it comes to interacting with those they believe inferior.”
I turned to Lochlan. “You said no one in the magical community would think me their inferior.”
“You said that?” Keir asked Lochlan.
“It’s a broad statement, I grant you, but largely true,” said Lochlan defensively.
“Largely true? You people are very good at qualifiers, you know that?”
With a snicker, Keir said, “Think of Maeve as being the exception to a rule. She was probably bothered by my attentions to you.”
“What are you saying? That I have a brand-new enemy who has the power of a god? Because of you?”
Keir said, “No. No. Calm down. Being discourteous doesn’t mean she’s your enemy. Her bad. Not yours.”
As an afterthought, Lochlan added, “You could have her disciplined for it if you want.”
“Disciplined?” I didn’t believe there would ever be a time when I’d feel comfortable wielding that kind of power over others. “About that. It seems like punishments are always in the form of fines. But what kind of punishment is that for people who have so much money it’s meaningless? For all I know, Maeve can manufacture money. From thin air!”
Lochlan cocked his head. “Where did you get the idea that the fines are monetary?”
“I, um, assumed.” After letting the implication sink in, I said, “How else might fines be exacted?”
“Hmmm. The history of magistrates is long and colorful. Some have been exceptionally creative. For a specified amount of time, the party decided against might be placed in servitude to the injured party. Or be stripped of a principle form of magic. Or be struck mute. Or be sentenced to solitary confinement. Or be taxed a precious object or rare creature, like a phoenix or flying horse.”
“How would I…?”
“Everyone who comes before you is required to present a list of assets. So, you know what you have to work with.” Lochlan left me with that thought as he called the dogs and strode toward his house.
“Wow.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
Just as Lochlan reached his door, I remembered what I needed to ask. “Wait!” He stopped and turned back as I jogged over. “Does this mean that I own two houses now? This and the one connected to the Hallows?”
“To a point. Yes.”
“What point is that?”
“These things belong to you for your lifetime as magistrate. Upon your death they revert to the trust set up for that purpose. Why do you ask?”
“I’d like to give it to Maggie. According to what you’re telling me, I could give her the use of it for my lifetime, but promise nothing beyond that.”
“You could,” he said slowly. “But,” he cleared his throat, “Maggie has a night job.”
‘Oh. I know. She’s a banshee.”
He looked surprised that I knew. “Well. That means she’s not home much.”
“Still, everybody should have their own place. And if anyone should occupy the house that connects to the shop, it’s Maggie.”
“You’re free to offer it. Of course.”
“Thanks, Lochlan.”
CHAPTER EIGHT The Gist of Justice
When Maeve, Lochlan and the dogs were gone, Keir pulled me into his arms, nuzzled my neck and grinned as he spoke into my ear, “I love my room.”
What could I say? Maeve had exposed my true, innermost desire to have him around.
“Hmmm,” was the best I could do. “Was she really your creator?”
“Yes.”
“She seems super proud of you. And super disapproving of me.”
“Well, then she shouldn’t have given me free will. Our relationship is not up to her now, is it?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
He chuckled. “So. Are you ready for me to move in?”
“Um.”
“Why the hesitation?”
“We don’t know if we’re compatible.”
“Yes. We do.”
“In every way.”
He inhaled deeply. “Oh.” With a deep and sexy laugh he said, “You want an audition! I’m up for that. How about now?”
“It’s not just that. It’s that plus my concern about what happens if things don’t work out? We still have to work together, I gather. For the rest of my life? That could be a decades-long era of awkward.”
“Awkward will not be instigated by me. I’ve lived long enough to know what I want. You’re it.”
I smiled. “That was as romantic a speech as I’ve ever heard. I’ve filed it away for replay whenever I need a reminder that you’re wonderful. But aside from the afore mentioned compatibility, I can’t know in advance what relationship stressors are lurking, waiting to be discovered. Who knows what it might be? Walking around in socks then wearing them to bed, which means that all the stuff on the floors is now in