Page 111 of The Master and the Marionette

“I want you all to officially meet Kane.” My eyes burn with exhaustion, but I nod him over. He’s been leaning against a tree, watching us with a look of peace and relief.

“We already met,” Kane assures me.

Niles laughs. “If you call that a meeting.” He struts over to me to stand between us.

“Hey ugly, you’re coming with me,” Niles mocks. “Then skip ahead to us watching him slaughter soldiers next to the black beast who likes to chew on human brains like they’re a toy you can buy at the market!” He looks at the group then huffs. “It truly was a pleasure.”

Ruth chokes out a laugh that comes from deep in her chest. Chekiss rolls his eyes.

“I did not call him ugly,” Kane corrects.

I can’t help but laugh at that.

“You didn’t. But your evil twin did.” Niles crosses his arms.

“Niles…” Chekiss warns, using the authoritative voice of a father. “Remember who you’re talking to.”

Kane pushes off the tree and takes three confident strides up to Niles who is still pouting in front of the group. “The man you met was Dessin. He doesn’t have the best bedside manner.”

Niles cocks his head back awkwardly, like he’s preparing to be hit in the face.

“No murderous rages?” Niles asks cautiously.

“No.”

“Affinity for gutting the male anatomy?”

“Nope.”

“Maniacal needs for vengeance for those who’ve wronged Skylenna?”

Kane sighs. “No.”

“Not even when I do this?” Niles holds unblinking eye contact with Kane as he reaches to his left, flicking me in the arm.

“Hey!” I hiss, rubbing the stinging area with my other hand.

“You’re pushing it,” Kane says, unamused.

“Niles!” Chekiss barks from behind him. A thick hand smacks Niles in the back of the head, hard enough to hear his teeth clack together.

“Alright! God, I was merely testing his patience with me.”

“You’re lucky he has a lot of that,” I tell him.

Niles nods slowly, narrowing his eyes into small childlike slits. “And how often are we going to have the pleasure of enjoying Dessin’s lack of manners?”

“He only surfaces when there’s danger. And when those times come, you’ll be glad for it. He might be a dick, but he’s a dick that’ll keep you alive.”

“Mmm, yeah that part was kind of nice.” Niles shrugs.

Ruth greets Kane with a rosy-cheeked smile. “You’re very tall,” she blurts out. “I met Dessin the first night I met Skylenna.”

Smooth, Ruth.

“And you’re very short.” Kane smiles back.

Chekiss then approaches Kane with his hand extended. “Thank you for saving us. And thank you for taking care of her.”

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