Page 77

“I believe that’s a door behind you,” Bracken volunteered.

I turned and squinted into the dark. Oh. There was a black door that blended into the rock surrounding it. I took out my axe, moved forward, and then got shunted behind Mio.

“I’ll go first,” he grumbled.

I whispered, “Be careful,” as I followed closely behind.

He grunted his agreement and then opened the door. Light flooded in and my eyes slammed shut against the sudden brightness. I heard a gasp and the sounds of wooden things crashing into each other.

Mio roared and charged forward just as I caught Clive’s scent.

“Stop! Don’t hurt my husband!” I did my best to barrel past Mio, but that was a lost cause. The Minotaur was huge.

Clive picked Mio up, tossed him across the room, and lunged for me, holding me so tight I could hardly breathe. The axe was tugged from my hand. I looked to the side and saw Vlad carrying it off. He was probably right. Hugging with axes was frowned upon for a reason.

You’re here. You’ve come back to me, kept echoing in my head.

I’m okay, I told him. We just ran into more trouble than we were expecting.

At the sound of a shout, Clive turned us so we could both see what was going on. The barroom was in an uproar. Vlad was making for the Minotaur, swinging my axe. Bracken was racing after him, shouting No! Benvair was clutching Coco to her, while the other four men tried to hug her as well. Stheno was stalking after Vlad in her true form, yelling at him to Fuck off and leave Mio alone!

The Minotaur helped us and is our friend, especially Stheno’s, I told Clive.

Ah. “Vlad, stand down.”

Mio looked like he had no compunction about tearing both vampires apart. He snorted in rage, his eyes sparking red. Stheno stepped in front of Mio, her snakes hissing as she glared back at Vlad and Clive.

“They didn’t know, Stheno.” Tell him you’re sorry, I told Clive.

“My apologies,” Clive said. “I was worried about my wife and then someone I wasn’t expecting appeared. I shouldn’t have thrown you like that.”

Wait! I slammed a hand over my eyes and Clive’s. “Stheno! Eye patch! What the hell?”

“Relax,” she said. “Hades fixed my bad eye. I’m back to factory settings.”

“Ooh, nice.” I clapped my hands behind Clive’s neck.

Vlad leaned against the bar, studying the edge of the axe blade. “Sam, you really need to take better care of your weapons.”

Still dangling above the floor in Clive’s arms, I said, “It was in better shape a few days ago. It’s been through a lot.”

“Can we sit down and have you guys tell us what happened?” Owen asked.

The Drakes started picking up chairs that had been knocked over in the initial hubbub. Owen went to the bar. “Nikolaos? Can we get a round of grog out here?”

The barman came out of the backroom, did a double take on the Minotaur, and then started pulling out cups for the grog. “Return the canteens.”

The other three took them out of their packs and put them on the bar. Bracken held up the fourth. “I have yours.”

Clive didn’t miss how dented mine was. He crushed me to his chest again, resting his cheek on my head.

George and Alec pushed tables together and set up chairs in a ring around them as Owen brought over the full cups from the bar. Vlad remained at the bar with my axe, but everyone else sat down. Clive pulled me onto his lap, then handed me a cup.

Mio stared at the small wooden chair, looking as though he didn’t trust it to hold him. Bracken’s hand flicked and he said, “I reinforced it. It’s safe to use.” It was strange seeing Bracken in his old man glamour again. No one was looking at him strangely, so he must have had the presence of mind to change his appearance as he entered the bar.

Mio nodded his thanks for the sturdy chair and sat, Stheno at his side. She handed him a cup and took one for herself.

Owen looked between the four adventurers. “Someone start talking.”