“I thought most humans were still wary about the dragons.”
“Oh, there’s a bunch who are. That senator who wanted to tag paranormals like cattle might be in prison now, but there are plenty of people still drinking the Kool-Aid he handed out, plus others just waiting to step in as the next great leader against the paranormal.”
Cece shook her head. “I heard a rumour that one of the candidates running for mayor is hugely anti-paranormal.”
“Yeah, I heard the same.” Tori scowled. “And he’s polling pretty high.”
“Of course he is,” Cece said in disgust. “People are the worst.”
Her phone buzzed, and she checked her screen, her eyes widening. “Kinsley and Maisie are outside.”
“Who are Kinsley and Maisie?” Tori was already off the couch and headed toward the front door, her body tense and alert.
“Two of my best friends,” Cece said. “I told them to stay away, though, because I don’t want them getting hurt.”
She hurried over to the door and yanked hard on it to open it, staring at her best friends who stood on the porch. Kinsley held a tray of coffees and Maisie had a package of Cece’s favourite cookies in her hands.
“Surprise!” Kinsley said.
“We brought coffee and cookies, so you can’t be mad at us,” Maisie said.
“I’m so mad at you,” Cece said as they stepped inside. She hugged Kinsley first, then Maisie, as tears slid down her cheeks. “And I love you both so much.”
“We love you too, honey,” Kinsley said as Maisie slammed her body against the front door to close it. “I think it might be even colder in here than it is outside.”
Cece swiped at the tears on her face. “Probably.”
“Thank God we brought coffee,” Maisie said before smiling at Tori. “Hi, I’m Maisie.”
“Hey, I’m Tori.” Tori studied Kinsley and Maisie before smiling at Cece. “Enjoy your visit with your friends. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
“Thank you, Tori.”
Kinsley waited until Tori left before saying, “Who is that tiny lady, and why do I feel like she could break me in half with her baby finger?”
“Because she could,” Cece laughed. She was still crying a little, and Kinsley took her hand.
“Don’t cry, Cece.”
“It’s what she does, and I, for one, have missed it terribly,” Maisie announced. “Also, where’s that hot polar bear shifter? I want to meet him.”
“Come into the living room, it’s warmer, and I’ll tell you everything,” Cece said.
“I like the plants in the living room.” Kinsley studied the small bookshelf pushed up against the wall near the living room door.
“Thanks,” Cece said. “Tori helped me bring down the bookshelf from Aunt Sybil’s office this morning and helped me choose which plants from my room.”
“It looks good,” Kinsley said.
“Yes, yes, it’s wonderful, it’s oxygenating the room, yada, yada,” Maisie said. “So, are you going to sleep with Briggs or not?”
Cece laughed. “Were you listening to anything I said in the last half hour, Maize?”
“I listened to all of it,” Maisie said. “And one of the things I very clearly heard is that you and Briggs want to have sex and that sex with him will most likely be the best sex of your life. So, why aren’t you doing it?”
“Maisie,” Kinsley said gently. “You know they can’t.”
“But if there’s even a chance it helps to,” Maisie waved vaguely, “end this conduit thing, then why shouldn’t they?”
