POV: Vernisha

  I tightened my hold on Ulah, shifting into a headlock.

  Natasha pulled the rag from his mouth, and he immediately snapped like a wild dog, his saliva spraying as he growled.

  "Be careful," she warned. "That could hurt his neck."

  "I know, I know," I muttered through gritted teeth, wincing as his nails clawed at my skin. Thankfully, they weren’t sharp.

  Marvin approached hesitantly, his eyes filled with unease. He stared at Ulah’s sharp teeth and the spittle flying from his mouth.

  "You’re holding him tight, right?" he asked, voice unsteady, like Ulah might lunge at him any second.

  "Yes."

  Natasha wrapped the rag around her hand like a makeshift glove and positioned herself at my side.

  "I'm going to hold your mouth open, alright?" she said to Ulah.

  His teeth sank into her fingers, puncturing the skin and drawing blood, but she pried his mouth open regardless, forcing it wide. Marvin acted swiftly, tilting the container and pouring the greenish-brown liquid down his throat. The moment he was done, Natasha yanked her hand away and clamped his mouth shut, pressing firmly against his jaw and skull to keep it sealed.

  Her blood trickled down Ulah’s skin.

  "He should fall asleep in a minute or two," Marvin said.

  I narrowed my eyes. "You’re sure it’s potent enough to work that fast?"

  "I’m certain. And no, it won’t kill him."

  Just as he predicted, Ulah became sluggish after a minute, his struggling slowing until he finally collapsed into unconsciousness.

  I think he’s asleep.

  I whispered in his ear, tickled him, even poked his shoulder. No response.

  He was still breathing, his heartbeat steady.

  "You’re sure it wasn’t too strong?" I asked, frowning. "He’s alive, but he seems half-dead."

  "He’s just really asleep," Marvin reassured me.

  Caren was next, though he barely put up a fight. The process was over quickly.

  While Marvin checked their temperatures and took saliva and blood samples, Natasha gestured for me to follow her to the side of the house. I complied.

  "Yes?"

  She lowered her voice. "You weren’t malicious, right?"

  I raised a brow. "What?"

  "With the stones to his head. That’s what I’m asking about."

  "No. I already told you what happened."

  She studied me—not with anger, but with something close to scrutiny. "I see."

  She doesn’t believe me.

  "I honestly didn’t," I insisted. "Sure, he pisses me off… and he says things to you that piss me the hell off, and you never reacting pisses me off even more—but I didn’t hurt him more than I needed to."

  She nodded. "Okay."

  I crossed my arms. "So… do you believe me or not?"

  She casually glanced into the darkness, as if watching an animal pass by, before finally answering, "Of course I do. Besides, his skull isn’t even fractured. He most likely just has a concussion, nothing more."

  I believed that too. He hadn’t bled that much when I hit him with the stone, so I hadn’t been too concerned.

  Natasha draped an arm over my shoulders as we walked back toward Marvin.

  "Also, you shouldn’t worry about what your father says to me," she added.

  "That's bullshit."

  "If it doesn’t affect me, it doesn’t matter."

  "You’re just saying that. Everyone says that. But I know you’re bothered by his words, like when that fucker said—"

  "Be quiet." Her voice was firm. "I couldn’t care less what he says. As long as you’re okay, I’m okay. Happy even."

  I clicked my tongue and looked away. "I know."

  "Remember our promise, little missy."

  "I think it’s a dumbass promise. The dude is abusive."

  "A couple of insults and loud rants aren’t abuse. They’re just annoying."

  You poor soul.

  I sighed. "The man once called you a ‘vlandos cocksucker’ just because you didn’t like how he was talking shit about vlandos."

  And he had said far worse things than that. When it came to being disgusting, I had to give it to him—he was disturbingly good at it.

  "I told you not to say that disgusting word."

  "It’s two words."

  "See? You’re playing semantics with me again."

  "My bad."

  She kissed my forehead. "I’m messing with you."

  Being treated like a kid despite technically being over thirty mentally sure was something. Cringy as hell.

  We returned to Marvin.

  He was standing there, staring at Caren with a bewildered expression.

  "What is it?" I asked.

  "No idea. I don’t have the right equipment to analyze his blood, see how his cells are changing, and all that. The best I can do is observe what I can see with the naked eye." He cleared his throat. "His blood is getting darker. His fingernails too."

  He exhaled sharply. "You need to get him to a doctor in Sundawn. Someone with the right equipment to help them out." Then, muttering under his breath, "If they can be helped."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Natasha frowned. "How are we supposed to get to the capital? It’s over two hundred and forty miles away."

  "Bahmos. Ask him."

  Natasha and I exchanged disgusted looks. That was the same guy who had been trying to get with Natasha—and who had nearly broken Caren’s back.

  She grimaced. "There’s no one else?"

  "You seen anyone else with a green lizard? Because I haven’t."

  She exhaled slowly. "I see."

  Palia glanced between Natasha and Marvin before turning to Natasha with a determined look. "I’ll come with you. To him."

  Natasha shook her head. "No. It’s okay."

  "Are you sure? I know how he gets, and if I’m there, I’ll make sure the fucker knows his place."

  "I appreciate it, but trust me, I can handle myself. You worry too much."

  Before leaving, she turned to me. "Get everything we’ll need."

  "Yeah."

  POV: Bahmos

  Knock.

  What the hell…?

  Another knock. Louder this time.

  I grunted, yanking a pillow over my ears. Whoever it was could go fuck themselves.

  Beside me, Mary shifted, her knee pressing against my back as she changed position. She let out a sleepy mumble. "Ain’t you gonna check who’s at the door?"

  "No. They can go fuck themselves."

  She made a sound that was half-laugh, half-yawn. "You invite another woman over?"

  "This late at night? The fuck do I look like, a sex maniac?"

  She snorted, the kind of laugh someone gives when they hear some serious bullshit. "I’m still sore, so yeah, I’d say so."

  I groaned. "I didn’t."

  The person knocked again, pissing me off even more.

  I threw the pillow to the side of the wall, where I kept my shoes.

  On the shelf at Mary’s side of the bed, the lamp flickered to life, casting a dim glow across the room. She leaned over the bed, reaching for her bra and underwear.

  “You’re going?” I asked. “Thought you were staying until morning.”

  She raised an eyebrow as she slid on her undergarments. “You paid for the night, not the wife's experience.”

  “No bonuses for me?”

  “Not for free.” She pinned her bra and ran a hand through her long hair, trying to tame it. “Maybe this one will give you that experience.”

  She stood, and I caught sight of the whip scars on her back.

  Mary slipped into her dress, sari, then grabbed the thirty bronze pints from the shelf and tucked them into her chest pocket.

  Before taking the blu-fire lamp, she turned with a crude smile. “Give me twenty more, and I’ll stay ove—”

  “Good night, Mary. Sleep well and tell your husband I said hi.”

  She rolled her eyes. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Same time?”

  “Same time.”

  She took her fake earrings from the shelf and put them on—three on the right ear, two on the left, a family tradition.

  The knocking continued. I got up, pulled on a tunic, and was about to head to the door when I stopped.

  I glanced at Mary’s ass and shook my head, smiling. I know for certain Paul can’t handle all that ass, not with his crippled ass.

  With everything settled, she walked past me, and I couldn’t resist. I gave her a solid slap, feeling the satisfying jiggle.

  Like always, it was perfect.

  I put my hand on my waist, watching as the ceiling darkened in the absence of the lamp’s glow.

  I love having money.

  I pulled a cigar from my tunic’s pocket—always kept one there—spat in it, and waited for the blu-dust to ignite the Jile leaf. Then I made my way to the front door.

  Mary opened it first, grinning wide before pulling the person into a hug. “Holy shit. You told me you weren’t interested!”

  She pulled back, then pointed at me. “You better pay my friend right.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked. My hand was already going for a knife, but now I was just confused.

  Then I heard the person’s voice.

  “I’m not here for anything like that.”

  Natasha…?

  Mary gave her a skeptical look. “Sure. I’ll keep your little thing a secret. What made you change your mind anyway? Ah, that fat fuck was being an asshole again, wasn’t he? The audacity of these ungrateful men. He should be glad you didn’t decide to fuck some guy and make him watch. I would do it. I’d make the bastard eat the nu—”

  “Mary. I’m here because I need to head to the capital immediately.”

  Mary’s eyes widened in surprise. Embarrassment flashed across her face as she nervously licked her lips.

  “Oh… Money reasons? Job opportunity?”

  “Doctor. Family’s sick.”

  “Oh…” Mary glanced at me, then back at her. “Sorry. When you get back, tell me everything.” She made a motion as if to pat Natasha’s shoulder, then turned and went about her own business.

  Emergency, huh? That’s a nice lie.

  That Caren bastard must not have made enough money this time. Not enough food on the table, starving kids, stress.

  Desperate times always call for desperate measures. That’s how the world worked.

  I smiled to myself and stepped into the kitchen, ignoring the sink filled with dirty dishes streaked in red, yellow, and blue sauces.

  A foul smell wafted from one of the metal cups—monkeygoat meat, rotting. A cup my father had given me after returning from his Holvious expedition. Shit’s light as a feather.

  I opened the cabinet and grabbed some canned snailcrabs—preserved in salt, enough to sustain her family for about six days.

  Yeah, that’s a good trade. I got no sex drive, but what the fuck, mind over body. If I gotta stab it awake, then so be it.

  I showed up at the door, leaned against the frame, and smiled at the beautiful Natasha. Long black hair, brown eyes.

  Her eyes flicked over to me, barely registering my presence. Typical, I thought, brushing off the cold reception. I forced a smile, trying to keep the mood light. "What’s a beautiful lady like you doing here in the middle of the night?"

  “Get me to the capital. My family is sick; they need a doctor urgently.”

  “Please.”

  ...Was that supposed to be a code word?

  I frowned, confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “What’s not to understand? I need your help. Well, transportation.”

  Oh. She was literal. Man, what the hell? I got excited over nothing?

  I let out a single laugh and shook my head. It was like what Uncle Joe always said:

  "Never get too excited to get ya dick wet. You could invite her over, and she shows up and doesn’t wanna do anything. Instead, she starts talking about her mother abusing her and shit. So, you're just there on the couch, ‘listening’ to her rants, feeling stupid."

  I asked, “So what? When do you need the help?”

  “Now.”

  “N–n–now?! Are you out of your fu— mind?! Now?! Do you…” I inhaled deeply, pressing my fingers to my temple in frustration.

  Right now, she hated me. If I was going to get a shot at her, I needed to get on her good side.

  I struggled to put on a fake smile. “Absolutely… I would love to help a beautiful mountain fairy like you.”

  “But,” I said, looking up and down at her fine body, her nicely shaped tits, perfect hips, and the thighs she tried to shield with her dress. I wasn’t certain of their exact size, but I could imagine it. I have no idea how the hell she keeps all that fat (the sexy kind) on their family’s diet, but her husband exists. They gotta be eating that diabetic shitty plant to maintain all that weight.

  She asked, annoyed, “What? But what?”

  “What’s in it for me?”

  “Get us to the capital, and we can decide afterward. I don’t have time now, as you can imagine.”

  I nodded. “That can work.”

  Yeah, that can work very well.

  I rounded my shoulders and told her, “Give me a minute. I’m going to get dressed and call over my boys.”

  “I see. But for what? Your boys.”

  “You’re not the only person with business to do in the capital,” I replied.

  “Oh. Drugs.”

  I cracked a smile at her. “Drug money is divine money.”

  My version of what those money-loving goblins say: “All money is divine money.”

  Things moved fast. I covered my hair with a bright green headscarf that matched my pants, then I threw on a simple knee-length tunic black shirt.

  To finish it, I added white stylish gloves—brand name, ‘Fairy Hands.’ Expensive as hell for no real reason other than gatekeeping, trying to keep the prestige.

  I knocked on three small houses around me, waking those inside. They complained and groaned.

  I twirled my finger in a circle at the sky. “Make haste. Make haste.”

  The youngest one really annoyed me.

  The little shit had the nerve to come out of the door with his arm around his girl’s shoulder, both half-naked, trying to convince me that he was ‘sick.’

  “Uncle, my stomach hurts like hell. I was running to the toilet like it was my lifesaver.”

  His Julioes girlfriend added (with her shitty, barely understandable accent) while rubbing his back, “He nearly even shat himself.”

  I ignored her and told him, “We move in ten. Be by me before then.”

  Sick. As if I hadn’t heard the moaning sounds when I knocked on the door. Loud as hell. The little fuckers exaggerated it when I knocked.

  “But—”

  “In ten or less,” I said before leaving. Got stomach pain, but you can afford to moan like an orgasming woman?

  My green lizard was pulled from its stable, and a carriage was lined behind it. I pointed at it, getting Natasha’s attention. “You know, they don’t make them anymore.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yep. Some animal government department thingy. Apparently, their heart is too close to their lungs or something. They don’t get tired like that. A damn Fermuia breed. The guy who named it was actually a distant relative of mine. When my father told me that, I believed it. Genius runs in the family.”

  “Good to hear. So, you’re done preparing?”

  She didn’t believe that relative part. Damn.

  I answered, “Yeah.”

  Julan, the same young guy who tried lying, sat behind the carriage, looking at Natasha in confusion.

  He gestured at her with his finger. “Yo, Miss Natasha.”

  She nodded at him.

  “Why’re you so calm? If Bahmos was wasting my time and my family was dying, I think I’d be livid.”

  His cousin, who was near him, elbowed him. “Man, shut up. You know you’d be waiting patiently like a little pup.”

  “Just because I play it smart doesn’t mean I wouldn’t get serious when I have to.”

  I looked at him in the eye. He smiled and said, “I mean that in a cool way.”

  Whatever.

  Natasha waited for them to stop talking before answering, “That’s just the way I am.”

  Julan and Merkerthy both nodded.

  Julan said, “I respect that.”

  I wiped my nose and said, “Let’s get on board. We’ll go to Natasha’s home, collect them, then we move.”