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Alfred waved a tired paw at me. “It was not the bear’s fault. Open derision from other males is one of the many costs of the curse. Even Prince Robin’s gaming friends react poorly to his presence now. He’s not coping well with being ostracized.”

Morals be damned. What male ever waited to indulge himself? All the other males I knew would have been having the time of their lives with every female they came across. They would be enjoying the curse. “I would be interested in hearing the whole story. Perhaps I might be able to lessen the costs of the curse for both of you.”

“You are very kind.”

Was I being kind? I doubted my motives were altruistic, but I definitely felt guilty for trying to get him to leave earlier. The guilt at least reassured me that I hadn’t turned into a terrible person. “Goodnight, Alfred.”

“Goodnight, Selene. Thank you for letting us stay. This is the safest I’ve felt in months.”

After checking the wards around the stable, I headed back to the house. Ethan and his mother showing up and causing trouble had made me extra cautious about my wards. Also, I didn’t trust Carol not to send more wicked magicals my way just for her entertainment. The Baba Yaga had never been an easy friend, not even when I still liked her. Stuck in the inn, I lectured myself daily about the need to find someone more normal to socialize with—someone who wasn’t the witch protectress. Or a member of the council. Or even another witch.

Sighing over my life choices, I nearly stepped on the fairy princess in her human form. She was seated on the top step of the porch, looking as tired as she had when she visited me before. Now, I was grateful I hadn’t let Farley stay. I wanted no listeners in the house when I got that bear into my bed. I wasn’t usually a screamer, but kissing Farley made me groan loudly, and he growled against me the whole time. Sex between us would not be a quiet affair.

Peace’s unexpected appearance unsettled me. She was yet another example of my poor judgment coming back to haunt me. If Ethan showed up to finish the set, I would turn him into a rat. Then I would call Fat Bastard to come exterminate him. Farley had given me some cat treats for their weekly visits. Getting rid of Ethan’s dead body would be worth the whole bag.

How Ethan’s conniving mother managed to keep her bastard child out of the magic pokey was beyond me. Thank the Goddess, his mother was finally and completely incarcerated. Knowing that lifted a heavy weight from my shoulders.

But why had Carol allowed Ethan to go free? I definitely did not understand her reasoning. Both of them had plotted against her. I shook my head to clear my thoughts of Ethan. I might have to get Farley to clean out the inn’s old well so I’d have a place to put unwelcome trespassers.

Surely, even Jezel wouldn’t find any harm in that. She used it for the same purpose back in her days as innkeeper.

“Hello, Princess Peace and Harmony.”

“Hello, Innkeeper Selene. You can expect Lord Alfred and Prince Robin to show up soon. They are the friends I mentioned.”

“I’m afraid you’re too late. Alfred and Robin came earlier today. Everyone is here now except Batman.”

Peace sighed as she gave me a compassionate look. “Is Batman also a troubled prince in need of a respite in your inn? I did not mean to add to your burdens.”

“No, he’s the fictional Knight of Darkness.”

“Like a vampire or demon?” Peace asked, tilting her head to one side as she gazed up at me. “By fictional, do you mean he’s a ghost?”

“Not exactly, but he is a figment of someone’s imagination,” I said with a chuckle.

I doubted the fairy princess was up to speed on human movies, so I reined in my amusement.

Peace lifted a hand to me. “When he arrives at the inn, please do not ignore Knight Batman on my account. Have you updated another room yet? If not, may I sleep in your garden in my smallest fairy form? I am utterly spent from my long journey. The only good news is that the crystal is now safely in its new location. I finally finished the task Mother assigned to me.”

“Good. Have you talked to your mother about your feelings yet?”

Peace ducked her head and nodded. “Yes. She is another reason I am here. I need some wise counsel, and you are the wisest person I know.”

“If I am wise at all, it’s because I’ve made a lot of mistakes and dealt with the consequences from them.” I sighed and gave in to destiny once more. “The room you stayed in before is available. You can sleep in it if you like.”

“Can we speak more about why I’m here in the morning? Running from my destiny is exhausting.”

I held the inn’s door open for her to enter. “At least you’ve succeeded now and again. I’ve had no luck at all in escaping my destiny at all.”

“You seem very sure of that,” Peace said.

I smiled at her. “I am quite sure because if I had succeeded in escaping it, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Is any of your failure my fault?” Peace asked.

“No,” I said with a laugh, feeling the innkeeper’s outfit fade and my mucking stall clothes reappear.

Peace looked at my clothes. “I am unsure which outfit is more unflattering.”