“W-what? Is that its name?” If so, I wondered who this scuttlebutt had pissed off to get that kind of a moniker.
“It is. Thankfully, she came already named. I know how Aurelia fussed over naming Little Fang.”
Yeah, thankfully. “Okay. Fuzzy Britches.” Gaia, I felt like an idiot saying the name out loud. “What’s her temperament like?”
“Oh! Actually, she seems very calm and docile. Ray brought two from Fairy. The feistier of the two rejected Aurelia. It was very disheartening, but then Fuzzy Britches went right to her. It was a sight to see.”
I could only imagine.
“Anyway, like I said, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I imagine Aurelia will bring her around soon. She’s very proud.” The way Peaches spoke, I didn’t think Aurelia was the only one sporting that emotion.
My phone beeped with an incoming call from Pops. I’d called him before calling Momma and I’d gotten his voicemail. Given current circumstances, Pops rarely allowed my calls to go unanswered. The way things were going, the phone and I were going to be connected for the foreseeable future.
“I hate to break this off, but Pops is calling.”
“Oh, that’s fine. Take care, Erasmus. Thank you for being so understanding with Aurelia. And tell Phlox and Leon we said hi.”
Peaches ended the call, and I immediately pressed the accept button.
“Hey, Pops,” I answered. “Thanks for returning my call.”
“Is everything all right?” Pops got straight to the point.
“As all right as they’ve been.” I couldn’t lie and claim things were great. I could omit certain recently learned truths regarding all-powerful djinn and their dangerouspets. I could pull that baggage out later. For now, I kept those thoughts carefully locked away. Before Pops could ask something else, I said, “I’ve got a question for you regarding wardings and charms.”
“What can I answer?”
I rattled off Franklin’s questions and thoughts. Pops silently listened. “Do you think he could be right?” I wasn’t sure if I wanted that to be the case or not. On the one hand, it would be a relief knowing Tenzen couldn’t get past Pops’s wards and that we were safe within the house. On the other hand, it meant the reason for the change was because he truly did mean Franklin harm.
Pops silently contemplated the question before finally answering. “I believe it is plausible. You are correct in yourassessment regarding different charms and the level of magic used to create them. Creating wards isn’t the same as creating charms.”
“But the wards placed around Leander’s home are charm-based,” I argued.
“True, but even those are different than the typical charms. It could be argued that they shouldn’t be called charms at all. It is simply easier to say and not clarify the distinction. You are also correct in that they will not be as strong as the wards I personally set surrounding you and your momma’s homes.”
“Mrs. Hart too.”
Pops growled. “Yes. Your neighbor and her large rat are also protected.”
I chuckled. Pops and Miss Pattycakes did not get along well. “Thank you for doing that. It makes me feel better.”
“Yes… Well, it isn’t a bad idea, having your neighbor’s home warded as well. This creates a larger area of protection surrounding you.”
Pops wouldn’t admit that he’d done something just to be nice. I was okay with that. I knew in my heart, and that was enough.
Fiddling with a loose thread on my shirt, my voice was quieter when I said, “You know what that means, right?”
Momentary silence was my answer. “I do.”
I swallowed hard. “If Franklin’s theory is right, then Tenzen means to harm him. I…I don’t know that I’d survive that, Pops.” Tears didn’t just threaten; they spilled from my eyes, sliding down my cheeks and dripping on my hands. “I can’t lose him. I just can’t.”
Pops sounded like a lion shifter when he growled, “You are not going to lose that human. I have become too accustomed to him to allow that to happen.” Pops huffed. “We will keep him safe, just as we will you.”
I know I sounded like a child, but I couldn’t help but ask, “How?” I was rarely in a situation I couldn’t see my way out of. Pops’s silence was answer enough. “All this waiting is taking a toll. I’m tired, Pops.”
“I know. That’s most likely part of his plan. Huxley wants to weaken you.”
“But why?” It always came down to that singular word.Why?
