Page 46 of Nexus
“What about me?” I asked. “My blood is mixed with a bunch of monsters. Do you have any idea what I’ll turn into?” I’d filled him in on our mixed heritage and the fact that I didn’t know exactly what species I was.
“How could I, when I don’t know what sort of creatures your ancestors mated with?” he replied with a shrug.
Being sent to another world was bad enough. It was worse that I would be going to another dimension without any idea what sort of monster I would turn out to be.
Chapter Thirty-Five
SWEAT HAD SPRUNG UP on my forehead at the thought of having to embark on this dangerous mission. “I’ve never been to the underworld. I won’t have any idea where to look for the spell fragments.”
“If you truly are Fate’s chosen, you’ll have to trust her to guide your path,” Drake said philosophically.
“I’m not even sure I believe in any of this mumbo jumbo,” I confessed. “How am I supposed to trust a weirdo I met in a dream?”
“The sooner you begin your quest, the better,” he said, ignoring my protests. “I’ll compose a letter for you both that will get you in and out of the first realm. If you’re successful, I’ll make plans for you to visit the other realms.”
“He means if we come back alive,” I said to Ruen.
“I’m well aware of that,” the leech said snarkily. “May I ask how I’m supposed to act as Ms. Sterling’s guard when I’m forbidden from using violence?”
“I’m altering the restrictions I’ve placed on you,” Lord Gilden responded. “You can wound, kill and feed on anyone who attacks or threatens either you, or Saige while you’re in the underworld. You can feed on creatures to sustain yourself as well. Your usual restrictions will return once you’ve passed back to our world.”
I glanced at the bloodsucker to see his fangs were fully extended. I was pretty sure his excitement was from being able to feed at will. “Do you have any idea what the first realm is like?” I asked.
“It matches your description from the first doorway you were shown,” Drake said. “Each realm is vast and has many different creatures dwelling within their boundaries. Most are deadly, or at least dangerous. I advise you to act with caution rather than killing everyone you encounter.”
“I only kill the bad guys,” I reminded him.
“In the nine realms, it would be best to assume everyone is a bad guy,” was his sardonic response.
Our meeting seemed to be over, but there was one item left to discuss. “About the rogue wererat I had to put down,” I said and the dragon immediately tensed up. “Are you going to fix me up for that now, or should Ruen bring me back later?”
“I’ll pay you now,” Drake grumbled and reached into his pocket to produce two gold coins. “Since you destroyed a rogue weregator along with the rat, this should suffice as your payment.”
“That sounds fair to me,” I agreed and leaned forward to hold my hand out. One of the coins was larger than the other and would be worth more.
Lord Gilden leaned forward as well, holding his hand above mine. After a brief internal struggle, he opened his fingers. I stuffed the coins into my wallet before he could change his mind and snatch them back from me. “You should leave,” he suggested. “I have a lot to do.”
Too distracted by the impending apocalypse to be as torn as usual about relinquishing some of his hoard, he turned to face the French doors to the balcony.
Ruen and I rose to our feet and hastily exited from the room. I waited until the elevator reached the parking lot before I spoke. “He didn’t even breathe smoke from his nostrils that time.”
“Lord Gilden has larger concerns than his wealth,” my assistant said with a frown.
“Are you looking forward to visiting the underworld with me?” I asked in a forced bright tone.
“Of course not. We’ll both probably die horribly the moment we step through the gate and we’ll never see this world again.”
“That’s the spirit,” I said sarcastically at his hopelessly glum response.
“If you had any sense, you’d be dreading this as well,” he snapped as we climbed into his car.
“You think I want to traipse around in the nine realms, looking for a spell that was hidden five thousand years ago?” I asked in an incredulous tone. “I’d rather amputate my own foot and eat it than go on this insane crusade.”
He made a face, possibly being reminded of the cannibalistic wererats. “Neither of us has a choice. Lord Gilden has ordered us to go, so go we must.”
“I don’t have to go,” I pointed out sullenly. “You’re the only one who has to do his every bidding.”
“He’s your employer as well as mine,” Ruen said, sedately pulling out of the parking lot and onto the street. “You follow his orders all the time.”