Tremblay crossed his arms and declared, “It’s still too risky to take a chance on.”
“What would you suggest as an alternative, then?” Kensington asked, with more patience than the situation deserved. “We just pick a direction at random and hope for the best?”
Tremblay opened his mouth, then closed it, and seemed unable to give a response to that.
“Research aside,” Zach said. “I know aural beacons work because I’ve been using them forthousandsof years.” He glared at Tremblay. “How long have you been practicing magic for again?”
“I don’t think we can discount Zach’s experience in this matter,” Cavendish told Tremblay diplomatically. “I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.”
“Fine,” he huffed. “But when we end up chasing our tails, you all know who to blame!”
“Now that we’ve got that sorted,” Kensington drawled. “Let’s take one another’s hands and form a circle.”
Zach was quick to step in between Kensington and Cavendish, not confident he wouldn’t crush the bones of Tremblay’s hand if he was forced to touch him right now. Kensington shuffled them around until he was facing the direction of the village, and then the air pressure dropped as he said the spell.
They popped into existence on the same path they’d taken, but this time the glow from the lava lake was much closer. Once again, Zach immediately sent a tendril of magic off in search of Drew’s aura, but because he knew which direction to point it in, thepingof his magic locating it was much faster.
“We’re good,” he told Kensington.
They teleported in hops and jumps several more times, and each time, Drew’s aura got stronger and stronger. Unfortunately, it never got so strong as to show he was still in the settlement. They would need intel, though, so at least they could stop and ask questions and try to determine if anyone had seen Drew, and if so, where he might have gone. Oh, and by any chance had he mentionedwhat the fuck he was looking for?
They all took a moment to glamour themselves before they entered the village, and Zach led them towards the inn from before. Not only was it where he assumed Drew probably went, but it was also guaranteed to have an abundance of chatty demons who would be willing—for a pint or a coin or two—to speak to them.
When they reached the square where the inn was located, they discovered a large crowd of demons milling about, watching the inn with fear in their eyes. The small group approached them, only for a large bang from inside the building cause the demons to jump, shriek, and take several steps back.
“What’s going on?” Cavendish murmured as they watched one very large, very furry, and very dangerous-looking demon bury his face in the chest of his friend and whimper with fear.
“I have absolutely no idea,” Zach said, shaking his head. He spied the innkeeper and led the others through the crowd to him. “Hello,” Zach greeted him. “Can you tell us what’s happening?”
The innkeeper glanced over at them and said, “If you don’t wish to be torn limb from limb, I would leave now while you still can.”
Zach frowned. “But why? What’s going on?”
“There’s something inside,” the innkeeper said in a low, trembling voice. “Something that should never see the light of day. We’re doomed. All doomed!” he finished dramatically.
“Forgive me if this is a dumb question,” Zach said carefully. “But if it’s so dangerous, why is everyone just standing around waiting? Shouldn’t the town be evacuated?”
“It can’t kill us all at once,” the demon said matter-of-factly. “I know I’m faster than most here, so I’m sure I can make it somewhere safe before it’s finished.”
Zach pursed his lips and nodded, unable to dispute that logic. People everywhere—demons, human, angels, everyone—were nosy fuckers who loved rubbernecking at unfortunate incidents.
There was another loud crash from inside the inn, and the door bulged outwards as something inside tried very hard to get out.
“On second thoughts,” the innkeeper said, already backing away. “I just remembered I have somewhere to be . . .” He turned and fled.
Before Zach could suggest they make a strategic retreat to assess the situation further, there was another loud thump, and then the door to the inn exploded outward. Splinters and bits of wood went flying into the crowd, but no one seemed to notice the projectiles when an enormous beast started stalking towards them.
“We’re all going to die!” a demon screamed and pushed through the crowd in an attempt to escape.
The beast knocked demons over, stepping on fallen bodies and limbs as it single-mindedly made its way across the square.
Straight towards them.
The air was filled with terrified cries, moaning and whimpering, and shouts to run away. Zach just grinned and opened his arms wide.
“Hey, boy! What are you doing here?”
The urco lunged at him, knocking him to the ground, and proceeded to lick every inch of his face.
