Chance hurried over to do as requested, and Gran smiled approvingly. When he came back, she smiled kindly but with anauthority that belied her normal gentle grandmotherly routine. “Have a seat, boys.”
We dropped into the closest two chairs like our legs had been swiped out from under us. I reached over and gripped Chance’s hand. “What just happened?” I whispered.
“And why did it sound like we haven’t seen anything yet?” Chance asked.
Gran looked to Elyse, who flipped an intricately designed black and white hand fan with splotches of purple open. Where had she been keeping that? “Because you haven’t,” she said smartly. “I was so happy with both of your progress until recently. You’ve already gotten lax, and we’ve barely begun.”
Gran took a seat next to me and patted my hand. “It’s true, dear.”
“What?” I felt a little offended. I’d been crushing this dream-tether thing, thank you very much. “I’ve been meeting with King in the Dream-veil. I’ve got a psychopomp as a familiar.”
“Yes, let’s talk about your familiar.” Duchess, Gran’s psychopomp princess of a cat, appeared in her lap. She stroked a hand through her thick hair.
“How do you do that?” I asked, vaguely aware of Cassi scooting a sleepy-looking Carli up to the table. “Patchy only appears when I’m asleep.”
“Shocker,” Gran said dryly.
Ew. Why was she being so mean to me? Chance squeezed my hand. “What does that mean, High Priestess?” His tone sounded…formal. Like he had when he’d rid his property of different violent, angry spirits. Like, this was warrior-Chance.
“It means that he’s not taking anything seriously enough. We deal with souls. All of us. And it’s important work,” Elyse said, sounding very much like the mother she was.
“The most important,” Carli mumbled weakly, just loud enough for us to hear her from where she cradled her head in her arms on the table.
Gran dipped her head in acknowledgement of Carli’s words. “Yes. And now you getting off track is impeding Chance’s continued growth, as well.”
“What?” I squawked.
Like I hadn’t said anything, Gran glared at me. “And you’re going to end up getting yourself or my grandson killed.”
“What?” Elyse, Chance, and I all burst out.
Cassi returned from behind the counter balancing a tray of mugs, steam wisping out of the top. “It’s true. I’ve seen it in the leaves.”
“You read tea leaves?” Chance asked, like the most important thing that had happened here wasn’t the fact that Carli apparently channeled a spirit or a goddess or some other entity, that Gran hadn’t stated that I was somehow affecting my best friend, or could potentially harm King, or that both of these women who I loved so much—considered the true mother and grandmotherly figures I never had—were both pissed at me.
“I do,” Cassi replied. “I also often interpret the more cryptic messages when the gods and goddesses use Carli’s voice as their mouthpiece.”
“Gods and goddesses,” Chance murmured, like he was trying it on for size.
“I’m not going to lie. I’m really confused, and I’m starting to get a little freaked out. Will someone please explain this better?” I asked.
Gran cleared her throat, but before she could speak, I continued, “I mean, it’s not like you’ve been very forthcoming with me or King. Not to be disrespectful.”
Her face softened a little, thank fuck. I was worried I’d gone a step too far, and I really hated anyone being upset with me. “Ithought it best if you learned on your own.” She glanced to her side and nodded. “I know, my love.”
“Is Pops here?” I asked. Although, as far as I knew, he was always with her. Unfortunately, I could only see him on Chance’s property or in the home he shared with Gran.
Elyse’s and Gran’s faces both turned toward Chance, both once again somber, and I had a sudden revelation. This wasn’t them being mad or angry, this was the face of their gifts. I wasn’t meeting for drinks with Gran, but with the High Priestess. And Elyse the Clairvoyant.
Chance’s spine stiffened as he sat taller.
“What?”
“It would be nice if everyone could see Lee. Not just for our sakes, but for his,” Elyse said. “How would you like to be unseen in a conversation happening in front of you where you could contribute valuable information?”
My thoughts slid to Harry, Buck, and Stevie for an instant. I knew they didn’t expect—nor want—the B&B guests to know of their true existence. They weren’t actors on a stage, ready to perform at people’s whims, but how was it for them with Ego living in the house? Were we doing them an injustice by hiding them from Ego when he’d be living there off and on until his mini-castle was completed?
My attention was drawn back to Chance by his silence. The air was thick with tension as he stared at his mother. His head cocked to the side, and he withdrew his hand from my grip. He gaze went down to where he wiggled his fingers.
