Page 40

Dylan looked at me. “That’s kind of you, but as intelligent animals, they need a purpose to feel alive. Playing with their demon caretakers a couple of times a day does not satisfy their needs.”

I spread my hands. “Are ya sure, Dylan?”

I didn’t feel great about turning them loose. I still felt they needed a keeper who was always around.

“Dylan and I can work with them and train them,” Zara said. “Perhaps you could get them a consort animal to watch over them while they are watching over us. That way, they have a constant companion that was more like them.”

I tilted my head. “I’ve heard of putting a donkey into a herd of sheep. Is that what ya’re suggesting?”

“Yes,” Zara said slowly, but she sounded unsure about agreeing to my example. “More precisely, I’m thinking that a winged horse would be an agreeable companion for the demon wolves.”

“A winged horse,” I said with a chuckle before outright laughing. “Do ya have one stashed somewhere, Zara? Last I checked, there were no pegasi herds in the states. They prefer desert climates.”

Zara smiled that evil smile I hated. “I meant that I could make you one. It would be good practice before attempting to turn the demon wolves back into humans. All you need to do is buy me a quality horse. I’ll take care of the rest.”

I stared at Zara without blinking. What kind of magickal so confidently offers to make a pegasus out of a horse? No magickal I knew had that kind of power. I wasn’t even sure that The Dagda did. It had taken a dark coven, a powerful fairy, and the power of Dylan’s artifact to convert Hisser into a naga.

How could Zara alone prompt such a transmutation?

Shaking my head in dismay, I scrubbed at my face. Good Goddess, why did I take the female guardian on? What arrogant madness had possessed me?

Maybe I needed to call Orlin and rescind my offer. My life would be so much saner.

“An experiment was always going to be necessary before she attempted to change the wolves back,” Rasmus said oh-so-casually.

“Wouldn’t such experiments make us as bad as the military scientists we keep fighting?”

The guardian stared into my eyes without answering. I stared back, and then realization hit. Rasmus had been right about not being able to stop genetic tampering from happening. Experimentation was a matter of motivation, intention, and what ya did with what ya created.

Their creation of man-made guardians to use as evil super soldiers was a terrible purpose. Our creation of a pegasus to keep the demon wolves company and watch over them might not be. It wasn’t the science of genetics that was flawed. Humanity’s desire to build weapons to control each other at any cost was the genuine problem. It was also one I realized humanity might never solve.

The biggest downside of Zara’s request was that no one could be sure how the experiment would work out. But that was how experiments worked and why people did them.

I glanced around the table before turning to look at Zara. “I’m not ruling any of this out but I’m going to need some time to think it through. What you’re suggesting is an extreme measure to take. However, I’ll let ya know when I get clear about the demon wolves and the winged horse possibility.”

“In the meantime, I’ll set up a rotating guard at the gate,” Henry declared.

Conn growled at everyone, but mostly Henry. “Fine,” he said. “Put someone at the gate.”

Rasmus nodded in agreement. “And Zara and I will see what magick we can add to the current wards to strengthen them. We’ll work directly with Aran and Mulan once we’ve decided what we can do to help.”

“What do ya feel we need to do, Conn? Ya called this meeting, so I know ya had some ideas of yer own when ya invited us here.”

Conn, who had never sat down, shoved his hands in his pockets and continued to pace. “I don’t want anyone to leave the property without taking another of us with them. I would prefer no one left at all until we resolve the situation, but I know that’s not practical or reasonable. I’m including myself in that seclusion. Please stay behind our wards until you simply must go out.”

“Thank ya, Conn. I have no problem with staying here. It will give me time to work in the greenhouse.”

Conn’s mouth gaped open at my statement, which made me laugh.

“Ben has officially benched me, so there will be no work for any of us until assassins stop trying to kill me. We won’t starve unless it goes on for more than a year, and I won’t let that happen. My best plan is to toss the fairy’s severed head back through their portal. Based on what I know so far, I truly believe Ezra’s death would resolve all our problems.”

Conn sighed. “Killing the fairy would solve a temporary problem and create a bigger one when the other fairies here start screaming about you being a threat to their safety in this realm. They bring magick to our realm by being here. Killing must remain our last resort.”

“Fine,” I said as snarkily as I could. "But don't act surprised when the wicked fairy forces me to do it. I’ve warned everyone that I won’t be showing the bastard mercy again.”

Conn’s expression turned fierce. “Speaking of being forced to do something, have you considered calling in an enforcer? As much as I would rather not work with them, this seems like a case where it would be helpful to have them involved.”

“I already asked Ben to call for one. That’s why he’s not here.”