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“Is everything all right?” he asks now, frowning at me in concern. “You’ve been rather unsettled today.”
“I’m fine!” I smile brightly to prove it, then look down at my screen. There’s two texts from a number I don’t recognize, but maybe that’s just Gideon texting me directly? I tap to check.
Unknown Contact:
theres nowhere ur safe from me
I sigh. Still with this. I might need to do as Micah keeps urging me and talk to Enforcement. I don’t know whether Cary Mack is a member of the community or not, but if he’s human, maybe they have some contacts with the human police who can handle it.
“Something important?” Micah asks, and I glance up to find his gaze on me. Asher and Garrett are distracted, talking to a passerby who stopped and is leaning on the railing of the pub’s terrace. The sunshine and relative warmth have brought most of the village out, walking, snowshoeing, sledding, and skating. The snow village rang with children’s delighted laughter when we went past earlier. And it’s all hidden away up here, safe from outsiders. I can see why the demons like it.
“Not important,” I assure Micah, putting my phone away.
He frowns, looking forbidding and scary, and affection rushes through me in a warm wave. My big tough demon. “It was him again, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. I think you might be right about talking to Enforcement.”
Garrett turns back just in time to hear that. “Enforcement? Why do you need Enforcement?”
“It’s not a big deal.” I explain it to him quickly. “He keeps texting me, and Micah’s worried about it. So…” I shrug. “I might see if Enforcement can do anything.”
Asher looks at his cousin. “If they can’t, just let me know.”
Nodding, Micah says, “That was my backup plan. Gideon first, then you.”
I glance between the two of them, then over at Garrett, who’s shaking his head in exasperation. “What?”
“He can’t harass you with texts if he doesn’t have enough money to buy burner phones,” Asher says with a shrug. I still don’t get it, and Micah must see my confusion.
“Asher knows a lot of people in the finance world. And a lot of ways to destroy someone’s credit.”
I gasp. “That’s terrible!” But if Enforcement can’t help, I won’t say no. I guess that makes me a hypocrite.
Oh, well.
“Have you told Alistair about this?” Garrett asks, frowning slightly. “I wouldn’t have thought he’d let you go this long without getting Enforcement involved.”
I set my jaw stubbornly. “Alistair’s not the boss of me. He doesn’t ‘let’ me do anything. But no. I haven’t told him.” Because if I did, he’d take over and handle it all like last time. I’ll always be grateful to Alistair, but I don’t need him to look after me.
“Please,pleasedon’t bring your annoying cousin into this,” Asher says to Garrett.
“I’ll second that. I’m still not recovered from the last time I spoke to him,” Micah adds. “In the nicest possible way, I’d be happy to never see him again.”
Dread curls inside me. I can’t choose between Micah and Alistair. “You’re kidding, right? He’s a bit exuberant, but Alistair’s the best person I know.” I wince when it comes out a little louder and more vehement than I intended.
“Thebestperson?” Asher sounds skeptical.
“The very best.” I fold my arms. If Micah has a problem with Alistair, we need to sort this out now, because Alistair will always be welcome in my home.
Garrett sighs. “As much as it pains me, I have to agree with Cam on this. Alistair is the world’s biggest pain in the ass, but he’s the most dependable friend anyone could have.”
Micah says nothing, but he’s studying my face. “If you both say so, I’ll believe it. Maybe I should spend more time with him.” He tries to keep his face demon-blank, but it still looks like he’s sucking on a lemon. I laugh.
“Just don’t write him off. He throws the best parties, anyway.”
“Yes,” Asher says dryly. “He had some input at our wedding.”
That sounds like a story I want to hear, so I—
