Wild Knight (Midnight Empire: The Tower #1)(24)

Kami finished her beer and poured another one. “Did you meet all of them?”

“No, but I met enough.” I couldn’t say too much without revealing Princess Davina’s situation.

Simon delivered two pies to the table and everyone pounced at once. I must’ve been hungrier than I realized because I didn’t even like kidney pie, but I ate a slice without objection or an effort to trade.

“Did they force you to drink blood?” Minka asked.

Kami’s nostrils flared in annoyance. “Why would they do that? She’s not a vampire.”

“Can you imagine meeting the Demon of House Duncan?” Minka shuddered. “I’ve seen him from a safe distance. I think he might be able to drain your blood with a single look.”

“I heard he can lift an entire building,” Stevie added.

I remembered the metal cocoon. “Anything’s possible,” I said, non-committal.

Stevie looked at me expectantly. “You met him?”

I pressed my fingers to my temples. This was exactly the scenario I hoped to avoid. “Like you said, the less you all know, the safer it is.”

Kami poured herself another drink from the pitcher. “I still don’t like it.”

“I don’t either, but what was the alternative? Say no to House Lewis? That would’ve gone down really well.”

Kami pressed her lips together. I understood her concern better than anybody, but I was backed into a corner and the only way out was to comply.

“I’ll do the job, collect payment, and sail off into the sunset.”

At the mention of sunset, everyone fell silent. We knew what the expression meant, but the only sunsets we’d ever seen were in photographs or artwork and they were spectacular. The intensity of the colors. The way the whole sky was illuminated. It seemed incredible that there was once a world where a sun rose and set every single day. The people alive then must’ve taken them for granted. I couldn’t imagine what it must’ve been like for that initial generation to wake up one day steeped in darkness. They must’ve expected the horror to eventually end.

They died still waiting.

“If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to ask,” Stevie said. “I know it’s meant to be a low-key operation, but I’m not about to let one of us get abused by vampires.”

“I have no intention of getting abused.” I could take care of myself in that regard, although I had to be more careful than usual.

“You know London won’t ask,” Kami said. “We’ll simply have to watch her for any sign of trouble.”

“No need for any stalkers,” I said. I already had one of those. Any more and it would turn into a parade.

We finished the pies and pitchers and I left the pub in a good mood, which was unexpected. I assumed the disclosure would leave me feeling annoyed and exposed, but I actually felt better.

As we turned a corner, I sensed someone watching me. I pivoted to see three sets of red eyes observing me from the shadows of a nearby alley.

“Trio?”

The dog trotted forward.

“What are you doing here?” I patted each head.

“I took her to another end of the city,” Kami said. “She must’ve found her way back here.” She dug into her pocket and produced a roll she’d taken from the pub for later. She tore it into three pieces and fed each one to a head.

“What are we going to do with you, huh?” I scratched behind her ear.

“Nothing,” Minka said. “The answer is we’re going to do nothing with her. She’s big enough to swallow a pony. She can fend for herself.”

I cupped her jowls. “You wouldn’t eat a pony, would you? Who’s such a good girl?”

“What if she stayed at the Pavilion?” Kami asked. “We could use an extra layer of security, especially now that we know what London’s up to.”

Minka looked at Trio and wrinkled her nose. “A guard dog?”

Kami rubbed the dog’s head. “Why not? Trio’s obviously taken to us and needs something to occupy her so she doesn’t end up in trouble.”

“I think she’ll end up in trouble in the Pavilion,” Stevie said. “If we leave her there unattended, I guarantee we’ll come back in the morning to a complete mess.”

Minka nodded, her resistance strengthening. “Stevie’s right. And who’s going to pay for the cleanup? What if she eats critical documents?”

“You wouldn’t eat paper, would you?” I stroked her back. “Of course not. You have taste.”

“Let’s put it to a vote,” Kami said.

Minka exhaled sharply. “We can’t. Not everyone’s here.”

“All in favor?” Kami pressed, ignoring the objection.

Kami, Stevie and I raised our hands.

“Majority rules.” Kami gave the dog a triumphant pat on the back.

“The question is who’s going to take her back to the Pavilion now?” Minka asked.

We exchanged wary glances. The Circus was in the opposite direction from my flat. On the other hand, I was the one who brought Trio into our lives. It seemed only fair for me to escort her.

“I’ll do it.”

Trio seemed to understand the conversation and three tongues dropped to the sides of three mouths. She was either happy or plotting world domination. Maybe both.