Vernisha tightened her hold on Ulah, shifting into a headlock.

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

  “Be careful,” Natasha warned. “That could hurt his neck.”

  “I know, I know,” Vernisha muttered through gritted teeth, wincing as his nails clawed at her skin. Thankfully, they were not 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 Vernisha’s 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 Ulah’s 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.

  Vernisha narrowed her 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.

  She thought he was asleep.

  She 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?” she asked, frowning. “He’s alive, but he seems half-dead.”

  “He’s just really asleep,” Marvin reassured her.

  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 Vernisha to follow her to the side of the house. Vernisha complied.

  “Yes?”

  Natasha lowered her voice. “You weren’t malicious, right?”

  Vernisha raised a brow. “What?”

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

  “No. I already told you what happened.”

  Natasha studied her, not with anger, but with something close to scrutiny.

  Vernisha felt certain she did not believe her.

  “I honestly didn’t,” Vernisha 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.”

  Natasha nodded. “Okay.”

  Vernisha crossed her arms. “So, do you believe me or not?”

  Natasha 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.”

  Vernisha believed that too. He had not bled that much when she hit him with the stone, so she had not been too concerned.

  Natasha draped an arm over Vernisha’s shoulders as they 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.”

  Vernisha knew she was just saying that. Everyone said that. But she knew Natasha was bothered by his words.

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

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

  Vernisha clicked her tongue and looked away. She knew.

  “Remember our promise, little missy.”

  Vernisha thought it was a dumbass promise. The dude was abusive.

  “I think it’s a dumbass promise,” Vernisha said. “The dude is abusive.”

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

  Vernisha pitied her.

  Vernisha 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, she 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.”

  Natasha kissed her forehead. “I’m messing with you.”

  Being treated like a kid despite technically being over thirty mentally was something else. It was cringy as hell.

  They returned to Marvin.

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

  “What is it?” Vernisha 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.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

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

  “Bahmos. Ask him.”

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

  Natasha 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 Vernisha. “Get everything we’ll need.”

  “Yeah.”

  Knock.

  Bahmos stirred. He grumbled, wondering who the hell it was.

  The knocking continued, growing louder.

  Bahmos grunted, yanking a pillow over his ears. Whoever it was could go fuck themselves.

  Beside him, Mary shifted, her knee pressing against his 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 laughed. “You invited another woman?”

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

  She snorted like the answer was obvious. “I’m still sore, so yeah, I’d say so.”

  “I didn’t,” he groaned.

  The person knocked again, pissing him off even more.

  He threw the pillow to the side of the wall, where he kept his 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?” he 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 him?

  “No bonuses for me?” he asked.

  “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 he caught sight of the whip scars on her back.

  Mary slipped into her dress and 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 and two on the left, a family tradition.

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

  His gaze dropped to Mary’s ass, and he shook his head, smiling. He knew for certain Paul could not handle all that ass, not with his crippled ass.

  With everything settled, she walked past him, and he could not resist. He gave her a solid slap, feeling the satisfying jiggle.

  Like always, it was perfect.

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

  He loved having money.

  He pulled a cigar from his tunic pocket, he always kept one there, spat in it, and waited for the blu dust to ignite the Jile leaf. Then he made his 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 Bahmos. “You better pay my friend right.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked. His hand was already moving toward a knife, but now he was just confused.

  Then he 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 Bahmos, then back at Natasha. “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.

  An emergency, huh? That was 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 called for desperate measures. That was how the world worked.

  Bahmos smiled to himself 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 his father had given him after returning from his Holvious expedition. The thing was light as a feather.

  He had tried to make goaumi, a dish the lavish restaurants in Laskdar loved to serve. You baked the four horned monkeygoat, cut the meat into pieces, then put it into a spinner and let it turn into a liquid like substance, and drank it.

  He had messed it up somehow since it tasted horrible.

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

  Yeah, that was a good trade. He had no sex drive, but what the hell, mind over body. If he had to stab it awake, then so be it.

  He 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 him, barely registering his presence. Typical.

  He brushed off the cold reception and 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.”

  He wondered if that was supposed to be a code word?

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

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

  It dawned on him that she was being literal. His soul felt crushed when he realized he had gotten excited over nothing.

  He let out a single laugh and shook his head. It was like what Uncle Joe always said.

  Never get too excited to get your dick wet. You could invite her over, and she shows up and does not want to do anything. Instead, she starts talking about her mother abusing her and shit. So, you are just there on the couch, listening to her rants, feeling stupid.

  “So what?” he asked. “When do you need the help?”

  “Now.”

  “Now? Are you out of your mind? Now? Do you…” He inhaled deeply, pressing his fingers to his temple in frustration.

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

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

  “But,” he 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. He was not certain of their exact size, but he could imagine it. He had no idea how the hell she kept all that fat, the sexy kind, on their family’s diet, but her husband existed. They had to 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.”

  He nodded. “That can work.”

  Yeah, that could work very well.

  He rounded his 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,” he replied.

  “Oh. Drugs.”

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

  His version of what those money loving goblins said. All money was divine money.

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

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

  He knocked on three small houses around him, waking those inside. They complained and groaned.

  He twirled his finger in a circle at the sky. “Make haste. Make haste.”

  The youngest one really annoyed him.

  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 Bahmos 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.”

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

  Sick. As if Bahmos had not heard the moaning sounds when he knocked on the door. Loud as hell. The little fuckers had exaggerated it when he knocked.

  “But—”

  “In ten or less,” Bahmos said before leaving. He had stomach pain, but he could afford to moan like an orgasming woman?

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

  “Oh.”

  “Yep. Some animal government department thing. 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 did not believe that relative part. Damn.

  “Yeah,” he answered.

  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.”

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

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

  Julan and Merkerthy both nodded.

  “I respect that,” Julan said.

  Bahmos wiped his nose. “Let’s get on board. We’ll go to Natasha’s home, collect them, then we move.”