Page 30 of Centaur Bolt

I sighed. Vali likely had an interesting life story, and the Satyr was obviously keen to discover it.

But all I wanted to do was find Marcus.

* * *

Kiko seemed determined to both cheer me up and make Vali feel at home, so she started chatting as soon as we’d officially introduced the Dragona to the Hitzu twins. My mind occupied with Marcus, I only half listened as I shoveled in enough food to satisfy a horse.

The twins, as usual, ate fast. When he finally sat back, Tareal complained, “There’s a reason Satyrs are only good for sex. You never stop talking.”

“Hey,” I protested, snapping out of it for Kiko’s sake. “I’m not going to put you out if she sets you on fire, so I suggestyoushut your mouth.”

He glared at me. “Only if she keeps hers shut,” he hissed. “And just where is our looming non-Centaur, anyway?”

I glared back. “I don’t know where he is.” Which was only partly a lie.

“I’ve been hearing rumors about that.” Kiko remained calm as she sliced her dumpling in half. “You guys usually have one ear to the wall. Have you heard anything?”

Tareal’s eyes gleamed. “Just that he wasn’t in classes. Thought it might have something to do with the package Constance gave him.”

I tried not to look too interested. “Constance had a package?”

The Hitzu shrugged. “Yeah. Was in the office, and she mentioned it to me. When I saw Marcus, I passed on the message.”

“Did you see it?” Kiko asked.

“Just an envelope with his name on it,” Tareal stated. “Mail service across the realms is sporadic at best. I was surprised anything even came for him, considering he hasn’t been here long.”

He seemed totally nonchalant about it, but Lora was staring intently at me. And then, she said, “You really don’t know where he is?”

I deliberately focused on spearing a dumpling. “Why would I?”

“You two seem to have a thing,” she said, waving her fingers in the air.

If they were the moles, why would she be pushing on the question? They’d know where Marcus was. I’d have thought they’d have deflected the topic, not stuck with it.

Tareal did so now, by leering at Kiko, and saying, “I’m surprised you don’t know where he is, considering you fuck everything with a dick.”

I choked on my dumpling, but managed a squeaked, “Hey!”

But Kiko was up for it. Her eyes narrowed. “You’re just angry I won’t screw you.”

He licked his lips. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Lora leaned closer to him. “Tareal knows how to make a woman purr.”

I stared at her. Surely not. Kiko’s brows danced, and she glanced at me. Vali just froze, staring at them.

Tareal rose, put a hand on Lora’s arm, and pulled her to her feet. His eyes flashed, and hers responded. Without another word, they left.

“Wow,” Kiko said.

Yep. Wow was an understatement.

Into the silence that followed their departure, Vali said, “Incest is common among some cultures. I will have to research the Hitzu one.”

I didn’t quite know what to say to that. Incest and spying. Things were never dull around here.

Kiko shook her head. “If they are Isobel’s spies, why did they ask where Marcus was? Twice?”

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