Page 16 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

Evie knew she could prevail upon Serafina’s friendship with her mother to keep the Magistrate’s coma to herself as well as her inquiry about the status of werewolves as a species.

Evie hadn’t been gone for more than seconds before Maxfield Pteron strode up the lane wearing his signature riding attire, looking like he’d left his horse just out of sight at the end of the lane.

Lochlan had been about to set off for his office to see what he could dig up on the Greeks, but set that aside to hear what the counsellor might have to offer.

When Max’s boot struck the first step leading up to the porch, Lochlan nodded and said, “Maxfield,” in a way universally recognized as a minimalistic masculine greeting.

Max nodded in return then acknowledged Keir. “Good day, Enforcer.”

“I wish that was true,” Keir said. “Tell us you have good news.” Keir pointed to the porch swing as an invitation to sit. “Can you help her?”

“So far as news. I sincerely wish it was better. I’m able to put humans to sleep. I’m not able to manipulate the comatose.”

Keir leaned over, put his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. He hadn’t realized how much hope he had riding on Max. He felt his eyes burning and thought it was no time to contract a mysterious malady. He needed all his energy to deal with the crisis at hand.

“Honestly, this makes some Chinese ghost-monster seem like a lightweight,” said Max.

“It’s a matter of perspective. It only seems that way because that problem is behind us,” Lochlan argued.

“Plausible,” was all Max said. “I’ll be going then.” He stood, seeming eater to get away. “You’ll keep me informed?”

“Since you’re principal representative for the Bureau, you are on a need-to-know basis. Should Samhain Court not convene as scheduled, we will require input as to how to handle that eventuality. Needless to say, this is all confidential.”

Max jerked his head downward in a single nod. “Right then.”

He’d barely turned the corner and passed out of sight when Loki appeared on the porch wearing formal Highland dress with tartan similar to Galbraith.

“What do you think?” He held his arms out so that Keir and Lochlan couldn’t miss a detail. “I made this tartan myself.”

The fact that he was so beautiful and undoubtedly there to see his wife didn’t make Keir hate him any less.

Keir and Lochlan exchanged a look, then got up and went inside without another word. Keir closed the door and said, “House. Do not let that bugger inside.”

When the two turned around, Loki was standing there, having changed into faded jeans and a Henley. “If you don’t like kilts, all you have to do is say so. There’s no call to be inhospitable,” he said.

“We could give a roach’s farthing what you wear. I’ll ask you kindly to leave my house.”

Loki’s face fell as he grew serious. “I’m here to see my life coach. Nobody keeps me from my life coach.”

“Don’t you have an agreement with Rita to be on your own for a year?” Lochlan asked.

Loki turned his attention toward the clerk. “That’s more a guideline than a rule,” he said dismissively.

Keir let out an extended breath of exasperation. “She’s not available. Please take the hint and go.”

He knew as he was speaking that words were useless. Loki didn’t do subtlety. He didn’t even acknowledge an anvil over the head if he didn’t want to. He did as he pleased. Always.

“RITA!” Lochlan started slightly when Loki yelled out Rita’s name. Loki cocked his head like he was listening for a response. “I know she’s here.”

He started toward the hallway that led to the bedroom. Keir roared so loud that the dishes in the kitchen cabinet clattered and clinked while Olivia made a dash to grab the precious quisnart teapot, so rare it wasn’t even forged in this world. When Keir appeared to be readying to assault the intruder, Lochlan acted faster than one would guess was possible. In an act of bravery more expected from a warrior than a clerk, he threw his arms around Keir’s midsection from behind and began speaking quietly in his ear.

“No,” he said firmly. “You don’t want Rita to wake up to find that Loki has turned you into a pile of goo that lives in the lane.”

Esme and Jeff were both alarmed by the sound and normally would’ve come running, but Loki’s appearance in the bedroom beat them to it and was explanation enough.

Keir was breathing heavily, enraged that this unhinged god was inside his home, uninvited, looking for his wife as if hehad a right to do so. Lochlan kept talking. “Keep your wits about you, lad. You’re outgunned. When this is over, you can sue him for trespass.”

Slowly Keir began to get his breathing and his compulsion to shift under control.

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