The copián tsked at him. “So very violent from an immortal who can spare an hour with no problem whatsoever. Think of it like those humans who donate spare change for charity. An hour is but a penny, and you have a jar full of them just sitting in your home that you’ll never use. Why not give one to someone who really needs it? Why be so selfish?”
“Because you’re assuming they’ll use it for good, when I know for a fact that most people who barter with you don’t have kindness in their hearts.”
“True, but sometimes that trash they take out on their way to the grave is a service in and of itself, is it not?” He cast a pointed stare toward Urian, whose gaze narrowed dangerously as the old bastard struck a tender nerve with the former Daimon who’d once made his meals off the worst sort of humanity so that he could elongate his life.
Blaise sucked his breath in sharply. “Word of advice when dealing with these two? I wouldn’t go for the twofers on the insults. Even with the zeitjägers as backup. I mean, let’s face it. They’re not being peaceful at the moment because they don’t know how to be violent… however, I’ll be the first to say have at it if you can get us out of here. You can take two hours from me.”
The copián scowled at Blaise. “Two?”
“Yeah. One for me and one for Brogan. I’ll pay her fee.”
She gasped at his offer. “Why would you do that?”
Blaise shrugged. “Being stuck here has been punishment enough for you. As noted, I won’t miss two hours out of my life. I’d have just wasted them in a movie theater, anyway. And this way, I get to do something useful with them and be a hero to you. That’s a loss I can live with.” He winked at her. “Besides, I don’t intend to leave here without you.”
“Suck up, show-off,” Falcyn muttered. Then louder, “Fine, take mine.”
Medea hesitated as a bad feeling went through her. She couldn’t explain it, but something in her gut didn’t like this. And the look in Falcyn’s eyes said he was every bit as suspicious.
If the others felt it, too, they gave no clue that anything was out of the norm.
“So how do you take this time from us?” Medea glanced back to the zeitjägers.
The copián laughed. “It’s already gone. As I said, you don’t even miss it. You didn’t even know we did it.”
Falcyn leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Told you. Insidious bastards.”
No kidding. The only clue was the strange slurping sound the zeitjägers made. At least, she assumed it came from them.
Maybe not.
Yeah…c-r-e-e-p-y.
The copián walked toward the portal and lifted his staff. The moment he did, the portal came alive with swirling, vibrant colors. He moved his staff through it until the mist began to mimic his movements.
Red fire shot out from the torch and was absorbed by the mist.
“It’s ready.”
Urian grinned at Medea. “Ladies first.”
She rolled her eyes at her brother. “Like you’d know if I didn’t make it.”
“You might be polite and scream… then again, it isyou. Maybe Blaise should go first? I know he’d scream to warn us.”
He turned an angry glare to Falcyn. “I thought you weren’t going to tell anyone about my screaming fits?”
“I didn’t. That was Max who outed you.”
“Oh.… Remind me to kill him later.” Blaise headed for the portal. “Fine, I’ll go through first.”
Brogan took his hand. “I’ll go with you.”
Touched by the gesture, Medea headed up the platform to the strange humming beast that seemed to have a life of its own. Yet as she reached the portal, Falcyn held her back.
He quirked a peculiar smile at her. “In case my usual luck holds and this all goes to hell.”
Before she could tell what he intended, he lowered his head and captured her lips with the hottest kiss she’d ever been given. He held her as if she were the most precious thing in his world.
