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“Then you should choose your words more carefully.” Tabitha made a clicking sound with her tongue. “Regardless, what’s done is done. I will speak with Elvira later. Now, do you think you can help Grayson find these other buzzweeds?”

With a very put-upon sigh, Henry nodded. “I can, but I don’t think you wanna touch ’em. I tried once. Thought it might make a good table or somethin’ if I could get it a little flatter on a couple of sides. Singed my whiskers real good when I got close. Those things give off a bad vibe. I steer clear of ’em when I can.”

“Can’t blame you there,” Gray answered. “You should have seen Martin’s branch burn. Looked like a piece of incense.”

A huge smile split Henry’s face. “No shit?”

“No shit,” Gray responded. While my burning bark didn’t seem all that humorous to me, it evidently tickled Henry’s funny bone. I didn’t want to contemplate too long why that was.

Smile fading, Henry tapped a finger along his chin as if deep in thought. “What do I do when I find one?” Gray and I shared a confused look, which made Henry roll his eyes. “We already established that these things ain’t friendly. I’m not touchin’ one. So how am I supposed to get it to you? Most of these things are tucked away in the walls.” Henry waved a hand toward the nearest wall for emphasis. “You goin’ to go bustin’ through all the walls and into all the buildin’s innards for these things?”

“Good point,” Gray mused. “What do you think, Martin?”

“I think we need to discuss this with Warlock Holland before he leaves. If he can figure out a way to safely transport the buzzweed we found, maybe that can be used for the others.”

Tabitha agreed. “That sounds very reasonable.”

Despite Henry’s protests, Gray scooped him up, setting him on his shoulder. “Let’s go talk to the nice warlock.”

“No such thing,” Henry protested.

“Hikaru’s with him,” I said, hoping to sweeten the pot.

“Eh? Why didn’t ya say so before? Lead the way.” Henry sank his claws into Gray’s shirt, holding tight, a delighted “whee!” giggling down the hall.

Seventeen

Grayson

“These things are heavier than they look,” Henry complained as he dragged a buzzweed through a disconnected electrical outlet. It was the third one he’d brought us. After the first, we’d fashioned a small net with shoulder straps. So far, the paper charm Holland provided was working. The warlock said it wouldn’t stop the buzzweed if the system were activated, but it would make transport safe. I had no idea how that worked. Then again, I wasn’t a warlock, so that kind of thing wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse.

“Thank you, Henry,” I said. Henry and I were alone. Keir had requested Martin’s presence so they could discuss the wyvern eggs. The fact we were all currently living in a ticking time bomb lent extra urgency to the matter. Not that anything had truly changed. It was only now we all knew what was hiding in the walls. At least some of what was hiding. There was more to be found than the buzzweeds. I was certain of that.

“How many more do you know of?” I asked while adding this one to our small but growing collection. Holland said we should be able to keep them together without further danger. So far, they hadn’t so much as twitched when placed next to each other.

Henry twisted, cracking his back with a relieved sigh. “Not sure.” Staring toward the ceiling, Henry appeared to be considering. He held out his splayed fingers, ticking them off. Henry had four fingers per hand, so when he was on his second round, it meant there were more than eight left. “Right now, I can remember eleven more. Could be I’ll remember more later.” Henry shrugged. “I’ve lived here a long time and this place is big. I’ve explored a lot over the years, but sometimes, I just go down a path once.” Henry tapped his temple. “House dwellers have good memories, but it ain’t perfect.”

“Most likely that is a blessing.” I’d once met an individual that could remember everything. In fact, she couldn’t forget anything. She’d been miserable.

“Truth,” Henry agreed.

I checked the time and noted it was far past evening. My stomach protested the late hour, and Henry looked beat. “How about we call it a day and start back in the morning?”

“Sounds good.”

“Would you like a lift?” Although he’d originally protested, Henry seemed to have fun when he rode on my shoulder earlier.

“Nah. My burrow’s nearby.” Henry went down on all fours and started across the floor, only to stop and turn around, an ornery smirk tilting his lips. “Should I come to your room in the mornin’, or should I skip that part and just head to Martin’s?”

If I’d had something light and non-damaging, I would have thrown it at the little brat. “Go on,” I admonished before tacking on, “Go to Martin’s.” I could still hear Henry’s laughter as he scurried through the walls.

Collecting the three buzzweeds Henry had found, I carefully wrapped them and cradled them within my cupped hand as I made my way to Martin. That little spark of his magic led the way, pulsing brighter the closer I got. As long as this piece of magic remained, I’d always be able to find him. I wasn’t certain if there was a distance limiting factor or not. Honestly, I had no interest in finding out. Truth was, I didn’t like being separated from Martin and wondered if he felt the same way about me.

I was beyond self-argument. I’d grown attached and had been attracted to the dryad long before he’d volunteered to become my anchor. What can I say? Martin was handsome. He was everything I wasn’t. Steady and literally rooted to his home, Martin was an ideal anchor. Did that make him an ideal mate? Other will-o’-the-wisps might not think so. We treasured our freedom. We drifted where treasure called. If I stayed here, with Martin, those drifting days would be over.

Not that we’d even discussed such a thing. In fact, I was getting way ahead of myself. Somehow, I couldn’t help it. The thing was, if Martin and I settled into a long-term relationship, I knew it wouldn’t be Martin trying to restrict my movements; it would be me. I really didn’t like it when he was out of sight. Did that make me obsessive? Or possibly possessive? I didn’t think so. Then again, I’d never truly felt this way about anyone before, so I didn’t know. My current path was uncharted territory.

Unsurprisingly, I found Martin in Keir’s quarters. I thought back to what Hikaru had said, that he’d thought Martin desired Keir. I snorted at that unlikely idea. Personally, I thought the kitsune’s romance radar was a little busted because I’d never picked up on those vibes. Martin respected and loved Keir, but not in a romantic way. Of that, I was certain.