Page 30 of The Last Slayer
Getting praised by a demon was more than a little strange. “How do you know about the first wyrm?”
He looked puzzled. “The reverberations of draco perditio, of course.”
All right, so maybe he hadn’t been spying on me. Practiced magic users can sense powerful spells.
“So I went to observe.”
Aha! He had been watching. And waiting. If he were that worried about my well-being, he could’ve killed the second wyrm sooner instead of taking in the show. This was how you knew you were dealing with a demon—nothing but pretty little lies.
To ensure you are protected. Whatever.
It was time to leave. I still needed to retrieve that book. The last thing I wanted was a trio of dragonlords accusing me of disobeying them.
“I’ll tell you why the two wyrms went on a rampage today,” Ramiel continued, “and transport you to wherever you need to go. I give you my word that’s all I will do.”
I glanced at my car—or what was left of it. What choice did I have? Supernaturals couldn’t break their word, so maybe…just maybe it was okay to accept his offer so long as I remembered what a liar he was.
Taking my silence as a yes, he whistled, the sound high and clear. An amphitere descended from the sky, its purple and red wings stretched tight in a smooth gliding approach. A thick velvet pad and coverlet hung from its back. Against the deep blue of the fabric, a silver hydra crest writhed furiously. No doubt it sensed Ramiel’s bloodied sword. This is one way you can tell a truly magical item from a fake. The real ones live and evolve along with their owners.
The crowd around us shouted and poi
nted at the flying dragon. Incredibly, there were still lots of cell phones out, and most of them started snapping pictures. Some people crossed the concrete divider and ran toward Ramiel. The sharper ones must’ve realized he was a supernatural—not that there was much room for doubt. The man positively glowed.
Ramiel sighed at the dragon groupies’ mad rush. He turned away from them, the faintest of lines appearing between his eyebrows for just an instant. The ones in the lead suddenly stopped short, their clothes flattening against their bodies, then stumbled backward. They pushed against the invisible barrier and then banged on it with their fists, but there wasn’t any sound except their desperate cries.
“Take us with you! Please!”
“I love you!” a woman shrieked.
My face turned hot. Couldn’t we maintain more dignity around the demons…even if this one was a demigod? How could they still want to worship supernaturals after what had just happened?
When the amphitere stopped before him, Ramiel stepped onto it easily and extended me a hand. I hesitated, then took it and climbed aboard. The amphitere’s muscles twitched. Maybe it was galled to carry a dragon-killing mortal.
“Hold tight,” Ramiel said.
The amphitere took off with a shocking suddenness, and I was forced to grab Ramiel’s waist to avoid falling backward. He stood without any problem, gripping a long leather cord tied to the dragon’s body armor.
Under us, the people who were pushing against the wall suddenly pitched forward and fell. The ones behind ran over them and spilled into the gigantic shadow created by the amphitere. They glared and shouted at me as if somehow I was responsible for Ramiel’s departure.
Idiots. Those people should have been grateful that spit maggots weren’t feasting on their flesh. They should have been helping the wounded rather than running after a dragonlord. The injured remained on the highway, forgotten by the healthy.
The amphitere soared into the sky. With each powerful stroke of its wings the air grew colder, and soon we were high up. I expected to begin freezing and sucking for oxygen, but neither happened.
Maybe it was the result of the shared Sex. Some engage in selfish Sex, where one partner takes everything and gives nothing to the other. Creatures of nightmare are a prime example. What Ramiel and I had done wasn’t like that. Mutual pleasure, but unequal sharing in my favor.
I couldn’t decide what to make of that.
“Where are we going?” I said, when he didn’t make any attempt to land the dragon somewhere secluded for our talk.
“To Besade.”
“To what?”
“Besade. My dragonhold.”
“I know what Besade is. Why are we going there?”
He glanced at me over a shoulder and gave a small frown. “You can’t think to return to your home.”
