Page 168 of Home to the Hollow

“My mother’s kind usually don’t,” the vet whispers. “But I’m not asking her because we know she won’t tell me who he was or how anything happened.”

I tilt my head, studying the submissive Fae in a new light. “Your mother is a raging bitch who doesn’t give a feck about you and won’t ID your da?”

He nods, shrugging as if it doesn’t bother him—which it obviously does. “Yeah. She likes to dangle it to get what she wants, but she’s never given me even the slightest hint that would help me figure it out beyond what I already figured out on my own.”

Zeus strike me down. Am I feelingkinshipwith the eejit? How very odd.

“Same. My mother has no interest in me at all—her sister is the only relative on that side who gives me the time of day and even then, my Auntie is… a challenge on the best of days,” I reply. “But I turned out just fine, Sparkles, and I didn’t even have an adoptive family like you.”

“Aurelia did her best, that’s true,” he murmurs. “Until her break, she was a wonderful mom.”

Break? Fuck, I’m going to have to do actual research into the members of this motley crew, so I know what I’m dealing with. I’ve avoided doing the most tedious part of my placement here for years by simply dipping into the minds of the people I deal with and using their thoughts to help me manipulate anything I need. Something about doing it to the people I’ll have to live with has me feeling dirty now, and as if that wasn’t a big enough shock, I find I also want to know about them for no other reason than to fit in.

I fuckinghateresearch. What iswrongwith me?

“I grew up in boarding schools until my mentorship. Our kind considers all children part of the clutch, so I’m not sure which healers are my parents. It’s a sort of… collective thing.” Presley rubs his neck and shrugs self-consciously. “I was happy, though. Lots of random visitors and gifts and such on holidays… under the cloak of secrecy because of poachers, but I didn’t want for attention.”

I snort. “Aren’t my Tíogair’s mates a bunch of misfits, then? We all know the biggest assholes in the state adopted Boone, and Jolene’s parents seem like they were indifferent to her. I wonder what other orphans she’s going to gather before she’s done.”

“Do you really think she has more mates, Doyle?” Wolfie looks at me, his expression curious. “I mean, four is a lot for a hybrid as it is. Maybe not for a wolf or some of the cat shifters, but…”

The residents of the Hollow are so fucking sheltered.

“Not for dragons or a few rarer species, it’s not. You’re right, though, cats and dogs can have packs of mates. We only know she has a hellhound in her—or something compatible with it, but the temperature spike seems to confirm it. The rest of her makeup is a mystery, so yes, I believe she’s got some unclaimed baggage out there. MacAuley seems likely given his willingness to help at the trial; after all, he tends to stay out ofeverything.”

Hamilton grins. “That will be an interesting addition. I have no idea what his preferences are because he isolates himself so much. Like you, I only know he’s a seer, but not what his species is. Plus, he’s quiet as hell, so maybe he’ll balance out you and Boone.”

Shooting him a glare, I whistle for the animals. They’ve been roaming the lot and surrounding area as if watching for intruders, and it’s time we get home before our girl thinks we all abandoned her. “Watch your mouth, Doc. I’m well aware ofyourproclivities and I’ll happily join the judge in tying the lot of you down until you learn some respect.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Haggerty.”

He winks saucily and I roll my eyes. Wolfie bites his lower lip in a way that I’ll have to admit is a wee bit enticing. No wonder Boone’s falling ass over end for this shiny little praise slut—everything damned thing he does seems geared to entice and he doesn’t evenintendit to be.

“You, too, Sparkles. Behave or I’ll have to think offarmore creative punishments than the other two. I’ve hadmilleniato come up with my repertoire.”

They look at me in shock and I realize I just ratted myself out. Face palming, I mutter under my breath as the dogs and cats finally return. I’m not giving them any more information than I already have until I know their secrets. I’ll have to be more cautious and less distracted by possible fun and games. “Not a word, either of you. I know I look thirty-something and I don’t need people realizing what I truly am. I’ll eventually tell you all, so keep your yaps shut for now.”

Eyes sparkling, the vet gives me the most adorably evil grin I’ve seen on his face yet. “That can be arranged—ifyou help the three of us with a project we want to get done at the house.”

Uh-oh. What have I stepped in now?

“Don’t get your boxers in a bunch, Doyle. We want to start adding on to Magpie’s house so we all have our space and what we need to move in. It’s going to freak her the hell out because of whatever damage she won’t tell us about, we need your help to keep her calm when she finds out.” Presley shrugs. “Then we can repurpose or ditch our old places and offices, which will help Nelia get more businesses on the strip.”

I eye them suspiciously. Never in my thousands of years have I actually lived with anyone other than my mother’s relatives, and even then, I was always glad to be assigned somewhere to get away from their bullshit. I certainly haven’t cohabitated with humans or supes. They don’t even know about Odie, much less what kind of chaos being around me 24/7 will bring into their lives.

Let’s just say something in my father’s DNA aches for disorder, and I have to feed it frequently.

“Quit thinking so hard, Haggerty,” Wolfie murmurs. “We all have our quirks and we’ll learn to exist without killing each other or the animals. Which, by the way, I have a theory about: they tie to her mates somehow, and we’re going to see more of them appear if she draws what you think she will.”

Gaping at him, my mind rushes to put those pieces together as the realization that he might be correct floods my system. The cats are his—Fae are generally sneaky, unpredictable, aloof, and refuse to hide their emotions. Euryale is Hamilton’s because she’s a giant fucking bird. Boone came with his own spirit animals—literally—and the ruddy snake is me. Not my mother’s side, for certain, but the attributes of dear old dad fall easily into a reptilian guise.

Son of a thieving hind hunter.

“Thatis the most erudite piece of information we’ve managed to glean all day, and I can work with it. By Hephestus’ fiery beard,nowwe’re getting somewhere!”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

I roll my eyes at Presley and sigh as I open my car door. “The companions are tied to her mates, and it might help us identify who’s next, butalsowhat if her mates and the companions are tied toherlineage? Compatible species or inherited species, doesn’t matter which. We can prepare for what piece may emerge next, you dolt. Right now, the ratio is four to sodding one!”

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