“It’s not good. They released Russell this morning.”
“Already?”
“They fined him for the altercation with Rowan, but they couldn’t hold him for the crime he committed against you thanks to the ridiculous way the code was amended.” His dark brown eyes flash with injustice. “I swear a criminal mage must have been involved in the process.”
“Now what?” I ask.
“If he attempts to kidnap you again, we can request a location spell be placed on him, preventing him from entering Moss Hollow. But the department won’t perform one on a first offense.”
“Are you serious?” Rowan demands. “Kit has to be kidnappedtwicebefore they’ll do something about him?”
“Thanks to the check, they’re not considering this a kidnapping. It’s a business deal gone awry.” Ash’s eyes narrow at his cousin. “And I didn’t make the law, so don’t blame me. It’s not even my area of expertise. I leaned into human law, only briefly studying Faerie code for additional licensing and certifications. Kit is fortunate I’m as familiar with it as I am.”
“I’m grateful,” I say. “But I’m not sure what to do now.”
“Since the fae authorities won’t be of any use, we must rely on the human system. I believe we should speak with Emerson and request a restraining order.”
“Do you think I’ll need it? Maybe Russell will just… leave me alone?” I glance at the door as if worried the mage is going to walk through it right this second.
“We can hope,” Ash says. “But let’s err on the side of caution. I can go with you now if you’d like.”
“What will a restraining order do?”
“Under human law, Russell won’t be allowed to visit or contact you.”
“We already know he has questionable morals. What’s going to keep him from breaking the law?”
“Absolutely nothing,” Ash responds. “That’s why I was hoping for a location spell.”
“I’ll think about it,” I say, doubting human restrictions will discourage the mage.
Ash looks like he wants to press me to go now, but he keeps his opinions to himself for once.
“Give me a few days to research location spells,” Rowan says to me. “I’m sure I could work one.”
“You must be licensed with the Department of Fae Code and Ethics to legally perform one,” Ash says.
“It would be my first offense, so surely no one would care,” Rowan responds, his voice dripping with disdain.
“Don’t break the law for me,” I say to Rowan before this can start an argument. “I’ll take a self-defense class or something.”
“We have nothing like that in Moss Hollow.” Ash frowns thoughtfully, perhaps displeased his town lacks a desired resource. “Maybe I should speak to Gideon.”
The door chimes as a family of four walks into the shop. Ash glances over his shoulder, sees they’re tourists, and steps away from the counter. “If you don’t want to talk to Emerson, I’ll let you get back to work.”
“I’ll text you when I decide what I’d like to do,” I say. “Thank you for helping with all this.”
“You’re welcome. However, please remember that time is of the—” He cuts off when Rowan makes a strangled noise, scowling at his cousin with distaste. “Is there a problem?”
But Rowan doesn’t answer.
Ash follows Rowan’s gaze to the front door and grips the counter as soon as he spots the high fae woman who walks in behind the family.
She shoves her sunglasses into her thick mane of brown hair and pauses in the doorway. She wears a flowy white blouse, dark gray shorts, stiletto heels, and pearls. Though she looks likeshe walked out of a designer magazine, in no way fitting Moss Hollow’s aesthetic, the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me she’s no stranger to the town.
“Rowan,” she says when she locates her target.
The family pauses halfway to the counter to look at her, intrigued. Graham, too, looks up from his laptop.
