“They’re practically inseparable. I’d hate for Spud to have to spend a week all alone without his dragon pig buddy. But really, it’s too much to ask one person to take on responsibility for both critters.”
“Yes. It is too much.”
“Oh. But will you at least watch the dragon pig? Poor Spud is going to be so lonely locked away in the rent-a-kennel place.”
“You are an abysmally poor actor, Reed Daughter.”
“Hey! I’m great—I mean, I wasn’t acting.”
“Yes, to the dragon and to the dog.”
“You’ll watch them both?”
He sighed like I was just the most annoying thing in the universe. I had to bite back a smile.
“Yes. Both.”
“Thank you!”
“And in return, you will owe me a favor of my asking.”
“Wait. No. That’s not how… Maybe I could ask Hatter…”
“No. You will not ask any other, since I have agreed. But now you owe me, Reed Daughter.”
“You did that on purpose,” I said.
“Whatever are you talking about?”
“You made me think I was manipulating you into watching the dog and dragon and really you wanted to ask me a favor.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“What’s the favor?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Mean,” I said, though I didn’t really mean it. “This vacation better be worth it.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “You will never know until you actually take it.”
“I know. I’m going. I am. But there are a bunch of cursed items out there.”
“I heard.”
“Probably more than Crow told me.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“It’s hard,” I said. He waited while I sorted my thoughts. “Hard to leave everyone else behind to mop up the mess.”
“Life is messy, Delaney Reed. So is Ordinary. That’s rather the point.”
I grinned, because he wasn’t wrong.
The door jangled and we both looked. Ryder glanced around the shop, his gaze taking in all the whimsical, predatory kites.
“Laney?” he called out. “You here?”
