“I’m concerned that Mal and James haven’t called. I hope the Enforcer wields as much power as I think he does.” Rowan led the way down the hall to the stairs. Once she left the tray on the kitchen counter, she pulled out her phone. “I’ll text Lei-li and ask her to let us know if she hears anything.”
Watching Rowan calmed me. I was capable of handling a lot, as the upheavals of the previous weeks had shown. Having a capable friend at my side was a relief. And while the support and security the crew of druids provided was invaluable, I was equally desirous of pulling the power of the witches around me as I learned to call upon my magic.
The magic was there. Its latency was frustrating.
Christoph walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. His wings were snugged tight against his back. I had a moment of wallowing in awe at the beauty of his feathers. Gyrfalcons populated the more northerly provinces. I never imagined I would see one up close, let alone call one of the magnificent raptors family.
I shook my head. “Christoph?”
He spun, one hand on the door handle, the other holding a package of sausage. “These aren’t meat,” he said, surprise lifting his eyebrows.
“We’re vegetarians,” I explained, “and those are delicious.”
Harrumphing, he returned to examining the label. “I’m hungry, and I don’t feel like hunting right now.”
Rowan elbowed my ribs and grinned before she headed into the living room to stand beside Wes. She snugged close, her wavy red hair mingling with his.
A disappointed sigh reminded me there was a hungry bird rooting around in my kitchen. “Feel free to eat whatever you find,” I said. “I’m not sure where to put you, but…”
“I’ll sleep outside.” Christoph closed the refrigerator door, filled a glass from the tap at the sink, and drank. His wings drooped a fraction as his shoulders sagged. “I find myself rather tired.”
“We had a giant bat visit recently. They seemed to think the fir trees in the backyard were a nifty place to roost.”
He turned and smiled. “Then perhaps I shall have company tonight, though they are nocturnal and I’ve always found bats to be a bit on the chatty side.”
I couldn’t stop myself from grinning. My grandfather was a freaking bird complaining about the social skills of bats. “If you can’t get to sleep out there, come inside. Or sleep on the back porch. There’s a big swing, which might accommodate your wings.”
I surprised myself and him by circling my arms around his waist in a quick hug.
“Calliope.” Kaz put down the stick he was carving. I had to hold the edge of the table and deliberately widen my eyes. Sleep was getting impatient with my detours. “With your permission, we’ll add more runes to the ones we placed a few days ago. Wes and I’ll have to shift to get the sticks into places we can’t reach like this.” He swept his arm down the front of his compact body. “Once that’s done, we can connect them into a continuous ward. One thing has me very concerned though.” He faced me full on while scratching at the back of his neck. “Tanner mentioned there might be a portal on your property.”
Oh. That woke me up. I pressed my fingertips against the pouch resting below my sternum. “We were going to talk about the portal.” And celebrate my Blood Ceremony and sleep in the same bed. “But then the shit hit the fan and now Tanner’s trying to find the Apple Witch and Cliff and Abi, and I have no idea when he’ll be back.”
Wes shot Kaz a look I translated as the druidic equivalent of WTF, before returning to concentrate on his carvings.
“What’s a portal look like?” I asked. “And why would having one on the property be a problem?”
“Most portals in this realm are connected to specific trees, Calliope. We can also create single-use portal facilitators.” Kaz studied his hands before turning his attention fully to me. “Our concern is there’s a dormant portal here that could be activated by anyone, friend or foe.”
I could think of a half-dozen Magical beings I did not want to see popping out of my trees.
“Do you know when this house was built?” Kaz asked. “And how long have you owned the property?”
“Early nineteen-sixties?” I guessed, trying to prod my brain into doing quick math. “I have no idea if my aunt bought the house or built it. I’d have to ask my cousins—or look at the records. I’ve owned the house a little over two years.”
“Are there places on the property that call to you?” Wes asked.
“Oh, yes, definitely.” I was completely unsuccessful at stifling a yawn. My eyes teared up. “The garden, mostly.”
“We’ll have a look,” Kaz assured me. “You need to sleep. Go to bed. We’ve got this.”
I gave a halfhearted wave. Christoph wasn’t in the kitchen, and the door to my bedroom was open, warm yellow light spilling onto the maple flooring in the hall. I brushed my teeth, eyes closed, and peeled my jeans over my hips. Leaving the pants where they dropped, I discarded my smelly T-shirt and stepped under the showerhead, letting hot water and silky soap bubbles wash away the dirt and dried blood.
Toweled off, wearing nothing but clean underwear, I knocked my shins against my bed’s frame. When I lifted the top sheet, I smelled Tanner. He’d been the last one to sleep here, due to the injury to his knee had sustained in the fight with my ex, the same fight that first brought Officer Jack to the house. Well, to the end of the
