“There was an old record player and records. I thought I saw a shine of magic on them. Maybe.”
“Shine?”
“Just a soft gold glow. Might not be anything.”
“Might be a dragon,” she said.
“Or a spell? There was more than one shiny moment.”
“Why would a record player need a spell?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Too many possibilities. Crow got the stuff from abandoned storage units. I should pull records to find out who owned them. Maybe that would give us an idea about the record player. If it’s magic.”
“Did someone buy it?”
“Couple of the ladies from the knitting club.”
“This is important?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Okay, so let me get this straight.” She tucked one bare foot up under her on the couch. “You are going to pull storage records, track down the knitting club members to see if a record player is magic, and tell the dragon pig to search the town for other dragons. You are also, simultaneously going to solve the thefts and transfer god powers to Death, who hasn’t ever looked after the powers in Ordinary.”
“Yes?”
She stared at me for an extended moment. “LaPine is beautiful this time of year.”
I frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’ve talked to Ryder.”
Everything in me stilled. “Okay?”
“He said you’ve shot down every idea he’s come up with.”
“That’s not true.”
She tipped her head down, eyebrow raised.
“Some of the ideas I haven’t said yes or no to yet. I like them, I just keep getting called away by things and don’t want him paying cancellation fees.”
“You’re avoiding leaving town.”
“Hey, so here’s a fun question,” I said brightly. “How’s it going withyourboyfriend? Has the demon earned the right to come inside the secret library?”
She rolled her eyes. “Bathin and I are doing just fine, thank you. I am perfectly comfortable with not letting him into the library yet, and you know what? So is he. Because this is a place full of old magics, and I’m the one keeping them safe and secure. Also, that’s not what we should be talking about.”
“Well, neither is my relationship.”
She blew air through her lips. “For someone who has been in love with a person for most of her life, you are the slowest person to commit to anything new.”
“Slow? The moment he proposed to me, I said yes.”
“After the demon showed up.”
“Yeah, there was that.”
“After we talked you out of going after said demon to take care of business while poor Ryder was still on his knees.”
