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“I devoured mine before you came down, so don’t think I was completely selfless.” She patted her stomach. “They were delicious if I do say so myself. When I leave here, I might try working as a short order cook in a rural diner. One of those places that only serves truckers and travelers. I’ll wear a name tag, but everybody will call me ‘honey’ or ‘sweetie’ anyway.”
Her comment took me by surprise. “Are you thinking about leaving soon?”
Addison searched my face. “Is that a hopeful question?”
It wasn’t. For all her flaws, I was beginning to enjoy her company. Gods help me.
“I think you should leave, but not for the reason you think.”
A look of alarm crossed her features. “What do you mean?”
“How likely is it that Mathis monitored my experience last night through some kind of supernatural surveillance?”
“I give it a solid eight.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.”
“Why does it matter?” Addison asked. “I thought you were getting a family reunion. Are you embarrassed they saw you hug your mommy?”
My phone vibrated between us. “Let’s just say I got the deluxe version.”
Addison tapped the table. “You’re getting a call from West.”
“I can see that.” The phone continued to bounce lightly on the wood surface until I hit the speaker button. “Tell me it’s not the Wild Hunt.”
“Looks like the starter kit,” West said. “Four travelers came through the crossroads on horseback, plus a magical guy in a cloak. Magical guy incapacitated the guards and tied them to trees.”
“How did they break free?”
“Once they regained consciousness, they shifted.”
“Any idea who he is?” He didn’t sound like a hunter.
“Paulie said the guy didn’t lay a finger on them, just pointed and hummed like he was conducting an orchestra.”
“He’s a druid,” Matilda said, appearing in the doorway. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothing was lined with deep creases. “The others are scouts.”
That made sense. A druid’s magic was deeply connected to nature.
“Why send a druid?” West asked.
Matilda approached the table. “He’s preparing for the Wild Hunt’s arrival. The scouts’ job is to track and anticipate locations to make the hunt a smoother experience.”
“Then what’s the job of the druid?” I asked.
Her mouth tightened. “To ensure failure isn’t an option.”
“Is that standard?” West asked.
Anger burned in Matilda’s eyes. “No, but nothing Vortigern does is standard when it comes to the hunt. He’s corrupted the entire experience.”
The druid’s presence was likely my fault. If I hadn’t sent the hobgoblin with a warning, Vortigern’s paranoia wouldn’t have intensified. I should’ve realized the move would do more harm than good.
“I’ve got wolves tracking them,” West said.
The fact that the druid didn’t kill the guards was encouraging. “Tell them to keep a safe distance and text me updates on their locations.”
“Will do.”
