Page 55 of Cosmo

They stared at each other, obviously confused.

Hawk cleared his throat. “I believe what Bakli means is that he works for the house. This is his house and our house, and together, we work to keep the place functioning. He helps in so many different ways, things that we rarely even notice.”

“Oh, I see, I understand.” He didn’t, but he thought maybe he did.

It was much like Tyson’s Helena or Ob and Bob. House spirits took many forms, and he was just incredibly grateful that his house spirit liked milkshakes and wasn’t pissed off.

Cullen perked up. “Does my house have house spirits? I want to meet my house spirits! They don’t even have to do anything. I just want to talk to them and see if they can show me anything else in the house. I’m working very hard on making tricks.”

Bakli shook his head. “I don’t have access to the other parts of the houses. This is my house.”

Cosmo frowned. “But this is the common area. This is all the houses.”

“Yes, and this is my door to that.”

“Okay. Well, I hope you’re happy. Is there anything that we can do for you that we’re not doing yet?”

Bakli tilted his head. “We very much like milk.”

“Ah, yes.” Hawk smiled. “We will get some for you, my friend. My memory can be foggy, so I didn’t get any on the way here.”

So he’d ask Hawk what portions of milk to serve to the…little people. He wondered what Bakli’s people called themselves.

Nisse, love. They’re nisse.

Oh, cool. Thanks.He beamed at Hawk.

“Do you have house spirits, Corbin?” Cullen asked.

Corbin shrugged. “If I do, I haven’t seen them. I worry that the…the problems ran them off.”

“So what do we do to let them know, if we have them, that they’re welcome to come say hi?” Cullen asked, looking at Bakli.

Bakli beamed. “Excellent question! Make your homes your own, your havens, your nests. The happy spirits will return and be awake.”

That made Cullen smile and nod, as if a question had been answered, but Corbin’s expression still looked troubled, and Cosmo moved over across the kitchen to help with the milkshakes.

What is it? What’s wrong?

Corbin shook his head, lips tight.What if I can’t?

What if you can’t what?

What if I can’t fix it? This.Corbin’s hands shook as he worked.My gift is making something grow. This is blood. This dragon blood is in the boards, it’s deep in the fibers, and it hurts. What if I can’t remove it and make things right?

Then we raze it.

Pure shock was written across Corbin’s face.What?

If we can’t clean it, then we take it out. We remove it. And we burn it.

The thought came as clear as crystal slamming into his brain.

Corbin blinked.Can we do that?

Why not?

What would Myk say?

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