“That’d be great for future tourism.”
Moira winced. “Maybe we should start dealing drugs instead of flowers.”
I nodded. “Job security, for sure.”
We grinned at each other.
She went still a second later. “I see him. Top of the town hall roof, bare legs dangling off the roof like a drunk frat boy.”
I didn’t look right away. Instead, I pulled my phone out and texted Dad. He was at my side less than thirty seconds later.
“Is he here?” Dad said.
“Yup. Town Hall roof.”
Dad didn’t bother to look. He was more concerned about the cash falling from the air. “Glamoured,” he said after a moment. “You’re going to have a lot of disappointed tourists in a few hours.”
“They’re all thieves anyway,” I said quietly. “I just feel bad for the shops if they take any of that cash.”
“I’ll send your Mom to warn them.”
Moira eyed me and nodded, approval shining warm in her eyes. My stomach twisted in regret. I’d spent so long relying only on myself I’d forgotten what it was like to work as a team. I reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.
Dad’s eyes swirled with magic, and my mother appeared a moment later. They conferred before Mom peeled off to presumably want the shopkeepers. If they were smart, which most of them were, they’d shut down until everything blew over.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Dad asked quietly.
I would never be ready, but I nodded anyway. Much of humanity resisted change, and I’d grown up among them and had adopted this trait from them. I liked things harmonious and comfortable, and my life had been anything but lately.
Such didn’t stop the world from turning, though.
He brushed his fingers against my cheek. “I am proud to be your father.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyes, the words unlocking something in the hidden depths of my heart. I’d waited my entire life to hear those words, and even though there were times my existence had been something of a suck fest, I’d never felt more fortunate.
There were many people out there still waiting to hear words like that from their parents.
Dad disappeared into the crowd, leaving me and Moira to confront Lugh.
We kept a wide berth away from the chaos, and chaos it was. People had cash stuffed in their pockets, down the front and backs of their pants. In their socks and shoes, their bras and fists clenched full of bills.
They all had a slightly dazed, feverish look in their eyes, the kind of look a smart human would recognize as a warning sign to get the hell away. And some did. Maybe ten percent of the humans saw what was happening and the very real potential of things escalating and had quietly pulled their families to safety.
A scream of rage rang out, and two people came to blows. The crowd was working itself into a frenzy. I stopped directly below the Town Hall and looked up.
Lugh gave me a little wave.
I responded by giving him the middle finger.
The bastard had the nerve to laugh.
“Why don’t you come down here so we can have a chat?” I called.
Lugh grinned. “So your mommy and daddy can interfere?”
Few people knew Cliona was my mother. Interesting. “They’re busy because some dick is causing chaos in the town square and told me to handle my own problems.”
Lugh’s eyes narrowed. He disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared a few feet away.
