I stood up. Julian’s hand lingered for a moment longer. It felt nice. More than nice.

I looked at Aiden. If I could forget the news reports I’d read last summer about fire tornados destroying entire human communities, I could see a handsome man on a pretty horse. But knowing who, and what, he was scared the crap out of me.

“Do you feel all right to help me shelve some books today?” Julian asked.

Shelve books? He hadn’t mentioned me going to the store with him, and I had the impression Ilya Sanguinati wanted me out of sight. Then again, once Julian went to work, I’d be out here on my own with my new flaming friend and the goats.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll shelve and you can lift.” I smiled at Aiden. “Thanks for lighting the fire last night. I was glad to have the warmth.”

He studied me. Had he conversed with many humans, or was I a novelty?

“It should not get so cold again until Autumn is ready to sleep,” he said.

“Why did it get so cold last night?” I had wondered about that.

Twister stamped a foot. I watched the dirt swirl around that leg and settle again.

“A female tried to claim your den,” Aiden said. “We didn’t like that, so Water asked her cousin for help in encouraging the female to leave.”

“Which cousin?” I said it casually, as if I knew all of them.

“Winter, of course.”

Oh golly. Breathe, breathe, breathe. Less than a month ago, I’d discovered that my lodger was one of the Crowgard, and I had a Panther and a Bear as employees. Now I was hobnobbing with the Lady of the Lake and Fire and acting all casual about other Elementals like Water and Winter taking an interest in The Jumble. Look at adaptable me.

I so wanted to sit down before I passed out.

“We should go if we’re going to get some of the new stock shelved before the store opens,” Julian said.

We waved and walked away. In my head, I could hear the voice of one of those nature show narrators. “A member of the team had direct contact with two humans in the wild. Though skittish, the humans remained long enough to exchange a few stilted sentences with the team member before making excuses to return to the safety of a human den.”

“I’m not sure Ilya wants me spending time in Sproing,” I said.

“Do you want to stay at the cabin today?” Julian countered.

By myself? Well, by myself in the sense there would be no other humans around. I was pretty sure if I stayed at the cabin I would have plenty of company of a different sort. “Let’s go shelve some books.”

I missed Aggie, and I hoped she was all right. I doubted Yorick would let her stay in a prime location. Then again, I kept forgetting that even a small shifter could have large and scary friends. I wondered how long it would take before Yorick learned that too.

CHAPTER 59

Them

Thaisday, Sumor 6

Bicker, bicker, bicker, Yorick thought as he opened the front door and walked out of the main house. His business partners were bickering because no one had come to the cabin last night to hold Hershel’s hand—the wimp—and the women were just being their usual bitchy selves. Except Heidi, who was in the kitchen washing dishes and proving she wasn’t top-notch material. Then again, the only cleaning service in Sproing hung up on Trina when she told them she was looking for temporary help at The Jumble, and the fees quoted by the cleaning services in Bristol were outrageous. So they needed someone to do the washing up for the time being, and Heidi—good old fat Heidi—was the one to do it.

Vaughn shouldn’t have invited a couple more Clippers to stay. They only had the one other cabin that was laughingly fit for human occupation, and the men said they were bringing a boat. They hadn’t mentioned if they were bringing wives or mistresses.

Darren seemed to think that they could shuffle those freaking Crows to one of the primitive cabins if they couldn’t kick them out altogether. Yorick wasn’t so sure about that, especially since there were three of the creatures staying in that cabin. But they had to figure something out before their guests arrived that afternoon.

He watched the black luxury sedan drive up to the house. He recognized that car and was certain that nothing that came out of it would benefit him. And he was right.

When the driver opened the back door for Ilya Sanguinati, Yorick hoped Vaughn was still in a vile mood.

* * *

• • •

Ilya Sanguinati removed a document from his briefcase and handed it to Yorick. “I thought it prudent to review with all of you the original agreement between Honoria Dane and the terra indigene when she built the main house and the cabins on the land that became known as The Jumble.”

“What’s to review?” Vaughn snapped. “Yorick owns the land.”

Ilya gave them all a cold smile. “Mr. Dane owns the buildings, not the land. By the original agreement, which you all should have reviewed before making plans to change The Jumble, you can tear down the existing structures, but you cannot put up any building that exceeds the square footage of the original structures. You cannot put up additional buildings without the landowners’ consent, which they will not give—a message I was asked to convey. Also, before you raze any of the buildings, you may want to consider if you will be able to purchase sufficient material to build a new structure. I’m told it can take months, with all the repairs that are still being done throughout the continent and the constricted supply of raw materials.”

“There is plenty of wood out there.” Darren waved a hand toward the windows.

“Which Mr. Dane does not own and does not have permission to use beyond harvesting firewood sufficient to heat the main house and the cabins,” Ilya replied. “Mr. Dane also has use of the cultivated land to grow crops to feed the residents of The Jumble, but the number of acres is quite specific and will not be enlarged.”

Yorick didn’t dare look at Darren or Hershel—and especially not Vaughn. But he had told them about the agreement, even if he’d glossed over the details. They couldn’t say they didn’t know. They’d just been sure they could rewrite what didn’t suit them, so he hadn’t seen the point of giving them a reason to be mad at him.

“You should also be aware that while the access road is wide enough for personal vehicles, it would not accommodate the kind of heavy machinery you would need if you were going to replace any of the buildings,” Ilya continued.

“We can widen that road,” Hershel said. “Going to have to pave it anyway.”

Ilya smiled, showing a hint of fang. “Mr. Dane does not own the access road. Therefore, it cannot be altered without the permission of the landowners, and any attempt at alterations will forfeit the right-of-way and the road will be closed.”

“You can’t do that!” Yorick protested.

“The landowners can—and they will,” Ilya replied mildly. “I repeat: Mr. Dane has claim to the five buildings Honoria Dane built within the boundaries of this terra indigene settlement and nothing more. Before you continue making plans for this place, I suggest you read the original document again since you will be bound by it.”

Yorick followed Ilya Sanguinati to the front door. “This is ridiculous! We need to expand the buildings and improve the access road. Our guests will expect it.”

“Then you should adjust your guests’ expectations, Mr. Dane.” Ilya turned toward the sound of a vehicle coming up the road.

Yorick swore under his breath as the pickup hauling a boat trailer pulled up near the house. Mark Hammorson and his friend had arrived early.

Ilya studied the boat on the trailer, then looked at Yorick. “Please advise your guests that motorized vehicles of any kind are forbidden on Lake Silence. Signs are clearly posted at the public beach at the southern end of the lake.”

“But not here,” Yorick said quickly.

“There has never been the need to post them here.” Ilya waited for his driver to open the door. “But post a sign by all means, if you think your guests will not abide by that rule without one. Be assured, whether you put up a sign or not, the penalty will be the same if you break that rule.”

CHAPTER 60

Ilya

Thaisday, Sumor 6