He raises an eyebrow. “So it’s a magical hole in the ground?”
“Maybe.”
I start toward my house, and Argos follows. I do my best to ignore him, hoping he’ll drift in another direction, and I silently plan out the rest of the cleanup. I’ll send a lad to gather my cart and potions and brooms later on. I’m not in the mood to be in the town square at the moment.
Argos won’t go away. He walks in step with me, his height casting a shadow over me. He’s just so big. I wonder what his weight on top of me would feel like… Ugh. I shove that thought away. He’s an idiot. I refuse to be physically aroused by a fool.
“You must concede that my magic isn’t the only strange power that was involved in today’s disaster,” he says, startling me. “Perhaps whatever is in that area is our real problem.”
“Please stop following me.”
“I’m on my way to the mayor’s manor. My direction of walking has nothing to do with you.”
My jaw twitches as I grind my teeth together. Must not commit murder. But Blessed Stones, it would be so peaceful if he ceased existing.
I finally stop and round on him, my hands on my hips. “I won’t see your cart tomorrow, right?”
“It’s up to you what you look at. I did notice you’re inclined to stare at my arse in particular.”
My blood boils. I storm off, giving myself a boost with my wand’s ability to let me fly a few inches from the ground. I refuse to look back at Argos.
I have two mysteries to figure out now.
Are they related? It’s too much of a coincidence for them not to be. I don’t have a real plan yet, but I know my first step.
I’m going to get that minotaur drunk at some point and steal his rune stones.
Chapter 7
Tully
It’s the night of the New Moon, so only the stars illuminate our walk to the Goat and Dragon, the tavern where we’ll dance the night away. It’s tradition to douse even the gaslights that normally dot the town. Laini and I wear the required owl masks, complete with feathers made of silk and wool. The midwinter festivities are headed up by Grumlin, but the rituals involved are older than anyone can remember.
Laini tightens her arm around mine and shivers. “Tell me the plan again.”
Her little dragonfox, Spark, and his dragonfox girlfriend, Moonpetal, fly overhead, their green dragon wings blocking the starlight. Their furry fox tails flutter in the cold wind and they each let out a flirtatious spark of flame at one another.
“We do some shots,” I explain to Laini, adjusting my mask. “We dance and enjoy the night just like we do every year. And then…” I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
Laini pulls the hood of her cloak over her golden hair. “I need more than the eyebrow wiggling.”
I roll my eyes and blow the end of an errant fake feather out of my mouth. “I will get him into a corner or dance close with him, and then I’ll steal his little magic rocks.”
“You shouldn’t make out with someone just to thieve their possessions. You do know that’s super wrong, correct? I have at least given you a semblance of an ethical compass, haven’t I?”
I snicker. “You’ve tried.”
“Tully,” she whines.
“Yes, yes. I am definitely a better person because of you. No lie. Honestly, I’d never do what I’m about to do except this is for the entire town’s, maybe the world’s, good! The minotaur is going to hurt someone if we let him keep on.”
“Rustion won’t take the stones?”
“No. I asked him again via letter and he quoted some stupid town bylaws.”
The snow crunches under our boots, and Spark and Moonpetal flit into a tree that stretches over the tavern.
Laini releases my arm and lifts her masked face to the dragonfox duo. “You two will be okay out here, right? It’s awfully cold.”
