“I swear,” he said, letting out a long breath. “Do you two actively look for danger?”
“Not Monty’s fault this time…I think.”
“Bullshit,” Erik said, making sure the straps were extra tight. “When the shit hits the fan, you two are either flinging the shit or you’re the fan. There’s no middle ground with you two—three, if you count your hellhound.”
“This time I want to unplug the fan, and dodge the shit altogether,” I said with a weak smile. “Thanks for your help.”
“Don’t thank me,” he said, continuing to tighten the straps. “Thank Director Nakatomi. The Dark Council has moved to a Blood Rule; she is in full control of the vampire division and locking things down. She put out the official word that you were off-limits to all Dark Council personnel.”
“Off-limits? Meaning what, exactly?”
“Anyone who moved against you in retaliation would be exterminated with extreme and merciless precision,” Erik said. “By her hand…personally.”
“That sounds scary and dangerous,” I said. “What about unofficially?”
“You have several packs of weres that would like to eviscerate you repeatedly,” he answered. “Along with a group of mages that still remember downtown and Tartarus. They would like to have a conversation with you. Unofficially, of course.”
“Tartarsauce wasn’t my fault.” I smiled and then grew serious. “I didn’t summon him, and more importantly, he needed to be stopped. The Dark Council was sleeping on him.”
“As I understand it, you took it upon yourself to make a phone call and raise an army?” Erik asked.
“Tartarus was—is dangerous,” I said. “He needed to be stopped.”
“By who?” Erik asked. “You lured the Dark Council Enforcers into a trap.”
“I did no such thing.”
“They were racing downtown to stop a rogue mage, not an old god,” Erik answered with an edge. “An old god, who soundly beat them to a pulp…many died that day. Who do you think they blame—unofficially, of course?”
“Me, of course,” I noticed how he forgot to mention how many were racing downtown to take out one rogue mage. “Unofficially, they had it coming. They wanted to erase Monty and kill Peaches.”
He stared at me, then slowly shook his head.
“We can discuss that later. Right now”—he held up the ring and moved to my extended arm—“this.”
“I need you to make a call,” I said. “This is important.”
“Who do you want me to call, now of all moments?”
“Dex. He can help me.”
“That may not be possible right now.”
“What are you talking about? This is Monty, his nephew, his family.”
“Dex has gone rogue…really rogue this time.”
“What does that even mean?”
“The Golden Circle is gone,” Erik said, lowering his voice. “The entire place.”
“Call LD and TK. If anyone can find him, it’s them.”
“I wouldn’t get my hopes up, but I’ll see what I can do,” Erik said. “Anything in particular you want me to say to him?”
“I need help.”
“Short and to the point,” Erik answered. “That should work.”
“How does an entire sect disappear? That place was enormous.”
“I don’t know.”
“Dexter is a master teleporter,” Jessikah broke in. “He could do it. It’s almost impossible, but he can do it.”
“Shit, this complicates everything,” I said. “I think Monty is at the Golden Circle.”
Peaches let out another small whine. I could tell he was worried.
“I meant what I said earlier,” Erik said, looking at Peaches. “It’s going to be too dangerous in here, even for him. I know hellhounds are nearly indestructible, but this…”He shook his head. “This is an unknown quantity.”
“I don’t want him to get hurt. Give me a moment.”
<Hey boy. You’re going to have to go with Erik and Jessikah.>
<I’m your bondmate. I go where you go.>
<I know. I know, but right now Erik is going to put that ring on me, and it’s going to hurt real bad.>
<Should I bite him? I can stop him.>
<No, but thank you. Maybe later. He needs to put it on so I won’t smell bad anymore. It will help make me better. Understand?>
<Should I lick you? It won’t hurt. My saliva is better than a ring.>
<I know it is, but for now, you have to go with Erik. I’ll make sure he gives you some meat.>
<Right now you’re hurt. I can eat later.>
That’s when I knew it was bad. My hellhound had just turned down an offer of meat.
<He’ll make extra meat, and I’ll feel better knowing that you’re safe.>
<I won’t feel better knowing you are hurt. I go where you go.>
Hellhound logic was hard to counter. I was going to need a different strategy.
<Do you see the cat-man?>
<No. He is not here. I don’t smell him.>
<That means Jessikah is in danger. I promised to keep her safe. Right now, I can’t keep her safe. It’s up to you. As my bondmate, you have to keep her safe. I promised.>
I could almost hear the hellhound wheels turning in his head. I had no illusion as to his intelligence—Peaches XL came across as a genius-level intellect, reminding me many times that he communicated in a rudimentary way so that I could understand him. Not the other way around. Still, my logic was sound, and I had boxed him in…for now.
<I will keep her safe, but I will stay close to you. When you get better, you can give me two bowls of meat.>
<Solid plan. Erik and Jessikah will leave soon. Please go with them when they do.>
He chuffed and slobbered my face before padding away to stand next to Jessikah…because healthy saliva.
“Hellhound situation squared away,” I said, peering at Erik through the haze of impending agony squeezing my brain. Speaking to Peaches had accelerated the pain train. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“This is really going to hurt,” Erik said, holding the ring gingerly. “Ready?”
“No. Do it anyway.”
TWENTY
Life is pain.
Anyone who tries to tell you different is lying.
Yes, life is full of good things—family, friends, hungry hellhounds, and deep, rich mugs of javambrosia—special moments, and the like. But beneath it all, at the foundation…lies pain.
Never far and only a heartbeat away.
Pain and loss are the only way we learn to appreciate the things we have
