I promised Nana—who’d had the nerve to gripe about the sand we were tracking through the house—and Beverley that they’d hear the full story after a nap of my own. I stretched out on the couch. Nana busied herself in the kitchen. Beverley curled up beside me, watching cartoons and keeping the volume low. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
I squeezed her. “Me, too.”
A few hours later, Beverley woke me. A pair of semis had pulled into my driveway. By the time we made it to the porch, Vilna-Daluca had opened the back of one and a flurry of phoenixes filled the air. Griffons leaped out and paraded by. Some of them had wounds. The one that had lost an eye and the talons from his foreleg was among them.
Beverley, overjoyed at the sight of the glorious creatures, was barely able to contain herself. Even as the dragons slithered by she was shifting her weight and almost dancing. The unicorns, however, stunned her to slack-jawed stillness.
Once unloaded, the creatures headed straight for the grove, drawn to the ley line’s power.
I guess that’s where we’ll put the barn.
From my front porch, I watched the semis drive out and head down the road.
It was just after noon.
Nana called Beverley to lunch. The kid went in chattering and excited. “Demeter, did you see them?”
I stayed on the porch.
I had to wait for Johnny to wake up. I had to wait and see what the nightfall brought for Menessos. Heldridge was still out there somewhere, and whether or not he was the one who’d given the fairies info about the hanky, he had it in for Menessos.
Tomorrow would be Monday. I was sure Xerxadrea’s body would be identified. Then I’d have to deal with Vilna-Daluca and WEC. I also had to help Johnny unlock his tattoos. And speaking of waerewolves, though they had fled when the witches arrived, they had shown up at the beach and most had survived. They’d been promised the ritual to retain their man-minds. I had to perform it again. Then there was whatever Beau was going to want me to do before the next full moon.
And Beverley’s birthday party.
Still so much to do.