13

Marten waved at me from my couch.

I paused with my keys in my hand. I had put up Tulip, walked in, and there she was. If it weren’t for her expression, I wouldn’t have recognized her. The layer of grime covering her face and hair was gone, revealing a cute seven year old with big eyes and delicate features. Shoulder-length, copper brown hair fell in soft ringlets around her adorable tan face. But her eyes were exactly the same, a light golden hazel full of mischief.

How did people keep finding me? I spent all this time and money making a secret hideout and literally everyone I’ve met in the last two days now knew where it was.

Marten grinned at me. “I found you.”

“I see that. Where is Sophia?”

Marten giggled.

“You didn’t lead her into quicksand and leave her trapped somewhere, did you?”

She shook her head. “She had homework. I executed an evasive maneuver.”

Right. How in the world had she snuck out past a shapeshifter? They could hear a fly buzz two hundred yards away. “How did you know where I live?”

“I’m smart.”

She was not going to answer. As soon as the magic came back, I’d scan her.

I shut the door. It was raining cats and dogs, and by now Sophia was probably going out of her mind.

I pulled off my boots and took my dripping self to the kitchen. Here’s hoping Barabas still had the same number.

Sophia picked up on the first ring. “Gilliam residence. How may I help you?”

“Have you misplaced a small child?”

“Ms. Ryder, I’m so, so sorry. I left her playing video games for twenty minutes and she was gone. I tried to track her, but the rain is too heavy.”

“So she bolted just before the rain started?”

“Yes.”

It would take at least thirty minutes for a normal human child to get to my house from Kate and Curran’s “gated community.” Marten’s hair was dry.

“I’ll come and get her right away,” Sophia promised.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s flooding, so you can get her when the rain stops.”

“Thank you.”

I gave her directions and hung up.

Marten slunk into the kitchen and climbed onto a chair. “I saw a boy here.”

Don’t tell me. “What did he look like?”

“He was pretty. He had dark hair and big grey eyes.”

Conlan.

“Was he in the house or outside of it?”

“Outside.”

Oh good. The rain would’ve washed away his scent trail by now. “Did you talk to the pretty boy?”

Marten nodded. “Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“He said to tell you that Grandma called the house.”

What did that mean? “Was there anything else?”

“That was it.”

There had to be more to it. Erra called to talk to Kate as often as I did, usually through the fire, because phones rarely worked for her. Conlan must’ve decided Marten wasn’t completely trustworthy. I was somehow supposed to infer some deeper meaning from “Grandma called.”

Marten pulled her knees up to her chest on the chair. “Can I stay with you until the rain stops?”

“Of course. Are you hungry?”

She nodded.

My phone rang. Probably Barabas or Christopher.

“Hold that thought.” I picked it up.

“You haven’t spoken to your grandmother in six days,” my uncle said.

How did Hugh get my number? He wasn’t even in the same state. “Does everybody know where I live?”

“Everybody who cares about your safety. Do you know how I know that it’s been six days? Ask me.”

Oy. “How do you know?”

“I’m so glad you asked. Your grandmother mentioned it to me five times in the last forty-eight hours. She called me twice through the fire and three times on the phone. Hold on a second. PUT DOWN THAT COW!”

I held the phone away from my ear.

“Sorry about that.”

“How did she call you? Phones don’t work for her.”

“Apparently, someone dials the number for her, and she stands across the room and screams at it. Your grandmother has no trouble making herself heard. Boy! Yes, I’m talking to you. What did I say?”

I shook my head trying to get the ringing to stop. The two of them could roar loud enough to be heard all the way across a battlefield. I’ve heard them do it.

“You seem pretty busy, Uncle.”

“Call your grandmother. She’s worried about you, and she’ll keep calling me until she hears from you. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to come to Atlanta in person to verify that your arms and legs are still attached, and you have not lost the ability to speak. And we both know how much I enjoy visiting Atlanta.”

Oh gods. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll call her as soon as the magic is up.”

“Are you doing okay? Do you need anything?”

“I’m fine.”

“If you do need anything, you tell me. If you need backup, you tell me. I’ll come down and smash some heads for you.”