Page 32

CHAPTER 32

H e was never going to get the stink of dragon and centaur out of his skin. By the time he and the vet hiked out of the centaurs’ camp, Pan was exhausted. The only reason he hadn’t accepted the offer to spend the night in the camp was because he didn’t want to risk never being allowed to leave.

The idea that anyone thought it was acceptable to imprison a god was unheard of, but then, if he had magic, no one would’ve been able to imprison him, anyway. Despite not having magic, he had tried to magically transport himself to the car, because walking back to where they had left the car, what felt like forever ago—and he was a good judge of forever—was the last thing he wanted to do, or second last.

The last thing was spending more time with centaurs.

The vet, who he’d gotten to know quite well, was called Elise. While she’d tried to hide her awe at dealing with dragons and centaurs, he hadn’t translated everything she said because the centaurs would not have been thrilled by a running comparison of their differences and similarities to horses.

Elise had told the centaurs she’d be back in a week to check up on them. And Pan had clarified that a week was seven days. Which meant he needed to return in a week to translate unless he could find someone else to do the job.

She hadn’t asked many questions about him, which was a good thing, because he didn’t want to lie to her. Nor did he want to tell the truth. It was almost a relief when the rockfall came into view.

Elise stopped and put her hands on her hips, staring up at the rocks blocking the road. “I’m guessing we have to climb over.”

“Correct.” He didn’t remember the pile of rocks being quite that high. Maybe it was the starlight and shadows that made them look bigger.

“And then we hope Liam and Web didn’t steal my car and that it’s waiting for us.”

If they had stolen her car, he was going to spend the rest of his life making sure they suffered. He would personally gather the spiders to put in their boots, stick thorns in their clothes and piss in their beer. He’d put pins in their pillows and fleas in their blankets.

Pan never usually put in much effort with punishments, trusting his magic to do the work, but he was feeling vengeful. He forced the breath out between his teeth, so he didn’t make those promises out loud, just in case magic chose that moment to return.

“Drink?” Elise handed him the water bottle. There was only a mouthful left.

“Thank you.” It was tepid, like tea left sitting for too long but without any flavor.

“This whole time you’ve talked about dragons and centaurs and your world. But not about yourself.” Elise took her gaze off the rocks and glanced at him.

“Because I’m not injured and there’s not much to tell.”

“I don’t believe that. For a start, you speak English. You’re acting like a lord and the centaurs don’t like you.”

“We have a history.”

“Please, you don’t look much older than twenty-five. How do you have history?”

Pan laughed. “I’m not twenty-five.”

“I figured. You were too calm and too composed…and too knowledgeable.”

He pressed his lips together and gave a single nod. “Would it have been better for you if I had panicked that the dragon might lash out and kill us? Or if I had lost my temper with the centaurs.” He had been close to both of those options at various points.

“No. I was politely asking about you. What you are.”

“And I was politely ignoring your unspoken request.” He let an edge form in his voice.

“Hmm. I hoped that since we spent the day together, you’d trusted me.”

“I don’t trust many.” He handed the empty water bottle to her.

“You trust Noah with the dragon.”

Noah knew the truth and had negotiated a deal. A mortal witch, who didn’t even understand his own power, had made a deal with a god. On Tariko Pan would’ve laughed at the request and turned him into a spoon until he learned some manners.

Now the idea of keeping the deal held an appeal.

While he wasn’t an incubus who needed to feed on sexual energy, he craved magic. Which was worse. He needed Noah, far more than Noah needed him.

“Good point. He doesn’t speak Dragon, so I should check on them.” Pan started climbing over the pile of rocks.

If no car waited on the other side, he was going to scream and curse the old ones, regardless of the possible consequences.

“Nice deflection,” Elise said as she climbed after him.

“I’ve had a lot of practice.”

“So, are you closer to two hundred years old?”

Pan pulled himself up and peered over the top of the pile. Waiting on the other side was the vet’s white car. “Thank magic, Liam and Web did not fail us.”

“Great, I didn’t fancy our odds of calling a taxi this late.” She joined him at the top as though they were pausing to appreciate the clarity of the stars. “You’re really not going to tell me?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Are you something that human mythology doesn’t like?”

“Human mythology has so many errors, I don’t give a shit what you think you know.”

“Fair.” She started down the other side, and he followed. “This may be incorrect to say, but some of your people might be too different for human doctors to treat, and the hospitals may be full of humans. If you have someone who needs urgent care, you can call me.”

“You helped with the dragon because you were curious and because it helped your friend dispose of his dead animals. My people have arrived here with nothing. I cannot promise payment.” He jumped the rest of the way, glad to be on the other side of the rock wall, while already resenting the need to cross it again in seven days.

“I understand that, but I don’t like seeing animals?—”

Pan shot her a glare. “My people are not animals.”

“Or anyone suffer,” Elise said as if he hadn’t interrupted.

“We have our own healers.”

“You said there’s no magic. If your healers are used to using it, what will they do?” She reached beneath the car and pulled out the keys. She pressed the button, and the lights flashed.

Pan turned his head away, momentarily blinded.

“I’ll give you my card just in case. Am I dropping you at the pub?”

“Yes.” He hoped Noah was at the pub. “I will take your card in case your assistance is needed.”

“Great. I’ll stop by and see the dragon tomorrow, and I’ll pick you up in seven days for a return visit.”

Pan sighed, but he needed to show a little gratitude, because if Elise didn’t return, the centaurs might search for her. She had been careful to point out that for things to work, both sides needed to show some grace and compassion. “Thank you.”