Page 39 of Home to the Hollow

“It’s never lasted for more than a couple of days, but that was a long time ago. Anyone else have more up-to-date information?”

“Couple of hours,” Wolfgang offers.

“Aye. Never more than a few hours,” the friend agrees. “Maybe we should take those bloody sofas and let her lie down. Seems like you gents could use a chat.”

Arching my brow at her, I nod. “Agreed. I’ll carry her over if you three will oversee the menagerie.”

Wolfgang glares at me, crossing his arms over his chest. “Who died and made you the sugarplum whisperer, Edgar Boone? Last I heard, you were aghost.”

As the doctor digs his heels in, I blink, surprised. I wouldn’t say that I’m the most powerful guy in town, but I’m damned near the top of the food chain. I’d think his outburst was a fluke, but the normally tranquil birdman joins him, and the Irish car bomb gives me a smirk. Whatever power Tilly has, one thing she has in spades is the power to pass on her big dick energy to those around her.

“Fine, fine. You two can settle her in,anddeal with her animals. I’ll get Henry to rustle us up food and drinks. Benjy will get Amelia to throw a net over where we’re sitting so we can have a private conversation. Good enough?”

The redhead squints at me as she tilts her head. “Diatírisi, prostasía, yperáspisi… o kýklos den teleiónei?1.”

Son of a hog wrangling shine swiller. I should’ve known. Of course, she has one. They’re always watching, but not this closely. My eyes narrow as I reply, “I epivíosi enós eínai aioniótita gia ólous?2, sugar.”

“If we’re all done showing our cards before we find a table, may I suggest we retire to a less public space? Seems like there’s going to be a lot of dick swinging, and y’all remember how ‘Nelia hates public spectacles. Nothing gets by that woman,” Presley counters, picking up my drugar like she weighs next to nothing.

Nodding, I whistle for Kali and Hecate, noting the looks they give the prone woman slung over the doc’s shoulder. Their reaction to her was unusual and suspicious at worst. Paired with her black out act, I have ideas, but this squad of misfits Tilly has gathered might help me put some pieces together.

If I can get them to shut the fuck up and do what I tell them.

* * *

“Then we agree?None of us have a clue what she is, and no one’scheiristís?3knows?”

“I don’t even think Nelia knows,” Wolfgang murmurs. “If they knew, they wouldn’t have assigned a personal Guardian to keep tabs.”

Saoirse—that’s her name—nods. “I’ve been mates with Peanut since they assigned me. She consulted in Europe and Asia for yonks before she got a wild hair. Moved home and started training for the peelers before I could bat a lash. Wish I knew what shitehawk let that go on for yonks without stalling the ball before it hurt her.”

Presley snickers. “I don’t envy the person in Richmond if you ever find out who it was, O’Malley.”

“The biggest problem is that we all know, and she doesn’t,” Wolfgang murmurs. “Whatever happened when she was young that stopped her awakening shadows her memories and perception, according to Saoirse. When Sugarplum finds out we’ve all lied to her, she’ll be furious.”

“Aye,” Saoirse nods. “I don’t have a baldy notion of when we’ll get clearance to spill the beans, but she’ll eat the heads off us.”

Looking at the raven-haired woman still out cold on the couch, I frown. I like her fire, to be sure, but I don’t want to be her enemy. No one does, and not one of us has the pull to fix this problem. She’s come back to the beast's belly, and the people she’s connected with are bound by more than honor to keep her in the dark.

“This fucking sucks,” I mutter, reaching for my glass and tossing it back. “And it’s dangerous. Not having any information puts the entire town at risk of exposure. Why did they let her return?”

The tinkling laugh of the Irish lass echoes off the walls. “The only way to stop this was to act the maggot with Fate,moiraíos sýntrofos?4. Sounds like fair play to you?”

Wolfgang shakes his head. “Absolutely not. No one should live their life tied up like breed stock. Certainly not sugarplum—there’s a well of passion screaming to be let loose.”

A grin twists my lips, and I raise my glass to his, clinking them together. “Indeed. What are our next steps, then? We can’t report this conversation, and until the fog lifts, we can’t let anyone trigger events that could get her recalled.”

“Look at you, the disappearin’ man thinkin’ he can order us all around,” Saoirse snorts. “I’ll work on getting meself reassigned. The doctors over there will help manage my girl and the companions. Since you’re an eejit, you get to figure out how to get her to forgive your thick arse.”

The other two snicker, and one cat chimes in with a “Mow!” followed by a honk from that enormous fucking bird.

Just fucking great. Now I’m being taunted by her entourage and her animals.

I thought this week couldn’t get any worse.

“Fine. We agree. Now,” I look at the bespectacled doctor with a smirk. “Do whatever it is you do and wake the lady up. It’s time you show whatyou’vebeen hiding, good Doctor.”

Presley glares at me and nods. “As you wish, Your Honor.”

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