Page 43 of The Death God
Amell met his gaze, and something deadly took form in his eyes. When he smiled there were sharp teeth, and hadn’t he spent the last few days around Gregory, it might have scared him.
“There are ways to get people to talk.”
“Except we were moved from time to time. As soon as Jaki came back from the outside, we were moved. If someone disappears, they’ll move the seers, and then it won’t matter what the person tells you, they won’t be there.”
Amell’s smile died away.
“He’s right.” Jaki rubbed his neck and grimaced. “We’d only have a few hours to act once the one coming to get Himeros disappears or reports back they couldn’t find him. It’s easier to follow.”
“Come on.” Thanatos stepped away from Gregory. “Let’s change his clothes, then we can talk about the next move.” He took a step toward the castle. “Gregory, can you check the food? I turned down the stove to the lowest, but…” He hoped the rice hadn’t burned to the bottom of the pot.
“Babe, I—”
“Let’s go.” Alaric stepped forward, Himeros already in his arms.
Thanatos led the way through the castle door, passed the kitchen, and headed to his room. He held the door open to Alaric, ignoring the way he eyed his door chains and sliding latches, and went to open the closet. Pulling out a pair of dark blue sweats and a blue long-sleeved T-shirt he’d never worn, he then turned toward Alaric. He was already in the process of yanking Himeros’ shirt off.
“I think he can undress himself.”
Himeros didn’t speak and didn’t move to act. He looked half asleep.
Alaric shot Thanatos a glance. “Yeah, but what if he has a tracker underneath the skin?”
With a wince, Thanatos crouched next to Himeros and met his dazed gaze. “Is there something underneath your skin?”
“What do you mean?” His voice was little more than a whisper, and Thanatos could only imagine how terrifying this must be for him.
“Any bumps or ridges? Did they send you to the sickbay before they dropped you off at the Quins?” He hoped it was okay to call them the Quins. Nothing in Alaric’s expression hinted at being insulted.
“Only normal checkup.”
Thanatos nodded. “What does a normal checkup entail?”
He shrugged then froze as Alaric tugged at his pants.
“Hey.” Thanatos waved a hand in front of his eyes. “I know it’s scary.”
His words made Alaric huff, but he moved with a little more care.
“The checkup, what do they do?”
“Take some blood, weigh us, run the beeper over us.”
“The beeper? What does it do?”
Alaric glanced at Thanatos as he unlaced Himeros’ shoes.
“I don’t know.”
“Is it a big machine or something they hold in their hand?” Thanatos had seen how they scanned lost dogs for chips.
“Handheld.”
“And it beeps?”
“Yeah.” Himeros looked at Alaric as he removed his shoes, socks, and scrub bottoms, leaving him in only his underwear.
“Only one piece of clothing left.” Alaric looked into Himeros’ eyes, but Thanatos held up a hand to halt him.
