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I had to bite my lip before speaking. “Since I don’t know what it will take to care for a pair of demon wolves, we’ll have to wing it until we see how they behave. Maybe Isaiah will give us lessons on the care and feeding of wolves in wolf form.”

“We’re hiring staff. They can look after the wolves,” Conn said from the back.

Mulan’s head nearly twisted off as she tried to turn and glare at him. “Are you too helpless to clean and cook for yourself?”

I waved my hand in the air. “No, no… and we’re not lazy either. Settle down there, Ms. Total-Self-Reliance. Our staff will be a demon couple that will keep an eye on things when we’re not there to do so. A big place needs keepers.”

“Sounds like very expensive life,” Mulan said grumpily.

“If ya feel inclined to contribute to the whopping mortgage payments, I won’t complain.”

Her derisive snort filled the car. “No need for huge mortgage. I will help with down payment.”

“We’re shooting to come up with half a million, which we hope will be half of the cost. But I wouldn’t expect ya to chip in yer life savings.”

Mulan huffed at my estimates as she swung my ancient car into our driveway. “I can’t believe you sent self-centered child on such an important search. How much is this house she found?”

I shrugged and tried not to grin at her irritation. It was my money that I was spending. Why did the amount bother her so much?

“Something just over a million I think. Fiona said it was more than the limit I gave her, but that it was worth it because of how big the property was.”

“Why do we not pay cash for house?”

I smirked at her. “For the usual reason, of course. We don’t have that much cash available.”

The money-loving Wu Shaman glanced in the backseat at Conn. She’d learned already not to ask me for specifics. “How much money do you have so far?”

“I’ve come up with the half a million Aran wants to put down. That should leave us with a reasonable enough mortgage to handle the payments.”

Mulan nodded. “It is good you have so much collected because I have another half million. I was saving to buy back family farm. Thanks to you, there is no need. I also don’t want more hair shops. One is enough.”

Conn chuckled. “What are you suggesting?”

“I suggest nothing. We will do a contract and I will invest in this new place too. If I sell my little house, we maybe pay off mortgage in under five years. When we sell big house later, I get investment back with fifty percent of profit from higher value.”

“If ya contribute that much, Conn and ya can have the big house and I’ll take one of the cottages.”

“No. I prefer my home be cozy and simple. You will take big house and staff. I had that life once and don’t want it again.”

“Whatever ya say, Mighty Wu,” I said, opening my car door.

Mulan snorted before responding. “I knew you heard demoness call me that. I am surprised it took you so long to use it.”

We ushered the demon wolves into the house and out to the garage. The ruckus we made woke Fiona who stumbled out of the bedroom we shared. “Did I hear dogs running in the house or was I dreaming?”

“Ya heard demon wolves,” I said to her with a smile. “But they’re harmless. I named them that because I don’t know how else to talk of them yet.”

“Can I see them?” she asked.

I opened the garage door and we both watched as the two wolves paced the room, sniffing everything in sight.

I sighed before explaining. “They’re actually two young women about yer age, Fiona. A guardian in human form changed them into these creatures with strange magick. She intends to change them back at some point. She was trying to show the world that genetic manipulation could be done to anyone. There’s more but that’s the gist of her intentions.”

Fiona put a hand on her chest. “Those poor women. Don’t close the door, Mom. I’ll be right back.”

My daughter returned in under a minute with the one-piece folded pillows she bought for the lawn chairs and two throws she’d confiscated from the living room. Pushing past me into the garage, she unfolded and arranged the cushions close together and far away from Rasmus.

When she was done arranging, Fiona covered the cushions with the throws and patted them as she looked at the wolves. “I made your beds. Now you can be comfortable.”