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“No comment,” Theo said from the backseat. “But also yes. Thanks, man.”
“No problem.”
We sat in the vehicle for a moment, sampling our drinks.
“This is the best coffee I’ve had in a long time,” Theo said.
“Same.” I slid Connor a glance. “And it only took being attacked, defamed, and threatened to get it. The least you could have done was get this for me three days ago.”
His eyes glittered with humor. “I wasn’t aware you were cheap enough to be bought with a cup of coffee.”
“It’s spectacular coffee,” I said. “So not entirely cheap. But also yes,” I said, repeating Theo’s phrase and settling in for a little bliss.
***
Theo updated Connor as we drove back to the resort, explained what the spellseller had said.
“Loren was an asshole,” Connor said, turning into the parking space in front of the cabin. “And Cash should have handled him or called someone who would.”
I turned around to look at Theo. “The clan and the sheriff have a financial arrangement. The clan helps fund his election campaigns, and he doesn’t mess around in clan business.”
“Gross” was Theo’s assessment. I agreed.
“I don’t like Paloma,” I said, “and I don’t respect her. She may have been victimized, and that was wrong. But she knew exactly what she was doing here. And there’s something pitiable about the way she thinks about magic and revenge—that she never had any choices.”
“That nothing was her fault or her responsibility,” Theo said.
“Yeah. Exactly.” There seemed to be a lot of that going around.
***
We found Georgia sitting at the kitchen island with Lulu, who balanced a sketch pad in the crook of her arm, was drawing a cluster of pinecones and birch bark she’d arranged on the kitchen island.
“I was just chatting with your sassy roommate,” Georgia said with a smile.
“Her,” I asked with a grin, “or the cat?”
Georgia’s smile faded. “That cat’s a goddamn menace.”
Connor smirked at me, and I just rolled my eyes.
“You pronounced ‘majestic’ incorrectly,” Lulu said, smirking as she swept pencil across paper in long, fluid strokes.
I sat down at the island to finish my muffin, lost half of it to Lulu, who nipped a chunk before I could slap her hand away.
“Beyo?” Connor asked.
“Cleaned up, unconscious, and under guard,” Georgia said. “He’s in one of the empty cabins. When he wakes up, he’ll be restrained. We’ll let you know so you can talk to him.”
“Good,” Connor said with a nod, nipped another chunk of my muffin.
“Dude.”
“I didn’t get one for myself.”
Georgia smiled, seemed to enjoy the byplay. But the smile faded quickly enough, and she looked at me. “What did you learn?”
I gave the replay this time, telling Georgia about the cult and the magic. “Zane learned about the SOA, found her, paid her to make the spell. She knew they wanted to take on Loren, and claims he assaulted her, so she didn’t ask any questions. Says she didn’t know they’d turn into something, just thought they’d get stronger.”
