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There was something in her expression that gave Pan a moment of pause. The centaurs had injured and no healer. Yet humans had no magic, but they had healers. He glanced at Noah. “Can vets fix broken legs?”

“Bones take time to heal, but they can set them or even operate and put metal rods in. Why?”

Pan didn’t answer Noah. He addressed the queen. “Any healer we summon to tend the dragon will also tend your wounded.”

Beard and the queen had a short discussion about taking the offer of tents and a healer. Even though they both agreed nothing was as good as dragon hide for making tents, their people needed help now.

The queen set down her metal cup and stood, towering over him. “Very well. Let us see the tent.”

“Pray they like the tent,” Pan murmured. Though he was almost sure they wanted the healer more than the tent at this point.

Noah rolled his eyes. “You should do the same. If there is a war, they won’t let you go since you wear the city’s ring.”

Selkie shit.He owed a dragon and a vampire. He did not have time to be a hostage for the other side.

Pan stood and offered his hand to Noah. “By all the magic on this cursed world. I fucking hope the human tent is better than dragon hide.”

“Wow, that got me right in the feels.” Noah patted his chest.

“I have no idea what you mean.” Though it did not sound sincere.

Noah lowered his voice. “That your prayers need more practice.”

Beard wrapped a meaty hand around each of their arms. “Move. I need to see this tent.”

“I have received thousands of years of prayers. I do not need practice.” Pan whispered.

“Uh-huh.”

He was going to show Noah exactly how someone should worship a god with his tongue and then demand the same. He thought about all the ways he’d been worshipped over the years and debated how best to use that knowledge on Noah when the strong scent of centaur piss and a human yelling interrupted.

CHAPTER24

Web was losing his shit, shouting at the centaur guarding them. Liam was gripping the rope that linked their necks and telling Web to sit. Noah’s gaze flicked between the three of them.

“He fucking pissed on me!” Web pointed at the guard. “I’m not fucking sitting.”

The guard swung his spear. Noah took two steps forward even though he wasn’t sure what to do, but Pan grabbed his arm, pulling him up short.

The spear hit Web across the stomach, and he folded over as if bowing.

Liam dragged Web down to the log before Web had a chance to recover.

“What is going on?” Pan asked. His voice was crisp like a frosty morning that promised no warmth.

The guard and Beard spoke rapidly, pointing at Web and then Liam in a way that sounded very unfriendly. This wasn’t going well. According to Pan, they were trying to stop a war, not start one.

Beard issued an order, then turned to Pan and explained. Noah hated the way he didn’t understand what was being said…that, and he didn’t entirely trust Pan’s translation.

“It appears that Web pissed on the guard’s hoof and the guard retaliated.” Pan kept his voice low. “There is some debate among the centaurs, if that was the correct response.”

Noah stared at him. “How is that ever the correct response? Also, do you really think Web could pee that far?”

“No, it is more likely that the stream ran over the ground and hit the hoof. However?—”

“Don’thoweverthis situation,” Noah hissed. Web was drenched in centaur piss.

“We are prisoners, Noah. There are a hundred different howevers. So unless you would like to spend the rest of your days polishing hooves and scraping dragon skins, I suggest you find the tent. Soothing Web’s ego is the least of our problems.”