“These individuals, are they magic users?”
“No, they are a group of highly specialized and trained assassins,” I said. “It was a group I belonged to a lifetime ago.”
“What do they specialize in?”
I paused.
“Jimmy, I don’t want to involve you in anything that can come back and burn you,” I said. “If they thought I was mentioning them to you, you would be in danger.”
“So don’t mention them,” Jimmy said. “What do they specialize in?”
“Hunting beings of magic—”
“And killing them?” Jimmy asked, the anger creeping into his voice. “They kill magic beings?”
“Yes,” I said. “They believe they are ridding the world of evil. I know it’s twisted and wrong, but they have the support of some very powerful people.”
“Are they hunting you now?”
“Why would they hunt me?” I asked. “I’m not…Shit.”
“Finally, it dawns,” Monty said, waving a hand. “Are you certain Evers didn’t smash a stone into your cranium?”
“She tried, several times,” I said, as the realization hit. “This could be a bait and switch.”
“With you being the bait,” Monty said. “They use the guilt card, which you’re obviously still susceptible to, present you with a clandestine mission which is par for the course for the group, then serve you up as the prime target. Have you forgotten Slif?”
“She’s pretty hard to forget,” I said. “You think they’re playing both sides?”
“It’s what I would do,” Monty said. “The dragons get revenge for Slif—I can assure you they haven’t forgotten, either—Rott gets revenge for Cassandra’s death, which you’re still being blamed for, and everyone gets a happy ending.”
“Except me.”
“Well, there is that.”
“I thought I was being low key. Staying off the radar.”
“Low key?” Jimmy said. “You’re bonded to a hellhound—which, if the rumors are true, can grow larger than Grohn. You roam the streets with a powerful mage. You take on beings of magic who want to destroy you both, while you inflict severe property damage to the city. I’d say that makes you a being worth hunting, wouldn’t you?”
“Indeed,” Monty said, before taking another sip. “I wonder if there’s a substantial bounty on your head? It would explain much.”
“Not helping,” I said. “Why would they hunt me? It doesn’t make sense.”
“If only to stop depreciating property values in the city,” Monty said. “You really should rein in your destructive tendencies.”
I glared at him.
I tried to punch holes in Jimmy’s argument, but couldn’t. If Shadow Company had been keeping tabs on me ever since Cassandra died, they had plenty of material to prove I was no longer normal.
“We need to prepare for tonight,” I said. “There’s a good chance I’m walking into a set up. I’m pretty sure dragons have been gone from the city for decades at this point, if not centuries.”
“Well,” Jimmy said, “that’s not exactly true.”
“What? What are you saying? Dragons are in the city?”
“Not exactly in the city,” Jimmy said, looking away. “More like close by.”
“Can you be a bit more vague?”
“I hear there’s a large enclave of dragons accessible from the city, if you know where to look, which I don’t,” Jimmy said. “I do hear rumors, though. Don’t recommend it, since it will probably be a one-way trip. It seems they can be reached and still maintain a small, but influential presence in the city.”
I saw a flatbed roll up to the front of the Rump. On the back sat the Dark Goat. Robert got out and stepped inside the shop, clipboard in hand.
“I took the liberty of having Cecil transport the vehicle to us,” Monty said, standing and walking over to Robert. I waved and he nodded back, fear clearly etched on his face. “One moment.”
I turned to Jimmy.
“Where and how?”
“I can’t tell you,” Jimmy said. “I’m a werebear, not a dragon. Even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you.”
“What? Why?”
“For several reasons. Y0u would try and go there. You would then bring your special brand of destruction to their realm. Then, they would squash you before coming here and doing the same to me.”
“You’re scared of them?”
“No, not scared. I have a healthy respect for creatures that don’t wield magic,” Jimmy said, his voice firm. “They are magic. Unlike you, I understand what I’m facing. I’m not operating on some irrational fear. This is a very rational and—”
“You’re a werebear, how can you be scared?”
“Having power doesn’t make you invincible or invulnerable,” Jimmy replied with a sigh. “Don’t do this, Simon. This is one time you need to walk away.”
“I can’t,” I said. “There are some things I need to set straight, some debts that need to be repaid.”
“No debt is worth your life,” Jimmy said, getting up from his chair. “Go deal with this group of yours, but trust me, you do not want to get involved with dragons, especially not the Balfour Enclave. I have to get ready for the evening rush. You’re welcome to stay as long as you don’t blow anything up.”
Monty came back to the table, a look of concern on his face.
“We have a problem.”
TEN
“What kind of problem?” I asked. “Why does Robert look like he’s ready to bolt at any moment?”
“Could be it has something to do with your vehicle, but I doubt it,” Monty said, glancing at Robert, who had returned to the truck to offload the Dark Goat. “That is not the problem.”
“Wait, are you saying we have another problem beside the fact that I have to go see Douglas?” I asked, glancing around Monty to the fearful Robert. I waved, but he just ignored me. “What’s his deal?”
“All SuNaTran personnel have been instructed not to engage with you for the time being,” Monty said, raising a hand when he saw my expression. “Hold on, it’s
