The printer chose that exact moment to turn itself on and produce three blank pages before shutting down again.
"Completely under control," I repeated weakly.
Jada looked between me and the rogue printer. "I'll reschedule your morning meetings."
"No!" I stood up quickly. The lights flickered once before settling. "No rescheduling. I refuse to let a minor hellish hiccup derail another day. We have the Mariposa consultation at ten, and I intend to be completely professional about it."
"Charlie," Jada began, but I cut her off with my best event-coordinator-in-charge voice.
"It's temporary. It's fading. By the time Mariposa arrives, this will all be a funny story."
It was not a funny story.
By ten-fifteen, I had: caused Mariposa's coffee to steam a bit too enthusiastically when she mentioned "devilishly good" color combinations; made the office plants perk up unnaturally when she asked if I was "feeling energetic today"; and triggered two brief power surges when she innocently inquired about my meeting with Malrik.
Mariposa, to her credit, seemed more intrigued than alarmed. Her gossamer wings fluttered with excitement as my laptop spontaneously opened to a new document.
Just as I was going to make up a story about power surges in the quarter this morning, Jada knocked lightly before stepping in. "Sorry to interrupt, but I finished the Ashcliff proposal. Should I send it over, or did you want to review it first?"
"Send it. I trust your work."
Jada left, and Mariposa's antennae practically vibrated with interest. "Ashcliff," she said, leaning forward conspiratorially. "That's why there's something absolutely electrical about you today."
I nearly choked on my tea. "Electric?"
"Mmm-hmm," she hummed, antennae quivering with excitement. "I have compound eyes, dear—I can sense energy signatures. You're practically glowing with residual magic, dark magic." She winked. "Very becoming, actually. Brings out the fire in your complexion."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean,"
"Of course not, darling," she replied with a knowing smile. "But whatever you're doing, I simply must know the secret."
"Mariposa." I tried to sound stern, but the effect was somewhat undermined by my pen rolling across the desk without being touched. I grabbed it back. "Can we please focus on your metamorphosis ceremony?"
"Of course, darling." She gave me a look that said she was dropping the subject for now but would absolutely be revisiting it later. "But you simply must tell me what it was like. Ashcliff Manor, I mean. I've only glimpsed it from afar, and the rumors about what happens inside are positively scandalous."
"It's... architecturally impressive."
"And the master of the house?" she prompted, not even trying to hide her curiosity. "Was he as magnetic in private as he is on stage?"
I opened my mouth, searching for a response that was both honest and professional. "He was... certainly?—"
A sharp yelp came from the reception area, followed by Jada appearing in the doorway, slightly flustered.
"So sorry to interrupt again," she said, catching her breath, "but there's a... situation in reception."
"What kind of situation?" I asked, already dreading the answer.
"The kind that's currently investigating our snack station and has left tiny scorch marks on the waiting room carpet," she replied. "Also, it keeps looking toward your office and wagging its tail."
I closed my eyes briefly. "Black, about the size of a terrier, eyes like molten lava?"
"That's the one," Jada confirmed.
"Hellhound puppy," I explained to Mariposa, who looked absolutely delighted by this development.
"A hellhound puppy? Here?" Her wings fluttered faster. "Oh, I've heard they're absolutely darling at that age, before they grow large enough to devour anything in its path."
"Excuse me one moment," I said, standing up.
