of Ivy House, to be called upon again when we had a need. The motorized magical spears had been shined up and then tucked back into the ground, covered over for now, although they’d left behind scores of dirt in thick lines through Edgar’s lush grass. Little divots also dotted the greenery from where the nozzles had risen with the poisoned fog, perfectly visible, since the lights at the base of the house still shone.
I nodded at Edgar and made my way to the back of the grounds, mostly intact except for the patches of crushed flowers. Austin emerged from the trees, his chest bare and smeared with dirt, the gray sweats covering his lower half equally dirty. Logan, the barrel-chested guy from the bar who had once offered to help me kill and bury one of my internet dates, walked beside him. He’d been one of the wolves. On the other side walked a guy I didn’t know, with a bald head, light blue eyes, and a strong but lithe body clad in purple house sweats except for his bare chest.
Austin spotted me and headed my way, his expression tight. “The basajaun is off to see to his mountain. He told me to tell you he’ll be back to check in. It’ll probably take him a week or so—they don’t rush. He’ll expect some flowers for his trouble. The enemy is all accounted for, either below the ground or let loose, as requested.”
“They shouldn’t have been here,” I said. “They were forced in here, and kept here, for your distraction. It isn’t right to punish them for basically being prey.”
He shifted his weight between his feet, looking off to the side. “I know. You made the right call. I offered them sanctuary here if they need it. Most of the survivors will likely take me up on it.”
I smiled up at him, relieved. His gaze zipped down to me and lingered for a moment, but he quickly looked away again.
“There was no way that mage could be revived after what Niamh did to him,” Austin said. “We’ll get no information there.”
“What information do we need that he didn’t directly tell me?” I turned and started walking toward the back door. The rest moved with me, Austin beside me and Edgar falling back with the shifters. “Except for how he knew I’d walk right into his trap.”
Austin shook his head. “He had a few of those magical pockets set up. I walked into one, as did the basajaun, as did Layan.” I saw the bald man nodding. “How the mage was able to follow your progress and get to the right setup while you were in it, I’m not sure.”
“Magic,” I said, only half joking.
“Yes. Magic. It would be nice if you could learn whatever magic that was.”
“Yes, it would. We need a mage on staff. Someone experienced and resourceful.”
“And patient,” Edgar added.
I dragged my lip through my teeth. “Someone that could work with everyone in the house.”
“A misfit, or they’d never get along with Mr. Tom and Niamh,” Edgar said, which was somewhat rich, coming from him.
I stopped beside the back door, staring at my feet, thinking. Waiting. A moment later, it came, a shock wave of power pulling at my middle before rocketing out into the world, headed away to find someone with the attributes on my wish list. My third summons.
Austin stopped beside the back door. “And now we wait to see if we can handle whatever turns up.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I thought you always came out on top.”
He winked, and I laughed.
When I moved toward the house and he didn’t follow, I turned back. “You’re not going in?”
“No. I need to get home and change. Then I should check in at the bar.”
“Oh.” I pushed away the momentary feeling of disappointment. I’d gotten used to him hanging around, but I had to remember that the guy had a life. He didn’t live here. “Right, well…thanks. For everything.”
The shifters meandered away, and Edgar slipped into the house, shutting the door behind him to give Austin and me a moment. I licked my lips, suddenly nervous and not totally sure why, other than that Austin’s serious expression, almost regretful, put me on edge.
“Of course,” he said. “You did great this evening. You beat that mage at his own game. You’re really coming along.”
“Looks like I’ll have to keep progressing fast, given the rate Elliot keeps turning up. He always seems to send a barely manageable