“Boy was heever. I got him to wear an actual saddle, and when I have a riding crop in my hand, let me tell you?—”
“I need to actually get going,” Nick said quickly, bending to snap Prometheus’ leash on. “Rain check?”
Sugar made an agreeable noise, climbing the stairs, her stilettos in her free hand. “Okay, go do some worshipping to that temple you call a body.”
“I don’t think that’s how it goes…” Nick trailed off, smiling at her back.
Opening the door, Nick ushered Prometheus out in front of him and locked it behind them. The building they’d lived in before their battle with the Sun god was gone, but Parker had rented a new apartment in one of the fae trees that were becoming popular apartment destinations.
The magic involved in moving their door had been complicated, and he hadn’t understood half of it, but in the end, Lorraine had come in, declared it safe, and left them to it. As he headed down the stairs, Prometheus pulled on his leash, dancing excitedly until they were on the street. Then the demon-dog was off, and Nick laughed, catching up in a few strides.
The streets were dark, the sun barely cresting the horizon, and he could hear his own feet loud on the asphalt. Cars passed by him and the dog, only a few slowing when they caught sight of Prometheus’ glowing eyes.
Nick loved San Amaro in the morning.
Before Parker, San Amaro had always been one stop, one step on his path leading up to the position of chief of police. He thought he’d start in San Amaro, head to the LAPD, then SFPD. At some point, his good work would get noticed, and then he’d be in a stronger position to be appointed chief of police. Some elbow grease, some politicking, then he’d be able to make larger, structural changes.
After Parker, though… Well, his husbandwasSan Amaro. Even after the city changed, Parker was still someone who always knew a guy, who always knew the place that had the best sushi, who always knew where to find a black market bazaar.
ButthisSan Amaro, the San Amaro at five in the morning, this one belonged to Nick. The streets were quiet, but businesses woke. He saw a group of succubae and incubae gathered together at the local donut shop, turning in unison to watch him hungrily as he jogged past.
The World Tree grew in the distance, ever present, no matter where you were in San Amaro. Sometimes during sunrise, you could see what looked like small creatures flying between the exposed branches. Nick had been close enough to know they were species never seen on Earth before.
Brock, who sold newspapers and cheap coffee to people getting on the bus to go to their jobs, waved at him and tossed a dog biscuit that Prometheus caught in midair. Nick waved and cut left through a park where a group of women were practicing yoga under a massive tree. Parker would know what kind of tree. He headed for the center of the park, and Prometheus tugged hard, dragging him over to a fountain, where the dog jumped up, his forepaws resting on the edge, tongue drinking heavily. Steam rose from his face as the water doused some of the flames.
“That probably isn’t good for you,” Nick said, stretching his quads as he watched the dog. “I don’t think you’re supposed to drink that.”
Prometheus shoved his whole face into the water, tail wagging happily.
Another jogger passed them, a woman wearing earbuds and a warm smile. She circled around the large fountain and came close, grinning.
“I don’t think he’s supposed to do that,” she said.
“Yeah,” Nick sighed. “I’ve told him, but it hasn’t hurt him yet.”
And no dark prince had taken him to task for injuring his pet, so Nick counted that as a win.
“You know, I know someone who trains dogs if you want me to put you in touch with them.” The woman leaned forward and put her heel on the edge of the fountain, stretching as she spoke. “We could exchange numbers?”
“Oh, it’s, uh, he’s not that bad.” Nick tugged on Prometheus’ leash, and the dog resisted for a moment before pushing off, wagging his tail as he wound himself around Nick, effectively trapping him with the leash.
“No, it wouldn’t be a problem—” The woman stopped, staring.
The remaining water evaporated off Prometheus’ face, and his eyes lit brightly. His mouth fell open in a grin as Nick tried to untangle himself from the leash. Finally, he dropped the leash altogether, stepping out of the mess.
“Oh my god, don’t let him loose!” The woman took a few steps back.
Nick looked up, but she was already gone, and he sighed. “It’s okay, buddy. Let’s go home.”
Prometheus’ whole backside wiggled, and he practically dragged Nick back out of the park. The city was more awake, more cars, more pedestrians. Nick waved to the owner of the copy shop on the ground floor of their apartment building before heading upstairs.
The smell of breakfast greeted him, and Prometheus barely waited for him to take off the leash before bounding down the hall and skidding into the kitchen.
“Woah, buddy,” Parker said. He bent low and scratched behind Prometheus’ ears, and the dog leaned into the touch, falling on his side when Parker took away his hands. Under the stove, a single paw reached out and swiped until Prometheus stood and moved to the other side of the kitchen, whining pathetically.
“Runt,” Parker said in warning. “I told you, there’s enough foreveryone, okay?”
“I’m going to take a shower,” Nick said.
