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She turned to smile at him. “He would definitely be one of the places to start. If I were studying your culture, I’d probably seek him out as my prime source of information.”
“And you’d be wise. He knows everyone in our underworld.”
She frowned slightly. “So I have to ask, did you kill Daniel?”
Marius shook his head. “Not a chance. That dagger could have sliced his heart in two, but his self-healing ability would have knit it back together before three beats had passed.”
“Well, that at least explains why you’re not doing cartwheels.”
“Cartwheels, huh?”
“Celebrating.”
He chuckled softly. “No, it’s not time to celebrate yet.” He looked her over. “Are you sure you didn’t get hurt?
“Not even a little.”
“May I check?”
She glanced down at her body, frowning. “Of course, but really, I stayed out of the fray.”
Despite her assurances, he felt her arms and legs, slid a hand down her back, and opened her coat to examine her torso. If his gaze got hung up for a moment on her cleavage, he took a deep breath, then cleared his throat. “You seem to be fine.”
“I told you, so why did you check?” Though the words sounded accusing, her tone was still more intrigued than offended, very typical of this woman. She wanted details about everything.
He met her gaze. “Sometimes adrenaline, in a battle situation, prevents the pain from hitting the nerve centers in the brain until later. Then, of course, you’re in for a world of hurt the moment the feel-good fades.”
She pushed her hair away from her face. “I’m okay, really. But I’m still trying hard not to look at all these dead men.” She shuddered.
“Then keep taking your photos.” He glanced behind him. “The cleanup crew should be here anytime now.”
“I know.” She turned back to face the wall, then stepped sideways a couple of feet and took more pictures.
At the same time, the crews arrived.
Marius nodded at the lead man, who inclined his head in return, then quietly started issuing orders. More men arrived, along with a handful of women, dropping down from altered flight, stretchers in hand. A couple of them carried emergency medical kits, but none was needed.
Bodies were quickly loaded onto the stretchers and covered up with heavy, rubber sheets. As soon as the straps were secured, each team of two took off.
“Wow,” Shayna murmured. “That’s incredibly efficient.”
“It’s a good system.”
The leader spoke quietly into the com at his shoulder and a minute later a new, larger team of at least a dozen men arrived. Most had tanks strapped to their backs, of varying sizes.
“Ghostbusters,” Shayna murmured.
He smiled. He knew the film well. “Not exactly. Just a little stain removal, then steam cleaning.”
She drew close to him and watched the process as the final part of the cleanup took place. “Again, wow. So parts of your world function really well.”
“I’d have to agree with that analysis.”
Once the leader made a circuit of the space and pointed out a few missed spots, he dismissed the crew, each slipping into altered flight and disappearing. When only he remained, he picked up Marius’s weapons and approached drew close. “How are you, warrior?” He handed Marius his weapons, now pristine and dry.
“I’m good, Joe, thanks for asking.” Marius loaded his vest and battle leathers once more.
“We were all sickened when the Council of Ancestrals gave in to Daniel and he imprisoned you and your brothers. We appreciate what all of you have done for us. Just wanted you to know.”
