Page 70 of Made

“If you weren’t real, you wouldn’t care whether you were controlled or not. Do you get that?”

“Aye. I do.”

“Well then. Stop being goofy and get ready to go fetch your girl.”

Keir couldn’t help thinking that, when Kagan smiled without reservation, it was like looking in the mirror. “Now that’s out of the way, I have an idea about how to shift the power dynamic and add some insurance.”

“What is it?”

Three identical brothers and I sat at my kitchen table while Max conveyed a rather complicated set of instructions on how Kagan would reach the Cardinal Realm and protocols for behavior once he arrived.

“Questions?”

“I have one,” Killian said. “Are you confident that your contract is without fault?”

“To the extent that I can be. Confident, that is,” Max answered.

“So that means that they might’ve devised these trials with an impossibility of success?” Killian pressed.

“We’ve left little chance of that,” Max said. “But I can’t claim absolute perfection.”

“Max,” I said. He turned towards me. “Have you ever been in love?”

Max blinked rapidly. Apparently, he thought the question came out of nowhere. I suppose he had every good reason to think that.

“I don’t…” he began.

“Just indulge me.”

“Yes. I have,” he answered.

“Well then. If the person you loved was in Esme’s shoes, would you rely on your contract and go after her?”

Max’s smile was tight, but it was there. “Yes,” he said simply.

“Good enough. Can you stay for dinner? Bangers and mash? Heavy on the bangers.” I asked.

“Another time. I have rounds,” he said.

“Rounds?” Killian asked.

“His other gig. Sandman duties,” Keir supplied.

“Ah,” Killian said.

“Thanks for coming, Max.” I stood to show him out. “Send the bill for legal services to Kagan.”

“I will,” he said on the way to the front door. I’d meant it as a joke, but after hearing his reply, I couldn’t tell if he was playing along. Just before he left, he lowered his voice and said, “There’ve always been conflicting stories about the nature of Cardinals. They’ve been rumored to behave like angels when sighted. They’ve also been said to be vindictive and ruthless.” He sighed. “Who knows? Both things could be true. Dual natures are a feature of gods and humble alike.”

“People with too much time on their hands speculating about the mindsets of celestials.”

He chuckled. “So, you’re saying I have too much time on my hands.”

Oh geez.My jaw was getting sore from having my foot in my mouth more often than not the past few hours. While I was deciding how to get out of my flub, Max came to my rescue saying, “I wish your family the best of luck.”

“See you in court.”

“See you in court.”