“That’s why we’re here. We want to free Acheron.”
Nick expected Kody’s words to relieve her. Instead, Xenia stared at her in horror. “It’s impossible.”
“It can’t be,” he said.
Xenia’s eyes filled with tears. “Believe me, I’ve tried everything I could think of. Nothing’s worked. Cyprian turned him to stone and then gifted him to my grandfather. He’s kept in a garden that’s guarded by Cyprian’s pet attack dragon.”
“Hey! That’s not fair. How did he get an attack dragon? I want one!”
Xenia smirked. “He captured a Were-Hunter and spelled him so that he can’t change into a human. Makes for one pissed-off dragon who would give anything to kill Cyprian.”
“So, if we befriend the dragon, he’ll let us through?”
Xenia rolled her eyes. “It’s not that simple.”
“Have you tried?”
“No, but—”
“But nothing. I say we try.” Nick looked at the others for corroboration.
Kody folded her arms over her chest. “Don’t argue, Xen. You can’t win. Believe me, I’ve tilted that Malachai many a day until my head is sore just from the mere thought of trying to argue him down. Let him try. He often surprises me.”
“In a good way, right?” Xenia asked.
Kody slid her gaze to Nick and laughed. “Sometimes.”
“Hey,cher. I’m not that bad.”
“No, but you arethatstubborn.”
He’d argue with her, but sadly, it was the truth. “Can we get to the statue?”
“Maybe. We’ll have to be careful.”
Xev sighed. “What soul-sucking demons are between here and there?”
“Do you really want me to run the catalogue of everything we might face?”
Xev and Bubba exchanged a disgusted grimace. “What do you say, Bubba? Should we just be surprised?” Xev asked.
“I like it. Add some spice to our already screwed-up lives. Why not?”
Kody shook her head. “I don’t like walking blindly into danger. Other than the dragon who may or may not be befriended, is there anything else on an epic scale we need to be on guard against?”
“Man-eating plants,” Xenia said. “Murder holes. Demons … The list is actually rather long.”
“Goody!” Nick rubbed his hands together. “Let the insanity begin!”
Kody let out a pained groan as they headed for the door.
Nick didn’t say much. Rather, he was grateful to have Xev and Bubba with him. Not so much Kody. He’d have rather she stayed behind where it was safer. He hated putting her in danger.
But what choice did they have?
At least he knew she could take care of herself. God knew she’d pulled his fat out of the fryer enough times to prove she was actually better at hand-to-hand than he was.
Course, his Malachai powers made a mockery of hers, and that was what concerned him. Cyprian wouldn’t pull back.
