10. Maldenis #3
They had all agreed it would be best for the Drakkon to stay hidden while they poke around, but would be on standby in case anything happens.
This, of course, did not sit well with Hektor, and the entire drive here he’d been more anxious than a long-tailed chimera in a room full of rocking chairs.
Maldenis couldn’t blame him though, since he was leaving his mate vulnerable, surrounded by beings he’d been taught to despise. If Liora—
He stopped those thoughts. Liora wasn’t anything more than a temporary wife. Sure, he wouldn’t want her to get hurt, but he didn’t care for her more than that.
“Alright. Liora, Elian, come with me.”
He slid out of the driver’s side and waited for Liora and Elian so they could all head inside.
The lobby of the Felsenloft Lodge was warm and cozy, the rough wooden furniture covered with thick flannel throws and pillows. A fire crackled at the far end, and the whole place smelled of woodsmoke and something baked.
It was busier than Maldenis expected. A satyr couple had claimed two high-backed chairs by the fire, drinking from a bottle of something red.
A family of sirens moved through the lobby in a loose cluster.
Near the staircase, a cyclops girl in a white flower girl dress stood clutching a wicker basket, a few stray petals still clinging to the bottom, watching the room with her one large eye.
They got a few looks—mostly aimed at him. Basilisks were desert creatures, and the highlands would not be their first choice for a holiday. Ignoring them, they continued through the reception area.
The front desk clerk—a massive minotaur with large ivory horns and thick, shaggy rust colored hair that covered most of his eyes—greeted them with a low, rumbly growl. “Welcome to the Felsenloft Lodge. Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes,” Maldenis spoke up. “Under Maldenis. Or check Melora.”
The minotaur turned to the computer monitor to his right, then tapped on the keyboard. “Ah yes. Here we are.” He grabbed some envelopes from the drawer beside him, then slid them across the desk with a single, black-nailed finger. “Here you go. Three rooms.”
Maldenis cocked his head to the side. “Three?”
“Yes,” the clerk answered. “A single room and two couple suites. We’ve already made the necessary modifications for your nest, Mr. Maldenis and hope you find it to your liking.
The views of the crags are particularly radiant at sunrise.
If you require assistance with your trunks, I shall have our porter attend to them immediately. ”
“No, no,” Liora shook her head. “There must be some mistake. That’s not enough rooms.”
Elian swiped one of the envelopes. “I should freshen up after that long drive.”
“What? No, I’m taking the single,” she protested. “Give me that key.”
“And where am I supposed to sleep? I’m not bunking in with Zara and Hektor.”
Maldenis tapped his fingers on the desk. “Sir, whoever made the reservations must have sent you the wrong information. We need four rooms.”
The minotaur glanced at his monitor. “Nope, the instructions we received were for three rooms.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “Just give us another single.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, ma’am.”
“What do you mean? Surely you have other rooms.”
The minotaur shook his head, sending his reddish locks swaying.
“I’m afraid not. We’re hosting a big wedding today.
” He gestured toward the garden patio, where rows of chairs had been laid out, decorated in swathes of tulle and clusters of white and pink wildflowers.
“We’re booked up for a wedding, you see.
In fact, you were only able to obtain those last three reservations because a few guests had to cancel. ”
“I guess you guys are bunking in again.” Elian hitched the strap of his duffel bag higher on his shoulder. “I mean, you are married.”
“Accidentally,” Liora reminded him. “And only for a year and a day.” She let out a breath. “There’s really no other room here?”
“No. You can try the youth hostel down the road.”
She shuddered. “I’ve stayed in one of those before. Never again.” Her lips pursed. “Alright, I guess I’m going to have to stay with you again.”
“I guess so.”
Fuck. For the next few nights, he was going to have to share a space with her.
A very intimate space at that. Sleeping next to her was one thing, but he would have to watch her do her evening routine in those cute capybara pajamas, see her wake up the next day with bedhead, maybe watch her as she slept.
“C’mon,” she grumbled as she took the remaining envelopes from the desk. “Let’s get these to Zara and Hektor.”
Maldenis was thankful they didn’t stay in the suite for very long.
Just as the clerk said, the views of the crags were amazing, and the way they laid out the nest made him want to curl up in the middle and burrow underneath the thick flannel blankets and soft feather pillows.
However, they had work to do, and with the evening approaching, they had to move fast. After they dropped their things off and Maldenis dressed in two layers of sweaters, they headed down to the lobby restaurant for dinner.
“I don’t see why we can’t just relax a bit,” Zara said. “Look at this place. It’s like the perfect cozy mountain getaway. They even have a real fireplace. I could be snuggling in bed with my mate right now.”
“I wish for that too,” Hektor—who was with them via speakerphone on Zara’s cell as he remained in their suite—said. “But according to our source, the underground gambling ring only starts at night.”
“Which means we need to find it tonight or else we’ll have to wait another day,” Elian continued.
“But how are we supposed to find this place? And this Brontaios?” Liora asked.
“Minotaurs are crafty and loyal, they will not simply give up the identity of one of their own,” Hektor began.
“This Brontaios sounds like he is high up in his clan’s organization if he runs such a profitable business.
His identity will be hidden by layers and layers of security.
Even if we manage to find this gambling den, we must accept the possibility that we might not even get close to him tonight.
We must prepare to stay here for a few days. Perhaps weeks.”
Stay here? In the same room as Liora for the next few weeks? That sounded like pure torture.
“So, we can’t just ask around?” Maldenis suggested.
Liora scoffed. “Didn’t you hear what Hektor just said? They’re gonna protect someone important like him.”
“That doesn’t mean we can’t ask,” he said. “I mean, what about…” He glanced around, then saw a waiter headed their way, holding a tray laden with empty coffee cups and plates of half-eaten cake. “Excuse me!” he called.
“Maldenis,” Liora hissed. “What are you doing?”
“Just hold on.” He waved her protestations away with a hand as the waiter approached them. “Hi there.”
“Good evening, sir, what can I do for you?” The waiter was slender for a minotaur, probably still in his late teens. His muddy brown hair was brushed back and he wore a crisp white shirt and black linen pants.
“This is ridiculous,” Liora said.
Ignoring her, he asked the minotaur, “Do you know a Brontaios?”
“What?”
Maldenis sat up straight so they were face to face and he could look him in the eye. “Brontaios. Do you know him?”
“I—” A strange look passed over the minotaur’s face, then he said, “Yes. I know him.”
“Really? Where can we find him?”
“He runs an underground gambling den in town. Hidden under the Krusty Krag. It’s a bakery on Dunhaven street. Go ’round the back, knock five times, and give the password.”
“What’s the password?”
“Minotaur.”
Wow, original.
“Thanks, you’ve been very helpful.”
“Anything else I can do for you, sir?”
“No, you can go.” He turned back to his companions. “See? That was easy.”
Liora eyed him suspiciously. “Yeah…almost too easy.”
“Who cares?” He shrugged. “Now we know where to look. So, why don’t we all order something to eat, then head to this Krusty Krag so we can find this guy.”
The triplets were still eyeing him weird, but he ignored them and grabbed the menu, mentally patting himself on the back.
Maybe this guide thing wasn’t going to be so hard after all.