29Run AwayConn was already behind the bar when Soren entered the club. He poured beers and chatted to the Soldiers who’d been on duty all day. From their conversation, Soren understood they’d rounded up a couple of prisoners—humans who’d strayed into the city. Now and then, ear-splitting screams carried from the back rooms. The interrogations had started.
Tazia sat in a booth on her own on the other side of the room, knocking back a bottle of tequila that was already half empty. She looked pale and kept glancing up at the door to the back rooms. As Soren took a seat at the bar, he noticed Conn looking toward her, too, concern plastered on his face.
He cranked up the music before asking, “How’re you doin’, man?” and poured Soren a whiskey from the good bottle he kept under the counter, a
