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“Ellison’s on the loose. He got out of his ankle monitor and vanished. Millie was here to tell me.” I didn’t like the panic I could hear in my voice, but it was there and there didn’t seem to be much that I could do about it.
“I’ll be over in ten minutes,” Teran said.
“And I won’t take much longer than that,” Rowan said.
Both of them hung up and I debated on whether to call Killian, but decided to wait until he got off from work. But another thought hit me and I called Tad.
“Listen, my ex managed to free himself. It’s possible he’s in Moonshadow Bay because of me, so we have to be cautious at the office, in case he decides to hunt me down there.” I felt awful bringing my coworkers into it, but they had to know. If anybody got hurt because of me, I’d feel responsible. While it would be Ellison’s fault, the fact was, if I wasn’t in the picture, they wouldn’t be in any danger from him.
“Crap, are you all right?” Tad’s voice shifted into protector mode, endearing him to me even more.
“I’m okay—Millie came by to tell me.”
“By the way, what news did you get about your house? Did they find the cause of the fire?”
“That’s another thing. It was arson. They found a magical fire poppet. I think the Covenant of Chaos might be behind this,” I added, wincing as a wave of nausea hit me. I knew that feeling by now—it predicted there might be a headache right on the heels.
I paused, then added, “See if you can find out anything recent on the Covenant of Chaos, would you? There’s been some movement and we’re worried they’re trying to grow their presence here again.” I paused someone pulled into the driveway. A peek out the window calmed my nerves—it was Rowan and Teran, come together in Rowan’s car. “I have to go, Tad. My grandmother and aunt are here. Keep alert, and make sure the security system is on.”
“Will do.”
I pocketed my phone and went to unlock the door—which I had locked after Millie left. Rowan and Teran picked their way through the snow, up on the porch and into the house. They had both rubbernecked, looking over at my house, which was obviously damaged.
“Hello, darling,” Aunt Teran said, kissing my cheek. “How are you doing?” She was carrying more bags than I could count. “Here, let me put these things in the kitchen.”
“What did you bring?” I followed her into the kitchen, Rowan following me.
“I made my special peanut butter chip chocolate cookies. And I brought over enough protection powder to surround your land—both lots. Oh, I also brought some banana bread.” She shrugged out of her coat and draped it over the back of one of the counter chairs. “And I broke up with Andrew.”
I had been reaching into the bag for a cookie, but I stopped, staring at her. “Why? I thought you guys were doing really well.”
Teran half laughed, half snorted. “Oh, January, you know who I am. Andrew did, too, but he chose to ignore the reality. He got too attached and he asked me to marry him.”
That was the kiss of death. Teran was a confirmed spinster. She was happy on her own, and relationships were like condiments to her—wonderful to spice up life, but not a food she wanted to make a meal out of.
“Oh,” I said, reaching again for a cookie.
“Put those on a plate, girl,” Rowan said. “I want one.” She turned to Teran. “You have to follow your heart, and if your heart says ‘stay single,’ then stay single.”
“I warned him at the beginning—don’t fall in love with me unless you’re willing to keep our relationship at a certain level. I guess the heart wants what it wants, but our hearts weren’t in the same place.” She sighed. “I feel like an asshole, but I did warn him.”
I rested my arm on hers. “You are always upfront with people. Andrew got more emotionally involved than was good for him.”
Rowan found my Giving Plate in the cupboard and began to set out the cookies. She brought out the banana bread and sliced it, stacking it on the plate with the cookies. “I’ve told Tarvish that I will never marry him. But I am very fond of him and as long as things continue to be good, we’re at a place where I’m comfortable.”
“Andrew’s a good person, but I’m never going to be comfortable in a full relationship,” Teran said, accepting the mug of hot cocoa that I handed her.
I gave Rowan hers, then sat down at the table with mine. “So…Ellison. I wish to hell he’d ended up in prison, not under house arrest.”
“I wish he’d been strung up by his nuts,” Rowan said. “I know that you’re feeling overwhelmed and you have that aura around you that tells me you’re on your way to having a headache, so Teran and I will go protect the entire property again after we finish here.”
“Bless you,” I said. “I’m tired and you’re right—I feel like I’m right on the edge of a headache, and I can’t let that rabbit hole swallow me up right now, given it’s a week till the wedding.”
“Let’s go sit in the living room. I found out a few things from Marquette.”
“Okay, and then I’ll tell you about my lunch with Daya.” I picked up the plate of cookies and banana bread, and Teran carried the teapot filled with hot cocoa in it, while Rowan brought our cups. We settled in the living room, me curling up in Killian’s oversized chair, as I folded my feet beneath me.
“So I talked to Marquette,” Rowan said. “She’s a firecracker, that one. I think she’s having some issues like you—she was injured on the job for the Crown Magika and so severely hurt that she’s permanently disabled.”
