“Okay. Doug and his family are Fae. They use glamour and have this wicked-looking weaponry that shoots out of their hands and fingers. Blades. Sharp, silvery blades. My guess is Doug’s mother, Meribah, is the brains behind whatever they’re trying to do, and ‘they’ includes the Flechette Realty and Land Development Group.”
“What do you think the Flechettes are maneuvering to do?”
“Acquire land, especially orchards.” I didn’t want to tell Jack about the Apples of Immortality, but there was some information I could share. “We know the Pearmains’ orchards have portals. And that two of Meribah’s cohorts killed hidden folk who’ve been caring for the special trees.”
“Hmm. The Fae could be planning to take over access to portals. Controlling Magicals’ ability to come and go puts a lot of power into only a few hands.”
“There’s more,” I said, “but it’s all connected. I have friends here right now, those river otters you scented, and I’m expecting—well, hoping—a couple of witches I know will be here too, as soon as they can.”
“Rose de Benauge one of those witches?”
“Yes. You know her?”
“Everyone knows Rose.” Jack muted his phone, maybe against his chest, and spoke to someone at the station. Voices floated up from the far side of the farmhouse, opposite from where Christoph had flown. “Calli, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Call me if something happens.” I started to thank him, when he said, “One more thing. I told you I’m a wolf.”
“You did.”
“Have you ever seen a wolf shift? Or any other kind of Shifter?”
I grimaced at the memory of the werecougar I’d dated. Jack did not need to know the particulars of my intimate life. “A friend of mine, a druid, can take wolf form. And those river otters, they’re druids too. I sort of saw them shift the night of my party, but I don’t really remember the transition.”
“I’m going to need meat,” he said. “Lots of it. The Pearmains probably have a separate freezer for the cows and pigs that get processed at the abattoir. Pull out a few steaks and get them thawing for me. Please. Just in case.”
Jack ended the call. I shuddered at the thought of opening the freezer in the Pearmains’ pantry. Then I remembered Maritza had joined the heads I discovered to their missing bodies and thanks to her and others, the two dead hidden folk were well-buried. My sense of relief barely registered.
I mounted the steps to the front porch and followed the voices as they got closer.
“Hey, anybody?” I yelled, continuing down the hall and into the kitchen. I made myself go directly to the freezer in the pantry, search for packets labelled beef, and remove an armful. I put them in the sink, wiped my hands, and stepped out the back door and onto the wide porch.
The two fairies Bas and I had freed from the fountains at the Flechette estate were walking hand in hand with Peasgood and Hyslop. Belle and Kaz were behind the foursome, similarly hand in hand, with Wes bringing up the rear. Even in the midst of rolling crises, romance blossomed. I took that to heart and waved.
“Calliope-ee!” Belle didn’t talk so much as trill and coo. Memories of her warm, genuine embraces lowered my stress meter five notches. I trotted down the steps and opened my arms. “We have a problem,” she whispered in my ear. “These fairy sisters are bloody frikkin’ royalty.” Belle held on another beat then let me go. “Calliope Jones, Earth Witch, may I introduce you to Silène LaFleur and Némophilie LaFleur, of the Seelie Court.”
We all smiled and waved. Silène wrapped one arm more snugly through Peasgood’s. Némophilie bumped Hyslop’s shoulder with hers before taking a step forward and extending her arm. We shook hands.
“Hi,” Némophilie said. “We owe you our gratitude for rescuing us. Our parents are on their way.” She looked over at her sister. Both blanched a bit, and a silent signal passed between the two. “We would be further in your debt, if you would help us to remain here rather than return to Court.”
Belle bustled in between the two couples and planted her fists on her hips. “Sil, Néne, this is much more complicated than you think. One cannot simply wish away a marital obligation, especially given who your parents are.”
The sisters rolled their eyes as if on cue. Sil said, “Belle, ple-ease. You promised you would help.”
I looked to Wes for guidance. This wasn’t the time to get drawn into negotiations. “Girls. And guys. I have a huge problem, and mine trumps yours. My sons are missing. I think their father’s taken them, and I need all of us,” I circled our rag tag gathering, “to focus on figuring out how we’re going to get them back.”
Némophilie raised an arm. “Calliope, Wes filled us in on the walk up from my…” She darted a glance at her sister. “Our new flower garden, and we have a proposal. You have no idea how the Fae Courts work. It sounds to Silène and me as though your ex-husband and his family are likely of the Unseelie Court. That would make them bloodthirsty and devious. On a good day.”
My jaw ached with how tight I was having to rein myself in. These Fae, charming as they were, had another thirty seconds before I lost my patience.
“Our parents will have to grant you a boon, a…a gift for our rescue,” she continued. “Not only have Silène and I had extensive training in the theatrical arts, we each have over two decades of parental manipulation under our wings.” She pirouetted and fluttered a dainty set of faux wings, attached to her body with criss-crossed straps. Her sister did the same. “Allow us to assist you.”
“Please,” Silène
