Page 66 of Dead Heat

The ward activated and I recognized the mild tickle in my armpit that seemed to accompany Gun’s arrival. A second sensation quickly followed. No doubt Camryn Sable, Gun’s cousin and fellow mage assassin.

“Can someone get the door?” I yelled.

Claude jumped from the windowsill and scrambled toward the foyer. I used the spare moment to rinse my plate and wipe the crumbs off the table.

Camryn entered the kitchen first, followed by Gunther’s lanky frame. Claude sat on the latter’s shoulder, boosted an extra half inch by the generous shoulder pad.

“Are you aware there’s a giant rock man wandering around your yard?” Gun asked.

“That’s my new friend, Max. You could’ve said hello. He speaks English.”

“Are you serious? I’m still getting used to this guy.” He inclined his head toward Claude.

“Don’t mind Gun,” Cam said. “He’s testy because his favorite tea is still out of stock at Five Beans.”

“It’s a conspiracy,” he ranted.

“It’s a supply chain issue,” Cam countered.

He pulled out a chair and sat. “I beg to differ. It’s giving Boston Tea Party vibes, don’t you think?”

I knew better than to inject myself into a family squabble. “I can make tea, but it’s probably not the kind you want.”

“No, thank you. I’ll suffer in silence.”

“Except it’s never in silence,” Cam muttered.

“What brings you here?” I asked.

“I told you we should’ve called first,” Cam said to Gun.

“Nonsense. We’re her besties. That gives us carte blanche to show up whenever for whatever. Any update on Alessandro?”

“No. I’ve been preoccupied.” I gave them the abbreviated version of the visit by Apep and the Erinyes, the meeting with the police, and Posy’s appearance at the library.

“Wait,” Gun said. “This all happened before we drove to Jersey City?”

“Not the meeting with the police. That was after.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about the other stuff?” Gun asked.

“We were on a motorcycle. Kind of hard to have a conversation.” I omitted the fact that we didn’t ride home together in case he didn’t want Cam to know about his dalliance with Del.

“I don’t like this,” Gun said. “I guarantee Corporation Barbie is going to show up on your doorstep this week. Mark my words.”

“Please,” I said, “no mention of marks.”

“It’ll take more than a basic ward to keep her at bay,”Camryn chimed in. “If she’s a siren, you’ll need stronger magic.”

“Do they sell it down at Hewitt’s or should I order it online?”

Gun responded with his fake laugh that sounded more hyena than human. Unlike Alessandro’s hyena girl, though, Gun had more notable characteristics.

“I’m talking about our magic.” Cam gestured to her cousin. “Let us booby-trap your yard with tarot cards. That way if she makes it past whatever ward you throw up, she’ll still have other obstacles to overcome. If nothing else, it’ll buy you time to escape or defend yourself.”

Gun cut a glance at her. “That means we’d need to be physically present. We can’t leave our cards scattered around the lawn willy-nilly.”

“True. I can’t camp outside indefinitely,” Camryn said.

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