Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
OTIS.
Gods above, women sure do squeal when they’re excited.
Though truthfully, it’s heartwarming to see the greeting Clem and Sammy give each other, both of them jumping up and down, arms wrapped around each other. I swear they’re just about crying.
We orcs tend to punch each other’s arms in greeting. We probably hug less than we should.
There you go again man, thinking about hugs. Going soft in the head.
Maybe that was our problem, we were all too busy maintaining our fierce facade as the family of Sheriff Bradley Cane. Big tough orcs protecting the monsters of the Labyrinth.
Until it all fell apart when Dad died. We weren’t good at taking care of each other when the shit hit the fan.
“Finally, you get to meet Arlo,” Sammy says. Her mate stands next to Jax, grinning his minotaur horns off, his nose ring glinting in the light.
Arlo steps forward and gives Clem a hug. He’s so big, he lifts her completely off the ground.
“Oh, my!” Clem says. “Strong.”
When he puts her down, she beams up at him, and I realize with a stab of envy that I want her to smile like that at me. Often.
“It’s so lovely to meet you finally, Arlo, knowing how much Sammy loves you,” Clem says.
“Likewise. Sammy’s been pining for you so bad, I almost got jealous.” Arlo grins.
“I can’t believe you’re here. It’s only been a week or so since Jax raised the possibility,” Sammy adds excitedly.
“The human authorities have been shadowing Clem,” Jax explains. “I decided not to wait any longer.”
“I’m so glad you didn’t.” Sammy puts an arm round Clem and hugs her all over again. “I’ve missed you so much, Clem.”
“I missed you too.”
“I’ve got so much to tell you,” Sammy says. “But for now, here’s a dress to wear.” She hands over a parcel. “Jax said you’d had no time to grab clothes before he portaled you down here. That cape sure bounces you around, doesn’t it?”
The two girls disappear into the spare room, chatting away, leaving me, Jax and Arlo together.
“Come in,” I mutter to Jax and Arlo. “Want a drink?”
“Yeah, why not.” Arlo bounds after me, hooves clattering, and Jax’s metal-heeled boots follow on the flagstone floor.
Back in my office, I go to the cabinet and grab the bottle of grappa I keep there. It’s our local liqueur, made from a green bean that grows in the market gardens on the south side of level one.
It tastes like shit, to be honest. But we’re used to it.
Jax sprawls into a chair. “Sorry about stealing the cape from the Vault. But I had to get there fast once I realized that guy was closing in on Clem.”
“You could have alerted me,” I grumble.
Arlo snorts. “Yeah, sure. You’d have given him the green light to use the portal cape, would you?”
“If I knew it was urgent, yes.”
“It was urgent when I rescued Sammy, but you still gave me shit for it,” Arlo grumbles. He’s referring to his recent trip to rescue his mate after the humans held her captive up in Sparkle.
“You know I don’t act rashly,” Jax says.
“True,” I concede. “It’s just, that cape is priceless.” I pour three shots of the grappa. “We only have a small amount of ancient magic, we don’t want it falling into the humans’ hands.”
“No-one saw me,” Jax insists.
“Talking of magic,” Arlo says as I hand the guys each a glass of bright green liqueur.
“How’s work going on the compoooters?” He stares at the chaos of screens and keyboards on my desk and scratches his horn.
No-one here really understands what I’m trying to achieve.
Since I found these computers a few years back, hundreds of them piled up in the Vault, I’ve been working on a system that will enable us to spy on the humans, find out what evil forces they’re using to keep us imprisoned.
It’s almost a full-time job in itself. Add my sheriff duties and I don’t have time to scratch myself.
The irony is, there was no way I ever intended to be sheriff of the Labyrinth.
I was working on my PhD in mathematics in the underground city of Gekarin, hundreds of miles east of this part of the Labyrinth.
And then Dad got killed, and the community requested I return.
Because that’s how things are here in the Labyrinth: you take on the role of your father.
Am I a natural sheriff? Nope, far from it. I really don’t enjoy having to enforce the law, but every time I ask myself what the fuck I’m doing, I think of Dad, and what he would want, and I do my level best.
I take a sip of grappa to stop myself from brooding.
“This stuff tastes evil.” Jax shudders, having sculled his grappa and slammed the glass on the one spare spot on my desk. He pulls out his vape, puts it to his lips and inhales.
Arlo holds out his empty glass. “I’ll have another.” I fill it and then down the contents of my own glass, resisting the urge to grimace. Drinking shots of grappa is a sign of respect to our monster heritage. It’s the only alcohol we had during the rebellion one hundred years ago.
The rebellion failed. Grappa remained the national drink.
Not a win-win. More a lose-lose.
A moment later the door bursts open and in comes Sammy, leading Clem by the hand. They’re both giggling. I immediately see why.
Clem is wearing a dress that’s way too big for her, bunched in at the waist with a belt. Sammy is plus size, Clem is petite. This is a summer frock of Sammy’s that would look great on her, but engulfs Clem in pink and mauve flowers. She’s still hell cute in it though.
She strikes a pose, hands on hips. “What d’you reckon?
” Her green eyes twinkle and I find I’m holding my breath, my fingers tight around the shot glass as a strange, syrupy feeling spreads over my scalp and down my spine, settling in my belly, as hot as the grappa that’s settled in my gut. And a hell of a lot more pleasurable.
What does this little human do to me?
Sammy chuckles. “I did offer her some socks to pad out her bra.”
Clem smirks. “I sure wish I had your curves hon, but sadly—no.” She pulls at the loose material around her tits with a little grimace.
“I’m going to ask Tippy to lend Clem some clothes,” Sammy says. “They’re almost identical in size.”
Jax snorts. “Be careful. She’ll try and take over every aspect of your life.”
“That’s not fair, Jax.” Sammy pouts. “Tippy is the kindest, sweetest…”
“—meddling witch you’ll ever meet,” Jax grumbles.
“Who’s Tippy?” Clem asks.
“She’s a vixen shifter—with witch heritage. Officially called a wixen. She works at our local diner,” I explain.
“Do not drink her green smoothies,” Arlo warns.
“Under ANY circumstances,” Jax adds, with emphasis.
I can’t help but smile, watching Clem’s gaze spinning from one to the other, trying to take it all in. Considering she landed here less than an hour ago, she’s doing amazingly well.
“Talking of Tippy, we could go to Digger’s Diner for supper,” Sammy says. “If you feel up to it, Clem?”
Clem raises her brows. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t want to overload you on your first day, especially after portaling here in that cape.”
“I’m fine,” Clem says, linking her arm with Sammy’s. “I’m just happy to be with you guys, and I’d love to dine out.”
There’s murmured agreement. I keep my mouth shut; I won’t be joining them. I’ve got so much work to do, and while the arrival of Clem has been a—not unwelcome—distraction, I can’t allow myself to indulge any further.
Then Sammy looks right at me. “Otis? You coming?”
“I’ll give it a miss,” I mumble. “Lots to do here.”
There’s a general groan from all assembled. I feel Clem’s steady gaze appraising me. Has she got the measure of my sad, boring life already, I wonder?
I stride around, gathering the empty shot glasses.
“Off you go,” I order. “Leave me to get on with my work.”
Sammy shakes her head. “Not without you, Otis, you never have any fun. We’re celebrating Clem’s arrival, and it’s a great way to start your working partnership. You’re coming.”
I make to say no again then, glancing over, catch Clem’s eye. She smiles encouragingly.
I can’t be rude to my new employee, can I?
“Okay,” I mutter.
Arlo slaps me on the back. “Good on you, big green fella. Let your hair down.”
“Considering my hair is buzz cut, that’s clearly not going to happen,” I grumble.
“Digger’s Diner,” Jax says to his sister, looping an arm around her shoulders, “is the best place to baptize your stay in the Labyrinth.”
“Plus, Arlo and I have some important news we want to celebrate with you.” Sammy’s eyes shine over at her mate. Arlo grins like an idiot.
“Can’t wait. Lead the way.” Clem laughs.
The two girls head out the door first, heads close together as they chat.
We three guys follow, ambling along behind them.
It’s not far to walk, I reason, and it will be nice to show Clem the marketplace.
I hope she doesn’t get totally overwhelmed by the huge contrast to Sparkle City, the multitude of different species, and the way we live down here in a maze of tunnels.
I reassure myself that she’s known about the Labyrinth since Jax had his accident three years ago, so it’s not a complete surprise to her.
As we head out the door and down the tunnel toward the central markets, my tight shoulders relax a little.
I’m amazed that I’m giving myself permission to have a night off.
And even more surprised to find I’m looking forward to it.