I had forgotten about those, though I doubted that even wards designed to keep demons out would deter astral travelers. "But that doesn't mean we should risk—"
Tao touched a finger to my lips. "No arguments. I was going to Stane's for the night, anyway, as it's game night and we've planned to shoot the shit out of people online. So, get ready while I go ring Ilianna."
He walked out. I gave in to the inevitable and went to have my shower, lingering long enough to get prune skin. Once dressed, I packed several days' worth of clothing and other necessities, then slung the bag over my shoulder and headed out.
"Ilianna's going to stay at Mirri's. She's not happy about it, though."
Mirri lived in an apartment building in Carlton, and while it was well enough protected magically, there were apartments both above and below Mirri's and they weren't well soundproofed. Ilianna hated the sensation of so many people surrounding her, as well as the fact that you could hear every little movement in the other apartments.
"I'll ply her with her favorite ice cream when we all return home," I said. "That'll ease the grumpiness."
"You'd better make it a couple of tubs, then." He ushered me out, then set all the various locks and alarms. "Oh, and she said to tell you that the Brindle witches haven't noticed any unusual activity along the ley lines, which means the magic is being contained."
"Did she say if they were going to follow up the possibility of containment?"
"No." He opened the car door and ushered me in. "But you'd think they would. I mean, they wouldn't want anyone controlling that sort of magic, would they?"
"I wouldn't think so." But then, when it came to the Brindle witches, who really knew what they would or wouldn't want? Certainly some of their actions so far had surprised the hell out of me.
Stane greeted us with a cheerful hello and several boxes of pizza. He kissed my cheeks, then waved his free hand toward his bedroom. "It's all yours. I've even changed the sheets."
"You didn't have to do that. I mean, you don't use the thing, do you?"
He grinned. "I do tend to sleep on one of the couches, granted, but that doesn't mean the sheets were clean. I don't dust and it was thick on the bed."
I laughed, then rose on my toes and kissed his cheeks. "Thank you. And enjoy your pizza and online destruction."
"What, you're not going to join us?"