That can’t be the sorcerer. He’s a hot little twink with shimmering blue hair styled in a dramatic pompadour, wearing a tight white vest and white pants. As we move in his direction, his gaze snaps to my face, almost as if he was expecting me, which is obviously impossible.
Drax slots his fingers between mine, holding my hand protectively. “Let me start?” he asks. “I can get a read on him before we interact too much.”
“Sure.”
We slide up to the bar, taking two stools right in front of the man. He’s got a name tag on, Alenor scrawled in a fancy font.
“What can I get you sexy boys?” Alenor says, his tone far more biting than it should be.
“A bit of your time and knowledge,” Drax says, to which Alenor tilts his head.
“About?”
“A mage named Rune.”
Alenor raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow and scowls. “What do you want to know about that scoundrel?”
“So, you know him?” I ask.
“Indeed. He’s my ex, so if you’re here to stake your claim on him, have at it. I don’t care where he puts his dick anymore.”
“No, it isn’t like that,” Drax says quickly. “We’re mates. Not looking for another.”
Alenor’s gaze shifts to me and as he searches my eyes, I feel naked and exposed, like he can see parts of me I’d rather he not.
“Stop that,” I mutter.
“Apologies,” Alenor says. “Just taking a little peek.” He leans back against the sleek black bar. “What do you want to know about Rune?”
“Any idea where to find him?” I ask.
“Why? Are you going to kill him?”
“No,” I say at the same time Drax says, “If we must.”
Alenor glances back and forth between us. “What do you want with him?”
“He has something we need,” I answer. “Something he took.”
Alenor huffs. “Ah, yes, he does that. He’s been on a mission for years to eradicate the planet of cursed and dangerous objects. I assume what he has of yours falls into that category.”
“It’s a cursed amulet,” Drax explains, “and it’s very dangerous in the wrong hands. Is he motivated by eternal life?”
Alenor shrugs. “I don’t know what his motivations are. All I know is he’s obsessed with the balance of light and dark, of good and evil, and he’s made it his mission to restore the balance.”
His answer pokes at me, and I wonder if Auri’s intentions with the amulet are good, bad, or neutral. Maybe he just wants it because it’s pretty. Maybe, like a dragon, he’s just a collector. Like Drax said, Auri is already immortal so the amulet wouldn’t help him in that way, but he might know of another, more sinister use. Too bad I can’t let that influence me. Not if I want out of this mess I got myself into.
“Do you know where he is?” I ask.
“Maybe,” Alenor says. “But I’m not sure why I should tell you.”
“What would you like in return?” Drax asks.
“What do you have to offer?”
Drax looks at me and I shrug. “What?”
“Your collection. You might have something he wants.”
