Page 28 of Shadow Dreaming

“Well, there isn’t. Anyway, the cat carriers can be used to transport them. They were the quickest and easiest carriers to get. My wife made me promise to wash them out before I bring them home.” Orik and his family loved Maine Coons, too, and had six of them. One for each child, I thought.

“Duran enchanted them so that nothing inside can use magic,” he continued. “What do you think?”

“It’s a better plan than I had. Except I learned one thing from Ami. The coxigans absolutely love sugary drinks, and get drunk off too much sugar. Let’s grab some concentrated grape juice—we can dilute it so it’s syrupy sweet. We’ll also want some plastic storage containers to set out the juice.” I turned to Sophia. “Do we have any in the office, or will we need to stop and buy some?”

“Let me check,” she said, starting to open cupboards.

“Also, Ami will help us with one of the Fae portals. She said we can send the coxigans through it. I want to find her something special as a thank-you, so make a note, Sophia. She’s a selkie,” I added. “In case anybody knows what selkies tend to like?”

“Why don’t you ask her?” Dante asked.

“Because, I want to surprise her. And I don’t know her well enough yet to know what she loves, beyond doing hair and nails.” I shrugged. “Anyway, I suppose we should get going.”

Sophia returned. “I don’t see that we have any plastic containers that are suitable. We’ll have to stop and buy some.”

“We need to buy concentrated grape juice, while we’re at it,” I said. “Okay, Sophia and Carson, you stay here and continue to see if you can find anything out about Terrance or…what’s her name? The woman from Brim Fire. Dante, you can ride with me. Duran, can you ride with Orik?”

“Not a problem,” he said. “As long as you let me have two minutes alone with whoever it is kidnapped Penelope.”

I snorted. “We’ll get them, don’t worry. I’m not leaving Penn to the lions.”

As we headed out, we agreed to stop at the nearest market—Smithson’s Grocer’s—to buy the juice and the containers.

Merry was waiting for us, an anxious look on her face. She escorted us in, where we saw a golden retriever. The dog was trembling. “Thank you so much for coming early. Those damned creatures tried to attack my dog. I managed to get both of us inside, but they were pelting us with stones. And then the red one tried to bite Moophy—my dog.”

Thinking about the acidic bites of the red coxigans, I was relieved when Merry verified that the creature hadn’t managed to finish the attack. But it was a matter of time, if we didn’t clear them out.

“You and Moophy stay inside while we get to work.”

Merry paused. “If you need help?—”

“No, although we could use a pitcher, if you have one, and some water.” I pointed toward the kitchen.

“Of course,” Merry said, sounding a little confused. But she led us to the kitchen, which overlooked the backyard. “Here, will this work?” She brought out an acrylic pitcher with a handle on it. It held about a quart of liquid.

“That should be fine. Is the back door unlocked?”

“Yes, you can go right out that way if you like.” She knelt down to pet Moophy, who was following close behind her. “I’m so sorry, baby. We’ll take care of those things.”

“Why don’t you go in the living room and relax while we work?” I said.

Merry nodded. “All right.”

As she headed through the door, Dante’s eyes lingered on her.

“No fraternizing with clients, remember?” I said, keeping my voice low.

He glanced at me. “I know, I know. All right, what first?”

“We make up a super thick drink with the grape juice concentrate, then take it out back and pour it into these containers and hope it helps us do our job,” I said.

Orik stood ready, should any of the coxigans try to sneak in when we opened the door. Dante, Duran, and I hurried outside. Duran carried the juice and I carried the containers. Orik and Dante brought the rest of the equipment, including the cat carriers. Before the coxigans could charge, Orik set the carriers on the patio table, leaving them open. I poured grape juice in the containers and set them inside, then filled two more containers and set them on the patio. Orik handed me a tennis racket. He was carrying one, too.

“All right, let’s try to round them up,” I said, feeling ridiculous. “Though I’m not wearing white!”

At that moment, the red coxigan flew off of the branch it was sitting on and dive-bombed me, spewing a thin line of fire as it passed. I tried to duck, but a few of the narrow flames strafed my arm and my jacket started to smell. I cursed, making sure that the flames hadn’t taken hold, then turned back to see the entire lot of them—and this time it looked like more than a dozen—were descending on us.

Don’t kill them, don’t kill them, I kept thinking as I tried to swat them away.

---