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"Not yet. We have it under control." Vanth didn't want word to get around that there could be an undead army raised in the city. He liked Harper but didn't trust the cambion to not accidentally open his pretty mouth and gossip to someone what he shouldn't. With any luck, no one would know about the threat on a large scale because they were going to stop it.
Harper led them through the kitchens and out into the dark club. It was filled with candles of red, gold, and black, with large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It was like horny Goths had designed the place, especially for orgies.
Galen ran a safe place for anyone to come and drink and party. Just because the atmosphere was dark and sexy and dangerous, that didn't mean that it was. He didn't tolerate patrons or staff members being handled or mistreated in any way, shape, or form, and he had more than one cambion on his staff to frighten the shit out of anyone who tried to break Galen's rules.
Vanth received a few nods from staff members that he knew, and Elektra got more than one curious look. She wasn't wearingany makeup or dazzling party gear, but she could make even jeans and his beat-up T-shirt look sexy as fuck.
Vanth really hoped Galen wasn't in the mood to flirt with her because he was in the mood to throat-punch anyone who looked at her too long. Maybe hewasgetting too obsessive and possessive. He wasn't sure if he liked this side of himself but couldn't seem to switch it off either.
They walked up a twisting flight of stairs where Galen had his office. Harper knocked on the door and then left them to fend for themselves.
"Come the fuck in, or fuck the fuck off," Galen's deep Irish brogue boomed through the wood of the door.
Vanth opened the door and held it out for Elektra. "Language, my dear fellow. We have ladies present."
Galen Murphy was a bear of a man in a bespoke suit. He was too broad and built for anything to fit him properly off the rack and look that damn good. He had a wizard's mane of dark brown hair that fell artfully around the base of his neck and deep indigo-blue eyes. You could never call him pretty because his features were too strong for that. He was pure power and carnal energy, and it all fused with an undercurrent of magic that made the hair rise on the back of your neck. He wouldn't have looked out of place with a magic staff in a castle, and the accent just made the image grow.
He had quite taken Vanth's breath away when they had first met, but Vanth had since learned that Galen's sex appeal had been honed like a weapon, just like everything else about Galen.
"I apologize, my dear. I thought it was only the rabble that I was dealing with tonight," Galen said, turning up the Irish accent to a panty-melting purr. He got out of his chair to kiss Elektra's hand. "I have not had the privilege of hosting a royal under my roof for a while. What on earth are you doing hanging about this miscreant?"
"He's helping me deal with a pesky necromancer problem. He seems to think that we need your help," Elektra replied with a smile.
Vanth knew what her flirting smile was like, and this one was different. Whatever effect Galen usually had didn't seem to be working on her. Vanth relaxed just a little. He wasn't sure if putting the two of them in the same room together while she was on her mating cycle was going to be a good idea. He had never felt insecure before, either, but then again, he had never cared for one of his hookups like he cared for Elektra. Maybe it was love, after all.
"Are you sure he isn't the necromancer problem? Because it's usually him." Galen let go of her hand and went back to his chair behind the desk. "What is this about, Vanth? I have a club to open in twenty minutes and things I need to do."
"Do you remember how you owe me a favor?"
Galen's smiling face went rigid. "I do. Are you calling it in at last?"
"All depends on whether or not you have the power to help me," Vanth replied. He quickly summarized the last few days and everything that happened in them. About halfway through, Galen poured some of the good whiskey that he kept in the drawer of his desk.
Vanth purposely kept some details from Galen, like the fact that Orcus was his father. He wanted to keep his demigod status a secret for as long as possible. His life was complicated enough.
"From what you're telling me, we're fucked, right?" Galen said once Vanth had finished speaking.
"Not if we can find them in time. That's where you come in," Vanth replied. "That sacrificial magic must be contained somewhere. Finding that kind of thing isn't my specialty, but I hope that it's yours. Do you think that you can use your wizard powers and find it for me?"
"All depends if you stop calling them wizard powers. I can look into it for you, but I can't make any promises. This Lazarus seems to have a following of magic users, and if they're all using shielding spells, it might take a while for me to crack," Galen replied. He drained his whiskey, and a flicker of vulnerability danced through his eyes. "Is this something that I really need to be afraid of? Do you think you can stop it, or should I be getting out of town?"
"If you can find Lazarus, then we will stop him. You have my word," Elektra said with cool confidence. They finished their whiskey and rose to leave.
"I will do the magic for you, and then we will be even. Deal?" Galen said.
Vanth nodded. "We will be even. At least until next time you have a mess for me to clean up."
Galen's most charming smile finally made an appearance. "Go home and rest, you two. You've got a big fight ahead of you, so be careful those love hearts in your eyes don't blind you too much."
Vanth chuckled. "Fuck you, sorcerer."
"I'd never have you," Galen shot back.
"Don't worry. Iknowwho you are sweet on, and she will never have you either." Vanth saw the second his barb hit because Galen's eyes darkened.
"You don't know shit. Don't push your luck, Vanth," he said, and Vanth didn't.
He took Elektra's hand and got out of there. Despite loving to torment the sorcerer any chance he got, Vanth knew where the line was. He didn't have a death wish, and Galen was one of the few people in Inferno that he was genuinely afraid of pissing off.
