Chapter 7 Luciu #2
Puck slings a belt loaded with small knives around his hips.
It’s wide, tooled leather of some kind, and worn with age.
Clearly not a tool he just got. No, he’s seen action the likes of which I hope I never encounter.
I can appreciate having him on our side.
I also like that Puck prepares for the worst. We might not have much in common, but at least we’re in agreement there.
My life ends when Gracie dies, thanks to the blood bond.
But my desire to be here is more than an obligation.
I started this process for professional gain, and I’ve somehow lucked into the makings of a family.
Something I was starting to think I wouldn’t get.
And now that it’s dangling right in front of me, well, I’m going to hold on to it with both hands.
They might never grow to love me, but we can have each other’s back, at the very least. And that starts now.
By showing them I can pull my own weight.
We gather between the two vehicles. Gracie stands with her back to Darius’ chest. She’s dressed in sneakers, black leather pants, some sort of long shirt that goes down to her knees but is split up to her hips on the sides, with a leather jacket thrown over it.
No doubt the outfit is Puck’s doing. It makes sense.
Leather has often been used to deter vampire bites.
It’s thick enough that they can’t bite through it on the first chomp.
Gracie sidesteps so she isn’t directly in front of Darius. He simply smiles and shifts behind her again, shielding her with his body.
It’s tempting to look at the blind fae and think he’s going to be useless. But I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that there’s a whole lot more to him than we realize. Not to mention his familiar. I’m not sure what it is, but I doubt it’s always quite so little and cute.
Vyslan and Puck both look at me, not a word passing between the five of us.
Right.
I’m somehow in charge of this little operation.
That’s not weird at all.
I reach into the backpack and pull out the tablet, flipping the keyboard cover back, and use my thumbprint and magic to unlock the device.
“Ten minutes ago, the external cameras switched to a two hour long loop taken from a different day with similar weather patterns. Frankly speaking, Treznor’s people aren’t smart enough to notice it, but I wasn’t going to take any risks.
” I hold up the tablet. “Once I press this button, the internal cameras will all replay the last fifteen minutes of footage on a loop. It will buy us at most half an hour of time. Everyone have the bracelet I gave you?”
Gracie lifts her fist and flashes the hastily made bracelet along with Darius. Puck and Vyslan both fiddle with theirs.
“Great. These will let us bypass all the security, all the wards, and all the safety precautions. They’re essentially our skeleton key into the place.
The issue will be Treznor’s thralls. The ones in good shape get sent out on errands.
The rest come home to roost. Or, well, shamble around.
They’ll attack us on sight, so… Kill indiscriminately.
I don’t know what his typical security is like, but besides the liche lady, there are about six different people to be worried about.
A couple of thralls that Treznor keeps in good condition.
They’re loyal and think he’ll fully turn them someday. ”
“Can they be bargained with?” Gracie asks.
“Uh…” I briefly consider what little I know of the two thralls. “No idea. Sorry.”
Vyslan arches his brow at her. “Sweet witch?”
“I made a few of Ezra’s potions.” She shrugs. “What? I’m not crazy about making a bunch of super vampires, but if it’ll let us skip a fight, I’d bargain it away.”
“No.” Puck shakes his head. “It’s a good idea, but you’re also potentially giving our enemy a strength boost. Save them for Ezra.”
Gracie sighs and mutters, “Good point.”
“What of the others?” Vyslan asks.
“There’s a dragon. At least, I was told he’s a dragon. I’ve only ever seen him as a dude. He’s my biggest concern. If you see a guy with red scales, that’s him. Run. He’s scary. There’s a blackfoot elf and an orc, but I think they’ll bail. They didn’t strike me as the loyal sort.”
“Why would a dragon serve a vampire? Or a blackfoot elf, for that matter?” Gracie mutters.
“Treznor likely has leverage on the dragon,” Puck muses. “If he really is a dragon, we’ll want to subdue him. Then if we can return whatever Treznor has, we’d be owed a favor. Considering how things are with the coven, it would be good to have a dragon on our side.”
“I think Isa can help with that,” Darius says and strokes the head of his familiar.
Would it be rude to ask what the ferret-thing can do? Seeing as the other three nod like this is a good idea, I decide to leave it alone.
“Sorry,” Vyslan mutters. “What is a blackfoot elf?”
Gracie wrinkles her nose. “Blackfoot is an elf movement away from civilized living. They don’t wear anything manufactured and are often barefoot, thus—blackfoot.
Think aggressively hippy with none of the peace and happy vibes.
They just want to kill you and eat your flesh.
Most practice some sort of cannibalism. Okay, I don’t know that for a fact.
That’s just what everyone says about them.
I heard that a lot of them actually yank out their own teeth and replace them with the fangs of various animals. ”
Vyslan shivers. “Staying the fuck away from that one.”
“I’ve never run across one before this guy.” I grimace and shake my head. “He’s every bit as scary as he sounds. I also get the idea that Treznor has some sort of leverage on him. What? I have no idea.”
“Darius, anything?” Puck asks.
The blind fae tips his head up and hums. “Nothing I want to voice.”
I frown at that. Is he keeping something from us?
Puck smacks my shoulder with the back of his hand. “Sometimes knowing how things might turn out eliminates that path. If Darius isn’t telling us what he sees, he’s doing it because he thinks it’s what’s best for us. He’s had two hundred years of figuring out how his gifts work. Trust him.”
“Sorry,” I mutter and duck my head.
Darius grins and places his hands on Gracie’s shoulders. “No harm done.”
“Vyslan?” Puck turns his attention to the demon. “I’d appreciate it if you took point with Luc acting as guide. Darius and I will focus on protecting our backs and Gracie. Darius says you’re the strongest out of us. You’ll neutralize any threat we run into quicker than I.”
The demon hums and scratches his chin. “Perhaps…”
“Vys and Puck should take lead,” Darius says and pulls Gracie once more against his chest. “Luc and I can handle the rest.”
Puck eyes his brother with some skepticism. “You sure?”
Darius just grins. It’s such a joyous, happy expression that’s so out of place with the grimness of the setting. “What do you think?”
I do not have a good feeling about this. I’m not the physical type. Sure, I’ve got a few aces up my sleeve for protection. But I don’t exactly want to bet my witch wife’s safety on them.
But Darius merely nods, and the others take him at his word.
Well, shit.
There isn’t anything else to say. I provided Puck and Vyslan with interior images while Gracie was resting this morning, so there isn’t any need to go over the layout. It’s time to do this.
“One second, if you don’t mind?” Vyslan says and steps away from us.
He reaches up and scratches the back of his head, then jerks his head, popping his neck.
Immediately, horns sprout from his brow, swooping out on either side of his head.
A tail juts out of a hole cut through his athletic shorts I hadn’t even noticed.
His hair turns to literal flames. And he grows.
Like, several feet in all directions. His skin blossoms into a vibrant red, and smoke begins to curl off him.
“Sweet Mother Goddess,” I whisper.
Darius slings an arm around my shoulder, pulling me so close I stumble into Gracie. “Entirely wrong pantheon, but he is something, isn’t he?”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Gracie snickers.
The corners of Darius’ mouth twitch. “I’ve heard the phrase meat baton a few times.”
Gracie snorts. “When you see it, you’ll understand.”
My asshole just puckered all the way up. What the hell does that mean?
“Gracie.” Vyslan covers his crotch with both hands and grins, which is terrifying considering the size of those razor-sharp teeth. The silky athletic material is straining around his hips and thighs. I question the structural integrity of the garment. “You’re going to make it, shy.”
She outright laughs. “Your cock does not know the meaning of the word shy. Can we please get on with it?”
Puck is still as a statue, yet I know he’s aware of everything. Every fiber of his being is on alert. Even with Vyslan’s antics, he doesn’t crack a smile. I think the man is carved from obsidian for all the expression he’s showing.
He turns toward the double doors. “I’ll go first.”
“And I’ll enjoy you walking away.” Vyslan sighs a sound of longing before glancing at us and winking. “Stay here and let us check things first, yeah?”
“Whatever you say, Demon Daddy,” Gracie says.
Vyslan wags his finger at her as he jogs backward. “Demon Daddy, I like that.”
Puck has completely dismissed us in favor of getting the ball rolling.
He strides over to the doors, and I can sense the tingle of fae magic.
Most witches can’t sense it. Compared to our magic, the fae’s magic is a purer form.
But because my gifts are centered around pulling from unusual sources of energy and magic, I am aware.
He cracks one door open enough to peer inside.
“Do you think Puck has a nice ass? I’m not a good judge of these things,” Darius asks with all seriousness.
Gracie blinks up at him, then at me.
I shrug, because how do you answer that?
“Yes, Puck has a nice ass,” Gracie says.