Free Motor City Mage by Cindy Spencer Pape Page B

starving, covered in dirt and blood, and I have to pee like a racehorse. But if I have to use that drain in the corner again, I should’ve stayed four-legged.”
    Yeah, Des had already been pondering that problem. Being a guy, he didn’t much care about pissing in a corner, but he wasn’t thrilled about having two other males watch while Lana took care of business. “I can hold up the blanket as a screen.”
    “Thanks.” She gave him one of her wry grins and her eyes twinkled despite their situation. “I figured conjuring real plumbing with a shower stall and garden tub was a little out of your magical ballpark.”
    His lips twitched. “A wee bit. But I can manage a screen, and I can probably clean us both up a bit. Will that do for a start?”
    “That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.”
    He had no idea what she was talking about. Based on her laughter, his confusion must have shown on his face.
    “It’s from a kids’ movie. You know, Babe , about a sheep-herding pig?”
    Des shook his head. “Not a clue.”
    “Oh, sweetie, you really need to get out more.” She leaned over and kissed his jaw. “Or at least watch some DVDs with your niece. Now about that screen…”
    He used magic to stick one edge of the blanket to the ceiling, forming a tattered bathroom wall. A few minutes later, Des expended a little more power on cleaning both of them up, and on lengthening his shirt so it reached Lana’s knees. He could probably have done more, but didn’t want to leave himself depleted, just in case the opportunity for something more important came up. It was hard to look at a Gravaki and not see the demon who’d hurt his sister, though that one had been black and orange. Still, rage, and if he were forced to admit it, a little fear, simmered close to the surface.
    By that time Fish and Ordwel were both awake, and with a shrug, Ordwel stepped behind the suspended blanket, then Fish.
    “Aww, they’re being gentlemen,” Lana whispered. “How cute. Last night I just kept my eyes closed.”
    Des resisted the urge to growl. “Did they tell you what they’re in here for?”
    She shook her head. “Though I know they don’t think much of Malen. The green one was making limp-dick jokes about him half the night, and I swear the purple one was laughing.”
    “That’s good enough for me.” He studied the other males—at least he thought both beings were male. In Ordwel’s case, the anatomical details were kind obvious, even though he wore a pair of too-tight jeans. Real ones, from Earth. With Fish—well, Des didn’t even know if that species had sexes. “So where the hell are we?” he asked by way of good morning.
    “Ah, the human speaks.” Ordwel stretched his legs, clawed feet bare, out in front of him and gave them a big, toothy grin. “Nice trick, being able to heal yourself like that, pardner. You were a mess when they threw you in.”
    Fish gurgled something and nodded.
    Ordwel pointed. “He thought you were a goner.” His English was accented with the drawl of the 1950s western flick. Clearly the guy had spent time on Earth, and he’d obviously watched one too many John Wayne movies. “But I’ve met Brewer. I had a feeling you were like him.”
    “Sure, I’m a walking miracle. So I repeat, where are we?” It took effort to keep from shouting, but that would have aggravated his headache.
    “In the pit that passes for a dungeon in Nivri’s castle.” Ordwel sneered at the mention of Nightshade’s real name and dropped his Western twang. “Jerk-off thought he was a fucking king or something. Built himself a gods-damned palace.”
    Okay, some of his language hadn’t been picked up from cowboy films. Some was from the streets of Detroit. “So I know why we’re here. What did you two do?”
    “Fucked Malen’s girlfriend,” Ordwel answered, his pointed teeth gleaming. “And damn if it wasn’t worth it. Fish here, he just killed his overseer. When other species wandered through the portals,