Page 120 of Hybrid Heroics

“All this time,” Novak began, smirking at my demon. “And you never thought to ask what was in the box?”

“No,” Stone snapped. “It was important to him.”

York tipped his head, his lips pursed thoughtfully. “Still is.”

“So you—” Briggs pointed at Stone, chuckling. “—the one who asks a million questions... Didn’t ask what you were guarding?”

“No,” my demon repeated sullenly.

Novak cackled. “Should have given it to the wolf. He loves trees.”

Briggs rolled his eyes. “I’m not entertaining that comment.”

“Fucking druid,” Stone muttered, sitting back down.

Palmer chose a movie despite the complaints of my vampire and wolf. He popped it into the player and turned the projector on. Then reached for a bag of candy as he got comfortable.

“What do you have to do with the seeds?” Vaughn asked York.

“Make them grow.”

My fae nodded. “To show you can provide.”

“Without water or soil,” York added. “We have to grow one in the grove with nothing but magic, determination, and ambition. It’s a test that shows the current rulers their successors won’t let the kingdom fail or fall.”

“Because the land doesn’t make the kingdom, the people do.”

My druid nodded in agreement. “If the ruler can grow life, then the ruler can also grow food and trees for shelter and protect the dryads. They can make a kingdom anywhere.”

“Yeah,” Vaughn commented, absently nodding. “Makes perfect sense.”

The opening credits for the movie blared through the speakers, the dread-inducing music causing me to grin at Palmer. The rest of my guys groaned like they were dying.

I cackled at the dramatics. “Novak’s behavior is really rubbing off on you all.”

“I cannot watch this movie again with Palmer quoting it,” Briggs grouched, sitting on the floor in front of me.

“For a moment there, I thought you were going to say you couldn’t stand this movie,” I murmured to my wolf. “And I was totally prepared to fight you over it.”

“You were going to fight me over a movie?”

I snorted at his disbelieving expression. “Fuck yes. I’ve fought for less.”

“Please,” Palmer cut in, making me stifle a giggle at his choice of quote. “This is supposed to be a happy occasion.”

“This is why we call you a nerd,” Novak sang.

I finished the line for my mage, waving my hands in the air like the swamp king. “Let’s not bicker and argue over who killed who.”

Briggs huffed at me, leaning his head back to rest against my legs. “You two really have to stop with all the Monty Python references. It sucks the fun out of their movies.”

I gasped, and Palmer chuckled, throwing popcorn at my wolf.

“He’s a witch,” my mage stage-whispered.

“And what do we do with witches?” I asked him.

“Barbie,” Briggs growled, just as the opening credits finished.