His demon’s heart was true, and it was huge, and it had been neglected for far too long. She wanted that heart for her own, to care for and protect, even as he cared for and protected her and her baby in return.
She couldn’t offer him riches or influence. But she could be his figurative giraffe, bringing him simple softness and comfort when his world grew confusing, cold, and hard. She could offer him a community of well-intentioned, generous friends. She could serve as his sounding board, reminding him of the human stakes in all his decisions when everyone around him pressured him toward expedience or self-interest.
She could love him unselfishly, the way he deserved. She could allow him to love her in return, because he clearly had untold amounts of frustrated, untapped affection overflowing his soul’s banks, and she was doing her best to believe that she deserved love too.
Yes, this was too soon. Yes, she was probably being foolish beyond words. Wouldn’t be the first time, although it might be her last, depending on what her immediate future held.
Didn’t matter. If she was going out, she was going out with love and in love.
Her fingers curled around the giraffe, holding it tight. Her other hand curved protectively over her belly. She stood straight and tall, strong and ready, and took her first vow since leaving her Girl Explorer troop and heading to Delphi Academy, where she’d learned to doubt the power of her own word and her own worth.
I’ll go out with love, in love—and fighting all the way down.
25
According to Max, Hugh had left for a confidential meeting while Gwen was taking a shower. When she sent him a quick text from her new burner phone, he immediately responded with brief but sweet reassurances as to his well-being and greetings from Thora. Also an emoji heart, which she suspected was a first for him.
Kip and Lorrie, who’d slept on the hard living room couch and a makeshift bed on the floor, shared an absurdly huge breakfast with Gwen. And soon after the trolls had departed, Edie shuffled into the kitchen too and wolfed down a large bowl of rainbow-colored cereal as Max hovered protectively.
Once Edie had eaten her fill, Gwen offered the couple the best thank-you she could for their continuing hospitality: a prophetic session.
Max declined the offer graciously, but Edie agreed with surprising eagerness. Even after Gwen confessed that she wasn’tsure what might happen when she voluntarily summoned her oracular power again, rather than having it unexpectedly sear through her like a lightning strike.
Turned out, it felt like a normal session to her. And when she returned to her own senses, the fresh wound on her palm stinging but cauterized black, she clearly remembered what she’d told Edie and the other woman’s response.
“A new sage-scented oil will cause small lumps in your next soap batch,” Gwen had intoned, “and you will shout ‘motherfucker’ loudly enough to alarm several local squirrels.”
“Ricing.” Edie had jotted a note to herself. “The perennial bane of soap makers everywhere, along with acceleration, separation, seizing, and discoloration. Also alien brain.”
“ ‘Alien brain’?” Max had stared at her. “What the fuck?”
“Shush.” Edie had wagged a finger at him. “Gwen’s telling me important shit.”
“In your frustration, you will decide to give yourself bangs,” Gwen had added as another vision appeared before her unseeing eyes. “Regrets will be had. Stylists will be called. A striking resemblance to the character of Lloyd inDumb and Dumberwill be noted.”
Edie sat back in her leather chair. “Oh, damn.”
A third image had bloomed in Gwen’s mind. “The vampire will soon give you a gift. You will promptly get barbecue sauce on that gift, but—”
“Sounds about right,” Max had grumbled.
“—the gray velvet slipcovers will wash clean.”
Edie’s hands had flown to her mouth. “Oh, gods, Max, did you—”
“So much forthatsurprise.” Despite his grousing, he’d smiledat his girlfriend with shocking sweetness. “Happy Not Dying Day, my Edie. Please accept my abiding devotion in the form of a Pottery Barn couch.”
One final vision had tugged at Gwen’s attention. “You will celebrate the gift’s arrival in ways that will permanently traumatize Sabrina when she visits your home unexpectedly.”
“Worth it,” Edie had declared, then crawled into Max’s lap and started making out with him.
After that, the Power had slipped away from Gwen, leaving her slumped on Max’s current, non–Pottery Barn sofa. Since her hosts were otherwise occupied, she didn’t bother asking for a glass of ice water. Instead, she simply sat tiredly and tried to rub away the dull ache in her forehead while Edie and Max Frenched each other with enviable enthusiasm.
Abruptly, Max rose to his feet, pulling Edie with him. “I believe you need another nap, ma puce. We should—” He cut himself off and glanced to the right, toward his library. “Greetings, Blacke. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Gwen twisted her neck to look behind herself, and sure enough. Hugh was standing in his socked feet, arms crossed over his chest, resting a shoulder against the hallway’s wall.
“You’re back!” Suddenly bursting with renewed energy, she leapt to her feet. “Everything okay?”
