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I waved a hand in the air. “I can’t fix yer parents. Time might. But if ya want to stay here until ya get things figured out, ya need to know some things. Mulan’s parents are coming thisweekend, plus her sister and husband. From what I hear, they’re all prima donnas but foreign ones who don’t speak any English. Henry and his people will watch after them so ya won’t need to do anything except avoid them for a couple of weeks.”

“It was nice of you to let them stay with you. The Wu Shaman’s house is tiny.”

I chuckled low and drank more tea. “And I guess ya already figured out the guardian is back.”

“Are you too mad to even say his name?”

I shook my finger at the far darrig’s grin. “What ya don’t know, Mr. Comedian, is thatRasmusbrought hissisterback with him. Zara and I fought during a job several months ago. I chose not to kill her and that somehow led to me offering her a place to rethink her life.”

“So you collected another semi-villain like me to rehabilitate. You need a therapist to help you stop that habit.”

I rolled my eyes. “Ya sound like my mother. Being devious and determined was yer only crime. That's a stark contrast to the evil person Zara used to be before. The guardians can work miracles when it comes to changing a person.”

“Better miracles than wicked angels?”

When I mock-glared, Dylan laughed. “I guess it was too soon for that comparison.”

I grunted at him. “Tony changed yer life, but I’m not sure I’d call what he did a miracle. It was more of a compromise to keep me from murdering Hisser while he watched. What ya used yer relic to do to Hisser worked well enough for me.”

Dylan smirked but I saw pride in his expression. “Yet there’s a fairy with a sword in your foyer that you aren’t planning to imprison or kill. You could drop him into a volcano or slice him into pieces with your sword. Plus, you’re playing probation officer for a guardian who tried to kill you. Neither of those are rational reactions for someone with yer level of power.”

The far darrig’s conclusions made me laugh. He was not wrong about me being irrational. But it was sort of my natural state.

I shrugged. “I know it seems like I’m running a halfway house for reformed criminals, but trust me, that isn’t what’s going on. This is merely the madness of my life manifesting. If ya stay, Dylan, the risk is that ya’ll become a bigger part of my mess. I’d tell that to anyone.”

I stopped rambling and laughed at my attempts to explain my craziness. “What I’m trying to tell ya is that I’d be happy to have ya stay with me until ya get things figured out. There’s a time limit of five years on this house after which Conn, Mulan, and I intend to sell it. Surely yer parents will get over themselves during those five years.”

Dylan lifted his gaze to mine. “I would have to find work here in Salem. This is not the life I planned.”

I lifted both hands. “Ya’ll be in good company, Dylan. I’m not living the life I planned, either. Instead of creating a sanctuary, I wound up living in a museum. After what ya did to Hisser, I imagine Ben will see yer talents as an asset and want to hire ya. He’s a lot better boss than Ezra was, but I’ll lie if ya ever tell him I said that.”

The far darrig sighed. “You joke, but I will make myself useful to you, Aran.”

I waved away his offer. “If Ben hires ya, contribute some money to Henry’s housekeeping fund so they can keep feeding all of us.”

“So...” Dylan said, “What did Rasmus do to make you so mad at him? I’m being nosy because I never, ever want to upset you as much as he has.”

My snort was loud. “No worries, my far darrig friend, since the two of us are not sharing a bed. Rasmus and I are having a spat that I don’t think he’s taking seriously enough.”

Dylan’s olive complexion turned pink. “Oh... well, that makes me... uh... feel much better about staying here.”

Ignoring his blush over my revelation, I snapped my fingers. “If ya want to have an overnight guest in yer room, ya need to check it with both me and Henry beforehand. I’ll have to clear her... or him. It’s a matter of safety for all of us. One of my greatest fears was Hisser showing up here.”

Still blushing, Dylan shook his head. “I don’t see that ever happening—having an overnight guest, I mean. I think I would take the person elsewhere for the night or go to her place. Just so you know, I’m aherkind of guy. ”

“I wasn’t prying—truly. I don’t even ask my daughter many questions about her love life. Please keep Henry informed with a text of yer comings and goings. He uses the information for planning dinner and other events. Also, until I tell ya differently, everyone is to monitor the female guardian. I’ll introduce ya to her tomorrow.”

Dylan nodded in agreement, bowing his head. “I’m fine with all your rules.”

“Good,” I said. “I’m looking forward to seeing a friendly face across the dinner table. That way I can ignore the annoying ones.”

“Thank you for letting me stay, Aran.”

“Things have a way of working out as they’re meant to, Dylan. A good friend used to tell me that whenever I was struggling with some life lesson that wasn’t pleasant. I’ve never forgotten her advice.”

“I hope your friend is right.”

“Me too,” I said. “Me too.”