“I need you to do something for me,” I murmured, keeping my voice low enough that only he and maybe Keegan could hear. “Something seriously annoying and very important.”
His expression sobered instantly. Goblin humor and goblin gravity lived right next to each other.
“Name it,” he said.
“Keep Keegan safe,” I said. “If he tries to follow me out there, trip him. Bite him. Set his pants on fire. I don’t care. Just don’t let him walk into her reach if you can help it.”
Keegan made an offended sound behind me. “Maeve.”
“Do youknowyou?” I said without looking at him. “You’re going to try to hero out the door the second I open it.”
“Accurate,” Twobble said solemnly.
I squeezed his shoulder. “You’re the only one who can distract him enough that he doesn’t bulldoze over everyone. You and Stella, maybe. Tag-team it. Goblin tricks, vampire guilt. Whatever it takes.”
Twobble looked past me at Keegan, then at the window, then back at me.
For once, he didn’t crack a joke.
He nodded. A short, sharp, stoic little dip of his chin that did not match his sticky fingers and crumb-covered shirt at all.
“Okay,” he said. “Okay. I’ll glue him to the floor if I have to.”
“Preferably not literally in my shop,” Stella said. “But I co-sign the sentiment.”
Keegan’s hand closed around my elbow. “Maeve. Don’t do this.”
I straightened slowly, forcing myself to meet his gaze.
“I have to talk to her,” I said. “I can’t keep doing everything through intermediaries and guesswork. She came here, Keegan. ToStonewick.To my doorstep. If I don’t face her now, she’ll just find another way in that we don’t control.”
He held my eyes a long beat.
“Control is not what she’s offering,” he said.
“I know,” I said. “I’m not going out there to accept any offers.”
The Silver Wolf padded closer, massive head lowering until her golden eyes were level with mine.
“If she tries to take you,” she said. “She will meet my teeth before she reaches the trees.”
I swallowed. “Good to know.”
Nova stepped in, staff in hand.
“You step outside,” she said, “you stay inside the line of sight. No moving out of windows’ view. No stepping into any shadows that aren’t yours.”
“Got it,” I said.
“And you keep your mind thorned,” Ardetia added, voice cool. “She will not just speak. She willreach.Hedge magic was born to resist that. Use it.”
Thorns. Roots. Stone under my feet.
I could do that.
“Right,” I said. “Thorns, roots, no field trips into shadow. Don’t accept any candy.”
“That last part is not a joke,” Stella said.
