Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Max

Sassafras turned and bowed his head to Max as the tear in the veil closed behind him. In turn, my big friend nodded, the light from the swaying bulb overhead catching the faint scales on his bald pate. Glittering diamond eyes swiveled to me, a faint smile on his face.

"I'm interrupting." His deep voice always sounded like there was a song behind it, the musical language of his people bleeding through.

"Not at all." Sassafras turned tail and headed for the stairs. "Will you be home for supper?"

I had no idea. "I'll try to let you know."

Sass stopped half way up, met my eyes. "You do that." And then, he was gone.

When I turned back, Max smiled wider. "He is an old soul with a young man's arrogance," he said, describing Sassafras perfectly. "I hope he knows I like him very much."

"Pretty sure the feeling is mutual." I grinned, gently punched his arm, though I could have hit him as hard as I wanted and Max wouldn't have felt a thing. "Ready to go hunting?"