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“I saw that alert. Something going down?”
“You could say that.”
Another snap of leather. Another cry from some poor unfortunate in the background. I hear Avel grunt with satisfaction before he responds to me.
“You need me now.”
It’s not really a question, but I confirm his statement nonetheless.
“Yes.”
One hard, harsh CRACK emanates across the connection. I hear another cry, this time followed by a burst of tears. Someone has just been saved from a probably well-deserved beating. I regret that, but I need my right-hand man right now. I may need several of them, but for now, I only need one who I trust knowing what just happened. The mockery that would ensue if a wider audience knew I had been taken for a fool would be intolerable, and the actions that I would have to take to restore my reputation would be deeply unpleasant.
“I’m on my way.”
* * *
Ihave straightened my clothing and washed up a little by the time Avel finds me outside the Ground Bar. His arrival is heralded when a shadow passes overhead, large wings spread out under the moonlight. It is the sort of shadow that makes small creatures run for cover and sends dread spearing through the hearts of the weak and deplorable. The shadow grows larger and larger still as he wheels toward the ground, landing heavily before me, his wings and weight creating a puff of dust as he makes his entrance.
Avel and I share similarly long hair, though his hue and heritage is very different from mine, as are his physical capacities. For starters, and most obviously — he can fly. His purple leathery wings fold up and away behind his back as he turns to face the remnants of what used to be the best outlaw watering hole in my territory.
“By the gods…” He lets out a long, low whistle that I know indicates he is impressed by what he sees. He turns to me with an impressed expression. “Did a primal go rogue?”
“A human did this.”
His brows rise, scales shifting to allow a greater expression of surprise in his golden gaze. “A human. Are you telling me the humans have come with their armies and weapons and attacked a remote bar?”
“I’m telling you one human female did this somehow. I don’t know what happened to the wall, the window, or the patrons. She giggled when I asked her and told me if I was unlucky I would find out.”
Again, looks surprised. “And you allowed that response? In a human? They’re edible, you know.”
“They’re more than edible. This one was exceptionally fuckable.”
Avel throws back his head and laughs. “Did all this destruction happen before or after that?”
“Before.”
“Humans are the species that stand around six feet and have no sharp fangs, no claws, no talons, no flight capabilities, and no natural armoring, correct? I am thinking of the right species?”
“Yes,” I confirm. I could add that they are also very hot, tight, and wet when they are fucked, but there are some details of the entire escapade I wish to keep to myself. And then there are others that I will have to unfortunately share.
“Where is she? Do you have her tied up somewhere? Or did she not survive the mating, Thorn, you animal!”
“She more than survived. She stole my bike.”
Avel’s eyes widen. “How did that happen? Did she pull a weapon on you?”
“I was… a little indisposed.”
“What does that mean?”
I don’t like that he is asking so many questions. I like that I am being evasive even less. I have been made a fool of, and though I know I can trust him with any secret, it still pains me to have to make these admissions. This is what the human has done to me. She has made me appear foolish.
There’s a short pause as he does the mathematics on all I have told him, sparing me the trouble of having to spell out in plain words that I allowed myself a moment of repose following my punishment of the human.
“You fucked a human and she stole your bike?” He laughs and then stops laughing almost immediately when he sees the expression on my face. “We’ll get it back. Don’t worry. I doubt a human could hope to control the thing anyway. I’m amazed she got it started. It’s like hearing that a primal one moved into a city apartment. Doesn’t seem right.”
“Humans are almost as intelligent as we are,” I tell him. “She’s highly devious, and it is clear she outplayed the entire patronage of this bar. We do need to be careful. Humans always have their tricks and tools up their sleeves, and she has a whole suit of them.”
