As Felix exited the Combat Division training facility, the weight of the week lifted slightly from his shoulders. He was met by Ella and James, his newfound friends over the past week of grueling training together. Ella, always bubbly, clasped her hands behind her back, bouncing slightly on her feet. Jameson Garnetsby, who goes by James, was a freckly young man with red-orange hair and warm hazel eyes. He adjusted the strap of his gym bag over his slightly plump frame. Unlike Felix and the others James had gone to an Ivory Sanctuary at a satellite city of Mzia Capital.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“So, hot springs this weekend, huh?” Ella said, pouting slightly. “I’m so jealous! That sounds amazing. Meanwhile, I’m stuck visiting several pairs of parents with my pets. I dread the weekend of schmoozing.”

“Better you than me,” James teased, smirking. “I’m holing up with my guys and marathoning every game I haven’t touched since training started.”

Felix laughed, waving off their complaints. “I’ll let you know if the Misty Springs Inn is any good. Maybe next time we can all go together.”

Ella beamed. “It’s a deal! Don’t forget to take pictures.”

“Yeah, don’t get too comfortable,” James joked. “You’ll make the rest of us feel bad for not living it up.”

Before Felix could reply, a low rumble of a motorcycle approached. Sorath pulled up, his piercingly pale gaze hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses.

Ella and James exchanged wide-eyed looks. “He’s picking you up on that?” James asked.

Felix sighed. “Yeah. Pray for me.”

After saying goodbye, Felix climbed onto the back of the bike, wrapping his arms around Sorath’s waist.

Sorath wasted no time revving the engine of his sleek black motorcycle, the low growl vibrating through Felix’s chest as he clung tightly to Sorath. The silvery-haired Regal One wasn’t sure what was scarier—the sheer speed they were traveling at or the almost gleeful way Sorath zigzagged through traffic like it was an obstacle course. The city blurred into streaks of light and color as the motorcycle weaved through traffic with precision that bordered on recklessness.

“Do you always drive like this?” Felix shouted over the roar of the engine.

Sorath barked out a laugh, sharp and guttural, almost like a wolf dog’s. “Where’s the fun in playing it safe?”

The bike surged forward, weaving through a tight gap between two trucks. Felix yelped, tightening his grip around Sorath’s midriff until his knuckles turned white. “You’re going to get us killed!”

“Not a chance,” Sorath replied, his voice cocky. “I’ve got reflexes like a—”

Before he could finish, they sped past a flashy red sports car that was aggressively changing lanes. Without missing a beat, Sorath cut the car off with a deft swerve, forcing it to hit the brakes with a screech. The motorcycle darted ahead, and Sorath threw his head back in another loud, dog-like laugh.

Behind them, the sports car skidded to a halt at the side of the road, and its driver—an obviously spoiled human with perfectly styled hair as red as his car—poked his head out of the window, screaming obscenities. “You stupid fuck! You think you own the road?”

Felix, flustered and embarrassed, glanced over his shoulder at the irate driver. “Can you not antagonize people?” he snapped.

Sorath shrugged. “What? He had it coming. Guy drives like he’s in a fashion show.”

Felix had had enough. Releasing one arm from Sorath’s waist, he pinched his side—a sharp jab right into Sorath’s well-defined abs.

“Oi!” Sorath flinched slightly but kept control of the bike. “What was that for?”

“Slow down!” Felix shouted. “And stop cutting people off! I’d like to get home in one piece.”

Sorath grumbled something under his breath but eased up on the throttle, the motorcycle settling into a steadier pace. Felix let out a relieved sigh, though his grip on Sorath didn’t loosen.

“You know,” Sorath said after a moment, his voice still tinged with amusement, “you’re a lot meaner than you look. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised, though. The cute ones always have a bite to them.”

Felix didn’t dignify that with a response, choosing instead to focus on not having a heart attack before they reached their destination.

When they finally pulled up in front of Sphinx Tower, Felix stumbled off the bike with shaky legs and wild, disheveled hair. He shot Sorath a glare as he tried to compose himself.

“Next time,” Felix said, brushing strands of hair out of his face, “I’m taking the bus.”

Sorath blew him a kiss, taking off his shades and tucking it into the dip of his shirt collar. “Suit yourself, but you’ll miss out on all the fun.”

“Fun?” Felix muttered, shaking his head. “More like a near-death experience.”

As they walked toward the large, imposing vehicle with sweeping lines, prominent tailfins and chrome accents—Albrecht’s car of course—where the others were waiting, Albrecht immediately rushed over, his bright green eyes narrowing at Sorath. “This is precisely why I said you shouldn’t pick him up. Look at him! My dear’s a disheveled wreck!”

“I’m fine,” Felix muttered, still trying to smooth his hair down.

Sorath shrugged, throwing the keys and catching them deftly with one hand. “If anything did happen, Felix would be able to save the both of us.”

Felix puffed up in indignation before Albrecht could, jabbing his finger into Sorath’s admittedly shapely chest. “That’s no excuse for driving like you have a death wish! In fact, you can’t drive like that with or without me there as a safety net!”

He then climbed into the car, leaving Sorath rubbing his chest in bemusement and the rest of the pets who witnessed Felix giving him a dressing down to snicker with various degrees of amusement.

The car cruised down the highway, the chatter of Felix’s humans filling the air. Thel was in the driver’s seat, his posture impeccable as always, hands gripping the wheel at the perfect ten-and-two position. His crisp white shirt, recently ironed, seemed almost to reflect sunlight into the cabin. Beside him, Albrecht was animatedly gesturing with his phone, his excitement evident as he rattled off details about various discounts and promo codes.

Felix sat in the backseat, sandwiched between Sorath and Virgil. Virgil was sprawled lazily, flipping through his phone and half-listening, while Sorath leaned his elbow against the window, his usual devil-may-care smirk plastered on his face.

Felix blinked at the screen being shown at him. “Wait, you use coupons now?”

“Yes,” Albrecht said proudly. “Thel introduced me to this app, and it’s revolutionized how I approach spending. Why pay full price when you don’t have to?”

Felix raised an eyebrow, still puzzled by Albrecht’s newfound thriftiness.

“Efficient living is never a bad thing,” Thel said from the driver’s seat. “And if it stops him from hemorrhaging money on unnecessary extravagances, all the better.”

“I mean, just look at this deal!” Albrecht exclaimed, holding his phone up for Thel to see. “Half off on premium grooming products if you buy in bulk. And this one—two-for-one afternoon tea sets at that swanky café we passed last week. Can you believe the savings?”

Thel glanced at the screen during a red light and nodded approvingly. “Impressive. I had no idea you’d taken to the art of frugality so quickly, Albrecht. It’s refreshing.”

Sorath snorted from Felix’s left. “I don’t know what’s scarier—Albrecht as a coupon collector or Thel actually actively encouraging it.”

Albrecht turned in his seat, giving Sorath an affronted look. “Shows what you know. This is a skill, Goodwine. Do you have any idea how many subpar deals I had to sift through to find these gems? It’s practically a full-time job!”

“Sounds exhausting,” Virgil muttered, not looking up from his phone. “Why bother when you could just… I don’t know, not care?”

Felix stifled a laugh, amused by the exchange. “Come on, Virgil. Don’t you think it’s kind of endearing? Albrecht and Thel bonding over deals?”

“Bonding?” Sorath said with a lazy smirk. “More like nerding out. Next thing you know, they’ll be trading coupons like collectibles.”

Thel, unfazed, arched an eyebrow in the rearview mirror. “Mock all you like, but you’ll appreciate it when we save on that outrageously expensive whiskey you insist on drinking.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Albrecht said suddenly, scrolling through his phone with renewed vigor. “I think I just found a flash sale on bath oils—hot springs-themed bath oils! Perfect for this trip!”

“Tell me you’re joking,” Sorath groaned.

“I never joke when it comes to quality,” Albrecht replied primly, his nose slightly in the air.

Virgil leaned over to Felix, stage-whispering, “We’ve lost him. He’s officially been consumed by the coupon void.”

Felix laughed, shaking his head. “At least they’re having fun. You two could try being a little more supportive.”

Both Sorath and Virgil raised skeptical eyebrows, their expressions clearly saying “I’ll pass.”

By now, Thel and Albrecht were deep in discussion about the pros and cons of different coupon apps, their enthusiasm contagious enough that even Felix found himself mildly intrigued.

“So,” Felix asked, leaning forward slightly, “what’s the best deal you’ve ever found?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Albrecht said, turning to Felix with a triumphant grin. “This trip. I got our reservations for the Misty Springs Inn at half price with free meals included!”

Felix blinked. “Really? That’s actually pretty impressive.”

“See?” Albrecht said, shooting Sorath a smug look. “Even our dearest appreciate my efforts.”

Sorath rolled his eyes, but there was a faint smile on his lips. “Fine. You get one point for that. But don’t think it means I want to hear more about bath oils.”

Thel and Albrecht ignored the two ignoramuses behind them and continued their discussion, occasionally breaking into laughter over particularly absurd discounts they’d come across, while Felix alternated between amusement and mild confusion at how much joy they seemed to derive from their newfound hobby.

Eventually bored with the coupon talk, Virgil pulled up a vlog on his phone about Misty Springs Village. He propped it on the dashboard for everyone to watch.

The video featured a cheerful influencer walking through the scenic village surrounded by steaming hot springs of various sizes. “Misty Springs Village is one of the most popular destinations in the region,” the influencer said. “With natural hot springs scattered throughout the area, it’s perfect for recharging or just relaxing with family and friends.”

The video transitioned to shots of Misty Springs Inn, a rustic yet large and homey establishment nestled at the heart of the village. The influencer pointed out the private hot springs for each room and the larger communal springs divided by gender.

“Looks fancy,” Virgil said, scrolling through more posts. “This place is all over social media. We’re lucky to get a reservation.”

Felix glanced at Albrecht, who was still scrolling through his app. “You got all of this with a promo code?”

Albrecht smiled smugly. “Of course. I don’t settle for anything less than perfection, even at a discount.”

The car rolled into Misty Springs Village just as the setting sun bathed the quaint scenery in a dusky golden glow. Felix leaned against the window as he took in the sight of the charming little village. Steam wafted up from natural hot springs scattered throughout, creating an ethereal haze that gave the town its name.

Through the rolled down windows the faint scent of sulfur, mingled with the crisp freshness of mountain air blew in. The streets were lined with charming shops and restaurants, all decorated in a quaint, rustic style that added to the village’s charm. Most of the buildings were also crafted from weathered wood and stone, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

“Wow,” Virgil said from the backseat, sounding impressed for once. “It’s like stepping into a postcard.”

Sorath inhaled, stretching as he climbed out of the car. “Smells like wet rocks and sulfur, though.”

“That’s the springs,” Albrecht corrected, adjusting his scarf despite the warm air. “You’re supposed to find it charming.”

“Charming’s one word for it,” Sorath commented with a raised brow.

The group made their way to the unmistakable Misty Springs Inn. The building was a sprawling yet rustic structure, its wooden beams and sloping roofs giving it the appearance of a grand mountain lodge. Lanterns hung along the entrance, their soft glow inviting guests to step inside. 

As they approached, Felix noticed the warm, welcoming atmosphere of the inn. Tomato vines climbed the wooden fences, and a working well stood nearby. A large sign above the double doors read Misty Springs Inn – A Family Tradition.

“This is it,” Albrecht said, his voice tinged with excitement. “Isn’t it lovely?”

The lobby was equally inviting, with polished wooden floors, a stone fireplace crackling in the corner, and plush seating scattered throughout. The air smelled faintly of lavender and cedar, and a friendly old woman approached them with a warm smile.

“Welcome to Misty Springs Inn! You must be Mr. Fitzgerald’s party,” she said, her tone welcoming.

Albrecht stepped forward, straightening his scarf. “Indeed. The reservation for a large room with a private hot spring.”

The proprietress nodded, handing him a set of keys. “Everything is ready for your stay. Meals are served in the dining hall at noon and seven in the evening, and if you’d like for your meals to be brought up, just let us know. Your room is on the second floor, with a stunning view of the main spring.”

As they made their way to their room, Felix felt the tension of the week begin to melt away. For the first time in days, he allowed himself to relax. “This place might actually be worth the hype,” he said, his voice tinged with relief.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Just wait until you see the hot springs,” Albrecht said with enthusiasm. “You’ll be thanking me for this getaway.”

Felix shook his head with a smile. Despite the chaos and bickering that usually surrounded his humans, he had to admit—this trip was off to a good start.