“No one owns people,” he said, despite the fact that he’d so glaringly justboughtsome.
She shrugged and brought her closed fist, and its treasure within, to her chest.“Whatever helps ya sleep through the night.”
He mostly tried to sleep in the daytime, and then he never slept enough.
“Nice doin’ bus’ness with you, Alobazzzzz.Come back anytime ya want.”
He already understood neither he nor the rest of his crew would ever return again—save for Félix.He’d return just once more.
For Félix, once was enough.
Chapter14
The Complicated’s Only Just Getting Started
Alobaz and his comrades had ridden theirshädreads over from the castle.The beasts—equal part dragon, pegasus, and shadow—were large and muscled, brutal and vicious.As much as Alobaz, as any of his crew, they were soldiers, hardened to the ways of battle.
“Please tell me we ain’t ridin’ one o’ those,” said the prettiest of the feeders, Jaeda, one of many who doubled as a whore.She sidled up to him but didn’t touch him.“Though I’ll giveyouthe ride o’ yer life.”
She’d made the identical promise to Alobaz every time they’d hired her company over the past several weeks.She hadn’t yet fulfilled that lofty promise.But at least she had learned not to touch him without his express permission.
The beasts huddled together in the shadows off to the side of the inn slash tavern slash brothel slash feeder den.They never tied up their shädreads.
Lev laughed.“Definitely not.No one rides our shädreads but us.”
“Can I get that in writing?”Aziza said with pursed lips that somehow managed to point at him.“And signed in blood?”
Last week, Lev had tried to mount her shädread, a female as feisty as her rider.He was still working out the resulting limp from his failed attempt.
“Nope.But I’ll let you bleed on me any ol’ time you want.”
“We’ll have to walk,” Alobaz said before Aziza could react—and she would; she always did.
Lev was the only one to groan, even though behind Félix, he was their fastest runner.Alobaz was third.
Besides Jaeda, the rest of the feeders and prostitutes were silent, watchful.Word must have gotten around quickly about the deal that was taking place in the tavern section of the establishment.The numbers of companions had rapidly and quietly swelled to sixteen, plus the young boy and girl.
With their present company, the walk would take them a couple of hours.Alobaz began down the dirt street, which had cooled since the sun set.The moon was high in the sky, the Fuerin Star trailing behind, her own faithful companion.
The emperor never gave Alobaz all the funds he needed.Even so, Alobaz allotted some of their budget for a wizard whose job it was to maintain the streets of Galmeen.Only now was the city’s former stench finally fading.It had been a constant assault since their arrival at the castle nearly six months before.
Félix and Night walked with Alobaz, far enough ahead that even those with fae hearing couldn’t eavesdrop.Without discussion, Ed, Aziza, Lev, and Moncho walked alongside their new charges—charges Alobaz sure as dragonshit didn’t need.The shädreads took up the rear.Their hulking frames, spiky teeth, and lethal claws guaranteed no one would approach them.
Before Félix could comment—and he would—Alobaz ran both hands along his face with a huff.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
Night nodded stoically.
“We don’t need any more complications.”
Night grunted.
“Tell me I’ll be flying back later,” Félix said.
“No choice now.”Alobaz had kept that same pair of rubies on him—always deep in his pocket—since his father stationed him at the castle.It was the emergency fund, in case any of his crew were in urgent need.He couldn’t be without it.
“No choice unless you want to hit up dearest daddy,” Félix said.
