not her slave,” Mormo said as he popped into the room, which made Riley jump back. “Her dearest companion andassistant.” He turned to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Riley, is it? I’m Mormo.”
“Hello.” She hesitantly accepted the hand Mormo held out to her and shook it before quickly pulling away. “Kraft said we needed to come back for information about the trouble we just ran into. A vampire zombie.”
“It wasn’t a zombie,” Kraft argued and tucked into the rare steak on his plate.
Khent perked up at the word. “Explain.”
Riley kept a wary eye on him as she described the small skirmish at the bazaar.
“Let me see these protective markings of yours that failed.”
“No.”
He raised a brow.
“That can keep,” Mormo stated firmly.
After a moment, Khent shrugged. “Fine, but she’s committed yet another grievous sin which must be repaid.”
“What?” Kraft asked at the same time Riley said, “Anothergrievous sin? Buddy, I don’t even know you.”
Khent waved in her direction. “The lesser beings continue to talk in my presence without authority. Mormo, this has to stop.”
“Lesser being?” Riley snarled.
Kraft found her more attractive with every growl, snip, and snarl.
Mormo sighed. “Yes, yes, we’re all so very beneath you, Khent. It’s shocking you let us breathe your same air.”
“Exactly.”
Now Khent looked satisfied.
Kraft suddenly understood why Mormo lived in a perpetual state of peevishness.
“Kraft, come here.” Mormo waved him closer.
After taking a last bite of steak, he approached the magician. “What?”
Mormo waved a hand over him, easing a few twinges. Then Khent did the same, looking him over with more than his eyes, but with his reaper magic, assessing for life.
And death.
