“You’d what?” Magnus teased.
“Nothing,” Finn grumbled. “I swear, she has me wrapped around her little finger.”
“I’m happy for you.” And he was. He wished he had that. He was tired of being alone. Everyone he knew was paired up. Except him and Sven.
And Phineas.
Or at least it felt that way.
He needed to change the subject. “Have you heard from Pearl?”
“She called the other night. She’s doing well,” Finn said. “I think she’s homesick even though it’s only been a couple of days.”
“Tell her we miss her.” Which was true. Magnus did miss Pearl, she was like a little sister and he missed teasing her and spoiling her. She was so kind and calming in Harmony Glen.
“What’re you doing out and about? I thought Sven and you would be getting ready for the big grand opening in a couple of weeks.”
“That was my plan for the day.” Magnus took a seat next to Finn and grabbed a couple of tangled nets to help him. “Sven hired a housekeeper.”
“Oh?” Finn asked carefully.
“You know who it is. She’s staying with your mother.” Magnus grunted.
“I know. The supposed revenge date.” Finn chuckled. “What even is that?”
“I don’t even know. I was angry about seeing…well, seeing the spitting image of the witch who cursed me. I just lost my senses.”
“I’ll say.”
Magnus frowned at him. “You’re one to talk. You just said Margaid has you wrapped around her finger. This from the grumpy glashtyn who swore he was never going to fall in love. Ever.”
“Things change. Margaid is going to be my wife one day when I ask her. You just hate Mercedes.”
“I don’t hate her, but I don’t like who she reminds me of.” Magnus finished untangling the next.
“You never did tell me what happened when you were cursed.”
“And I’m not about to now. Geez, I miss the old Finbar who wasn’t this chatty and curious.”
Finn snorted. “So do I.”
Chapter
Five
Thankfully, Mercedes didn’t see Magnus for the rest of the day. The other house spirits also kept their distance. Including that one who really didn’t seem to like her. The thing that was tripping her up about that particular spirit was that she didn’t seem like a run-of-the-mill haunting. Like, she was dead, but also not dead.
And Mercedes had never heard or dealt with such a thing before.
You flunked a lot of dark magic history remember?
The mental reminder made her smile because she hated dark magic. Although right now it would come in handy to figure out the green-eyed spirit, who didn’t seem to remember much.
She wanted to ask Sven why he and Magnus couldn’t see the spirits, but they seemed quite preoccupied and she was just glad to do her work, eat her lunch in peace, and then head back to Hetty’s house where there was a home-cooked dinner waiting for her.
It gave her the warm fuzzies to know that she was going home to somewhere that people actually wanted to see her. A family kind of home. Something she’d never had. Her family was all about pure blood and magic for power. There were no warm,happy moments. No love. Just cold and competitive situations between her and her siblings. And she was the pariah of the family. Her magic was a disaster, and it wasn’t easy always being plagued by wandering spirits who always seemed to want help crossing over. Something she kept secret. Only Mercedes didn’t have to hide that from Hetty because Hetty wouldn’t try to manipulate the spirit world for her own evil machinations, like her mother would.
Hetty was so happy to have her there, and it was nice to feel loved. It was like Mercedes belonged.
