Page 18

The pub was busy, as was the norm on quiz night, Maureen always put one hell of a spread on, and the cider was always good.

This had been the first time Dave had attended and it was heartwarming to be included.

Everyone was there, even the familiars. The only person not there yet was Jessica, she was still with the hatchlings.

Dave had meant to go back but he had gotten waylaid and was told she would meet him when she was finished.

He looked forward to seeing her again, even though they had been working side by side he couldn’t wait to sit next to her and hold her hand.

What they had shared in the cave had been nothing short of amazing for him, he never knew it could be that intense and he now knew the true purpose of his tentacle.

Brutas held up his pint in salute as they shared a knowing smile with each other.

His brother had tried to tell him and he hadn’t wanted to listen, but it was meant to be. He had been wondering how he was going to find his mate, and she was the one that found him. Dave would be forever grateful for that.

Catching Maeve’s gaze from where she sat on her mate’s lap, he didn’t like seeing her frown. She looked at her wrist again before shaking her head at Dave.

Jessica was late, really late.

“Evening, everyone, here’s your platter. Make sure you eat it all, I’ve got more where that came from.” Maureen placed a large tray on the table. The contents ranged from scotch eggs, sausage rolls, all the way to mini pizzas.

“Aww, Maureen, you made us a picky tea.” Arietta laughed and reached for a pizza.

“Only the best for my girls, speaking of girls, where’s the new one?” Maureen asked, but before anyone could answer she turned and shouted, “Edward, I swear if you don’t put some clothes on right this second, I will cut it off.”

“Pirates, even ones as famous as Blackbeard, have to adhere to rules,” Will said with a chuckle.

“Just don’t you start prancing around here naked, my love, ‘cause I can do worse things than chopping it off.” Maeve grinned before she placed a kiss on his cheek.

Dave smiled but then remembered what Maureen had said. Jessica was indeed late, very late.

“Jessica,” he stated simply, and Maeve nodded.

“I know, she shouldn’t be this late, she said she only had four left to do.” Maeve looked up to see the familiars all leaning over their little balcony. Maureen had seen to it that they had their own little area to sit and drink.

“Err, Maeve?”

“What, Binky? What haven’t you told me?” Maeve groaned.

“Well, Denzel told us there were some pirates here that wanted to steal something.”

“Binky, the whole town is filled with pirates, and yeah, they steal shit. It’s what they do,” Isabeau pointed out. “It’s also what Bas does too.”

“Hey,” he called out, but one look from his witch shut him up.

“No, Denzel said these were normal pirates, as in… alive,” Grundlepus confirmed.

“We’ve tried to track them down, but we couldn’t find them and when we went to search their boat they had gone,” Bas admitted.

“And?” Maeve said.

“We think they went after the eggs.”

Dave was out of his seat in seconds. “Jessica,” was all he said. It was all he had to say, she was the one with the eggs and if they went after those, she would not let them be taken without a fight. She would protect them with her life.

“FOR FUCK SAKE, BINKY,” Maeve shouted before she turned on all of the familiars.

“What have we said about sharing important information with regards the safety of Kracken’s Hole?”

“We must always report to you guys,” they all repeated, except for Edith who sat quietly at the back, her face bent.

Dave went over, reached up onto the balcony, and plucked her off it.

The dragon had been crying so Dave didn’t say anything.

Instead held her against his chest and left the pub.

If Jessica had been hurt, he would rip apart anything and everything to find her.

And woe betide the creature that got in his way.