Page 60 of The Wolfing Hour
Gladys went home, Ronan headed into the house to dress for work, and I shuffled into the garden room to apologize to Ida and the guys.
“What I did today wasn’t right,” I began.
“Yeah, we know,” Ida said. “You already apologized. Stop going on about it.”
Fennel jumped on the chaise, tail making Zorro swishes, and I sat beside him and stroked my hand down his back. “I went to see Sexton.”
Cecil perched on the edge of his workstation and swung his tiny legs.
Ida sat on the stool by my worktable. “Why?”
“Because I was hoping he could tell me how to get rid of my demon side. Long story short—it didn’t work.”
“Did he say anything helpful?”
You must find a way to communicate with her, Betty.
“Nope.” It was a lie, and I didn’t lie to Ida, Fennel, or Cecil. “Well, kind of. What I mean is he said some things he thought were helpful.”
“But you weren’t ready to hear them?” she asked.
“I feel so lost. Ida, I fight demons, I don’t become one. That’s not who I am.”
“No,” she said, “it’s not.”
“And now this thing with Bronwyn has me in knots.” I gave her and the boys an overview of the afternoon’s events. “The thing is, if they weren’t afterme, I’d probably be fine with an organization that casts demons into Hades. But I don’t belong there. I’m not evil.”
“Of course you aren’t,” Ida said.
“It all feels like so damn much, especially with this pack bullshit. I’m worried about Ronan, I’m worried about all of you, and I’m worried I might turn into a gray-skinned, emotionless psychopath. Oh, and stupid Mason is missing. Holy shit. Could things get any worse?”
All four of us winced at the same time.
“Well, that was a dumb thing to put into the universe,” I said.
“Unwise, at least.” Ida nodded to herself. “The situation with Bronwyn must’ve hurt—her lying to you, I mean. I know you liked her.”
“Still do.” I scratched Fennel between the ears. “She had her reasons for keeping her secrets. Spelled reasons, among others. But when it came down to it, she protected me. Mason did, too.” I scowled. “Because of her.”
“Our world is a complicated one,” she said.
“What I wouldn’t give for a little simplicity,” I muttered.
“I hear you on that.”
Ronan came out of the house and called for me, and I kissed Fennel on the top of his head, hugged Ida, and nuzzled noses with Cecil. “I won’t turn off my phone again, I promise.”
“Keep your GPS on, too. I’m tracking you with my app.”
“I will. Anything’s better than Cecil’s bladder-emptying tracker spell.” I wagged a finger at him. “No more casting on me when I’m not paying attention, sir.”
He gave me a non-committal shrug. It was useless to argue. Cecil was gonna Cecil.
“Better scoot. That wolf isn’t going to wait forever.” Ida grinned. “Neither are those tacos.”
“Right.” I gave the room one last visual sweep. “Where’s Autry?”
“My place,” Ida said. “Meredith’s really taken to the little thing. Autry’s purring seems to calm her down. For her part, the kitten enjoys batting around Meredith’s leaf.”
