Chapter 3
The radio in the bar seemed to be running twenty-four-seven, in part so the vampires could improve their English, but also so Nan and Noah could keep up with the news.
Today, the Prime Minister was calling for calm and promising that issues such as food supply and housing would be sorted out; however, because of the global nature of the disaster, it was going to take time.
In the worst-hit places, the military was rolling out to build temporary shelters. His cousin Rhett was no doubt involved.
The military personnel who weren’t helping with temporary shelters were assisting with disaster relief, search and rescue, and security. The Prime Minister reminded everyone that the mythological people were stuck here and that it was their duty to assist.
Noah was sure that a lot of people didn’t consider it their duty to help anyone but themselves. He saw the comments on social media and the videos ranting about monsters.
He wanted to show people that it wasn’t all bad, that having dragons out the back was…if not fun then interesting. But it was still an idea, and he wasn’t sure about it.
He carried plates of food out to the bar for everyone to share. Nan was still using what was left in the fridge, and the vampires were bringing what they had. So there was always a weird selection of fruits and dishes from their world, along with today’s bacon and cheese bread rolls.
The clothes Feryn had given him weren’t uncomfortable, but they were odd compared to what he was used to wearing.
There was no zipper on the pants for a start.
Instead, there were two flaps and buttons.
The shirt was long enough to cover his ass and felt as though it was a size too big, even though Pan had assured him it was perfect.
The appreciation in his gaze had been the only reason Noah kept the shirt on.
Well, that and he had no other clothes. Even his boots and socks were previously owned by a dead vampire—Feryn had done a good job of finding the correct size clothes and boots.
The boots were very nice, hand-stitched with tiny vines.
While Noah had been out with the dragon, Nan seemed to have made friends with the vampires and one of the vampire children. She hadn’t even been too bothered about staying in the palace.
Even with Pan sleeping next to him, Noah had woken up several times. He didn’t know if it was because the bed felt strange or if the palace was filled with strange noises—creaks and groans as the stone and glass and wood settled into its new home.
There was a part of him that wanted to explore. How different was a vampire castle from the many human ones that dotted the country?
When he first arrived in Wales, he’d made the effort to go and see all the nearby castles. The ones that were preserved and the ruins. Now there were vampire palaces and mythological buildings.
There was an entire city mashed into the town he called home, and he’d only walked a tiny portion of the streets. But he didn’t really want to be exploring the town dressed like a mythological person, as he might attract unnecessary attention.
Last night’s misadventure with the coat seemed like a dream…
but the coat had been there in the morning when he had woken up.
It was still there now, lying on the bed and taunting him to put it on to see if it had been real.
Pan assured him the coat was safe in the palace, but Noah’s gut was tied in knots anyway.
Noah added extra tomato sauce to the bacon and cheese roll and took a couple of bites, knowing that he needed to make a plan for the day, but not sure where to start.
Someone knocked on the front door of the pub, and everyone turned.
Since Nan was out back, Noah figured it was his responsibility to unlock the door and see who it was.
He placed the bread roll down and walked over.
The soft leather boots barely made a sound on the worn wooden floor.
He opened the door, ready to tell the regular that they were closed and that he didn’t know when they were going to be approved to open.
But it wasn’t a regular wanting to come in. It was far too early for a regular…but not for a farmer.
Oh shit.
The farmer gave him a nod. “I’ve got those ten cows. Where do you want me to put them?”
Noah stared at the man. He hadn’t forgotten about the cows, but they hadn’t been at the top of his mind either after the coat incident.
The male dragon appeared from around the corner of the building and started sniffing what must be the farmer’s four-wheel-drive and trailer. The dragon clicked and cooed.
Was he asking to take one or calling to his mate?
The farmer turned to look and blanched. “I don’t want that thing damaging my car.”
“He won’t,” Noah called over his shoulder. “Silas, can you come here for a moment?”
Pan strolled over, still holding his bacon-filled bun. The dragon chirped at him, and Pan replied before addressing Noah. “If they eat all of that, they will make themselves sick. Not only that, but I’m pretty sure you don’t want all those dead animals out back. That’s going to start to smell.”
“No shit,” Noah said.
“They ain’t fit for human consumption, and I don’t want no one getting sick,” the farmer said as though Noah was secretly thinking of hoarding ten dead cows for himself.
The dragon kept chirping and clicking.
The farmer gave Noah a look that suggested he hurry the fuck up.
Noah swallowed and turned to Pan. “Would the werewolves like some beef?”
“Why can’t humans eat it?” Pan took another bite of his bread roll and chewed.
The farmer stared at Pan as though he were a little stupid. “They weren’t killed right. And they have sat out. They aren’t my problem, as the agreement was that you’d sort them out. So where do you want them?”
“What’s the problem?” Nan wiped her hands on her apron and joined them at the door.
“Two greedy dragons and ten dead cows that we agreed to take off the farmer’s hands.
” Pan had a way of summarizing things that made it seem as though the solution had already been found.
“I recommend giving the dragons two, though I cannot guarantee they will eat them all at once, so it might be a little bit… Well, if we don’t relocate them soon, it’s going to start to smell out there. ”
“Start to smell? My husband’s socks smelled better than that,” Nan said.
Noah was pretty sure that a rubbish bin full of week-old vomit, in the middle of an Australian summer, smelt better than the car park.
And it wasn’t because the dragons were taking a dump where they slept.
It was because dragons smelled like pickles and something sweet rotting in the sun.
It was a weird smell that he would never forget and didn’t want to spend too much time breathing in because it seemed to cling to the back of his throat.
“Smell worse,” Pan said. “Trust me, it can be a lot worse.”
Noah didn’t doubt that at all.
“So where do you want the other eight carcasses?” The farmer pressed. No doubt he had better things to do than negotiate where to leave the cows.
Nan sighed. “Well, we can’t put them all out the back.
Otherwise, the dragons will claim them all.
And I don’t want eight cows rotting in the car park.
Nor do I want the dragons vomiting from eating too much.
” She shook her head. “I had a cat that used to overeat if I didn’t ration her food—very messy. ”
Pan lifted his eyebrows. Noah met his gaze and was pretty sure that Pan had seen exactly what happened when a dragon overate, and it was permanently etched in his mind. Given how many centuries of things Pan had seen, the things that stuck needed to stand out for either the right or wrong reasons.
“And I don’t want them in here either.” Nan finished.
“I don’t care where you don’t want them. Where can I put them?” The farmer said.
Pan smiled, the kind he did when he wanted to charm someone and get his way.
If he had magic, it probably would’ve worked every time.
Perhaps the smile formed out of habit and hope.
“If the dragon unloads two here, would you be willing to drive down to where they are temporarily housing the mythological people?”
“Depends…where are they holding them?”
Noah didn’t miss the slight that implied the mythological people were being kept away from humans. “They are being housed at the rec centre.”
The farmer glanced at the dragon, who was still sniffing at the trailer, and frowned. “I’m not sure if any kind of people should be eating them. I don’t want to get in trouble.”
“Why would you get into trouble?” Pan asked, an edge forming in his voice.”
Noah smiled at the farmer and then turned to Pan. “We have strict meat handling laws for human consumption. I don’t know what the rules were for mythologicals.”
“Werewolves will eat anything while shifted…oh.” Pan frowned. “Though are they technically shifted?”
The farmer snorted. “Will they take them?”
“We can ask,” Nan said.
The farmer puffed his chest. “I’m not waiting here while you ask. I’ll unload them on the street.”
Eight dead cows dumped on the street were going to attract the attention of the authorities, and they would not be impressed. “Looks like you need the dragon to help with the unloading.” Noah gave Pan a pointed look.
Pan put the last of his bacon roll in his mouth and walked over to the dragon, as if everything was fine. They had a short conversation, and then the dragon plucked one cow off the trailer and carried it around the side of the building in its jaws.
“Well, of course I do. I can’t lift the cow.”
“Okay, why don’t you leave the trailer here? If you leave me your number, I’ll give you a call once it’s emptied.”
The farmer scowled.
“I’m sure it will be ready for you either tonight or tomorrow morning.” Noah tried to recreate Pan’s charming smile and was pretty sure he failed because of the farmer’s deepening frown.