Because they were unconscious in an otherwise empty stone room with no exit.
“Shit,” I scurried backward. Right as a lead ball swung from the ceiling. It smacked the Caster Queen in the head and disappeared, knocking her back into me. I caught her dead weight, the Caster Queen now knocked out, and dipped low with her. “Get down, King Elon!”
Instead, he pivoted to the side, caught the lead ball that swung down, and yanked brutally. He ripped it from the ceiling and dropped it to the ground, his green, reptilian eyes scanning above.
He should have been looking at the ground.
A sledgehammer appeared behind him, swung up, and bashed the back of his head. The Gorgon King fell forward, falling on his face onto the ground, out cold.
“Oh…fuck.” I gently placed the Caster Queen on the ground and let my royal firepower flame in my eyes. I stayed squatted and didn’t move. I barely breathed. Whatever this was, it was tied to movement for each hit to be so well-placed. I yelled loudly through clenched teeth, “Wake up!”
I eyed their bodies for any flinch.
But…none moved.
“Fuck,” I growled. Then I shot my power down into my Fae-spark where my soul mate was. I pushed forcefully as fast as I could to heal his injury until I saw his eyes slowly peek open. Swiftly, I cut off the power. “Do not move, shifter. If you do, you will be hit again.”
Hesnarledsoftly, and his solid black eyes caught mine. “A sledgehammer came out of nowhere.”
“The same happened to King Elon. You are not special in that regard.” I ground my teeth together. “What do we do?”
“I would not argue if you wanted to burn this place down.” Hehuffedhard. “That was not a normal blow to the head. There was power behind it. It fucking hurt.”
“It was supposed to,” a smooth male voice echoed across the room. “How are you two awake?”
My attention slammed to…the caster leaning against the far wall. I bared my fangs in his direction. “This is your doing, caster?” My soul mate couldn’t turn his head to look at him, so any information I gave would be wise.
The caster wore a long, black robe, tied around the waist, as if he had stepped out of the bathtub to talk to us. He brushed his short, red twiggy hair out of his right eye, watching the flames burn in my gaze. “It is my handiwork, Your Highness. Though, I am not impressed with the outcome.”
“Neither am I,” I stated. “Release this spell.”
“I do not think so.” He waved his hand grandly around the empty room, like it was precious. “You do not see what I see. And we are not open yet. Not for another four hours.”
Instantly, his words held meaning. “Are you the owner of Maria’s?”
“I am.”
“What is your name?” I asked, since my soul mate was staying silent.
“Ruben, Your Highness.” He lifted a red brow. “Do I get to ask a question now?”
“No. You harmed my companions. You get to answer my questions. However many I want to ask.”
Ruben laughed, the echointense. “I will humor you for now. Go right ahead with your queries.”
I licked over my lower lip and glanced at my soul mate, unsure how to interrogate this caster. “Why is this gambling hall called Maria’s?” I took my eyes off my soul mate and peered back across the room to the man who made this mess. “Thisisa gambling hall, correct?”
“Yes, it is a gambling hall. Which I have protected for a long time.” Ruben cocked his head while he watched me as intensely as I scrutinized him. “The name of my business is obvious. It was named after a woman.”
“Who was the woman you named it after?”
Hetsked. “For that answer you will give me one.”
“One question,” I bartered.
Ruben nodded amicably. “It was my first question. How are youbothawake? And yes, I know the silent one is now playing possum.”
I chuckled softly. “I didn’t move.”
