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“Why don’t I help you carry it to your truck and accompany you home?”
“To the truck, yes, but I can take it from there. You wouldn’t want to be spotted at my house helping me. You want to control the flow of information to Magnarella.”
“True. That bastard would have a guillotine ready to behead me the second I crossed the threshold. Let me know when you’re ready to track the rest of them. ’Tis a fun game.”
“’Tis,” I agreed.
At least I had the containment cell ready and waiting in the Castle. The goat and donkey could chill in there until I gathered more information.
CHAPTER 14
With a donkeyand a goat secured in the enchanted enclosure in the dining room and the pig safe with the pack, I settled in front of a crackling fire in the parlor room and delved into my favorite tome on the town—The Complete History of Fairhaven. The local crossroads were unlike other gateways. The one in Wild Acres provided access to multiple realms, which made it highly likely these animals came through there from one or more of those realms. Maybe there was a record of other wild animals invading the town that would provide a solid lead. Addison’s claim of responsibility could be a red herring to throw me off the trail. For all I knew, this was Magnarella’s real revenge, and Brody was an unwitting decoy. The vampire knew I was willing to go to bat for others and that a situation like this would torture me.
I made myself cozy under a blanket in the wingback chair delivered by the prince of hell himself. I hated to admit how comfortable it was. I considered putting it out for the next garbage collection, but my desire for spite was overridden by my desire to sit in a comfy chair. We all had our price, and apparently mine was free furniture.
I scanned the index for references to lions, wolves, and other seemingly ordinary mammals. At some point, Hailey was going to deny my request to renew this book. I should probably check with Jessie Talbot to see whether the elderly owner of the local bookstore had a copy for purchase. Her collection of books reflected the uniqueness of the town. She was far more likely to have a local history book thanWar and Peace.
“You sure seem to love that book,” Ray remarked.
I glanced up, midyawn.
“Okay, I retract that statement,” he said.
All this reading was making me tired—or maybe it was my lack of sleep. I needed to pay better attention to my body.
“I was hoping for a blinking neon sign that pointed to the answers I’m looking for, but I haven’t even found a dog-eared page.”
Ray gave me a wry smile. “Life rarely works that way.”
“So I’m learning.” I closed the book and set it on the floor. A side table would be my next acquisition. Once the winter weather cleared, I’d hit the road for dumpster diving. Pops had been an expert. I’d been remiss in not utilizing the lessons he’d taught me in relation to cheaply furnishing a house.
“Where’s Nana Pratt?” I asked.
“Outside. She doesn’t like seeing the animals indoors. Thinks it’s unnatural.”
“She can just avoid the dining room for now,” I said.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to fit the other animals in there?”
“The pen is enchanted. It will expand to fit whatever I put in there.”
“Won’t it be dangerous to have them all in the same pen together?”
“If they were normal animals, sure.”
“Do you really think they’re the root of the chaos in town?”
I rose to my feet and stretched my arms overhead. “They’re the root of two-sevenths of the chaos.”
My skin hummed. Company.
“Ray, would you mind seeing who’s here?”
The ghost returned a moment later. “Don’t kill the messenger.”
“You can’t kill a ghost, Ray.”
“It’s His Royal Highness, Prince of Hell.”
