Page 55 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

“Warm blankets?”

Another hiss.

“I make an excellent fever reducer.”

The Glaceryn spat, and a tiny chunk of ice struck Milo directly between the eyes.

“Ow!” he said, flinching and rubbing the spot.

Grievance laughed.

Milo turned on him. “Oh, now you’re laughing?”

“She doesn’t like you.”

“Aw, thanks, I hadn’t noticed. Any suggestions?” Milo paused. “Wait. She?”

“Yes. This little one is female.” Grievance crouched, slowly extending a hand toward the poor creature, who had huddled helplessly into the corner of the barn.

She responded with another round of spitting and hissing.

Grievance withdrew his hand. “Perhaps she would trust one of her own kind.”

“Can you transform into something you’ve never been before?”

He shrugged. “I’ve never done it. But I can try.”

He crouched lower. For a moment, nothing happened. Then Milo saw his nostrils flare. Scenting her. Studying her. Learning.

Again, Grievance slowly extended one hand, moving closer this time.

The Glaceryn lunged and sank her tiny teeth into his finger, leaving a neat row of punctures that immediately welled with blood. Grievance laughed.

“Spry little thing, aren’t you?”

The baby released him and scrambled backward, pressing herself against the hay.

Grievance stood. “I think I’ve got it.”

Milo knew what came next. He scooped Marigold up.

“You’d better step back,” Grievance warned.

“Way ahead of you,” Milo said, stepping outside. “But hey, maybe don’t do it in my barn⁠—”

Green light erupted through the yard. Grievance transformed. His human shape dissolved beneath a storm of green magic and swirling frost. Bones shifted. Muscle expanded. The frozen ground trembled beneath Milo’s boots as something enormous took shape before him.

Timber splintered. Beams snapped. The barn gave one terrible groan as its walls buckled outward—then the entire structure burst apart from the inside.

That is the second time that man has destroyed my barn.

Then—

Silence.

Milo slowly lowered the arm shielding his eyes.

“Oh…”