I shrugged. “Probably. It will be sliding across ice, so it’s not like they won’t have help, but I reckon so. If they were trying to give it a shove along some tracks, one might be enough, but this has obviously got to be a sideways manoeuvre.”
“Can’t Fae magic just move the carriage without the whole ice rink palaver? Wouldn’t that be easier?” By the Goddess, this boy was a thinker.
“Short answer, possibly. Better answer, there are too many variables to make it worth trying. If you don’t use enoughpower, your carriage will get stuck halfway across the lawn. If you use too much, it could find itself embedded in the hedge or worse still, out in the road, having mown down several cars or pedestrians on its destructive path. Remember, James, Fae magic is not of this world. Railways don’t exist in the Fae lands, so there’s no magical precedent for what they’d be trying to do. Plus, there’s the potential for that amount of magic to leave a residue that humans might pick up on.”
“Bloody hell.” His soft whistling breath told me he understood, even if he couldn’t truly grasp the entire concept of another world he had no access to.
I sighed, suddenly overcome with weariness about my upcoming move. There was very little of the process I could speed up with magic, unfortunately. “I’m not looking forward to the work involved in turning the inside into a home though.”
“Hmm.” James appeared to be deep in thought. He stuck his hands in his pockets, his eyes on my soon-to-be home. “That Dalziel bloke is coming. I reckon he might persuade the Council thingy to give you some help. Don’t you think?”
“I’m as senior on the Evergreen Council as Dalziel is, you know.” I kept my tone gentle. There was no reason he should know that, but seriously, fuck Dalziel Millar for giving off so many big cheese vibes that everyone assumed he was the head of the organisation.
“Oh, sorry.” I didn’t like the way James’ shoulders slumped. “I didn’t realise.”
“No need to apologise. You weren’t to know. Dalziel was one of the founder members, but so was I. I’m also the senior witch on the Council, so my vote carries as much weight as his does. Although I guess if I’m asking for money, I should try to be a little bit humble.”
I explained a bit more about the various supernaturals that made up the Council and their special powers that made themunlike the majority of their fellows. As I talked, I paced, mentally plotting what plants I could move to where, and how and when I would transport them. But I was getting ahead of myself; first we needed to be sure the carriage could be moved successfully. I was nearing the stage of desperation to find a new home, but I wouldn’t and couldn’t spend the next few decades staring out at a dense green hedge. I’d go insane.
Edwin, recovered from his spaceout, offered me the use of whatever was in the garage if it would help. For now it wouldn’t, but I appreciated the gesture. Reluctantly I decided I should head home.
I looked around for Terrance. I whistled. I called out, softly at first, then a little louder. Honestly, if the wretched bag of feathers didn’t turn up soon, I was not going to be impressed.
He didn’t appear. Edwin suggested I came inside to wait. “I presume he’s done this before?”
“Yes,” I groused. “And I know he’s a familiar and not a pet, so I don’t have any rights over him as such, but his timing sucks.”
Edwin shot me a sharp look. “Things you need to sort at home that won’t wait?”
Actually, no. Which was partly the reason I needed to get away. I mentally crossed my fingers and fudged the truth, something about sorting through my books so I knew what I could get rid of.
James excused himself to make a meal. He offered to make me something too. I followed him to the kitchen to avoid staying in the same room alone with Edwin. He was, frustratingly, somehow tempting me solely by existing, but I wasn’t going to curse my best chance of a home here by making a move on him, especially as I was fairly certain he was banging James. I really needed to get laid. Fantasising about a brand new couple was a new and unwelcome low for me.
When I realised James was cooking eggs, I volunteered to sous chef for him, happily slicing and ripping up salad ingredients to make enough for two. James carefully cracked the eggs into a bowl, then seasoned them, equally carefully. I stepped back so he could extract a packet of grated cheese from the fridge.
“You’re not eating meat? I’d have thought a blood slave needed a lot of iron-rich foods.”
“He doesn’t need to eat meat to get iron in his diet.” Ha, I should have known Edwin wouldn’t be far away. I got the vibe he didn’t entirely trust me around James. But maybe I was projecting as I didn’t quite trust myself. He was too damn cute, especially when he was riled.Why am I reacting like a horny teenager all of a sudden? First Edwin, then James, now both of them.
I forced my libido to pipe down and glanced at Edwin, lounging against the door jamb, looking very human all of a sudden.
“I know you don’t need to, but a juicy steak is often the quickest way to give the body a boost.”Why am I arguing for something I don’t even believe in myself?
Edwin and James pulled matching expressions of disgust which made me chuckle. “Okay, so no steak then. I wasn’t judging.”
“You were.” Edwin’s bright blue eyes caught mine and held, until I acknowledged the truth in his words with a brief nod.
“All right, I was, a bit. But I’ve been vegetarian since birth, so the idea of eating anything’s flesh rather sickens me. I was only hoping you’ve been looking out for James. He looks amazing—” That was pushing it, but whatever, I found his elfin appearance very appealing. “—but quality of life for a blood slave depends on making sure they’re kept as healthy as possible in all ways.”Edwin began to glower. “As I’m sure you know,” I finished weakly.
James set the fork he’d been using to beat the eggs with down on the counter with a clatter. He ducked back into the fridge, then opened a cupboard. He thumped a carton of orange juice and a bottle of iron tablets in front of me. “Edwin is a good man. He takes care of me. He didn’t remember much about human nutrition because it’s been a long time since he needed to, but he researched and he makes sure I eat a balanced diet. There are even spinach leaves in the salad. Satisfied?” His glare was indignant, sweetly protective of his master.
I bit my lip. “I see I’ve been too hasty. It looks as though you’re covering all your bases.” I raised my eyebrows at Edwin. “That doesn’t explain why you looked askance at the idea of a steak. Bit funny for a vampire to be squeamish. You drink blood.”
Edwin looked positively ill. “Human blood, mate. I don’t eatanimals.”
“Weird distinction to make. Aren’t humans a variety of animal? Or,” I backtracked quickly as his eyes boggled. “Never mind, I can see that’s a hard line for you.”
“It really is,” he agreed. “I know we use thrall on humans, but a lot of them consent happily anyway. Animals can’t consent. I was a bit of an oddity back when I was human. I was brought up as a vegetarian. Mum was one too, obviously.”
