Page 40 of Monster Mishap

Edgar sighs and walks around the room. With the magic healing complete, he struts around like age is just a number. “A few lovely ladies I was dating ended up pregnant at the same time. I tried to explain I wasn’t the type of folk to be tied down and they were all okay with it. Believe it or not, I used to be a looker.”

Callum and I exchange a look.

“Anyway, our relationship changed when they all got pregnant and they were mad enough to put a bounty on my head. Hormones most likely.”

Or maybe they were tired of sharing.

“Your baby mamas tried to kill you?” Furthermore, Edgar has baby mamas? Things cannot get any stranger.

“It was years ago. Have you ever run from three pregnant folk at one time?”

I scrunch my eyebrows together. “Uh, no?”

“Trust me, it’s not fun. I found the first warlock I could pay off to help make me a spell that would take me anywhere I wished. I didn’t realize wanting to disappear meant I’d end up in another world, but I had every intention of coming back once they got over it. Then I got hurt during the fall. I decided to stay on Earth for a while and work with the doctors. I lost the amulet that he made to help me come back and then the humans decided I needed assistance.” Edgar gives me a pointed look. “I didn’t need assistance.”

“Debatable,” I say with a smile. “Remember the wasps?” He left a guest bedroom window open and wasps had built a nest on the bed. It was chaos and we both almost died.

“They were harmless.” Edgar’s wiry eyebrows jump.

I laugh but don’t try to argue. “Well, you’re home now and Callum fixed your injuries. Any chance you can tell us who made you that amulet?”

“I didn’t have a lot of time to ask questions.” Edgar glances at Callum. “You’re the smart one in the room, which warlock is powerful enough for that sort of spell?”

Pretty sure Edgar just called me dumb.

“To use that type of magic,” the warlock shakes his head, “it would take someone with access to great power.” His expression clouds and his lips press into a thin line.

“You’re super charged, right? Can you please help me get home?” I ask.

The warlock glances around the room, but his eyes are distant, contemplative. “I’ve never attempted that sort of spell… but I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge. Orcus is okay with this?”

“He said he wanted to find a way to send me home.”

Callum nods, like he already knew that but wanted me to confirm it. “All right. I can try to figure it out.”

“Thank you so much!” I move toward him to give him a hug, but he holds up his hand, halting me. “Right. Sorry. I was only excited.”

He places his hand on his chest. “You are forgiven.”

I scrunch my face. “Uh, thanks.” I turn back toward Edgar. “Does this mean you’re going to find your kids?”

“You think they’ll look like me?” he asks.

We’re both avoiding the obvious. Edgar’s ladies may not be alive. With the time difference between here and Earth, his children are probably close to his age and the chances of them forgiving him after being abandoned for the greater part of their life are low.

“Maybe? I think kids usually look like their parents.” My parents always said I looked nothing like them, but I have my mom’s green eyes and my dad’s nose. Maybe that’s how they justified how they treated me. They weren’t abusive by any means, and sometimes I feel silly for complaining, but growing up without ever knowing if your parents loved you brings its own set of problems. I rub my chest. “Did you think about them while you were gone?”

“Every day.”

“You never mentioned them…” I trail off. Edgar told me all sorts of stories about this world.

“I was ashamed, Daisy.” Edgar’s voice breaks, and he swipes at his damp cheeks. “I was an idiot, and I never meant to be gone this long. I was going to come back. I was going to be here.”

“Hopefully they’ll forgive you.” I pause before saying, “I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

Edgar nods and drops his gaze. “I know. But I have to try. Maybe I’ll get each of them their own barrel of ale and a new ax.”

“That sounds like a recipe for disaster,” I admit. If they’re as pissed at Edgar as I imagine, giving them weapons is a bad idea.

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