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“And what did he call me?” I wondered.
A bittersweet smile appeared on his lips. “I only have the translation. It means ‘above all.’ As to what he was referring to, I haven’t any idea.”
I sighed and my shoulders slumped. My feet ached, and when I ran a hand through my hair I found my fingers were smudged by the mold from the dirt. “I think this has been a long night, but should we go see Phantom right now?”
Ben shook his head. “I doubt he would have remained at the hall, but tomorrow he must make the preparations for his show. We’ll find him then, and be better rested for what may prove to be a raucous interview.”
I dropped my arm to my side and grinned. “I’m in, but how do we getinto the hall?”
His red eyes twinkled in the dark as we strode out of the corridor and back into the cramped tunnel. “We’ll find a way.”
I felt a soft brush of something against the back of my neck and turned to find a wall not more than a foot away. The wide corridor, too, had disappeared. “This guy is serious about his privacy.”
“There were a great many trinkets on the necks of the magistrates that a thief would be very glad to take,” Ben pointed out as we continued on our way.
“Any relatives of yours?” I wondered.
He shook his head. “None that I can think of. My family has been eccentric, but not eccentric enough to dive into politics. One is liable to lose their head that way through a disapproving monarch.”
I furrowed my brow as I thought back to the lord of the catacombs. “I wish I knew who he was. . .”
“Perhaps he may deign to tell us if we solve this mystery,” Ben pointed out.
I snorted. “As if we needed any more motivation to do that. We’ve been bit at and charged by the things, and a bunch of groupies are going to start a riot throughout the city if we don’t make sure that concert happens.”
“It may not happen if the Phantom is the fiend,” Ben commented.
There was a strange tingling in the back of my mind, and I cast a furtive look up at my companion. “You’re sure nobody else could be obscured like him and I do?”
Ben shook his head. “It’s not likely, but why do you ask again?”
I shrugged as we meandered our way back to the exit. “I don’t know. I just have a feeling there’s something not quite right. Like we’re missing something.”
Ben nodded. “There is the motive, but we’ll soon find out if our hunch is correct. Tomorrow morning is only a brief sleep away.”
I stifled another yawn. “Maybe not so brief.”
He chuckled and looped an arm around my waist. I was glad for the support, as were my weary feet. “Would you like me to fly you home?”
I grinned up at him. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
In a few minutes, I found myself in the arms of the dragon count. I rested my cheek against his warm chest and closed my eyes. Never did I feel safer than when I was tucked into his arms with a soft breeze blowing against me.
A few murmured words passed over my lips. “You should hire yourself out.”
“I prefer to share my gifts with those who have earned it.”
A smile slipped onto my lips. “I guess saving your shins from being gnawed by the undead counts?”
“Most definitely. I’m rather fond of them.” He leaned down and nuzzled his nose into my hair. “Thought not as fond as I am of you.”
A warm blush accented my cheeks and a girlish titter escaped me. I carefully leaned my head back and found his mischievous face hovering just above mine. “Do you keep these sweet nothings in your pocket or do you grab them out of the air?”
He chuckled. “The air. It grants us life and inspiration.”
I snuggled deeper into his hold. “Though not warmth. It’s a little cold tonight.”
