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That idea finally pulled me away from the computer. The thing I hated most about technology was that getting fast results often made it seem like that was the end of yer searching. I was glad Conn reminded me about my normal process for looking. I was all about scrying, especially for a human. That should be easy, and best of all, not dangerous.

Conn had lowered my temptation to scry for Rasmus again by putting my guardian feather collection into storage. I wished I could say it was working to help me forget him, but it wasn’t.

“Call Ben and ask if he’ll set up a meeting for us. Let’s put asking the families on him. I’d make the call, but ya need to get on friendlier terms with the good Colonel Benson so he’ll trust ya. He’s still not comfortable with what he knows about us. I don’t know why the Shadow Breakers chose a human to run their branch here, but I suspect Ben has a story he’s not yet told us.”

“Colonel Benson knew about the DNA experiments. Maybe there are a lot of other things he knows about that they thought was a good foundation. He’s not afraid to be in charge of people, including those like us.”

And maybe he’d become one of those DNA experiments without telling us. Maybe our visitor to him made him realize there was no running from fate.

“He’s still wary, though. Imagine when he learns about vampires and ghouls and mer-people. Who’s going to be his sounding board when he freaks out about them?”

“Probably us,” Conn said. “Okay. I see your point. I need to get closer to him so he’ll ask us.”

Fiona sighed loudly. “You know what I miss? I miss Mulan making brownies for us. I want her to come back too.”

Conn echoed her sigh. “I miss everything about her.”

I made a mocking, sad face about their whining. “The woman’s not dead. She’s taking some time for herself. Fiona, there are directions on the back of the brownie mix box in the cupboard. Follow them and bake your own.”

I turned to Conn. “There is something I’ve been meaning to ask ya. Are ya planning to go live with Mulan if things work out between the two of ya?”

Conn shook his head. “I don’t see that as a viable solution to our situation. Any time people attack the house, it always takes more than one of us to deal with them. She’ll have to move in with us. Knowing how much she misses her family, I don’t think she’ll be too hard a sell on joining ours. Living alone wasn’t a great situation for her.”

I frowned at the news but agreed with Conn’s take on the situation. “This house is far too tiny for the four of us. There are barely places to sleep, much less any privacy for a couple needing their time alone.”

“Five of us,” Fiona said, butting in. “When Rasmus comes back, there will be five of us. Maybe one day, there might even be six. I can always hope.” She rose. “I’m making brownies. Who’s with me?”

The three of us trekked out of the bedroom to the kitchen.

Conn shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked. I couldn’t believe there were two males in my life with the same freaking habit. Well, technically, I was back to one male now, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that every bloody thing reminded me of how much I missed the guardian bastard.

Conn made a strange sound in his throat that I didn’t understand. “I’ve got multiple investments that have done well over the years. If you agree, I’ll use my earnings to get us a bigger house. I agree this one is too small.”

Oh... so that’s what that sound meant. He was thinking ahead and trying to see himself and Mulan in our limited space.

I looked around the rental and blew out a breath. A year’s worth of rent would be forfeited if we moved. It went against my frugal nature, but my life rarely worked out as I planned. I should have let Conn do the six-month lease when he suggested it.

“We’re going to need a large house with at least seven bedrooms, five or six bathrooms, and a pool,” Fiona added with a smile.

I sighed as my stomach tightened at her list. “That sort of house would exceed the million mark here in Salem. We might even have to move outside of town to find something that large. I don’t like the idea of sinking so much cash into a single purchase.”

Fiona bit her lip. “Maybe I can find us a deal.”

Us?I studied my daughter’s face and saw a pleading in her gaze. “Ya don’t want to go back to yer father’s to live, do ya?”

“No, but I felt like I had no choice because this place was too small. You’ll have to give Conn and Mulan the big bedroom since they’d be the couple. We’d have to move into the smaller one, which would be more cramped. And what happens when Rasmus comes back?”

I rolled my eyes. “If, sweetie. AndifRasmus comes back, he can sleep in the garage. He’s for sure not sleeping with me afterghostingme for two weeks. Isn’t that the modern term ya use when someone ya were dating suddenly ignores ya?”

Fiona snorted. “Mom, please. Who are you trying to convince?”

I rolled my eyes again because they both knew I was trying to convince myself. I turned to Conn. “Do we have anything left in storage that we could sell for half a million?”

He folded his arms and thought. “That’s an intriguing thought. We have several pieces that together might sell enough to give us a huge down payment. Maybe Mulan can use her connections to get us the best deal on them.”

Fiona squealed and clapped her hands. “If it’s in a neighborhood, we’ll need a gated community to help with security. Or if it’s on land, we will need one of those long driveways with a gate that locks. I’ll start looking tomorrow. I’m so excited, Mom. Maybe we’ll turn the basement into our work headquarters.”

I stared at the two of them. “Buying a house means I’m going to have to take the job our friendly neighborhood colonel offered me. It also means Conn and I have to stay in the States until we can transfer to the Shadows Breakers group back home.”