Julius had no idea. Hiding had been his life for so long, he’d never actually put much thought into what else there was to do. The only thing he knew for certain was that he definitely wasn’t going back to the mountain, but beyond that, he had no clue. It must have shown on his face, too, because Ian sighed.
“Let me put it another way,” he said, setting his drink down on the table. “What do youwantto do? I have several businesses that can always use someone competent. I’d be happy to start you out somewhere in my organization in exchange for a few favors.”
That didn’t sound like something Julius wanted to touch with a ten foot pole, but his brother had still given him an idea. “Actually,” he said. “I think I’d like to start with the payment for this job.”
Ian smiled as he reached for his phone. “Now you’re thinking like a dragon. Very well, how much do I owe you?”
“We didn’t actually agree on a specific amount.” Which was a mistake Julius wouldneverbe making again. Right now, though, the oversight actually worked in his favor. “I was wondering if I could ask for a different kind of payment, though. You own a lot of properties in the city, right?”
“A few hundred,” Ian replied casually. “Including our family safe house, which I presume is still standing after its recent Justin infestation?”
“Last I saw,” Julius said, though the mention of Justin’s name made him wince. Overbearing as his brother could be, Justin had come through for him in spades tonight. He was trying to think if there was any way he could get back in touch with Chelsie and ask her to be lenient when Ian cleared his throat and snapped Julius back to the conversation.
“Sorry,” he said quickly, smiling at his brother, who was looking dangerously bored. “I was just thinking that, instead of paying me money, you could let me use one of your buildings instead. I’m thinking of starting a business.”
Now Ian looked flat-out shocked. “What wouldyoudo with a business?”
“Make something of myself,” Julius said, pulling himself a little straighter. “You and Mother were right, I wasn’t going anywhere hiding in my room. I’d like to change that, but I need a base to operate out of, preferably one without a human landlord to worry about. So if you’re offering me payment, that’s what I’d like. Please.”
Ian tapped his phone, thinking it over. “That’s highly suspicious,” he said at last. “But I don’t see any reason why such an agreement wouldn’t work. Come by my office tomorrow afternoon and we’ll go over your options.”
“Thank you, Ian,” Julius said, but his brother was already turning away, lifting his phone to his ear to take a call Julius hadn’t even heard go off. Leaving him to have his conversation in private, Julius got up and went to the kitchen in search of Marci.
He found her standing by the sink, emptying something out of her purse into one of Jessica’s stainless steel colanders.
“Hey,” she said when he came over. “I hope your sister doesn’t mind me using her strainer. I tried to find an older one, but I swear everything in this place is brand new. It’s like a show apartment or something.”
“That’s Jessica,” Julius said, looking over her shoulder at the half dozen long, sharp, black objects Marci was now rinsing in the colander under a scalding spray of water. “What are those?”
“Magic eater teeth,” she replied, moving her hands so he could get a better look at the blade-like fangs. “I found them on the ground when I was looking for my Kosmolabe. I figured they were probably worth something, and since I’m going to need money to fix my car, I picked some up. Really glad I did, too. I looked them up while you were asleep, and according to the Thaumaturgy forums, these things have all kinds of unique properties, not to mention the bounty.”
Julius looked at the teeth with new interest. “They have a bounty?”
She nodded. “A big one. Since wounded dragons aren’t exactly common here, magic eaters in the DFZ prey primarily on spirits, and this being a spirit’s city, the money on them is off the charts. Justin probably burned a few million’s worth while he was rampaging.” She sighed sadly. “Ireallywish I’d thought to grab a head. There were several lying around that weren’t too badly scorched.”
Julius’s lips quirked in a smile. “Actually, that’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about.” He moved around to her side, leaning on the marble counter so he could look her in the face. “What are your plans now?”
“I was just wondering that myself,” Marci confessed. “I’d like to go back to school, but I’ve got no money and this semester is pretty much a bust. Honestly, even with Bixby dead, I’m not comfortable going back to Vegas. He and my dad screwed over a lot of people, and it’s not a very friendly town for me at the moment, if you get my meaning. I guess I’ll just look for a job here.”
“I’m happy to hear you say that,” he said. “It so happens that I need a job as well, one that’snotfor my family, and I was thinking, if we’re both free, why not work together?”
Marci blinked at him. “Doing what?”
“I haven’t quite figured out the details yet,” Julius said, reaching over to pick up one of the magic eater teeth. “But I think we’ve established that this city is full of nasty things that are worth a lot of money if you’re willing to take them on. Considering how awful the civic services are here, I bet there are also people who would be willing to pay us handsomely to clear said animals off their property. That plus the bounties and the magical parts we could collect adds up to a pretty nice income, so I’m thinking about starting a business to take advantage of it. Sort of like magical pest control. I’ve already got a building lined up and everything.”
Now Marci just looked impressed. “A building? How’d you manage that so fast?”
“I’m not acompletefailure as a dragon,” Julius said, flashing her a confident smile to hide how nervous he actually was. “So what do you think? You said yourself that we make a good team. Want to help me keep it rolling?”
Her eyes lit up so fast, he could almost see her forcing the excitement back down. “Could I have my own lab?”
“You can have whatever you want,” he said, spreading his arms. “I’ll make you co-owner, just come help me. Please?”
“Deal,” Marci said immediately, her face splitting into a glowing smile as she stuck out her wet hand. Julius took it gladly, grinning back just as wide as they shook on it.
“Oh, man,” Marci said, turning back to the sink. “A dragon and a mage doing bounties in the DFZ! We are going to makebank.”
“Hopefully,” he said. “But, please, no more getting people over barrels and shaking them. I don’t like it.”
