Finally relaxing, Ravyn laughed at that. "Let me guess, never a day class available, and a lot of family emergencies that had him running out at odd times?"
It was true. Dragon had been a great teacher, but he'd also had two assistants and they'd often joked that he dashed off like Superman after a criminal. Who knew how close they'd been to the truth?
Susan shook her head. "Jeez... you guys really are everywhere, aren't you?"
"Yes," Dragon said. "Which explains why I'm here, but not how it is that you're in our company."
"She's a new Squire," Leo said as he sat down at the head of the table.
Coming forward, Dragon held his hand out to her. "Welcome to our world. It's good to see you again."
She shook his hand and smiled. "You, too."
As Dragon started to take the chair beside her, Ravyn cleared his throat.
Dragon arched a single brow as he hesitated with his hand on the back of the chair. She could see his inner debate of whether to sit there and irritate Ravyn or not. Winking at her, he moved to sit on the other side of Ravyn.
"Have you known Ravyn long, Susan?" Dragon asked.
"Just met."
"Uh-huh-"
"Drop the subject, Dragon," Ravyn said as he picked the tomatoes off his sandwich.
Dragon put his hands in the pocket of his black windbreaker and cast a knowing look at them.
Susan felt the heat sting her cheeks before Dragon started chatting with Leo over the latest story in the Inquisitor about an alien baby being found in Greenland.
While they talked, Susan noticed Nick's hand. Like Leo and the others, he had the same spiderweb tattoo. How very interesting...
The next Dark-Hunter to join them was a former Nubian priest named Menkaura. Tall and lean, his skin was a perfect shade of mocha. He wore his long black hair in braids that were tied back at the nape of his neck. But what fascinated her most was that he was dressed in black jeans and a black sleeveless vest that showed off a tattoo of the eye of Horus on his right biceps. There was also a line of tiny hieroglyphics beneath it.
"I have to know what that says," she said, indicating the tattoo.
He glanced at it before he answered, " 'Death is a doorway. Think before you knock on it.' "
"That's profound."
He inclined his head to her as Jack made an aggravated noise.
"Dang, and I always thought it said something like 'Die, Scum, Die.' How disappointing."
By his pained expression, Susan could tell Menkaura didn't appreciate Jack's humor. Unlike Dragon and Ravyn, Menkaura was completely reserved and said very little. Something about him reminded her of a cobra lying in wait for its next victim.
Susan took a second to glance around at the men... "You know, I suddenly feel like I'm on that Cover Model show. Is it just me or is there some unwritten rule that says all the Dark-Hunters have to be really hot?"
Erika snorted. "C'mon, Susan, think about it. If you're an immortal goddess and you're putting together an army of warriors to fight the undead, are you going to fill it with slugs or with the hottest pieces of cheese you can find? Maybe I'm shallow... okay, I'm highly shallow, but in this I give Artemis two thumbs-up."
"You have a point," Susan said as she let her gaze wander over the four Dark-Hunters who were present. Then she looked at Leo. "You know, this would have made a good headline, huh? 'Greek Goddess Commands Army of Hot Cheese.' "
Leo flipped her off before he returned to sorting through his folder.
"Ooo," Susan said, feigning hurt. "I think I've been dissed by the Master of Sleaze."
Menkaura had just taken his seat when the door was suddenly thrown back.
"Dammit, Belle!" Leo snapped as he jumped completely out of his seat. "Don't do that."