“I know.He could get hurt if something else waits to attack us here.”
“And having a Mundane in our lives is dangerous for us, too.Rule Number One.”
She bit her lip as she watched Nevin walk to his car.“I’ve complained ever since learning that I had to share ownership of this place with him.He couldn’t balance a budget if his life depended on it.But now his life depends on me cutting him loose, separating the businesses.”
“You care about him,” Cyn said, heading toward the office building.
“I do.He’s a stray, like I was once a stray.I have a soft spot for them.”She leaned down to pet one of the kittens that was crouched between two coolers.It hissed and ran away, sinking her heart.“Must be spooked because of the tulpa.Red, it’s okay.Come here.”
The cat was looking at her, its fur raised.Then it shot away and disappeared among the cola coolers.Her shoulders drooped.“Now the strays don’t even want me.”
“Don’t take it personally.Cats freak out around Dragon energy.”He smoothed his hands over his hair, then pointed to one of the Elementals hiding behind a hub cap propped up against the fence.“That one seems to like you.He was following you around the other day.”He curled his fingers in invitation, and the Elemental slowly emerged.“He’s a fire Elemental, like Allander.”
She knelt down as the creature with the red-tinged skin and large eyes took tentative steps toward her.“You said they don’t talk.How do you know Allander’s name?”
“Just pick a name.He’ll tell you if he likes it or not.”
She tilted her head.“Hm.How about… Ziggy?”
It made a face that actually looked like a grimace.Cyn’s expression was about the same.
“Fine.Fergus.How about that?”
The frown relaxed, and its eyes twinkled.Her heart lifted.She’d lost her cats, but maybe she’d gained an Elemental.
“As much as I hate to interrupt this touching moment…”
She shot him a look.“I’ve lost my uncle, my livelihood for now, and my identity as a normal person living in a normal world.So finally, I’ve found a creature who likes me.”She lowered her voice to a growl.“Give me a friggin’ minute.”
16
Ruby led the way upstairs to her apartment, digging into her pocket for her keys.Home.The thought of being inside filled her chest.She pushed open the door, but Cyn stepped in front of her before she could go inside.
He flicked on the light.“I don’t feel any magick, but I’m not taking any chances.Demons don’t give off the scent of it either.”
“Tulpas sure do.That must have been where Mon got the dirty-sock idea.”
“No doubt.”He took in what she knew was eclectic décor, then opened her bedroom and bathroom doors.“Looks clear.”He paused by her kitchen table, which was actually a 1950s Coke cooler with a glass top.Inside were some vintage Coca-Cola bottles.“I remember when they looked like that.”
“I keep forgetting how old you are.”
He took in her walls covered in framed posters, pausing at the sanity is overrated one featuring a hamster that looked like it just came out of the dryer.
“These are my demotivational posters.They make me laugh.Want to see the one that reminds me of you?”
“Do I?”
“Be brave.”She steered him to the one with Captain James T.Kirk’s smug smile and the caption:i’m sorry, i can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome i am.
He wrinkled his nose.“You’re so very funny.”
“I can donate it to your dojo.I think it would look good in the lobby.We could superimpose your face over Kirk’s.”
He’d thrown on his shirt but hadn’t buttoned it.So when he stepped in front of her, trying to intimidate her with his faux annoyance, all she saw were his perfectly formed pecs, a hint of the Dragon, and the hollow at the base of his throat.
He looked at her with eyes aflame.“Trying to antagonize me, are you?You do realize I could eat you for lunch?”
She cleared her throat, heat stealing up her neck as she met his gaze.“I’m not afraid of the big, bad Dragon.”
