Page 41 of The Wolfing Hour
“Ida, Gladys almost died yesterday. We’re neck deep in danger now.”
“I know. I was there.” The tremor in her voice had me reaching out for her hand this time.
“Anyway, I wasn’t only talking about what’s happening with the wolves. I was talking about what’s happening with you.” She looked at me, sorrow in her eyes. “Tell me you’re communicating with Sexton about your demon side.”
“I am.”
“And what has he told you?”
“That my elemental magic is colliding with my demon magic.” I shrugged. “Hey, interesting aside—hehatesBloody Mary. Did you know that?”
“Everyone hates Bloody Mary. She hurts kids, and that’s the sort of evil even some demonic beings shun.” Ida waved the subject away. “What’d he say about your demon magic?”
I filled her in, ending with: “So, there’s a chance I might go batshit if I don’t die first. Isn’t that a lovely gift from the father I never met?”
“And the grandfather you have.” She picked up her mug then set it down without taking a drink. “Huh. A Hades guardian.” She leaned back in her chair. “I’ve been out of the game too long. Thirty years ago, I’d have known about your dad. Things like that were part of my job.”
“It’s a little more embarrassing that he’s my father andIdidn’t know. I mean, I don’t even know what he looks like.”
“Your mother never showed you a picture?”
“She said she didn’t have one.”
RM’s “everythingoes” slid into “forever rain.” Ida sang the English parts. She appeared to be deep in thought.
“You could ask Sexton if he has one.”
“No,” I said.
“Understood,” she replied. She was fine with him helping me, but she’d never fully trust the cemetery demon.
I took our empty mugs and her plate into the kitchen. By the time I returned to the table, she was chair dancing to Megan Thee Stallion and RM’s “Neva Play.”
“I’m heading home,” I said. “Dishwasher is loaded.”
“You didn’t have to do that, but thanks.”
I hugged her. “Ronan and Gladys were out all night, but they should be back soon. I want to be home when they return.”
“Gladys looked pretty good when I left. She’s a real cute wolf.”
Gladys was a seven-foot-long Mexican gray wolf with teeth that could chew through a car tire.Cutewasn’t the first word that popped into my head when I thought about her in that form.
“Stay in the park for now,” I said on my way out. “Just until I know what Floyd’s planning.”
“Not a chance.”
“Ida.”
“No. They came formyfriend.” She jabbed at her chest with her index finger. “I’m not some frightened, defenseless old lady. I am anecromancer.” Her voice grew louder, lower, and markedly scarier. “I will not cower. Besides, you aren’t responsible for keeping me safe, so you can get that out of your head right now.”
“All right.” It wasn’t, but arguing with Ida when she was in this kind of mood was an exercise in futility. Best to keep her close. “Want to come with me to see Beau later this morning?”
“Better take the boys instead. I’ve got some calls to make. Hang on a sec.” She rose from the table and went into her bedroom, reappearing a second later with a sleepy Meredith. “Can you drop her off in the garden room?”
The Mictlan mandrake unfurled her leaves and gave Ida a look of ultimate love. If the cursed plant’s tiny eyes could’ve formed into puffy pink hearts, I’m certain they would have.
“On second thought,” Ida said, “take her with you. For protection.” Meredith looked like an angry Medjool date and had a scream that could peel a person’s ears off their head. All Mictlan mandrakes did.
