Page 17 of Bound By Darkness

I see Dragan tense.

“Why?” I ask at the same time Dragan says, “No.”

We all look at him but his eyes are focused only on Baron. And they’re angry.

“You have no more business here,” he starts. “Cambion restored your memories to you and now you need to make your way on your own, just like we agreed.”

CHAPTER FIVE

CAMBION

Mortal Realm

“Dragan,” Eilish starts as she turns from Baron and faces the barbarian.

Dragan staunchly shakes his head and refuses to look at her.

“Baron,” I begin but the vampire interrupts me.

“Revenant,” he hisses. “My name is Revenant.”

Fuck calling him Revenant. He’s Baron, just as much as he always was.

Dragan spears Baron with the weight of his stare. “The agreement was that once Cambion restored your memories, you’d leave.”

“No, Dragan,” Eilish says, her tone of voice bordering on panicked. “He needs us as much as we need him.”

“Revenant is weak after experiencing the stone,” I say in a low, yet strong voice as I face the immense gargoyle. “It wouldn’t be right to set him on his own at this point.” I don’t tell him that we need Baron because I figure that avenue of argument won’t get far.

Baron has somehow upset the proud barbarian and I have a feeling that upset has everything to do with the girl. Fucking fools—both of them.

“I don’t give a fuck,” Dragan says as he faces me.

“Well, I don’t believe your not giving a fuck matters much,” I answer with a simple shrug. “It would seem you’ve been outvoted, old chap,” I finish with a smug smile.

Dragan inhales deeply and there’s a pronounced reddish hue overcoming his cheeks. Well, fuck him! Clearly he’s forgotten the fact that I’m now in charge and for good reason. I don’t allow my fucking jealousy to get in the way of what needs to be done.

“I need to speak with Eilish alone,” Baron says again.

Flumph pipes up, “Secrets don’t make friends,” he half mocks before clumsily tipping his stew, its hot contents falling across his lap. “Christ on a corndog!” he cries an’ then flies upward and begins circling, all the while doing a strange dance midair.

“Flumph is right,” I say, before wincing at the indignity of aligning myself with the imbecile sprite. “If we’re to beat Variant, it’s important we all be open and honest with one another.”

Dragan and Baron exchange a look; I see Eilish shrink into herself. I wonder at their expressions and begin to believe the three of them have a secret of their own…

“I’se gotta secret,” the sprite confides. He looks guiltily into his lap. “Earlier when me and Gar-boil was collecting firewood, I took me a nap instead.”

“We know, Flumph,” say Eilish and Dragan in unison. Eilish blushes.

The sprite looks relieved after his confession.

I don’t have time for this crap.

“It’s… important I speak with Eilish,” Baron says again.

Dragan and I exchange looks, but this will be my call. “Very well,” I say as I flash Dragan a look that warns him not to argue. He glares at me but turns and trudges into the forest, wandering away, perhaps to regurgitate the slop he calls stew.

“Be quick,” I say to Baron as I prepare to depart and allow the two of them their supposed privacy. Truth is, I have every intention of spying on them. In times of war, privacy is not a right. It’s a luxury.

---