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“I’m not sure how people can stand to live here,” Triston muttered. “It smells. There’re too many people. And it is so loud.”
I nodded my agreement, dodging a group of teenagers running down the sidewalk. Those were big reasons I had left to live in the woods. Out there, the only noise came from my speakers and the animals who lived there.
“Many people just enjoy the access to amenities,” Riddick said. “Here you only have to walk two minutes to find a grocery store, restaurant, bar, dance club, or other things you might want to do on a weeknight.”
“I’ve never understood the appeal of clubs,” I said and wrinkled my nose. “It smells like sweat, the men are annoying and persistent, and the alcohol is very expensive.”
“You’ve gone to the wrong clubs then,” Riddick said with a smirk. “I guarantee you’d have fun at the club I go to.”
Thinking about dancing with Riddick had heat rising to my cheeks, but I was saved by reaching the grocery store and walking inside with my head down to let my hair cover my face. I reached for a cart, but Percival grabbed it instead and said, “You lead, and I’ll push the cart.”
Nodding, I headed down the first aisle, wanting to pick up some more tea and oatmeal. It took me twenty minutes to get all the items I’d been wanting and more meat and vegetables to top off what I had at home.
It wasn’t until we got to the check out that I realized with horror that I didn’t have my wallet, because I’d run out of the house after the girl in the middle of the night.
Riddick stepped forward as soon as he saw my eyes widen and used his card.
“I’ll pay you back as soon as we get home,” I promised. “I can’t believe I forgot I didn’t have my wallet on me.”
He smiled and shrugged a shoulder. “It’s okay. I know where you live.”
I laughed at the silly joke and followed behind, watching the men work together to divvy up the bags and hail a cab. Seeing the three men working together doing something for me had my heart fluttering and warmth spreading within me. If only everyday could be like this.
That thought was ruined by the reminder that Branson and Kieran would not be at the house when I returned. Both were likely already on a train to … who knew where. I hoped they found happiness wherever they ended up.
“What are you doing here?” a deep male voice asked, clearly annoyed.
I turned and my scowl turned into a fake smile. “Mr. Mayongan, it’s been quite a while, hasn’t it?”
Riddick had been about to climb into the cab they’d flagged down to take us home, but stepped out and moved closer to us.
“Why are you here, Ms. Jasperwood?” Mr. Mayongan asked. He was a tall, grumpy mage with grey sideburns and temples, betraying the age he was trying to hide on his face with magic. He was well over seventy now, but he made himself look closer to fifty. I’d met him when I first moved here, when I’d stopped a group of dragons from beating up a wolf. Apparently, I’d used excessive force to stop them. I thought my force, which hadn’t killed anyone, had been just the right amount to get the pointacross that they couldn’t just beat people up for being different than them, and there was always a bigger fish in the ocean.
“My business is my own, Mr. Mayongan. I don’t report to you,” I said in as sickly sweet a voice as I could.
His eyes narrowed. “There have been some concerning rumors floating around about your place.”
“Oh?” I asked, eyes wide. “Do tell. I love the silly ghost stories your city comes up with about me. What is it this time? Have the rumors about me frolicking naked in the woods and having orgies with demons resurfaced? That might have been my favorite one. I mean, I have on occasion been known to stroll about naked, but in all fairness, it is my private property so there shouldn’t be anything wrong with that, don’t you think? The demon part wasn’t true, but truly hilarious.” I’d made some demon scarecrows and put them up around the edges of my land that bordered the city’s. They’d quickly removed them and despite my demands for my property back, which had been stolen off my land, they denied moving them.
He huffed. “There are rumors that you are harboring fugitives.”
My brows furrowed and my smile left. “Fugitives? Well, as you know there are many times that I do not know who my patients are until they wake up or even up until they leave, but I don’t think I’ve had any fugitives.”
Truthfully, I would have no idea unless they volunteered that information. I didn’t really care so long as they didn’t harm me or my animals.
“Hybrid fugitives,” he snapped. “They are dangerous creatures and?—”
I held up my hand, stopping him midsentence and said, “I have no interest in your bigotry, Mr. Mayongan. Good day.”
Spinning on my heel, I hurried towards the cab, ignoring the smile on Riddick’s face.
Riddick walked up to Mr. Mayongan and said something in his ear that had the mage stuttering and staggering backwards. Riddick saluted him before climbing in beside me.
“What did you say?” I asked.
He brushed off his pants and said, “I just wished him a good day, same as you.”
“Mm hm,” I said, one hundred percent disbelieving him, but not wanting to press for more.
