you think?” Dolan and Maggie exchanged a look. Neither looked thrilled about the idea. “Are you worried it’s dangerous? Tell me the truth.”
“Well, aye,” said Maggie. “Does no’ mean ‘tis. But prudence is the best part of valor.”
“I don’t think that’s how that quote goes, but I take your point. If you’re afraid of this thing, we don’t want to put anyone else in danger.” Pause. “Here’s a crazy thought.”
“Well?” Maggie said.
“Never mind. I don’t know enough about such things to brainstorm.”
“’Course you do. You’re the magistrate.”
“Maybe that’s what you see, but on the inside I’m an insurance adjuster.”
“Tell us anyhow.”
“We could ask Esmerelda if it can be destroyed. If she says no, or she doesn’t know, or she doesn’t know how, then Plan B is John David Weir. Is he different from the other people who live around here?”
“Oh. Aye. He’s a vampire.”
“I know he’s a vampire, Maggie. What I don’t know is how he fits in? Are all the rest of you part of the fae world?”
“Aye,” she said.
“So, he can see you in, um, any form like he was part of the fae world, but he’s not.” She nodded. “That could be useful. Is there a chance that whatever you fear from this thing wouldn’t have any effect on him?”
Maggie looked at Dolan who gave his favorite response, a shrug.
“’Tis a possibility. Why?”
“Well, he’s coming to my kitchen for tea this afternoon.” I caught the look that passed between Dolan and Maggie. “I could ask if he might take it for safekeeping?”
“Bridgid’s Balls. You’re no’ havin’ that vampire for tea.”
There was no attempt at hiding the judgment in her tone.
I raised my chin slightly in a gesture that is universally understood as standing one’s ground. “I am.”
With a sigh and a look askance, she said, “Very well. ‘Tis your reputation. So far as safekeepin’?” She looked thoughtful. “He might bury it in a cellar of salt. That might take the potato out of circulation.”
I nodded amiably without having enough background on magical matters to know if that was a viable solution. “Right. Good idea.” I glanced at my watch and started toward the door walking backwards. “I’m late to meet Lochlan. But Dolan. Give that thing a wide berth until we either conclude it’s harmless or decide how to…” I hesitated. “I don’t suppose we could return to sender?” They both shook their heads. Of course, that was a dumb idea since nothing ever arrived with sender information. “Yeah. Thought not. Later.”
I shouted, “Ah!” at the cold wind when I left the cozy warmth of the Hallows. Pulling my scarf tighter and buttoning up, I wished I’d worn another layer.
My morning only got more interesting when Lochlan said the creative who’d been engaged to build my house would be arriving before midnight.
“You mean work is going to begin on my house at midnight?”
“No,” he said patiently, but I caught a look of consternation on his face. I took it to mean he was worried that I might be slow.
“Lochlan. Do you think the Powers That Be made a mistake this time? With me?”
“What?” He seemed genuinely shocked by my question. “No! Of course not! I sometimes realize that I’m failing you and I hope you’ll forgive me for it. I should be educating you in the ways of the fae, but instead I’ve mostly left you on your own to fumble about.” After a brief pause, he continued. “Sometimes you can know a thing so well that it’s easy to forget someone else may not have the same knowledge.
”Fae are divided into seven clans. Each has a monarchy. The queens are empowered with the ability to create in both the magical and mundane worlds. It’s a gift that only appears in the feminine sex because that level of creation is akin to birthing. Or something like that.”
I nodded, believing wholeheartedly that was true; the part about teaching being hard. I’d tried my hand at training new insurance adjusters. It’s not as easy as it sounds.
“Please never fail to speak up if something is unclear,” he continued. “It’s part of my job to answer.”
“Sure. I do have questions. Like when and how will work begin on the house?”
“The queen will stay with Ivy and me so that she has a few hours to get a feel for the underlying magical properties of this place. She can’t rearrange matter without first familiarizing herself with the materials at her disposal. Tomorrow morning, instead of walking, you’ll meet with her and