Ashe felt the house welcome her as she ushered Eden in, Reynard on her heels. Witch-built houses were sentient and self-repairing, living off the magical energy that hummed around a healthy family of spell casters. The birth of a new baby had made the place almost jolly. She could feel it in the air, crackling with the same vibrant energy as a Solstice tree heaped with presents.
“Hey, there,” Holly said, looking Reynard up and down. “I have to say the twenty-first century suits you.”
He gave a graceful bow. “And, if I may be so bold, motherhood becomes you.”
“Why, thank you, Captain.” In truth, Holly looked like she needed a good night’s sleep.
“Hi, Aunt Holly,” Eden said. “Mom says I have to stay here today.”
“Howdy, sport.” Holly wrapped an arm around Eden’s shoulders. “We torture you because we love you.”
Eden looked disgusted and pleased at once. “Why did I have to bring homework?”
“Because adults are cruel and perverse,” Ashe said, shooing Eden through the door. “C’mon. I have to pick up the stuff for the ghostbusting job.”
Holly led them into the living room, which was filled with brass lamps and bookcases. Exactly the same as Ashe remembered it from childhood, except for the addition of Caravelli’s expensive sound system. They sat grouped around a coffee table made of glossy mahogany and littered with baby toys.
“I really appreciate this, Hol,” Ashe said. “I know how busy you are.”
“Family comes first,” Holly replied. “And anything I can do to help you kick the bad guys out of Fairview, consider it done.”
Eden thumped her schoolbag to the floor and sank onto the couch, folding her arms in a mild sulk. Her dark curls fell around her face, hiding her expression. Ashe left her alone to ponder her woe.
Through the window, she could see the hellhounds patrolling the grounds. Two had shifted to their animal forms—big black dogs with red eyes and pointed ears. Holly’s big tabby cat was sitting on the porch, nervously swishing his tail.
“Under the circumstances, I can cancel this ghostbusting job,” Holly said, casting an anxious glance at Reynard. “You’ve got more pressing problems.”
“Nonsense,” he said. “It should be quick, and these days I don’t have many opportunities to perform a service to a lady. Allow me the pleasure of assisting your sister. It will do me good.”
Holly colored a little. “If you’re sure.”
“Completely.”
Beneath the pretty words, Ashe heard a real yearning. Reynard was free, however briefly. As he had said to Ashe, helping was one of the few choices he could make for himself. Well, she’d let him help this time, but then it would be all urn search, all the time. He might be okay with gambling with his life this way, but she wasn’t.
Holly picked up a tiny stuffed whale from the coffee table, squishing it between her fingers. “Alessandro filled me in last night after your phone call. He spent the rest of the night talking to the other vampires in town, but none of the locals seem to know about out-of-towners or anyone who might hire a sniper.”
“That’s pretty much what I expected,” Ashe replied.
“Alessandro’s put in a call to Queen Omara, just to give her a heads-up. He kind of had to.” Holly grimaced. “I really hope she doesn’t decide to pay a visit. Once she’s involved, the two vampire courts will be at war.”
Ashe could see the strain on Holly’s face. War meant casualties, and Alessandro would be in the thick of it. “Who are these vamps? Are they all with the King of the East?”
“And how did this collector find a thief inside the Castle?” Reynard put in. “There are connections here we do not see quite yet.”
“There are collector demons,” Holly offered tentatively. “Gathering stuff is a sickness with them, kind of like hoarders with superpowers. They’re notorious for double-crossing whomever they’re working with if they’re offered the right trinket.”
“Who would hire someone like that?” Ashe countered. “Wouldn’t they check references?”
“And forgive me for saying this, Captain, but would someone want a vessel containing your life essence?” Holly’s forehead furrowed with concern.
Reynard leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He had that closed look again. “I don’t really know. I assume for some work of the dark arts. Magic stole my life to bind me to my Castle duties. It stands to reason the same magic could install it elsewhere.”
“It’s not the Castle itself that binds you?”
“No.” His voice was heavy. “No more than any of the other inhabitants. The guardsmen’s power itself has a separate origin. One that chains us much more firmly.”
“So if the changes in the Castle’s magic haven’t affected the old guards, do you feel any different when you leave its domain? Do you get hungry or thirsty?” Holly asked.
“It happens more slowly with us than for the other residents. If there is too great a separation between body and soul, the spells that keep the guardsmen alive begin to weaken. That’s when we begin to feel ordinary appetites.”
What did that make those exquisite kisses in the gym? Ashe wondered. Most likely a really bad sign.
Holly tapped her chin with the stuffed whale. “So how did the guardsmen get started?”
“I’m afraid that was far before my time. I think they’ve been there as long as the Castle.”
Eden tugged Ashe’s sleeve, finished sulking and clearly bored by the adult conversation. She looked up, her hot-chocolate gaze at its most appealing. “Where’s Robin? Can I see her?”
The interruption scattered Ashe’s thoughts. She’d been on the cusp of making a connection, but it was gone now. She looked at her sister. “Is that okay?”
“Robin’s in the downstairs nursery, asleep. Eden, can you be very, very quiet?” Holly asked.
“Sure,” Eden replied, as if that was a completely unnecessary question.
Ashe stood, glad of the excuse to take a quick peek at her niece. “Come on, kiddo.”
The room was down a short hall decorated with wainscoting and an old-fashioned striped wallpaper. Eden followed Ashe, her hands in her pockets. “I hate the idea of the hellhounds outside. The kids around here already think I’m a terrorist spy. If they find out my aunt’s got a dog army guarding her house, my life is over.”
Ashe tried to digest that, but failed. “Y’know, they turn into hot guys in leather at least half the time. That’s pretty cool.”
“Human is cool, Mom. Everyone knows that.”
“Since when?”
“Since forever. They used to burn witches, you know.”
Ashe stopped and took her daughter by the shoulders. She was actually shocked. “Don’t you ever turn your back on your family or what they are.”
Eden’s face turned serious. “The kids at school . . .”
“Are complete idiots.” Ashe let her go. “You know that, right?”
“I don’t want to go there. I want to go back to Saint Flo’s.” Eden gave her hostile eyes. “I bet I could hitchhike.”
“The ocean would be a problem.” Ashe bit her tongue, wanting to say more, but Eden was only a child.
“Yeah, but I have to go to this school that hates me, so what am I supposed to do?” Eden was close to shouting, the anger sharp and real.
“We’ll figure something out. I promise.”
“When?”
Ashe made a decision. Her daughter was on the verge of getting her magic. Life was going to be hard enough for Eden, getting used to all that, and she’d run away once already. “You and I will have a talk before next weekend. Maybe there’s a different school we can try.”
The girl’s face melted with relief.
Bingo. Ashe put her arm around her daughter, and they walked into the downstairs nursery. It used to be Grandma’s room when she had lived in the house, and her Victorian tastes showed in the flowered wallpaper and pink Chinese carpet. Holly had made it into a second room for the baby, closer than the nursery two floors above.
“This room feels different,” Eden said softly, remembering not to wake the baby. “Super quiet.”
