Page 70 of Wicching Hour

I stood up. “Sorry! I said I’d get you tea and them Mr. Grumpy-pants made me forget.” I’d started to go in when a tennis ball flew across the deck and bounced off the side of the gallery. “Wilbur!” I ducked in my back door, grabbed the orange flippy thing, and used it to pick up the soggy ball.

I went to the railing and scanned the water for his head. “Thanks for your help last night.”

“What is she doing?” Jake asked.

Declan ignored him and came to stand at the railing beside me. “Here. Give me that. I’ll send it farther.”

Tyler stood to look over the railing and watch whatever was going on.

“Ooh, good idea. Did you hear that, Wilbur? Do you think you can catch one of Declan’s throws? Hah. We’re winning this round.” I elbowed Declan. “Do it.”

He did and sent it farther than it’s ever gone before. With a bark of joy, Wilbur shot out from under the deck and torpedoed through the water after it.

Tyler started laughing. “That was a seal! You have a pet seal?”

Jake stood to see what had tickled Tyler.

“He’s not my pet. He’s my friend.” I lowered my voice. “And a selkie.”

“Her father’s very powerful water fae,” Declan said, and I knew that meant he trusted these two, even if Jake didn’t trust us. “He has some of his guards keeping an eye on her.”

“Hey, Tyler,” I said, “watch this. Good morning, Cecil! How are Poppy and the babies today?” Tentacles swirled and tapped the surface of the water.

Tyler looked stunned. “Is that an octopus?”

Jake’s hand went to Tyler’s back. He looked as stunned as his partner, though in a grumpier way.

“They’re giant Pacific octopuses who are expecting,” I told them. “The eggs will take about six months to hatch. I’m looking forward to being an octopus auntie.”

“Oh. Sorry to interrupt.” Detective Hernández stood on the edge of the deck with an evidence bag in her hand, looking uncomfortable. “I didn’t realize you had company.”

I waved her closer. “These are friends of Declan’s. This is Tyler and Jake.” I gestured to each in turn. “Gentlemen, this is Detective Hernández. Sometimes I consult on police cases. Right now, I’m helping with a serial killer.” Talking to Hernandez, I said, “And these two are considering being my bodyguards until my cousin is caught, so I guess it makes sense for them to see some of what I do.” I turned back to the men. “Detective Hernández is human but aware of us. She works with a black bear detective sometimes.”

“Speaking of which,” Hernández said, “he told me about the poisoner and the stalker.” She glanced at the big men. “I can understand the impulse to have bodyguards, but you’re more deadly than they are.”

Tyler turned to reassess me. Jake glowered.

“I don’t have eyes in the back of my head and when I’m working, I lose track of what’s going on around me,” I said. “So, what’s in the bag?”

She held it up for me to see. “It may be nothing, but we found it in that group of trees where you said he was waiting and watching her.”

“A folded-up gum wrapper?” Declan asked.

She nodded.

“Interesting,” I said. “I’d invite you in, but there’s more seating out here.” I sat back down, my legs crisscrossed on the bench seat. I held out a hand for the bag.

“You need a reset,” Declan said.

I’d forgotten the kiss he’d given me earlier. Thank goodness one of us was paying attention. I went to the railing, slipped off my gloves, and then stopped, turning to Declan. “Give me a kiss first,” I whispered.

Grinning, he stood and did so.

“You make an excellent assistant,” I told him.

His eyes darkened. “I’ve been practicing.”

I held my hands over the railing, caught a missile of water, and returned to factory settings, feeling that sizzle in my blood again.

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