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“Like he said, his Chosen One is very powerful, but right now she is being used as a weapon in this war. She is trapped under Garmr’s influence and the only way to break that and get her out is to put her to sleep, but to do that I need the flower, bleeding hearts,” Nero said, making me nod to her in respect and thanks for her understanding.

“And?” Trice asked, making her sigh before telling him,

“And this is impossible, not without giving my supplier something he wants in return.”

Trice turned to Amelia, addressing her this time.

“Your Vampire is th' richest bein' in th' realm, surely he is guid fur it,” Trice said before taking a drink.

Lucius growled, giving the Scot reason to smirk over the rim of his glass. But Amelia placed a hand on his arm in silent warning to keep his cool, before addressing Trice herself.

“He doesn’t want riches, but something far rarer.”

“And whit micht that be, lass?” Gryph asked after shooting his brother a disapproving look. Which was when Amelia looked at each of them before her gaze landed back on Trice, who was sat between his brothers. Then she told them bluntly,

“He wants a piece of you.”

Trice lowered his tankard slowly and spoke only when it was on the table.

“Come again?” he said in a stern tone.

Nero sighed again before telling them,

“It’s true, there aren’t many things on his list, but a single scale of a dragon is on there and seeing how hard it is to get into the Elemental realm, it’s what makes it so rare… because you three are the only Dragons here.”

Vern baulked, making his brother groan as if they knew what was coming. Even Amelia muttered next to her,

“Oh no, here we go again.”

“Och na, she's dane it noo!” Vern shouted, banging his tankard down and making Nero jump.

“Let it go, Vern,” Trice muttered, as if this wasn’t the first time.

One look at Amelia and I would venture a guess that she had once made this same mistake of riling up the shifter.

“Na ah wull nae. I’m going ta skelp yer wee behind…”

Amelia cut him off by telling Nero,

“Ah, I remember this one, he means to spank your ass if you call him a Dragon again.”

Nero’s eyes got wide before narrowing on the irate shifter.

“Why you son of a…!”

I quickly took back control of the situation before the witch could cast a spell on him and have him chirping like a canary.

“I think we should get back on track here,” I said, making Nero scowl at Vern.

He sneered back at her, muttering under his breath with a huff,

“Fcking Dragon… Cockatrice, Gryphon, and Wyvern… We ur nae dragons, Nero, ye ken this.”

She released a deep sigh and let go of her anger before telling them,

“No, but that is what makes it even better, as you are one of a kind and therefore, he won’t be able to resist,” Nero argued, making Trice grit his teeth. A look that didn’t bode well for us, and Amelia knew it as she interjected before I could.

“I know it’s a lot to ask here, but you don’t understand what’s at stake.”

“This HellBeast’s Chosen One, aye, ye said,” Trice replied, and it was enough for me to ignore the advice Amelia had given me before leaving the shop, telling me to let her handle it. Something that started with me banging my fist on the table.

“No, what’s at stake is Ragnarok!” I exclaimed in frustration.

“The end o' days,” Gryph muttered as his eyes went wide.

“Bullshit!” Vern shouted in return, giving Lucius cause to add to this with as much determination as my own words.

“Cerberus speaks the truth. For not only do they have an army bigger than Hell has ever known, they also have the means of bringing about the end of days, and once the Underworld falls, so will the other realms… including this one.”

“You’re nae lying,” Trice stated, making Lucius nod before assuring in a tense tone,

“No, I am not.”

“So, you see, without you, we cannot prevent it from happening,” Amelia implored.

“And this woman o’ yers, she is th' one that possesses enough power tae accomplish this?” Gryph asked me.

“She is but like Amelia said, she is being manipulated by Garmr. Which is why we must get her from his control so as he cannot continue to use her as a weapon,” I told him.

“And whit guarantee dae ye hae that it isn’t tae late?” Trice asked, making me grit my teeth once again.

“I have none, but that doesn’t mean that I am willing to just sit by and let it happen regardless. I will fight for her until my very last breath, as I would for my brother, something I am sure the three of you understand well enough.”

Their eyes widened, prompting me to explain how Garmr also had my brother, and how I was unwilling to believe him dead. Naturally, it didn’t take long after this that the biggest McBain turned to me and said,

“We wull hulp you,” he stated firmly, making Trice look at him.

Vern finished his ale before slamming his cup down and adding,

“Tis bit a piece o' us.”

“This realm haes taken from us again 'n' again 'n' ye still wantae dae this?” Trice asked his brothers, causing Vern to shrug his shoulders and Gryph to say,

“It haes, but we never lost oor integrity 'n' were nae aboot tae now, no matter what remains of oor souls.”

Trice sighed before turning to us and, thankfully, the argument I was ready with was not needed. My relief was visible and I felt my whole body relax back into my seat.

“We wull need ye lassie tae come wi' us tae bargain wi' this sorcerer,” Trice said, looking to Nero, making Vern tense next to him.

“And whit if it's dangerous?” he was quick to argue, making her straighten and snap,

“That’s my decision to make.”

The stubborn cross of her arms did nothing to deter the shifter from biting back.

“The fck it is!” Vern argued.

Trice placed a hand at his brother’s shoulder.

“There is na one better tae keep her safe, fur na one wid dare harm her whilst we ur thare. Nae if he wants whit we have tae bargain with,” Trice said, making Nero huff, no doubt pissed that they were talking about her like she wasn’t at the table. As for me, I couldn’t give a shit.

There was only one question on my mind…

“When can you leave?”

However, my question was interrupted as suddenly an intruder entered the room. A very small one and, yet again, Amelia knew exactly who it was as he staggered inside, making her shout,

“It’s you, the little green pervert!”