Page 15 of Made

As I neared the front door, I knew Lochlan had brought his dogs because my pups were voicing the special whine reserved for their parents. As soon as I opened the door, Fen and Frey bounded onto the porch, wiggling in the most undignified way, delivering sloppy kisses to Angus and Aisling, whotolerated the onslaught with their own more mature demonstration of affection.

“Come in,” I told Lochlan. The four dogs ran past us, through the house, and out the dog door in the mudroom. “I’ll make tea. But tell me. Is this business or neighborly drop by?”

“Neighborly drop by?” He didn’t sound too sure about the option, but at least I knew it wasn’t business.

As I made tea, we talked about the rounds of gossip that graced the last Legendary Lunch. If I’d learned anything during my year on the bench, it was that fae love gossip.

When my new kettle whistled, I set it off the burner and pulled muffins from the AGA warming compartment. When the dogs smelled the muffins, they came running back inside. Just in case a crumb or two should fall before making it to the bipeds’ mouths.

Lochlan chuckled. “Seems the hounds are fond of Olivia’s baking.”

“I’m sure the same could be said of all creatures who eat.”

“Indeed. What do we have today?”

“Poppyseed.”

“Oh my!” It was an evocative response for Lochlan. Perhaps it wasn’t just Evie. And Lochlan. Perhaps most fae have a thing for poppyseed. He reached for one before I was able to set the plate on the table and confirmed my suspicion forthwith. “A fae favorite to be sure.”

“Yeah.” I laughed. “I like them, too. A lot.”

I fixed my tea just the way I like it, then following suit, I took a bite and instantly forgot that anything existed in the universe other than the symphony of flavors in my mouth. Tea and poppyseed muffin.What could be better?

“Hmm. Hmm. Hmm,” I said.

All four dogs whimpered like I was deliberately torturing them. When I made the mistake of looking their way, I caved to the sucker side of being a mistress of dogs. Their eyes were so big and intense and needy, I justcouldn’tcontinue enjoying myself without sharing in some way.

I got up and went to the AGA compartment where some of Keir’s stash of cooked bacon stayed warm throughout the day. I told myself he’d never notice just a scant four pieces missing.

I gave each dog a piece of bacon, which disappeared like magic. Two seconds later, the whining resumed.

“Oh no,” I scolded. “You can’t make me think I didn’t give you bacon already. I did! So, whine all you want. I’m having my muffin guilt-free.”

They continued pleading for half a minute, then settled down on the floor together like they’d received my message.

“Your pups are nearing fraighound ability.”

With an unabashed mouth full of muffin, I said, “What do you mean?”

He looked at me like what he’d said couldn’t have been better stated. “It’s like a form of fae puberty. They’re going to begin learning to transform.”

I put my muffin down. “Oh.” I couldn’t begin to say why I’d never thought about my beautiful Border Collie pups turning into large magical beasts with rough coats like Irish wolfhounds. It wasn’t just looks either. I’d seen Angus and Aisling in fraighound form. No one wants to be on the wrong side of that argument. “What,” um, “should I expect?”

“Ah. Well. In the beginning, their bodies might make a partial… and odd change.”

“For instance?”

“You might see your pup with just the tail of a fraighound? Or the ears?” He laughed softly. “It can be quite amusing.”

“Amusing?” I repeated. “It doesn’t sound amusing. It sounds horrifying.”

“I suppose it could be from a human perspective. But look at it this way. When your dogs’ adaptation is complete, you’re going to be the safest human alive.”

“Living in a house with a sephalian and two fraighounds, you mean?”

“Exactly right.”

“I know what you’re saying. But during my time as magistrate, I’ve seen some pretty scary stuff.”