Chapter 6

ChapterSix

Claw marks gouged the wood of the siding as the pieces lay strewn over the yard. Though none of the creatures had breached the house’s interior, they did a number on the outside. The home’s damage was limited to the bottom half of the Victorian, reaching higher in areas the gremlins had something to launch from, like a birdbath or a railing.

The vandalism wasn’t reserved only for the house. Leaves had been shredded from the bushes, and holes had been dug into the yard. They had dented the rental car and tore apart the engine. The wrecked vehicle stood in contrast to Nolan’s pickup parked next to it.

Mal pulled Jesse’s cellphone and some torn pieces of cash off the floorboard. The device had a cracked screen but still turned on when he pushed the button. He automatically started calculating the cost of the damage to the rental car and the house. The sum wasn’t pretty.

“At least we can guess who tore out the plumbing in Cabin Three,” Lily was saying from around the side of the house.

“You know I support real work over magical fixes, but in this case, I think we should ask Polly to help us glamor the mess until I can get it done,” Nolan answered. Mal knew the man well. As the city’s code enforcer, he worked with the law office. “We can’t let the guests see it like this. No one is going to believe this was a tornado. They scratched the hell out of it.”

Tornados and straight-line winds were two of the most popular excuses used in Lucky Valley. Mal should know. He’d represented more than a few claims against the insurance companies not wanting to pay for damages.

“Whenever she uses that much magic, things get weird around here,” Lily countered. “Things were just starting to settle. I mean, we’re making a profit, guests are in the cabins, and we finally got those phantom Christmas lights to go away. The gnomes are behaving somewhat.”

“My love,” Nolan chuckled. “Things are pretty weird around here right now, and I don’t think we can blame it on Polly’s visit.”

Mal thought about going inside to give them privacy.

“I know,” Lily muttered. “It’s Jesse. I’m sorry. But she’s my sister.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.” Nolan’s voice became softer.

Mal moved closer to keep listening. He couldn’t help himself. They were discussing Jesse.

“When I fell in love with you,” Nolan continued, “I knew you came with a package of craziness.”

“Hey, now!” A light smack sounded in response.

Nolan laughed.

“This isn’t funny,” Lily protested. “It’s just, now the gnomes will get all feisty and emboldened like after the ghost battle. Polly is probably inside, gluing a few of them back together right now. They’ll start popping up everywhere and scaring the crap out of all of us. Do you remember with Twinkle Tittle or whatever he’s called appeared on the Travers’ wedding cake?”

“You have to admit, it was romantically adorable,” Nolan said. “He drove that little man statue into a vanilla tomb. The last I saw, he and the bride were living happily together behind the barn.”

“You’re a…” Lily muttered

“Romantic? Amazingly handsome? Good with a hammer?” Nolan suggested.

“Doofus,” Lily finished. “Now, help me think. What about a tornado with claws? Bear-nado? Oh, or how about a tornado picked up one of those old metal windmills and spun it against the house?”

Mal felt a little funny eavesdropping now that they weren’t discussing Jesse. He finally showed himself. The couple turned to him in surprise.

“Believe it or not, a tornado with a metal windmill has been used a few times,” Mal said.

“Oh, hey.” Lily pulled away from where she held onto Nolan’s arm. “I didn’t hear you come down. Usually, we have coffee ready, but after last night, we only just got back to the house.”

“Then you haven’t been inside to see the electricity is out.” Mal surveyed the damage. “Those gremlins were in top form.”

“That’s probably what happened to the transformer.” Nolan crossed his arms over his chest. “How many?”

“Dozen, at least,” Mal said.

Nolan nodded. “Do we know why?”

Mal sighed and looked toward the second story where he’d left Jesse snuggled in bed.

“Right. Jesse’s bad luck.” Lily sighed. “It was the same for Dante and me when we first started getting our magic. It didn’t stop or at least lessen until we accepted who we are. I don’t know if Jesse will ever accept it. Polly practically had to trick her into coming.”

“She’s agreed to go with me today to open the box,” Mal said. “She doesn’t want what’s inside, but then…”

“Who knows what Marigold left inside.” Lily rubbed her temples.

The lights inside the house flickered and turned on. Lily turned her attention upwards, prompting Mal and Nolan to do the same.

“Well, the phantom lights are back,” Lily grumbled. “Polly must have started her cleanup spells.”

A string of what looked like forgotten fairy lights draped over the side of the house. They emitted a soft glow, but when he looked closely, they appeared to be transparent.

“Coffee?” Lily asked.

“Yes, please,” Nolan answered.

“Give me five minutes.” Lily went around the side of the house, and they heard the front door open.

“I thought the gremlins were hibernating in one of the old mines,” Nolan said. “I checked the sealed exit myself. Who opened it? Who would even know where to find it?”

Mal didn’t answer. He wouldn’t have been able to find the entrance without a map, and it’s not like the locations of monster hideaways were lying around for anyone to check out.

“You know who they’re going to blame,” Nolan insisted. “Lily will never say it, but she’s been working so hard to get the town to accept the Goode family—not that the town necessarily deserves her kindness after how they act around her and her brother.”

“Convince her it’s the right idea to let Polly hide the evidence of this mess,” Mal said. “With luck, we’ll figure out how to lure the gremlins back into their hole before anyone else finds out they’re wreaking havoc. People will be much less frightened of strands of rogue ghost lights than angry monsters destroying the city.”

“And you convince Jesse to accept her responsibilities as a member of this family,” Nolan countered, on the defensive. Though, knowing he was a hot-blooded werewolf close to a full moon helped Mal ignore the attitude. “I will not watch Lily’s life be destroyed by more of Marigold’s magic.”

Mal wondered just how much sway they thought he had on Jesse. Sure, they’d had a few deep telephone conversations and technically spent the night together, but that hardly put him in a position of authority. In fact, he doubted anyone would ever be in a place of authority over Jesse. Her independence was what he loved about her.

“Crap,” Mal muttered, letting his head drop forward.

“What?” Nolan demanded in concern.

Mal shook his head. “Never mind. I just remembered something I forgot to do.”

He’d forgotten to safeguard his heart from this very thing. Love? The word had just slipped into his thoughts, but there was no denying the truth of it. He’d fallen in love with her from the first time he saw her picture in that damned legal file at the office before he even dialed her phone number.

“Jesse’s going for the box today,” Nolan said. A mate-possessive werewolf close to the full moon would be even more temperamental than usual. “That’s the only work that matters.”

“I hear you, buddy,” Mal said, keeping his tone even and non-threatening. “Jesse loves her siblings. She’ll do right by them. I promise.”

“Is that your elf talking?” Nolan asked. “You’ve sensed her intentions?”

“Yes.” Mal nodded. “She can be trusted.”

Nolan seemed to relax some. “Coffee? I have camping gear we can use while we wait for the power to turn back on.”

Mal was slower to follow as the werewolf went into the house. Nolan only thought of gremlins and reputations, but Mal knew so much more than that was at stake now. He loved Jesse and would do anything to ensure she survived whatever was coming.