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Clive flexed his fingers and shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“Good.”

Clive finished the blood bag and glanced up the stairs. “Have you heard anything?”

Nodding, Vlad told him, “It sounds like they had an interesting day, with a couple of divine visitors.”

Clive checked his watch. The sun hadn’t set yet. He could feel that, but it was close. “She’s been down there…thirty-eight hours. Anything could have happened. And I wouldn’t know.” This was so unlike him, but he couldn’t feign disinterest, not where his wife was concerned. “I can’t sense her. I can’t hear her heartbeat.”

He rubbed his forehead. “I have no idea if she’s just on a long journey and is doing fine or if she’s been dead for the last thirty-eight hours while I sit here and wait for word.”

Vlad patted Clive on the shoulder. “As your wife would say, no one likes an emo vampire.”

Clive’s lips tipped up. “I believe she has said that.”

“Take heart,” Vlad told him. “The gods and goddesses wouldn’t be popping up if the quest had failed. If they’re still around, that means our people are alive.”

A light came into Clive’s eyes. “You’re right. I haven’t been thinking clearly.” A moment later, the heat in his blood cooled. The sun had gone down.

Clive and Vlad stood in unison, both moving to the stairs to join the others. Owen, George, and Alec sat at a table with mugs in front of them.

Owen grinned, lifting his mug. “Grog. Who knew?”

George laughed, leaning over and kissing Owen. “This one’s drunk.”

Owen opened his mouth to argue and then closed it. On a shrug, he took another sip.

Clive looked out the window and saw Benvair drinking tea on the patio. “Do you think we could gather everyone and you could tell us what we’ve missed?”

Alec nodded. “We were waiting for you. Grandmother’s right there.” He pointed out the window. “And last I checked, Fyr was sitting on the edge of the cliff, hypnotized by the waves.”

When Alec made to stand up, Clive waved him back down. “I’ll take care of it.” Even though he knew the dragon matriarch had heard their conversation, he still went to make the formal request.

Stepping out onto the patio and closing the door, Clive said, “Good evening, Benvair. What a beautiful view you have.” He watched the changing colors of the sky with her for a moment. “Because of our schedules, Vlad and I missed what happened today. Are you available to share your day with us?”

Benvair had kept her eyes on the sunset while Clive spoke, making sure he understood she wasn’t at his beck and call. She checked her watch and then nodded, never turning in his direction. “I’ll collect Fyr and we’ll be along soon.”

“Thank you.” Clive returned to the bar and was met with a smirking Vlad sitting on a barstool.

George and Owen were talking, paying no attention to what was happening on the patio. Alec, though, tilted his head to the side and raised his eyebrows. When you were surrounded by beings with perfect hearing, it was imperative to learn to communicate through facial expressions.

Clive nodded, taking the seat beside Vlad.

Because Benvair was making a point, she and Fyr took their time. When they finally made their way into the bar, they sat at the table with George, Owen, and Alec.

“Good evening,” Clive began. “Vlad and I wondered if you might be good enough to share your days with us, as we missed the events.”

“Oh!” Owen’s hand flew up in the air.

On a laugh, George grabbed it and pulled it down, holding on to it. He nodded at Owen, encouraging him to go on.

“Right,” Owen said. “George found the stairs to the Underworld. We went down and found the entrance too.” He shook his head. “Let me just say, no, thank you. Anyway, George was considering whether he should go in.”

“Excuse me?” Benvair glared at her grandson.

George patted Owen’s hand, clearly trying to get him to edit his story. “I was just thinking,” he told his grandmother.

“Right,” Owen continued, not picking up on the tension. “I was upset too and told him no way. Anyway, a goddess appeared behind us.” He shook his head in wonder. “She was ethereal, perfect dewy skin and long black hair. She was like some goth queen.”