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“So sweet that you care, but I can look after myself.”

“Not against this, you can’t.”

Regan opened her mouth, no doubt to argue, then she shrugged. “Okay. I’m going to pop out—leave you alone for a little while.”

He looked at her in surprise. “That sounds too easy.”

She shrugged again. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back, but I have people I need to see. People who might be able to give me the information I need. The information you won’t give me.”

“Who could give you that?”

“The Council.”

“What’s ‘the Council’?”

She looked at him, then shook her head. “Don’t you know anything?”

Caleb frowned. “I told you—I never wanted to know.”

She heaved a sigh. “The Council is the organization that keeps your normal world safe. Or at least gives you the illusion of safety.”

Caleb found he wanted to ask more questions about this mysterious Council. He couldn’t remember Ethan ever mentioning it, but Regan was already walking away. She paused at the door and turned to face him. “Do you want to inform your receptionist to let me back in or would you rather I turn her into a toad.”

“You could do that?”

“Well, she wouldn’t actually be a toad, but she’d certainly look like one.”

He couldn’t help but smile at the idea, and Regan raised an eyebrow. “You want me to turn her into a toad?”

“Of course not.”

“Then tell her, because I’m coming back.”