close to them if that’s ever going to happen. Penguin snot is not something I want to experience.”
Ben saw him shiver and decided Penguin School was over. “Come on, let’s go inside and I’ll make us a hot chocolate. Then after that, I’ll lock up and we can go home.”
He shepherded Dae indoors and smiled when Dae breathed a sigh of relief at getting warmer. The sun was dipping below the horizon, and the air outside was cooling.
His sun-loving Djinn preferred the warmth, no doubt of that. Ben was looking forward to taking him on a trip to the coast when the summer came, perhaps having a sundowner at Ben’s favourite pub on the beach in Devon while basking in the late afternoon sun.
Oh, wait. He put on the brakes on his thoughts. Dae wouldn’t be around then, would he? He’d have granted Ben’s wishes and gone home. Unless of course, Ben never made either of his wishes and kept Dae here with him.
I mean, how much trouble could he get into with this Lady Mage anyway? He already said he’d likely not be punished.
But that meant his first wish, the one he’d brought Dae here for tonight, wouldn’t be granted and the benefactor he had in mind wouldn’t receive the spoils. Ben couldn’t be that selfish.
“Penny for them,” Dae said softly, a quirky smile on his face. “Where did you go right then?”
Ben blinked, realising he was standing in the small staff kitchen with a small milk pan and nothing else. “Oh, nothing important. Thinking about something I need to do tomorrow.” He took a breath and opened the cupboard to locate the tin of hot chocolate, then found the milk. He sniffed it, decided it was still okay to use, and poured some in the saucepan.
Dae looked amused. “This seems like something you’ve done often,” he remarked. “All the steps neatly coordinated, mugs ready, stove switched on. I take it this is a thing with you?” He leapt nimbly onto the countertop and sat there, legs swinging as he watched Ben prepare their drinks.
Ben nodded as he placed the milk pan on the heated stovetop plate. “We’re all partial to hot chocolate, Hazel, me, and Hemmy. It’s a bit of a stress reliever at the end of the day. Although I always seem to be the one making it,” he grumbled. He pulled out a chair from around the small canteen table and sat down.
“You look so comfortable here, in this place.” Dae looked around wistfully. “It’s another home to you, isn’t it? I can see why. Everyone I’ve met is so friendly and they make me feel so welcome.” He rolled his eyes. “Even if I am only your cousin Dan from Scotland.”
Ben sniggered. The ruse was still working and as Dae wasn’t at the zoo that often, it was easy enough for him to slip into his Scottish persona. Only Ben—at least he hoped it was only him—noted the occasional lapse from the accent.
Hazel adored Dan, and the first time she’d met him, she’d plied him with stories of her trip to the Highlands on a Nessie exploration trip, giving a rather disgusting account of her first time eating black pudding, only to find out afterwards what it was made of. The resultant tale of woe and upchucking had made them all gag.
“Talking of this being my second home…” Ben fiddled with a spoon. “I’ve decided on my first wish.”
Dae drew in a sharp breath. “Son of a beaver. You have?” He jumped down from the countertop. “That’s…erm…wonderful.” Ben thought he didn’t sound all that enthused. He’d expected more delight at his decision. What was all that about?
“It’s one involving money,” Ben admitted. “You did say that was possible?” He’d given his wish a lot of thought, and he hoped he was approaching things the right way.
“Of course, I can make you as rich as you want.” Dae sounded vaguely disappointed. “Jewels, bearer bonds, gold bullion, cash—anything you need.”
“No, nothing like that. I want to put the cash into someone’s bank account. How does that work exactly? I mean, do I need to give you the bank details or what?”
Dae chuckled. “Nothing like that. Magic, remember? You simply tell me what you want, how you want it, and poof. It happens. Even I don’t have a clue as to the mechanics. All I know is that it works.”
“Okay.” Ben took a deep breath. “Here goes.” He closed his eyes then opened them to ask, “Will there