If Mal wanted to, he could have made the entire situation a thousand times worse. Clayton was being the bravest of brave little toasters by bringing his new life mate to the chapter house.
There was no telling how Marshall and Jack would react upon seeing him, but after witnessing Mal slaughter countless demons, Clayton was confident in his lover’s ability to keep from getting killed on the spot.
Worst things worst, Mal could create a portal to get them all out of there. Clayton didn’t need his job. He wanted to help change the backward ideas the Guard had about certain magical creatures, but he could sever ties if he had to. He just didn’t want to.
Clayton loved Mal more than he loved his ties to the Real, but that didn’t mean he didn’t treasure them. Samantha had been there for him when no one else had, and all the elemental sprites he’d befriended over the years held special places in his heart.
And if he was being completely honest with himself, his foster mother wasn’t the worst thing in the world either. If he had a chance of not being banned from the Real, he was going to take it.
He just needed to convince the residents of the Boston chapter house that he and his family weren’t a threat.
Mister Stabby wasn’t helping with that goal at all.
Maybe Clayton should have checked to make sure Mister Stabby hadn’t hitched a ride when Mal portaled them to the Real, but it was his reality now, so he had to deal with it.
Luck. Clayton needed the finest of luck to make the situation work out for him, so he decided that was what he had. He was Clayton, he had probability magic, and everything flowed in his favor. It was his reality. His mantra. His one saving grace. Everything flowed in his favor.
“Ow.”
Clayton’s eyes snapped up to see Jack staring down at the tiny unicorn with its horn buried in his calf, and Clayton stumbled to a halt.
Samantha tripped over her smoking broom and went sprawling. Merry shouted with glee to see her favorite guardian, and Tommy joined her. Holly stood back and watched the whole thing in morbid fascination.
Bloody, buggering hell.
There was no way Marshall hadn’t told Jack what Mal was, and Clayton knew their meeting was inevitable, which was why Clayton had presented his family at the chapter house as soon as possible. He’d been hoping to ease everyone into the meeting. Perhaps even get Samantha on his side first before introducing Mal to the dreamwalkers again.
Instead, Samantha was ready to murder someone, and Mal’s stupid little murder unicorn had just impaled Jack. Its horn was tiny, and Jack’s magic was powerful enough to heal himself instantly, but still. Clayton would have far rather presented Jack with his homemade muffins instead of a puncture wound from his new daughter’s pet monster.
“Jack!” Merry cried. “Look what my new dad made for me!”
Jack turned to see Mal give him a cheeky salute, and Clayton’s mantra fell dead into the abyss.
“Mister Stabby,” Merry chastised, “we talked about this. We only gore people who deserve it. Jack is super nice, so we don’t stab him, okay?”
‘Super nice’ Jack was eyeballing the tiny monster embedded in his leg, and he grunted when Merry pulled on Mister Stabby to free him.
Outwardly, Mal showed nothing but cheerful nonchalance, but inwardly, Clayton could sense his lover was seconds from tearing inside the chapterhouse to retrieve his family. He was only outside because he chose to be, not because he couldn’t enter. If Mister Stabby could enter, there was no way Mal couldn’t.
Eira watched Mal warily, keeping her hand on Grampy’s arm, like she was ready to bolt at any given moment. She was the only person there with any sense at all. If Clayton could bolt, he definitely would, but he only had two hands, and there were at least three people he needed to grab on his way out.
Fucked. Clayton was completely and utterly fucked.
The wound in Jack's leg healed the moment the unicorn was free from it, and Clayton watched as the torn material of his pants knitted itself together as well.
Jack crouched down to examine the flaming creature before him. “Cute,” he said, after enough time to make Clayton relocate all the exits he’d long ago memorized. Jack tilted his head in Mal's direction and asked, "Your work?”
Mal grinned broadly, and all of his pointy teeth were on display.
Jack’s rainbow eyes were inscrutable as he said, “He’s an absolute masterpiece. Can I keep him?”
Mal’s grinning visage transformed into one of complete shock for an instant before flashing to smug irreverence. “He’s already spoken for.”
“You can’t take him from me!” Merry’s eyes filled with tears. “My new daddy made it for me.”
“Daddy, huh?” Jack gave Mal an appraising stare. “You’re claiming this ragtag bunch?”
“Yep,” Mal responded without hesitation.
