“Did something else happen?” I braced myself for more bad news as I hurried toward them. “Why isn’t Ava in school?”
“My son’s chemistry teacher is giving them drugs and teaching them blood magic. I’m not sending either of my children back to school until this is over.” Dark smudges under Blake’s eyes betrayed his exhaustion. “Also, Ava and I had the talk last night.”
“I see.” As relieved as I was to hear that, it clearly hadn’t been a happy conversation, and the last thing we needed now was another family feud.
Before I could say more, Ava demanded, “Have you found Sage yet, Grandma? What’s going to happen to him?”
“We have. That’s one of the things I was coming to tell you.” I stepped inside and offered her a hug, but she backed away. “Sage is safe, but he’s...sick. We’re doing everything we can to help him. This is what Aunt Jenny does. She helps people.”
“People?” She glanced at her father. “You mean monsters like us.”
“You’re not a monster,” Blake said before I could answer.
Ava rolled her eyes. “No, I’m a sex demon.”
“The preferred term issuccubus, thank you very much,” I said. “And you’re only one-eighth sex demon.”
“What about him?” She pointed to Ronnie. “Is he a demon, too?”
Ronnie huffed. “I amnot.”
“Take it down a notch, junior. It was a question, not an insult.” I turned back to Ava, thinking of when I’d had this same conversation with Blake, remembering all his questions and his fears. All the ways I’d screwed it up. “Listen to me, kiddo. No matter what happens, you’re still you. You’re clever and creative and stubborn and beautiful and strong and annoying. Who and what you are hasn’t changed.”
She took my hand and pressed my fingernails. “Dad says you grow claws when you’re angry.”
“If I have to protect myself, yes.”
“Can I see?”
I thought of the attack on Second Life Books. My fingers tightened.
“Whoa.” Ava yanked her hands away from my claws. “That’s...It’s kind of gross, Grandma. Am I going to get them, too?”
“I don’t think so,” I said, trying not to take offense. She was in shock and overwhelmed, and at least she was talking to me. I relaxed my hands. My claws eased and flattened back into nails. “Your father never did. Not that he told me, anyway.”
“I tried a time or two, but no.” Blake shook his head. “Your claws used to come out when you were pissed at me.”
“I never grew my claws at you!” I protested.
“Not all the way,” he admitted. “But they got distinctly pointed sometimes.”
I was getting off track. I crouched so I was eye level with my granddaughter. “Ava, hon, I know this is a lot to handle, and I know it feels scary and unfair. I promise I’ll take you for ice cream soon and answer any questions you have. If it’s all right with your father, that is. But right now, I have to talk to your brother.”
Blake was nodding. “I was going to call you. Morgan sounds worse this morning, and he won’t open the door.”
“What’s happening to him?” asked Ava. “Is it a demon thing?”
“No, it’s not,” I said. “Morgan is sick.”
“Like Sage?”
“I think so, yes. Which means we should be able to help him, just like we’re helping Sage.” I headed for the stairs before she could press me for details.
Ronnie followed. Keeping his voice low, he asked, “What do you need me to do when we get up there? The charge in my baton should still be good. I also have a blackjack filled with silver shot. It was made by my great-great-grandmother for knocking out drunk werewolves.”
I stopped midway up the steps. “I didn’t bring you along to assault my grandson.”
“Then why? From everything I’ve read, you preferred to work alone. Why invite me? Not that I’m complaining about getting out in the field.”
