Chapter Eight
EIGHT
MABEL
“I have decided that you need to leave the Hour.”
I looked up when Hunter marched onto the patio, a stubborn expression firmly affixed on his far-too-handsome face. I set down my spoon laden with yogurt and blueberries and asked, “Why?”
“It’s not safe for you here,” he said, moving impatiently around the patio until Sip toddled out with a tray filled with fruit, honey, and a bowl of yogurt for him.
“That fact didn’t stop you from insisting I come with you to save Sally’s friend,” I pointed out, sliding over a bowl of nuts when he thanked Sip before sitting down to eat.
“The weird bird vision serpent aside, and possibly something that slithered at me in the dark house, there isn’t much reason to believe we aren’t safe here. ”
“There’s every reason,” he said around a mouthful of mango and guava.
“Just because one of the two lords who are temporarily running the Hour isn’t a danger to us doesn’t mean the threat of his brother isn’t valid.
Thus, I’ve decided that we’ll find the nearest exit, and you will use it and remain safe while I find Dawn.
As a reaper, you must be able to tell where the exits are. ”
“Remember when I said my moonstone helped?” I asked, popping a grape into my mouth, warmed to my bruised, and sometimes missing, toenails that he cared about my safety.
He nodded.
“Finding things, including locating exits, is one of the things it’s best at.
Without it, I’m just as lost as everyone else,” I explained.
“Also, how do you, a non-reaper, plan on getting Sally’s friend out of the Hour?
If she can’t do it on her own, then there’s no way you’re going to be able to do it without me. ”
He looked stymied by that for a few seconds, then waved it away as if it were nothing more than a pesky fly. “I’ll find a way. I’m a dragon hunter—there’s not much I can’t do.”
I took a quick bite of fruit and yogurt to keep from laughing out loud.
Part of me wanted to prick that arrogance and deflate his ego a bit, but the other part of me, the side that had dwelled lovingly on the previous night’s sexy time, pointed out that he was being adorably protective even if it was wrapped in a bossy-dragon exterior.
“I have nothing but respect for you, dragons, and dragon hunters in particular, but I don’t see that deliberately ignoring a problem is the solution.
Hunter.” I put my hand on his when he pushed aside his now-empty bowl.
His fingers curled around mine in a way that had my stomach bees waking up and wondering if there was time for a round of ride the dragon before we had to leave.
“I really do appreciate you being concerned for me, but I’m not mortal, the domains of the dead are part of my job and don’t pose a threat to me, and since Sally obviously wants me to help you, then help I will. ”
Hunter argued the point for about five more minutes, but eventually, he realized that if he wanted to succeed in the rescue of Sally’s friend, I would have to be present.
“Fine,” he said after he helped me clear the table, and we tidied up the room we’d used. “You can stay, but I insist that you do as I say.”
I lifted both eyebrows, about to ask him in what world he thought crap like that was going to work with me, but I think he realized his mistake immediately, because he amended his demand. “When it comes to your safety, that is.”
“Since you’re the badass dragon with a big herkin’ sword, I’m entirely happy to let you take the lead on safety protocols and overall protection.” I glanced around the room, making sure I hadn’t left anything. “I guess we should get on our way since it’s a bit lighter outside. Did you talk to Sip?”
“While you were bathing, yes. She drew a map of the Hour, although she had not heard of anyone called Dawn. She marked all the spots where she believed captives are being held. We will simply have to search them to find her.”
He slid his back scabbard on, about to place his sword in it when he made a tsk of annoyance.
“What—ack! Dammit, will you stop doing that?” I jumped when Nika appeared at my side, her long hair over her face, water once again dripping off her. “Seriously, girl, you have got to stop watching The Ring. Maybe try the Marvel franchise, or something a little more lighthearted.”
“The Ring?” she asked, soft little pats of water hitting the packed red earth floor, resulting in tiny dust clouds. “What is that?”
I stared at her, wondering if she was all there or not.
She shifted to the side and told Hunter she had to leave. “I’ve been called back to the Court for the other job I mentioned.”
He swore under his breath. “You can’t delay for a short time? We were just leaving to find the woman Dawn and will surely need you.”
“Do you, though?” she said, inclining her head toward me. The curtain of hair slid to the side, revealing one side of her face. Her eyes were black but burned with a red light. “You have the reaper. She is what you need to fulfill your duty. I must leave now.”
“If you could wait—blast her!”
Nika, with a little wave at us, disappeared in a shower of sparkly light.
“Is this going to seriously impact you?” I asked, watching as he slid his sword into the scabbard. It looked lifeless now that Nika was no long powering it, the gems dulled and the runes nothing but mere scratches on the blade.
“Yes. No. I don’t know for certain.” His lips thinned for a few seconds. “It would appear we have no choice but to succeed without her. Shall we?”
We made our goodbyes to Sip, and while I was giving Bitey a few last belly scratches, I saw Hunter giving Sip money, although I had no idea if she could spend it in the Hour.
“According to the map, the nearest detention house is to the north. There is a road that circles the entire Hour, where all the Maya houses are located. The center is devoted to the skate park, although Sip said that is shut down when the Hero Twins are not in residence. This way.”
We’d left the jaguar house, pausing to glance up and down the road that passed by it, watching for any signs the vision serpent was lurking around waiting for us.
The road was empty, the air strangely quiet. The lack of birdsong, or even wind blowing, gave me a jittery feeling that had been absent in every other underworld I’d visited.
“Did you happen to hear anything I said last night?” Hunter asked after about ten minutes of us being hypervigilant as we hustled down the road, heading in a direction he assured me was north.
“What you said?” I glanced at him, wondering if the Hour was having some sort of negative impact on his memory.
“Before or after happy fun time? Because yes to the former, and mostly to the latter, although I do remember drifting off while you were telling me how hard it was to fight the demon part of you. I’m sorry about that.
I always thought men fell asleep right away after sex, while women wanted to pillow talk, but I guess I was more tired than I thought. What did you say?”
“I unburdened myself to you,” he replied with such wounded dignity that I wanted to laugh, but schooled my face into one expressing regret. “I told you about my true nature, and why, although you are clearly a wyvern’s mate, you are not mine. I can’t have a mate. I’m too dangerous.”
“Wow,” I said, another bubble of laughter growing inside me.
I fought to keep it suppressed, too. “That was a lot I missed because you wore me out with your fabulous hip thrusts. I’m not sure why you think I’m meant to be a dragon mate—other than the fire thing, which I admit is a bit odd—but as I explained, it’s not possible for me.
So I guess it’s a good thing that I’m not falling head over heels in love with your fabulous self. ”
“Why wouldn’t you love me?” He stopped, turning to pierce me with his lovely mossy-green eyes. “I am master of the Shadow Tribe!”
“You are,” I agreed, struggling not to laugh out loud at his indignation.
“I am a dragon hunter! We are feared by all!” he said, pulling out his sword and waving it around.
“You sure are. And you’re gorgeous, to boot.”
“It’s clear by the way you took my fire that you are intended to be my mate. Wyverns’ mates are rare, you know. Not everyone can be one. It is an honor to be so!”
“I’m sure it is, but as we are both in agreement that neither of us is looking for anything more than casual sexy-time fun, it’s not important, is it?” I asked, an interesting roil of emotions going on inside me.
I tried to pinpoint just what my emotional self was trying to say, but it was too confusing a mix of regret, sorrow, worry, fear, and even a tiny spark of hope. I decided now was not the time to try to cope with my emotions, and took his hand before starting forward again.
He was silent for a few minutes before he asked, “If you believe that even casual sex could lead to more trouble from your broker, why did you agree to go to bed with me?”
I thought about it for a few minutes as we continued to hurry down the road while Hunter constantly watched the surrounding vegetation for signs of a threat.
“I think it’s because I liked you the first time I saw you.
You didn’t have to help with Parisi and Desi, but you put your life on the line for them, and I thought that was admirable. And I like your eyes.”
He turned to look at me, his brow furrowed. “My eyes? Women have complimented my cock, but not my eyes.”
“They’re pretty, and I have a weakness for green eyes,” I admitted, not wanting to inflate what I suspected was a fairly big ego (men as handsome as he was usually knew the effect they had on others), but at the same time feeling like this was an opportunity to share our thoughts.
“Ah.” He thought about that for half a minute, then said, “I feel the same way about your hair. I enjoy looking at it, and touching it, and having it touch me. When you let it slither across my cock and belly last night, I almost spilled my seed.”