Page 62 of Dead Heat

“Although,” Ashley began, “the freak of nature might just kidnap you from somewhere else and not even bother coming to your house, in which case the ward is useless anyway.”

Phaedra and I looked at her.

“What? It’s the truth,” Ashley said in protest.

“I’ll let you two get back to business,” I said. My continued presence at the farm wouldn’t get me an upgraded ward or a Sight spell any faster.

“I’ll text you as soon as I have something for you,” Phaedra said. “Good luck with everything.”

“Thanks,” I said, knowing it would take a lot more than luck to help me dodge all the bullets headed in my direction.

I was halfway to my truck when the earth moved. It wasn’t a tremor or a quake; the ground actuallymoved,rising and shapingthe way liquid metal rose to form the T-1000 inTerminator 2.

It was the Terrafirmanator.

Stones piled on top of rocks and clung to mud and grass until they formed a humanoid shape. Six-six. Bulky and broad.

Fear urged me to run. Instead, I stood motionless and waited.

Two black eyes opened to stare at me. I stared right back, unblinking. If this was a game, I was determined to win.

“Is this Fairhaven?” His slight lisp caught me off guard.

“You’re a long way from home, cherufe.”

The creature balked. “You recognize me?”

“Even without your liquid armor. How’s that for a good eye?” I understood his surprise. Typically, a cherufe wascomposed primarily of rock crystals and magma from the volcanoes in Chile, not the forest floor of Wild Acres.

He looked me up and down. “Are you the guardian?”

“Depends. Why do you want to know?”

“I was told this was a safe space.”

“A safe spacefromyou orforyou?”

His laughter rumbled through him, knocking a few stones to the ground in the process. “For me.”

Interesting. The cherufe were known to be evil. Then again, so was my demon prince. If Kane could change, then maybe this cherufe could too.

“Just to be clear, you’ve come to Fairhaven to … seek asylum?”

“Yes.”

I stared again. This was new. “What’s your name?”

“Maximiliano. Friends call me Max.”

“Nice to meet you, Max. I’m Lorelei. Do you mind if I ask what or who you’re running from?”

“Where’s the office? We can talk over all that paperwork I’m sure I need to complete.”

Paperwork? The creature didn’t even have opposable thumbs. “Um. Give me a minute, would you?” I stepped behind a tree to call West.

“Davies speaking.”

“Hi, it’s Lorelei. Listen, I have a situation and could use your help.” I told him about the cherufe.

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