Page 25

“Perhaps, but only the version I practice. My dragon mage teacher delights in showing me that I have much magick left to learn.”

“The dragon is as immortal as my brother and I,” Zara said as if warning me. “His view of your kind is just as tainted as ours. I would imagine he hates you even more since humans killed most of what remained of his species.”

I snorted at her words. “As powerful as Zenos is, he could have ended humanity long ago and without the guardians helping him. He said he finds humans entertaining. We’re the comedic relief for his immortal boredom.”

Zara didn’t roll her eyes but her glance away from me served the same purpose.

I smiled at her. “I consider being human and forty makes me and the guardians two of a kind. I’m as set in my thinking and determined to do as I damn please as any guardian is. Sometimes I think I’m in training to be a guardian in my afterlife.”

A smiling Henry appeared in the doorway briefly. “Sorry to interrupt, Aran, but the Wu Shaman is awake. I thought you’d want to know.”

I turned to leave but Rasmus stopped me with a touch on my arm. I hadn’t realized he’d been close enough to reach out.

“Do you need a place to sleep tonight? I noticed Conn put Mulan in your bed.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Is that an offer to share your bed with ya?” Rasmus looked so hopeful that a smile bloomed across my lips. “If the Wu Shaman stays in my quarters tonight, I’ll check back with ya. How does that sound?”

“Hopeful,” Rasmus said with a smile of his own. “It sounds very hopeful to me.”

Henry could easily fix me up with a bedroom of my own. I could have told Rasmus that even with all the guests in the house, there were still empty rooms on the second floor with nothing in them. The third floor provided rooms for Henry and Gale and their helpers, but they weren’t all full, either.

If I was temporarily kicked out of my quarters, the idea of sleeping next to Rasmus with Mulan’s parents down the hall held more appeal.

That way, if Mulan’s parents gave me any grief, I’d hold Rasmus to his promise to knock them all out.

Despite Conn growling,the woman was determined to stand. I had to push on her shoulder with considerable force to help keep her in place.

“Stay where you are, Mulan. Ya're recovering from a concussion, and that's nothing to mess with.”

“I do not understand this,” she said.

I released my grip to pat her instead. “There’s nothing to understand yet. The wards went off halfway up the driveway. We don’t know why.”

“It happened just as I told you,” Conn said.

Mulan raised a hand to feel her forehead. She winced at the bandage that now covered her head scrape. “Did I pick up more than family at airport?”

I patted harder. “If ya did, the beastie hasn’t shown itself yet. The most important thing right now is whether or not that hard head of yers got permanently damaged. So behave and let us fuss over ya until we know for sure ya’re okay. Conn and ya can spend the night here. That way ya’ll be close to yer people.”

“Where will you sleep?” Mulan asked.

“This giant house has all kinds of empty bedrooms. Henry will find me a place.” I straightened until I stood over her. “Zenos says Ezra is on his way to breaking free of the angel’s hold. Ya need to be strong enough to shake yer shaman stick at him if that happens.”

“Staff is in van. You must fetch. Connlander cannot do it because he is too angry.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll go get it now. What’s it look like today?”

“Small vibrator in purse,” Mulan said, rubbing her bandage.

I fisted both hands on my hips. “Ya can’t be serious.”

“No one touch it or try to steal it,” Mulan said.

I sure wouldn’t mess with another woman’s sex toys, but she was with her family. What if someone in her family had found it? They could have taken her purse. The very thought of Ma finding a vibrator in my purse made me shudder.

“I’ll retrieve yer purse for ya. I’ll do it right now,” I said.

I left quickly before Conn questioned her unusual camouflage. That was a discussion I wanted no part of today.