Adrien lifted his chin and shook his head. “No, my small friend. I will be at her call even then. I will risk my life to make amends for risking hers.”
“It really was just an accident,” I assured him.
“Still, I will not sleep well in my bed until I have helped you in some way. If you will excuse me.” He bowed and slipped away before I could argue further with him.
I held up the whistle and pursed my lips. “He really didn’t do anything wrong. It’s because of my stupid magic that I almost died.”
“Your stupid magic helped mend me,” Marc reminded me as he brushed a finger over his eye patch.
My shoulders slumped, and I let out a sigh. “At least it helps someone. The rest of the time it’s either making crystals or making trouble.”
“You’ll find your way with it,” Marc assured me as he opened the door. “But for now, we’ll find our way through some steaks.”
“That should put some hair on you,” Ramaro agreed as he sauntered out ahead of us.
We both smiled and followed our short friend. Our booth was still unoccupied, and the waitress appeared the moment we sat down. She carried a tray with three huge plates, and each platter was loaded with food. There were potatoes, vegetables, medium-rare steak, and much, much more.
Like an exceptionally bloody steak that she set down in front of Ramaro. “All compliments of the house.”
Ramaro toothily grinned at the food. “Perfect.”
She bowed low to us. “Should you need anything, do not hesitate to ask.”
“We’ll be sure to do that,” Ramaro promised before he dug into his food.
Our waitress smiled before she slipped away with all the otherworldliness of her kind. I looked over my steak and licked my lips.
Marc picked up his fork and knife and smiled at me. “Shall we?”
I plucked my utensils from the table and nodded. “Definitely.”
We dug into the meal, and the plates were soon emptied. Ramaro fell back against the rear booth cushion and patted his swollen stomach. “We have to eat here every chance we get now that the food’s free.”
“I’ll ask Adrien to make a bed up for you in the basement,” Marc suggested.
Ramaro wrinkled his snout. “Not in that place. I’d rather sleep in the alley.”
I recalled the dry, cool cellar with those coffins and shivered. Marc noticed and rubbed his hand up and down my arm. “Are you cold?”
I sheepishly smiled at him. “Not so much that as a little dirty. I think some of the dirt from Adrien’s coffin got down my shirt.”
“Then we should get it out,” he suggested as he helped me to my feet.
I didn’t like the eager tone in his voice, and dug my heels into the floor. “Maybe it’s not so bad. I’m sure I can wait until we get back to the house-”
“You don’t have to worry about anything,” he assured me.
Ramaro hopped down and hurried after us. “What about seconds? Or thirds? We could have as many courses as we want!”
“You can stay as long as you want,” Marc assured him.
The agama scoffed and moved faster to rejoin us. “You’re not known as the Alluring Captain for nothing, Captain.”
I twisted my head around and lifted an eyebrow at my pusher. “The Alluring Captain?”
He flashed me a grin. “I did say I had many names in many ports.”
“But alluring?”
