Chapter 11

Addison rushed to the front door as I entered the Castle. "Where have you been? You've been gone all day."

I took off my coat and hung it on the rack. "I was busy. Had a meeting with your ex-boyfriend, Mathis."

Lines stretched across her forehead. "How did it go?"

"He's very charming. If he weren't the representative of an evil corporation, I might consider dating him."

Addison sucked in a breath. "You wouldn't."

I brushed past her. "Of course I wouldn't. He's gross."

"And because you love that demon prince of yours," she said in a taunting voice. I half expected her to break into the children's song about kissing in trees.

"You don't know the first thing about my personal life, so stop acting like you do."

She trailed behind me into the kitchen. "What did they offer you? Money to fix up your house?"

I glanced at her. "Not quite. He offered to help us deal with the Wild Hunt, said they have vast resources at their disposal."

She hoisted herself onto the counter and sat. "See? They're smart. They figured you out fast enough to know that they were better off appealing to your desire to help others than yourself."

Addison was right. Money would've been an easy and obvious carrot, and one I would've rejected.

"Except they guessed wrong, because I still said no."

She smirked. "But you considered it."

"For about two seconds."

"You should've let them help," she said.

"Absolutely not. I value my life and the lives of everyone in Fairhaven."

"What about my life?"

I looked at her. "You wouldn't be here now if I didn't."

She glanced away. "Fair enough."

I debated whether to tell her about the final offer with no strings attached, the one I was genuinely considering. It seemed they'd also figured me out fast enough to appeal to my desire to be reunited with my family. In the end, I decided to keep this one to myself. I didn't want Addison to worry that I'd hand her over for a few stolen moments with my parents because I wouldn't.

At least I didn't think I would.

I noticed the box of Scrabble on the kitchen table. "What's that doing out?"

"I don't know. It was there when I came downstairs. I thought you put it there."

I glanced around for any sign of guilty ghosts, but they were nowhere to be seen. Probably not a coincidence.

"I like games." Addison planted herself in a chair at the table. "Wanna play?"

"I'm not in the mood."

"Oh, I think you're always in a mood." She opened the box and started to remove the pieces. "Come on. One game. It'll be your only chance in this lifetime to kick my ass."

I pondered the game. I was pretty good at Scrabble.

"No cheating," I said.

"No promises."

I joined her at the table and shook the bag of tiles. "Do you know how to play?"

"Spell words. Win points. Is that the gist of it?"

"Basically."

I withdrew seven tiles and held the bag out for her to do the same.

Addison smiled. "I once turned a Vegas casino into a den of vipers during a poker game. Gods, that was a blast."

"Because you were bored?"

"Because I was losing. There's no better distraction than the fear of imminent death." She tapped the table. "You really ought to be taking notes. You won't get these golden nuggets anywhere else."

I placed my tiles on the board. D-U-P-E-R-Y.

Addison leaned over to examine the word. "Ooh, we can be passive aggressive and score actual points? I'm already a big fan."

"It's best not to try to be clever. Focus on the points." I indicated the available spot for triple word score.

"Snookums, I don't have to try. I'm a natural." She spelled out ‘verity,' borrowing the ‘y' from dupery. Because of the placement, she couldn't take advantage of the triple word score. Still, I was impressed.

"There's hope for you yet, Addison Gray."

Her gaze locked on mine. "Tessa."

"Excuse me?"

"My human name was Theresa Sowinski. Everybody called me Tessa." Her gaze dropped to the board. "It seems only right to tell you."

"Mathis said it was Melissa."

"I had it legally changed to Melissa when I left home."

I set more tiles on the board. "Would you like me to call you Tessa?"

Her face turned to stone. "No. Tessa's dead. If I'm being honest with myself, she died the day I put my hometown in my rearview mirror." She slapped her tiles on the board. "I shouldn't have mentioned it."

"I'm glad you did."

The ward activated, sending a pulsating energy through my veins. I snapped a photo of the board as I stood.

"What are you doing?"

"Preserving the integrity of the game while I answer the door." I picked up both bags of tiles, prompting a whistle from Addison.

"Talk about trust issues."

"You admitted you're a sore loser. I'm taking precautions." I shoved the bags in the cabinet and left the kitchen as Matilda swept inside like a spy avoiding detection by the outside sentries.

"There's a delivery truck outside the gate," she said.

"Weird. I didn't order anything."

The Night Mallt peered out the window. "A ruse, like the Trojan horse."

I stood shoulder to shoulder with her. "Looks legit." The truck bore the recognizable logo of a nationwide company.

"But you claim not to have ordered anything." She sucked in a breath. "They appear to be carrying a dead body wrapped in cloth."

"Well, I certainly didn't order that."

"She didn't order anything, but I did."

I pivoted to face Addison. "What did you buy?"

The avatar brushed past me and opened the door. "Quit being so paranoid and let them in." She greeted the deliverymen with a cheerful smile. "Hello, gentlemen. Straight upstairs. First bedroom on the right."

I eyed her skeptically. "It isn't a dead body, is it?"

"It's a mattress," Addison said, slightly indignant. "My aching back deserves the bare minimum." She followed the men upstairs.

My gaze snagged on the Night Mallt's disapproving eyebrows. "What?" I asked.

"She seems to be making herself at home."

"Well, she does live here for the time being." And the guest bed Sian made was crying out for a mattress. When Addison finally left, hopefully I'd get to keep the mattress.

Matilda folded her arms. "I'm beginning to think you might actually like her."

My shoulders rose, offering a partial shrug. "I don't hate her."

"You should. She's put you directly in the path of grave danger."

"So have you," I reminded her.

Matilda sniffed. "Not intentionally, unlike your houseguest."

"I've decided not to hold it against her."

"You're too forgiving for your own good. It will be your downfall if you're not careful."

Addison returned to the foyer, along with the deliverymen. She peeled off two twenty dollars bills and gave one to each man as a tip.

"How generous," Matilda muttered.

The men seemed happy enough as they exited the house.

Addison stretched her arms over her head. "I look forward to a restful evening."

"Might as well get a head start," Matilda said. "No one's stopping you."

Addison yawned. "I might be down for a nap. Take it for a test drive."

"And hopefully I'll be gone by the time she wakes up," Matilda said under her breath.

If she heard the remark, Addison didn't let on. She simply retreated upstairs.

I eyed her suspiciously. "You didn't go back to Vortigern's settlement, did you?"

"No, I was out searching for the stag again. A few of your friends showed up looking for you and were kind enough to accompany me. Why Camryn teeters around in six-inch heels is beyond me. She ended up barefoot most of the time."

"Did Gun get to wear his cowboy hat?"

"No, which he felt compelled to mention half a dozen times during our search."

"I guess you didn't find the stag."

Her face fell. "No joy."

"We're running out of time."

Her eyes flashed with indignation. "I'm well aware of the ticking clock."

"I think we need to pivot from offense to defense."

"As much as it pains me to admit it, I agree. The stag is proving too elusive. I knew it would be difficult without a proper hunting party, but I had to try."

A question gnawed at me. "I need to show you something." I pulled up the images of devastation on my phone.

Matilda stuck her nose in front of the screen. "What am I looking at?"

"Areas where the Wild Hunt ran roughshod."

She straightened. "The taiga in Siberia and Canada?"

I nodded.

"I was aware he left devastation in his wake, but I hadn't seen the evidence."

"You didn't exercise this type of scorched earth policy when you rode with them?"

She pointed at the photo on the screen that showed massive trees ripped up by their roots and a pile of mutilated carcasses. "Do you believe I'm capable of that?"

I thought of her willingness to murder Solomon on my behalf. The ease with which she made life and death decisions. "You tell me."

Her mouth tightened. "I was responsible for many acts when I rode with them, but none that qualified as atrocities. What you see here are crimes against nature."

"And humanity."

"I've made it clear I don't condone Vortigern's behavior, and I certainly never indulged in it." She shrank from the phone. "I thought we knew each other better than that, cariad."

"I'm sorry. I had to be sure."

"Really? Because you seem perfectly willing to accept my aid when it benefits you," she snapped.

Matilda was right. I was a hypocrite. She saw me better than I saw myself. "You're angry."

"Not angry. It simply pains me that you felt the need to raise the issue again, when I'd already been firm that I find his methods abhorrent. Do you trust me so little, bach?"

"I'm sorry. I was projecting. You've never given me a reason to doubt you." Matilda was much more than magical muscle to me.

"I accept your apology, annwyl."

"Good. Now let's come up with a new plan to protect Wild Acres from this." I waved the phone at her.

"If he ran the hunt like every leader before him, I could anticipate his movements. Unfortunately, I've had to rely on intel, which has slowed considerably."

"You don't need intel to answer the most important question—can he be killed?"

The Night Mallt beamed with pride. "Careful, Lorelei, your inner goddess is showing." She ushered me into the kitchen. "We have a long conversation ahead of us. I'd prefer to have it sitting down, wouldn't you?"

I carefully nudged the Scrabble board aside without shifting any of the tiles. No need to risk Aite's wrath when I still had Vortigern's to contend with.

Addison and Matilda exchanged scowls as the avatar entered the kitchen.

"Couldn't sleep?" I asked.

"You need curtains for my bedroom. It's too bright."

I looked at Matilda. "Tea?"

"Yes, please. No…"

"Milk. I know. Not my first time serving you tea." I added water to the kettle and turned the knob to high heat.

"You didn't ask me if I want tea," Addison complained.

"Because she already knows you do," Matilda said. "You want whatever anyone else has. It's in your greedy, selfish nature."

Addison recoiled. "Ouch."

"Matilda," I said in a warning tone. "Can we get back to how to kill Vortigern?"

Addison appeared lit from within. "Ooh, this conversation sounds promising. Much better than Scrabble."

The Night Mallt glared at her. "We spirits are more vulnerable when we're in our most solid form, which is when we've got two feet on the ground. Even then, it isn't easy. We can be injured, but to kill us is far more challenging."

"I bet The Corporation's obliteration team could do it," Addison said. "Too bad that's not an option."

"Accepting aid from The Corporation would be like detonating a nuclear bomb on the very land you're trying to save," Matilda pointed out.

"What about when you're on horseback?" I asked, as I poured the boiling water into the teapot. "Are you weaker then?"

She shook her head. "No point in trying. Astride our steeds with the wind in our faces—that's our purest form. Unseating us is your best bet."

"I would think it's the opposite," I said. "The term ‘land spirit' makes it sound like you'd be stronger when you're directly touching the ground."

She shrugged. "It's a mystical connection. Logic has no place in it."

"Is your bad guy vulnerable to any special weapons?" Addison asked. "There must be an Achilles heel we can exploit."

"There's no ‘we,'" I told her.

"Your modern blades work best to repel us. If there's one that can kill us, I've yet to meet it."

"What about my abilities, or Lorelei's? Can we mess with his head?"

"I wouldn't risk it. He would likely kill you before you managed to invoke your powers."

"We could practice on you right now," Addison suggested. "See what happens."

Matilda's nostrils flared. "I think not."

I poured the tea and carried the cups to the table. "Thank you for sharing this information."

"I know you would never use it against me, cariad."

"Why are you considered land spirits?" Addison asked. "You look fleshy and, let's be honest, those fingers look knobbier than a common hackberry."

I quickly placed a hand on Matilda's shoulder to restrain her.

"Because," Matilda said, injecting steel into her voice, "we are bound to this earth by the gods, as much a part of nature as the trees around us and the air we breathe."

Her explanation triggered an idea. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of him sooner. "Brody," I said aloud. "He's a nature mage."

Ray drifted into the kitchen. "You mean your friend who speaks like he's a waiter at Medieval Times?"

Addison frowned. "What's a nature mage? Isn't that just a mage with earth magic?"

I shook my head. "Brody's skills are very specific. He can fashion weapons out of natural objects." Which I learned when he was sent to kill me by vampire mobster Vincenzo Magnarella. "Maybe his powers would have a stronger impact on land spirits."

"Entirely possible," Matilda said. "Where is he now?"

An excellent question. "No idea, but I'll send him an SOS and see if he responds." I sent a text message with the pertinent highlights. "I have access to a bunch of axe throwers. Would they be useful?"

Matilda offered an anemic smile. "We hunters know that the blade of an axe won't kill us so easily."

"We don't have to kill them. If we maim enough of them, they won't be able to inflict as much damage, although I hoped if we met them at the crossroads with a small army, they might decide Wild Acres isn't worth the hassle and leave."

"A clever idea, cariad."

"It won't work," Addison interjected. "Vortigern sounds like a toddler. The more he's told no, the more determined he is to get his way."

Matilda observed her coolly. "Finally, something you and I can agree on." She shifted her gaze to me. "As I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted, it's a clever idea, but Vortigern doesn't speak the language of intimidation. Neither would I, for that matter. As you said, our best bet is to inflict enough injuries that the hunters are forced to retreat."

"And hope Vortigern doesn't find the stag before that happens," Addison chimed in.

I observed Matilda's downcast expression. "You're not a fan of that idea."

"I dislike the idea of harming the other hunters. Vortigern is the problem. Remove him, and the Wild Hunt returns to its traditional form." She noticed my smile. "What?"

"Now you sound like me. Admit, it, I'm rubbing off on you."

She bristled. "I admit no such thing. I am the Night Mallt, Matilda of the Night."

Addison laughed.

I felt a tapping sensation on my shoulder, as though someone was attempting to get my attention. It took me a moment to realize the ward had been activated.

I cut a quick glance at Ray. "Ward."

"On it." He disappeared and materialized beside me a moment later. "Alicia's here. Should I let her in?"

"Sure."

Matilda looked at me. "What's happening?"

"Ray's granddaughter, Alicia, is here. He's opening the door for her."

"Won't that frighten her?"

I snorted. "Have you met Alicia?"

Matilda missed the sarcasm. "No. I have not."

I heard her voice in the foyer, telling her grandfather about an ‘A' she received on a math test. I hurried to the refrigerator.

"What are you doing?" Matilda asked.

"Making sure I have a can of whipped cream. Sounds like a celebration is in order."

"She has you well-trained, I see."

I craned my neck to look at the Night Mallt. "Small wins deserve to be celebrated."

"Does she not have family for that?"

"Why do you think she's here? She's sharing the good news with her grandfather." Alicia's mother would still be at work in the city, and her father lived across the country.

Alicia appeared in the kitchen doorway, along with Ray. I'd already managed to scoop hot cocoa into a mug of milk. I only needed to heat it in the microwave.

Alicia spotted the whipped cream on the counter. "I guess you heard the news."

I turned to smile at her. "I did. Well done, you." I inclined my head toward my guest. "This is my friend, Matilda."

"And I'm Addison."

Alicia skipped to the table and sat in my vacated chair. "Whose horse is outside?"

Matilda wiggled her knobby fingers.

"Pretty cool ride, but doesn't your butt get sore?"

"Mine isn't as solid as yours," Matilda replied.

"Because Matilda is a spirit," I quickly added. "It isn't a commentary on your backside, Alicia." The girl was still young and impressionable; the last thing she needed was a complex about her bottom.

"My grandbaby is a mathematical genius," Ray crowed.

"That's why I'm making hot cocoa," I said.

"Is the whipped cream because you're out of marshmallows?" Alicia asked.

"Afraid so. In my defense, it's the end of the season."

"What are you going to offer me when it's hot outside?"

"Iced tea?" I suggested, setting the warm mug on the table in front of her and garnishing it with a healthy dollop of whipped cream.

"I'll think about it."

Matilda stared at the enticing mug in silence.

Alicia slid her mug toward the Night Mallt. "Want to try it?"

"I have no need of human confections."

Alicia retrieved a spoon from the drawer and returned to the table. "How are you different from Grampa?"

"What makes you think we're different?" Matilda asked.

"For starters, I can see and hear you." She scooped whipped cream into the spoon and licked it.

"Matilda isn't a ghost," I said. "She's a spirit."

"Isn't Grampa a spirit?"

"Not in the same way," I replied. "Humans sometimes refer to ghosts as spirits, but they don't mean the same thing. Matilda isn't a shade."

"You mean she isn't dead." Alicia polished off the whipped cream and lifted the mug to her lips.

"No, I'm most certainly not," Matilda said. "One might argue I've ascended to a higher plane."

Addison snorted, which drew the teenager's attention to her. "How many tattoos do you have?"

"Sixteen."

"That's more years than I've been alive."

"Lucky you." Addison eyed the whipped cream. "Do temporary residents get access to hot cocoa?"

"If they ask nicely," Alicia said.

I couldn't argue with that.

Addison pinned me with a pleading expression. "May I please have hot cocoa?"

"I suppose." I retrieved my least favorite mug from the cupboard and prepared a second drink.

Ray observed the trio seated around the table. "That's quite an eclectic group of women you've got there. An escaped goddess, a Celtic spirit, and a math whiz."

A tapping sound drew my attention to the window above the sink. "Claude's back." I pushed up the window and the revenant scurried inside.

Matilda glanced at the hand. "I hope you have information for me."

Alicia's jaw dropped at the sight of the hand crawling across the counter. "What is that?"

"Claude is a revenant," I said, as I delivered the mug of hot cocoa to Addison and added the requisite whipped cream.

Alicia couldn't stop staring at the moving hand. "Like a zombie?"

"Sort of. Revenants are much older, and they don't want to eat your brains."

Alicia didn't move an inch as the hand jumped from the counter to the table and landed in front of Matilda.

Addison scrunched her nose. "How many diseases does he have? Looks like he collects them."

"No insulting Claude in my house," I said firmly.

Addison's gaze flicked to me. "Can I insult him outside?"

Claude began signing with Matilda interpreting. "The hunting party is on the move."

Alicia's eyes widened. "I know sign language! Miss Bevins taught us in third grade."

"This isn't ASL," I said. I was familiar with American Sign Language, as well as Claude's convoluted version.

Alicia's face drooped. "Too bad. I wanted to see how much I remember."

Addison slurped her cocoa. "And here I thought The Corporation was a hodgepodge of people. You're quite the weirdo magnet, Clay, and I include myself in that description."

Alicia returned to her fascination with the tattoos. "What's that symbol on your arm? The one with the sun."

Addison twisted her arm to better view the tattoo. "I got that one in Mexico after a particularly grueling job. I needed a pick-me-up."

"Tell Alicia she can't have a tattoo," Ray said.

"Your grandfather says no tattoos, Alicia."

"Until I'm eighteen," Alicia added. "Got it."

"No caveats," Ray insisted.

"Are they magical?" Alicia asked.

"A couple are."

Alicia's brown eyes sparkled with anticipation. "I want a magical tattoo. What can it do?"

Nana Pratt folded her arms. "See? What did I tell you? A bad influence."

And here I thought Nana Pratt was coming around.

"Stop this conversation now." Ray sounded panicked, as though Alicia might run out tomorrow and get a magical tattoo.

Then I remembered this is the girl who summoned a demon to bargain for better dance moves.

"Hey," I said. "Why don't we let Claude and Matilda finish their conversation in peace?"

"It's all right, cariad," Matilda said. "We're finished."

"So am I." Alicia used her spoon to scrape the last of the hot cocoa from the bottom of the mug.

"You probably have a pile of homework waiting for you at home," I said.

"No, I brought it with me. I left my backpack on the front porch."

I shot Ray a helpless look. I didn't want to shoo Alicia home like she was a nuisance. As a foster kid, I knew how it felt to be unwanted, and I refused to inflict that pain on any child.

"Why don't you bring it inside and you can work on it in the parlor room? Your grandfather can help you."

Alicia scraped back her chair and stood. "I don't need help, but I'd like the company."

Ray smiled. "That's my girl."

Pausing, she looked at Claude. "Does he do any tricks?"

"He isn't a circus animal," Matilda said indignantly.

"No, but he's certainly a freak," Addison said under her breath.

Matilda's gaze sharpened. "I heard that."

Claude pivoted to face Alicia and extended his fingers.

"He's offering to shake your hand," I said.

Alicia reached for him and shook gently. "His skin feels dry. He needs lotion."

I retrieved the bottle of hand lotion that I kept next to the sink and handed it to Alicia. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Addison's upper lip lifted. "How much do you hate this kid?"

Alicia glanced at her. "I want to do it. It'll make him feel better."

Ray clutched his chest. "I think I'm going to cry."

She pumped lotion into her hand. "Is it okay if I rub this on you?"

Claude crooked a finger in a ‘go ahead' gesture.

Smiling, she slathered the lotion on the hand. "I don't think it will help your spots, but my mom says it's healthier for your skin if it's moisturized."

Matilda shook her head in wonder. "The girl is right. Apologies for not thinking to do such a thing for you, Claude."

Claude flipped over and let Alicia moisturize his palm. His fingers curled as though responding to a tickle.

Alicia's smile was wide enough to strain her cheeks. "He's awesome. Can we keep him?"

"Claude serves me," Matilda said.

"Can I take a photo of him on my shoulder? If I put in my Insta stories, it'll disappear after twenty-four hours."

"No photos," I said.

She took the refusal in stride, much like everything else thrown her way.

Claude scrambled onto Alicia's shoulder and tickled her under the arm. Giggling, she asked him to stop. The revenant complied, jumping back to the table.

"I'm glad you've made a friend," Matilda told him, "but we're here for a more important purpose."

"What is it?" Alicia asked.

I shot a quizzical glance at Ray, who shook his head. "Why don't you get your backpack? I'll bet Claude would like to help you with your homework."

She looked at the doorway. "What about Grampa?"

"He'll be there, too," I assured her. "Put out a pencil and he'll show you."

Alicia carried her empty mug to the sink and rinsed it. "Let's go, Claude. These numbers aren't going to divide themselves."

The revenant dropped to the floor and followed her out of the kitchen.

"Cute kid," Addison remarked. "Must be nice to have so many adults who give a shit."

"Language," Nana Pratt snapped, not that Addison could hear her.

Addison leaned her elbows on the table. "So, what's the master plan for this Vortigern dude?"

Matilda gave her side-eye. "It's nothing to do with you."

"As long as I'm camped out in Fairhaven, it has to do with me."

"I can tell you where to go," Matilda said.

I interrupted her before the conversation escalated. My kitchen was not the ideal place for a battle between the Night Mallt and the goddess of mischief and ruin.

"Can I please get a glass of water?" Alicia's muffled voice called through the wall.

I obliged. Ray met me at the parlor room doorway. "Will you warn my grandbaby to avoid the woods this week?"

"She'll want to know why."

Alicia's head popped up from the sofa. "Why what?" The teenager was smart enough to know when she was the topic of discussion.

"Then tell her," Ray urged. "I'd rather scare her into staying away than risk her getting caught in the crossfire."

I was more concerned that Alicia's curiosity would be stronger than her survival instincts. Still, Alicia was his granddaughter. He was in a better position to decide what information she could handle.

"Your grandfather wants me to warn you to avoid Wild Acres this week."

Her brown eyes squinted. "Why?"

"Because it'll be more dangerous than usual."

"What kind of danger are we talking about? Did somebody summon more demons?"

"No. This is a different supernatural problem, but we're working hard to solve it so that nobody gets hurt."

"My friend Darren is supposed to go camping with his dad this weekend. What should I tell him?"

Good question. Alicia knew more about the supernatural world than the average Fairhaven resident.

"This is when it would be handy to have the local police involved," Ray said.

"It's hard to do that without revealing more than they can handle."

"I can handle it," Alicia protested.

"Maybe it's time to test the waters," he argued. "Chief Garcia is a smart woman with a solid head on her shoulders. Give her a chance."

"It isn't as simple as that." It wasn't the kind of revelation that could be taken back if her reaction wasn't optimal. I'd be labeled a looney tune and any further concerns I voiced would be dismissed. As of now, I had her ear and I needed to keep it that way.

"What's Grampa saying now?" Alicia asked.

"He thinks I should warn the police so they can come up with a reason to keep people out of the woods."

"You're a clever lady," Alicia replied. "Come up with your own reason, one the police will believe."

Ray nodded enthusiastically. "And let the police act accordingly."

"Like what? It isn't like we have oil spills in Pennsylvania."

"It rained again last night. Trails get slippery and dangerous. I'm sure nobody wants their hard-earned tax dollars to be spent on rescues and lawsuits."

I stared at her.

She shrugged. "Mom's a lawyer. What do you expect?"

Ray's belly laugh was a delightful sound. "Leave it to my baby girl to come up with that one."

"I'll call West and have him suggest a temporary closure. Chief Garcia will be more inclined to listen to him." The alpha enjoyed a bond with the police chief that I didn't have. It also helped that he lived in Arrowhead trailer park; his concern would carry more weight.

"Darren will be bummed," Alicia said. "He loves camping."

"He probably likes being alive more."

Alicia nodded. "Truth."

I left Alicia to complete her homework and walked to the cemetery for privacy before making the call to West.

"Monk's won't be happy," West said, once he'd agreed to contact Chief Garcia. "Sullivan should close his club, too."

"He won't have a choice if the police restrict access to the forest."

"His clientele are just as likely to arrive from underground or the crossroads as they are from the roads."

"That's true. I'll let him know." I'd make sure the suggestion came from me. The demon prince would likely argue if he thought he was being ordered around by West. Although they were willing to work together for the common good, that didn't mean they liked each other.

I hung up the phone and returned to the house to check on my guests and retrieve my keys and purse. If I had to tell my sort-of boyfriend how to run his business, it seemed like the kind of conversation best had in person.