I grunted, holding out my hand for the painkillers. Gunnar tapped out two Advil, handing me the glass of water. I shook my hand with the pills again. He arched a brow at me, but complied, dumping out one more. “That should be enough for now. No need to be dramatic about a little headache,” he said, smiling lightly.
I stared at him, and then lifted up my shirt, twisting to reveal my bruised back from my fight with the shifter gorilla and chimera. Then I held out my palm, peeling back the bandage to show him the oozing brand. His eye widened, and he tapped out another pill.
“Thanks,” I rasped, voice a little better. Then I downed the pills and drank.
“Why didn’t Mallory heal those when he healed your hangover?”
“Because he knows better,” I said cryptically.
Curing a hangover was one thing, but he had likely checked the wound on my palm, and chosen not to touch it, sensing that there was obviously some deep magic involved with it. He also knew that me waking up to healed bruises would only look like sucking up. Because he knew how unhappy I was with him. Even after his assistance last night.
Because we still needed to have a talk.
And he wanted that to be a clean, honest talk, rather than having my mood altered by feeling moderately thankful for him healing an injury of mine.
Which made me think a little better of him. He didn’t want to sway my opinion.
At least, I think that’s what it all meant.
Of course, he could have been so hammered that I was simply lucky he hadn’t fried my brain like an egg. Doing magic while drunk was never smart. Then again, I wasn’t really sure if he could get drunk, or if what he did was magic. Or something else.
Because we hadn’t talked. He hadn’t told me anything. Yet.
“So, that was fucking insane. Mind filling in the gaps?” Gunnar interrupted my thoughts.
I leaned back in the chair, closing my eyes for a minute. Then I told him. Everything. About my meeting with the Academy. The note from the Syndicate. The cavern. The talk in the Armory. The Hatter and the birthday gift. Even the gorillas and Yahn to lighten the mood.
Everything.
Because, despite our sometimes-rocky relationship, Gunnar had earned a solid place by my side. And, hiding things from him had led to all sorts of issues in the past. Because Gunnar was tenacious. If I didn’t tell him outright, he was liable to go find the answers himself.
By any means necessary.
He was that kind of loyal. The kind to do something horribly intrusive in order to look out for your well-being. Often to your detriment. He had – several times – gone against my wishes, lied, and outright made things worse for me in order to do something that he thought would help.
He was a wrecking ball.
And I’d rather have the wrecking ball go where I pointed.
He let out a long breath. “I knew you and Alucard were hiding something. Fucking gorillas,” he laughed lightly. “And a candy-painted dragon,” he said, running a hand through his long blonde hair, which was loose today, not tied back in a bun or anything. “Was he the overly colorful one at the Gala?” he asked. I nodded with a faint smile. His beard had been neatly trimmed, and I could tell that he had recently had his hair cut, because the buzzed sides of his head were flawless.
“Shags?” I asked, pointing at his hair, trying to change subjects to his barber.
He nodded absently, still digesting my story. “Can’t you just, I don’t know, do anything mellow for once in your life?”
I leaned back into the chair, stretching. “This wasn’t me, man. I didn’t ask for any of this. Well, except for the gorilla thing. But I was just trying to make them stop stalking him, creeping him out,” I admitted. “I was at a freaking charity ball, for crying out loud. For your school. For your students. Trying to raise money.”
“Let me get this straight. I’m assuming Ichabod is in town, because Indie is here. And they want – more than anything – to take out the Syndicate. Who wants to kill you.”
“Don’t forget the Academy. They want to kill me, too.”
He waved off my comment. “Only two enemies at a time. Are you sure Ichabod is hell bent on this magical whatsit? Maybe he wants to take the Syndicate out by other means, and you could temporarily team up with him.” He hesitated. “And talk with Indie…”
I sighed. “I wish. Here’s the rub. Even if he didn’t want to wake a god and cause all sorts of headaches, I think he wants to steal the Grimms. Bring them back. And Shiva thinks it’s only a matter of time before he tries the Sleeping Beauty thing with a god.”
Gunnar nodded, staring down at the floor. “Yeah, you’re probably right. And he did have Indie steal your cane.” He looked up sharply. “You don’t think… he’s not trying to make her a Maker, right?”
I shrugged, letting out an angry breath. “Who knows? But being a Grimm, she can already harness Maker powers just by being near him. Or, hell, maybe her Grimm stones already hold Maker powers. Other than the time manipulation thing, I don’t know what gifts she has.”
Gunnar set his forehead in his hands, grumbling. “Okay. Let me think for a minute.”
I nodded, climbing unsteadily to my feet. I walked the room a few times, clearing my head, and then knelt down on the ground. Pushup time. I had found it helped wash away hangovers. As horrible of an experience as it was to do pushups while hungover, for whatever reason, it did seem to help me in the long run.
Gunnar watched me, thinking. I ignored him, steadily going through a set of twenty-five, trying not to throw up or let my head fall off.
“Rather than dealing with the two already big problems you have, you blatantly escalated a horrible situation with the Academy.”
I growled, breathing heavily. I was exhausted and felt weak. “They were already going to go after you guys. Said so themselves. Before I even mentioned the Syndicate to them. Sure, they might have done it a little more peacefully. Perhaps while you were sleeping.”
“Are you serious?” he asked, incredulous. “Would they really have done that?”
I grunted. “I have no idea. They’ve done some pretty extreme stuff in the past. Like hunting down chimeras. Even the innocent ones. Genocided them.”
“That’s not a word,” he smiled.
“You got my point, didn’t you?”
“Still, you can’t just make up words. No one will take you seriously.”
I settled on my knees, looking up. “I think that wizard last night took me pretty seriously.”
His humor evaporated. “Yeah,” he admitted in resignation. “We all took you pretty seriously after that. You should hear what my wolves are saying about you. You earned some mad street cred.” I didn’t smile. He shook his head, studying me. “You okay?”
I shrugged. “Does it matter? If I didn’t kill them, you would have had to. Even the ones I let sneak away. Then the Academy would have come at you in force. Full-blown war. And likely the other shifters would form an alliance and retaliate. World War Freak.” I took a deep breath. “Better to just kill two, and make a big fucking point of the whole damned thing. Fear tactics.”
“Like a terrorist.”
I nodded in resignation. “Thanks. I feel so much better now.”
“I wasn’t saying it as a condemnation. Just an observation.” He was silent for a time, and I began another set. “You need anything?”
I grunted, finishing up. The last several reps were spectacularly ungraceful. I knelt, panting. That light bit of a workout should not have worn me out so much. I blamed it on the booze.
“I’m going to go shower. Get some grub or something. I’ll be down soon. We need to make sure you guys are safe at the apartments. Just in case they come back for you.”
Gunnar smiled. “Already taken care of. Raego had been asking me about renting a few apartments for his guys. Spread his forces out in the city. I called him back last night about some sudden openings. They moved in this morning. And they have roommates.” He winked.
<
br /> I laughed. “Well, that’s going to surprise the hell out of the Academy if they decide to come and attack again. A sovereign nation’s citizen being attacked without reason? Yeah, Raego will call every dragon in the world to meet him in St. Louis.” I grinned. “Good call, man.”
“You, too.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Letting the other wizards escape while you distracted us with your speech.” I nodded slowly. “Also, how long were the Horsemen there?” he asked casually.
I blinked at him. “You saw them?”
He grinned, shaking his head. “Smelled ‘em. Been around them a few times. Recognizable stink. Like Brimstone.”
“The wolves could smell them?”
Gunnar shook his head. “I asked around. Not about the Horsemen, but about the brimstone smell. No one else noticed it. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been around them a few times now.” I nodded in relief. The room was silent as I tugged off my shirt, grimacing as the fabric brushed against my bruises and injured hand. “You kind of smell like them, too.”
I flinched, practically falling over the table with the shirt still wrapped around my head. “What?” I blurted from beneath the tent of cloth.
“Just a little. Stronger today than usual, but still, just a faint hint.”
And my thoughts instantly went to the Mask as I finally tugged the shirt free.
As if reading my thoughts, Gunnar spoke. “Can I see it?”
My arms exploded with goose-flesh. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
He frowned. “Come on. You have a Horseman Mask. I have to see it,” he pressed.
I shook my head adamantly. “I won’t even look at it. I haven’t looked at it. Not the outside, anyway. The thing practically vibrates with power, man. I don’t want that. I’ve already played with enough dangerous artifacts, and only just got rid of my latest Beast. I don’t want another one. It stays locked up.”
Gunnar let out a frustrated sigh, but he was nodding. “You’re probably right. But if you ever change your mind, let me at least see it before you go all Biblical on us.”
I gave him a very serious look. “I think that if I pick up that Mask, the whole world will see it… as I go Biblical on them…” I trailed off, feeling disgusted.
Because the Horsemen were not good guys.
They were supposedly the necessary guys, but they were tasked with killing off fractions of the entire world, for crying out loud. I couldn’t do that. Couldn’t be that.
He was nodding sadly. “Is that why you leaned so heavily on your ties to them during your speech? To scare the hell out of everyone?”
I smiled, nodding. Then I crossed my fingers. “Let’s just hope it works.” I picked up my shirt, and began heading out of the office. “Now it’s time I go wash off that Brimstone smell.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready downstairs.”
I looked over my shoulder to see him following me out the door. “Ready for what? I don’t have any plans yet today.”
He winked as he brushed past me. Or blinked.
It was hard to tell since he only had one eye.
“We’re going to go rob the Academy.” And he began to whistle as he made his way to the kitchen. I didn’t even bother to argue. If I didn’t let him go, he was liable to call G Ma and call her a cotton-headed ninny muffin, or something. Anything to pick a fight and force my hand.
I had a crew. Temple’s Two.
Chapter 30
I made my way downstairs, freshly changed, and scrubbed clean. Dean had made pancakes and bacon. The smell pulled at me like Pepe Le Pew chasing his unrequited lover, drawing me towards the kitchen.
I walked through the doorway, taking in a deep breath.
“He thought I was banging the librarian! With his mother in the other room, no less!” Achilles roared, laughing his ass off.
Gunnar shook his head in disbelief, then caught my entrance. “You didn’t tell me that part, Nate!” he grinned. “What kind of person do you take him for?”
I shrugged, scowling at Achilles. “Love the project car in the driveway.” He smiled. Dean growled to himself, muttering choice words.
“Come to pick up your new shoes?” I smiled at Achilles.
He leaned back, crossing his ankles. “No. But I did come to accessorize,” he smiled, shoving a large hunk of pancakes into his mouth. He chewed with his mouth open, and I began to notice a twitch in my cheek, because that was a pet peeve of mine.
“You know the agreement. Serve—”
He held up a finger. “Gunnar told me what you’re doing today.”
I glared at the werewolf, who was suddenly holding his hands up in the air. “He tricked me!”
“Okay, you duped the dumb mutt. What does that have to do with you wanting to check my Lost and Found box?” I asked, venomously.
Gunnar was frowning. I hadn’t told him anything about Achilles wanting his helmet. To be honest, I didn’t really know what the big deal was. Surely modern technology could provide better protection than an ancient metal helmet. I had never read anything magical about it. Just a helmet. Well made, sure. But still, just a helmet. I had been antagonizing him by telling him he couldn’t have it. I honestly couldn’t care less.
But since I had started this charade, I couldn’t just back down. Or he would think that he could just bully me around again in the future. “The answer is no, Achilles. Unless you agree—”
“I’ll do you one better. Well, better for me, long term. Better for you, short term.”
I closed my mouth, my patience almost gone. Hangovers didn’t make for agreeable wizards.
Dean – I hadn’t even realized he was in the room – set a full plate on the table, motioning for me to sit. I did. Maybe it would prevent me from shouting as much. I stuffed my mouth with pancakes, motioning for Achilles to continue, managing a pompous, selfless mask.
“I’ve been to the Library. Know the ins and outs. Where things are kept.”
I dropped my fork, and his grin turned wolfish. “Shit.”
He leaned forward, rolling his neck back and forth like a bruiser. “I’ll be your guide.”
I leaned back, thinking furiously. “It’s just a library. I can find my way around.”
“We,” Gunnar corrected.
I nodded. “Yeah. We can find our way around.”
Achilles shook his head in amusement. “You have no idea how big this place is, do you? Suffice it to say, fucking huge. It would take you hours. And you’d have wizard guards breathing down your neck the entire time. And whatever else they use for guards. And after your little speech yesterday, I don’t think they like you very much.” Of course he had heard. He ran a bar.
“But you don’t know where the Hand of God is,” I argued.
He shrugged. “True, but I know where it won’t be. Which is a huge asset when you have limited time to search.”
“And you want your tinfoil hat in exchange. I don’t get it. The helmet isn’t magical. You could easily buy a better one these days. Something stronger. Better protection.”
Achilles frowned. “It is my helmet. There are many like it. But this one is mine.”
I rolled my eyes at the stolen Marines line. “Whatever. I’ll get your stupid hat.”
He nodded smugly. “And people say you’re not that bright.”
I threw my fork at him. He caught it, never dropping his grin.
Did I say that Achilles was a badass?
If not… Achilles was a badass. Still, I didn’t like being forced into things.
“After careful consideration, I’ve decided that you may be useful to me. I’ll even give you your hat back. On three conditions.” He scowled, waiting. “Give a troop of weregorillas access to the Fight Club.”
He shrugged. “Already on my docket, so sure,” he grinned with a sneer.
Damn it.
“You can’t take anything from the Armory unless I agree.” He nodded, unconcerned.
�
�You have to say please.”
He stood, wiping his hands together. “Please stop being a whiny bitch and get me my hat. Please.”
Dean grumbled. Gunnar was smiling. “This is going to be fun. Or terribly stupid. Or both.”
“That’s the spirit,” Achilles slapped him on the back. He turned to me. “Let’s go get—”
I hit him with the magical duct tape I had tried in the Armory. “No girlfriend to help you this time,” I shot him a satisfied smile. “Right now, I’m going to eat my pancakes. If you’re good, and don’t speak when the adults are speaking, I’ll give you a new hat. How does that sound, my boy?” I made sure my voice was highly animated, like I was speaking with a toddler. Dean coughed, pretending to search for something in the cabinet.
“Dust,” he explained without turning around.
Achilles didn’t disappoint, glaring at me in silence, not blinking as I ate my pancakes.
I took my time. He finally blinked, unable to even grunt in frustration. But he did exhale very loudly through his nose several times. Gunnar was uncharacteristically very quiet. Dean fumbled around in the cabinets for nothing, the fat liar.
Carl entered the room, clutching my phone as if it were a venomous cobra.
Dean looked ecstatic at the distraction. “Pancakes are ready,” he told Carl, grabbing a plate.
Carl cocked his head. “I prefer to feast on the flesh of the unborn.”
Gunnar’s eye widened and he dropped his fork.
“Eggs. He means eggs,” I explained, shaking my head. Fucking Carl…
Carl nodded, not understanding the difference. But he extended his scaled hand, holding out the phone to me. “It is screaming at me. Repeatedly. I think it wants to talk to you.” I scrambled to my feet, staring at the screen. Five missed calls from Tory, back-to-back. Then it started ringing again.
I answered immediately, via speakerphone, but didn’t even get a chance to speak.
Chapter 31
Cries and shouts erupted from the speaker before I heard Tory’s voice. “We need help, now! I can’t fight them off and control the students at the same time!” she shouted over the background noise.
Tiny Gods: A Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Book 6 (The Temple Chronicles) Page 15