Battle Bond: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons #2) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,59
voice spoke into my mind.
Your affairs? What are you doing partnering with some scruffy cat shifters?
The time of humans infesting and destroying this world is coming to the end. All who do not stand with us shall perish along with them.
Are you offering me a chance to switch sides? I wouldn’t, of course, but I was curious.
You chose your side long ago, mongrel.
“Yes, I did.” The weight pulling my arm down had faded when she shifted from a mental attack to a physical one, so I aimed Fezzik and squeezed the trigger.
But she waved her hand, and the bullets slowed as if they were flying through molasses instead of air. Before they reached her, she dropped off the other side of the truck. I sensed her run to the far fence and leap up and over.
She didn’t go the same way the shifter I’d shot had gone—nor did she head toward the one that Sindari had chased off—so maybe that meant they weren’t truly working together. Just that, for some reason, she’d lent her magic to them tonight. In exchange for a favor?
Sindari hopped over the fence as if it were three feet high instead of twelve and rejoined me. I chased the other one until he went into what I believe is called a night club. It was very noisy and filled with people. I assumed you would not want me to follow him inside.
Were service animals not allowed?
Sindari placed a heavy paw on my foot. If you’re partial to this, you’ll remember that I am not some servile animal.
If you tear off my foot, I’ll have a hard time battling dark elves.
He squinted at me. I thought I sensed an elf or dark elf. What was he doing here?
She was delivering threats.
How novel.
I thought so.
Someone honked out front. Maybe the police or fire department had finally figured out what was going on.
“You all right, Nin?” I checked on her, found her finishing hosing down the last of the flames, and got a thumbs-up.
“Hello!” came a familiar call from the entrance gate.
“Back here, Dimitri.” Fairly confident we’d dealt with all the trouble—Sindari would alert me if more showed up—I stepped out into the main aisle. “Are you alone?”
“Who else would be with me?” He pushed the gate farther aside and stepped in.
“Your hot date.”
“Jeremy from the club? I haven’t had time to get together with him yet.”
“Zoltan,” I said dryly.
“He doesn’t leave the premises except to hunt, and he said he stays local for that.” Dimitri strode toward me, frowning darkly when the charred and smoking food truck came into view. “Fresh, local food. That’s his preference.” His mouth twisted. He wasn’t wearing his cervical collar, but I wagered it was still in the van.
“How fortunate for the people of Woodinville.”
“Is Nin all right?”
“Yes. Physically. Mentally, she’s probably already stressing out about disappointing her regulars when she can’t show up for the lunch hour tomorrow.”
“Maybe she can use the kitchen there, then set up a table with some warming trays.” Dimitri waved at the building, then rested a hand on the soot-covered hood of the truck.
“Do you think there’s any chance of fixing it?”
“I don’t know much about cars, so if the engine was damaged, don’t ask me. The rest…” He shrugged. “I’ll have to take a look. Do we know who did this?”
“Shifters and a dark elf. One of them confessed that the Pardus brothers paid them and didn’t care if anyone was hurt or killed. I recorded it—” I pulled my phone out, “—but I’ve been told that confessions that I extract at sword point aren’t admissible in court.”
“They’re not?”
“Some legal mumbo jumbo about duress and threats.” I shrugged indifferently.
“Have you actually been to court?”
“To testify? A few times. Colonel Willard has learned to pull strings to keep me from being subpoenaed.”
“Are you an unreliable witness?”
“I’m a sarcastic witness. I’ve been held in contempt of court three times.”
“How many times have you been in court?”
“Three.”
“I can’t believe you said I’m the surly one who shouldn’t be hand-selling my wares.”
“I’m pretty sure I just implied you weren’t quite as cute as the box of puppies next door.”
“Who is?”
“Nobody.”
Sindari came to sit by my side, his shoulder reaching as high as my shoulder. Please tell Dimitri good evening. And let him know he may pet me if he wishes.
He may? Like it’s an honor for him?
It is certainly an honor. We have discussed my status and importance among my people, and that I am essentially an ambassador here.