Roque had to duck slightly to avoid hitting his horns on the low-hanging chandelier with only half enough candles to illuminate the room as they entered.
“This is a mistake,” Dimri muttered as he scanned the room.His arms hung casually at his sides, but Roque knew he was ready to defend himself.
“We need information,” Roque replied.“And we need it now.”Before something happened to Berith or the people he cared about.
Like in any tavern in town, the patrons were a mix of demons.Allof them turned to stare when Roque and Dimri walked in.It was intimidating, but Roque held his head high and forged ahead.
There was a demon behind the bar.Roque almost asked Dimri if it was Medea, but he didn’t want to gather even more attention than they already had on them.The demon was stocky, with ram’s horns curving back from her temples and skin the color of dried blood.Her yellow eyes narrowed at them, and Roque knew that Dimri had been right.
Dammit.
“Look who’s there,” she said loudly, her voice carrying across the suddenly quiet tavern.“If it isn’t Prince Berith’s favorite pet.”
Roque wanted to snap, but he couldn’t afford to.Instead, he strode toward the bar, hoping it would be enough to make this conversation mostly private.“I need to ask you some questions.”
Medea laughed.It wasn’t a nice sound.“And you think I’ll answer?”She leaned forward and scraped her claws against the wooden bar.“I think you’re confused about where you are, pretty boy.”
Roque was offended.No one had ever called him pretty boy.He wasn’t pretty.He was rugged and powerful.“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” he said, leaning forward.Maybe he could charm her.
“There’s only one way to do this, and you’re not going to like it because it ends with your blood on my floor.Pity, too.I just cleaned.”
Roque glanced at the grimy wooden floor.He seriously doubted that was true.Was that blood in the corner?Yeah, he was pretty sure it was.
Roque noticed Dimri reach behind his back, no doubt for whatever weapon he had hidden there.He kept most of his attention on Medea, though.She was dangerous, but he wasn’t done with her.
“We’re looking for someone,” he told her.
“And why do I care?”
“Maybe you do, maybe you don’t.Doesn’t mean you can’t tell me.”
Roque wasn’t surprised when she reached under the bar top.He’d expected her to be difficult.He lunged forward, but Medea was ready for him.She jumped over the bar as if she did so daily, her claws extended and aimed for his throat.
Roque caught her wrists, holding her back, but she twisted in his grip like a serpent.Her knee came up toward his stomach, and he had to release one of her hands to block her.That was the opening she needed.Her free claws raked across his cheek, leaving four burning lines there.
“Get them!”Medea shouted.
This wasnotgoing how Roque had hoped it would, dammit.
* * * *
DIMRI HAD KNOWN THISwould go to shit, but he’d hoped that against all odds, Roque would be right.
He hadn’t been.
The patrons didn’t need to be asked twice.A demon with bat-like wings launched himself from a nearby table, while another with a scorpion’s tail lashed out from Roque’s blind spot.Roque was busy with Medea, and since he and Dimri were working together, it was Dimri’s job to have his back, even though he wanted to kick his ass.
Dimri spun, his fist connecting with the winged demon’s jaw with a crack that sent him sprawling.Dimri could fight, but he could tell this was a desperate situation.There were too many people in this tavern who were seemingly eager to hurt him and Roque, and the confined space wasn’t helping.Roque had even refused to take a few moments to tell the guards where they were going, which meant no one would be coming to help them.They had to get out of there on their own.
Luckily, Dimri had a plan.
“Roque!”he yelled.“This way!”
As Dimri watched, a demon with tusks grabbed Roque from behind, trying to pin his arms.Roque drove his elbow back, and Dimri caught his wrist, pulling him toward the stairs.This wasn’t just a tavern, but also an inn.Medea had rooms upstairs, and those rooms had windows that led to the roof.
Medea’s voice rose above the screams and the sounds of things and demons crashing together.“Don’t let them escape!”
The staircase was barely wide enough for Roque’s shoulders, but Dimri didn’t care.Behind them, the demons were coming, and they couldn’t afford to waste even a second.Dimri reached the top first and kicked open the first door they encountered.Someone screamed when he barged in, but he didn’t pay them attention.
