Page 121 of Dead End

“They’ll need to be inflated,” Gun said, “but we thought they’d make worthy additions to your moat. Your swan lookslonely out there.”

I held up a purple dragon and a unicorn with a rainbow mane. I eyed them both. “If you want to float in the moat with me, all you need to do is ask.”

“It’s already August and you still haven’t invited us,” Camryn said in a high-pitched whine. “The dragon is big enough for two riders. Just saying.”

I smiled. “Leo is always welcome at the Castle.”

“Good, because his day off is tomorrow and the heat index is supposed to hit ninety-seven.”

“Kane is moving in the rest of his things today, so we should be good to host lunch tomorrow.”

Gunther aimed his fingers like a gun. “I claim the unicorn. The demon can get his own ride.”

I felt a tug on my shoelace and looked down to see Claude. The revenant had taken the liberty of finding the air pump.

Cam tapped my arm. “You’ll never guess who asked me out now that I’m with Leo.”

“Vaughn.”

“Yep, and when I told him I was seeing someone, he had the audacity to say, ‘I know,’ which is clearly the only reason he decided to crawl out of his slimy hole.”

“Some guys will never change,” Gun said, with the sad shake of his head.

Camryn bumped his hip with hers. “Not you.” She looked at me. “As you know, I’ve decided on a career change, and before you get all, I can’t believe she’s changing for a man, let me stop you right there. I’m still going to be a mage and use my magic, but I’ve decided to get my license as a private investigator.”

Gun snaked his arm along his cousin’s shoulders and squeezed. “We’re doing it together. I’m leaving the guild, too, so we can form the La Fortuna Detective Agency.”

“Leo even found us office space near the police department,” Cam said, her smile so wide that my cheeks hurt just looking at them.

Their announcement floored me. “That’s great. I’m so happy for you.”

“And now we can kill people in Fairhaven.” Gun snorted. “Just kidding. We decided to put our murdering days behind us and take a page out of your book.”

“What book is that?” I asked.

“Try to live a normal life. Have a solid, heathy relationship if I’m lucky enough to find one,” Gun said. “The midnight meetings have lost their luster. I’m entering my picnics and porch swings era.”

“He even bought an air fryer,” Camryn said. “If that isn’t a sign of domesticity, I don’t know what is.”

“It’s restaurant-grade. Very sleek,” Gun added.

“I look forward to sampling the results,” I told him.

“Out of the way. Heavy box coming through.” Gun and Cam jumped apart as Josie pushed her way through the foyer carrying a large box.

“I apologize on Josephine’s behalf,” Kane said, trailing behind with another box. “She’s grumpy about the move.”

“Some people don’t like change,” I said with a shrug. I whirled around as Kane continued up the stairs. “Don’t move my weapons trunk! I like it exactly where it is.”

Gun snickered. “You were saying?” He looped his arm through Camryn’s. “We’ll leave you two lovebirds to enjoy your romantic dinner with Josie. We’ll see you tomorrow. I expect those fully inflated by tomorrow,” he told the revenant.

Claude stuck up a gnarled finger.

Gunther’s brow creased. “Is that supposed to be a vulgar gesture? I can’t tell.”

Josie blew past us. “The more hands involved, the soonerI leave.”

I looked at the mages. “Surely one of you has a tarot card that can lift heavy objects.”

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