“Kai!” Eddi couldn’t help laughing in her outrage.

“What? It’s dwarf tradition, you know. Never mind. I’ll force-feed you my slop, exact my five minutes of tedious housework, and then we can talk.”

“You’re a total goof, but thanks for the meal.”

“Better reserve your thanks until you’ve sampled my culinary efforts.” With a wry wink that made her heart flutter, he strode toward the stable door. He always had walked as if he owned the world, totally comfortable in his own skin.

Eddi hurried to catch up before anyone caught her staring.

Horses nickered and shuffled as she and Kai entered the resort’s main barn. Eddi realized she hadn’t seen any summer staffers around for a while. “Where is everyone?”

“Ben and Jeralee organized a special game-and-pizza night for the kids. Gives us a break.”

“That was thoughtful. I know you don’t get many nights off. Where are your folks?” Cog and Tea had run the resort’s stable operations throughout Eddi’s lifetime, and she figured they would retain that position in perpetuity.

“Visiting family and friends.” Before Eddi could ask, he answered her question. “I figured I’d stick around and help White get settled in.”

“I’m glad you did.” She followed him into the tack room, which was more of a luxurious recreation room for the summer-staff teens, including foosball, pool, and ping-pong tables along with plushy sofas and shelves of books, mostly about horses. Oiled and polished bridles, harnesses, and saddles lined the walls, giving the room a pleasant leathery scent.

“Make yourself at home,” Kai said. “I’ll be right back with dinner.” He headed to a corner of the room and . . . vanished.

Startled, Eddi half sat, half fell into the depths of a brown sofa, taking deep breaths to slow her pounding heart. Kai was a dwarf, of course. Now that she knew his secret and no other guests were around, he didn’t have to hide his magic.

But she still wasn’t used to the idea.

Her awareness of magic had started almost exactly two years ago, when Eddi and Beatrice met and befriended a siren who’d been enchanted into human form. In the space of a few days, the three girls had formed a solid friendship . . . but Eddi realized now that her naïve mind had failed to grasp the implications of Kamoana’s true nature. Least of all, the power of her voice.

As long as Kammy remained in human form, that magical power had been blocked. But once she and her human boyfriend broke the curse and Kammy regained her magic . . .

More quickly than she’d expected, Kai reappeared with two steaming plates and set them on a small table. “Such as it is, dinner is served.”

“Looks great to me.” The delectable aromas of seared chicken breast and roasted vegetables made her mouth water.

He slipped into the kitchenette along one wall, and she heard the clink of flatware. “The refrigerator is stocked with drinks. Any preference?”

“I’ll get my own.” Eddi joined him and selected a bottle of orange juice. “How and why did you disappear just now?” she asked bluntly, facing him in the close quarters.

He blinked. “Sorry about that. Should have warned you. I stepped through a magical disguise that hides the entrance to my private quarters. I’m the only person who can enter.”

“Oh! Interesting.” For no sensible reason, this explanation cheered her.

The food was every bit as tasty as it smelled and looked, and they chatted like the old friends they were. “Has anything interesting happened this summer?” Eddi asked.

“Remember cranky old Lady Beneventi? She was here last month with a wish-granting fairy. That got bizarre, but Geoff Bryant and Rosa handled it.”

“Those two stopped the evil sleeping princess last summer, didn’t they?”

“They’re a formidable team. Any intelligent nefarious enchanter would avoid Faraway Castle while they’re around.”

“Then let’s hope intelligence and nefariousness are genetically linked.” Eddi enjoyed the appreciative twinkle in Kai’s eyes before asking, “How have your parents been?”

“They’re both good. Dad knew you were arriving today. I’m sure he’ll drop in to see you when they get back.”

“What about your mom?”

“She keeps busy planning events and competitions for resort guests. She’s doing gymkhana workshops for young teens and hunt seat courses for older teens.”

Had she imagined it, or did his inflection change when he spoke of his mother?