“She is a child,” Jerry said in accusation.

“My first beating in the foster home at four years old—at least, the first one I clearly remember—stripped me of childhood, giant. I’m where I want to be. Mind your business.” Daisy poured herself a glass of orange juice.

“Close the refrigerator door,” I yelled. Sure, the owner was the one who’d get stuck with the electricity bill, but I’d spent my whole life trying to save money. It wasn’t the kind of thing you could just turn off.

Mordecai slammed the door shut and scooted to the table without anything to show for all his staring.

“This has got to stop,” I said. “Zorn, you’ve gone too far. Daisy can’t be in those kinds of situations. She’s too young for that. Too inexperienced.”

“We are headed into increasing danger,” Zorn replied, flipping a page in the magazine he was reading. “Daisy and Mordecai are at risk because they’re dear to you and Kieran. Might I remind you that Mordecai came inches from death, and Daisy was kidnapped and had to save herself. Not putting her at acceptable risk decreases her chances of survival. You need to trust her judgment. From all I’ve seen so far, it is impeccable.”

I heaved out a wary sigh. He was right; I knew he was. But the knowledge that she’d put herself in danger terrified the parent part of me, no matter what the outcome had been. I was responsible for her, and the last thing I wanted was for her to be in harm’s way, for any reason.

Still, I nodded. Daisy wouldn’t want to be sidelined. Neither would Mordecai. I’d tried to keep them away from our battle with Valens, but they’d both shown up in the end. I’d tried to keep them away from the battle with Aaron’s people, too, and they’d both almost been killed.

Donovan started transferring bacon and potatoes into a warm oven as he prepped for a batch of scrambled eggs. I stepped in to help and was promptly shooed away.

“Regarding the Lightning Rod”—I stood at the island instead—“we know how to kill him, but sneaking up on him won’t help if our objective is to talk to him. He might kill us where we stand before we can say three words.”

“Not if you meet him in a public place,” Zorn said. “If he uses his power around Chesters, they’ll react. Whatever magical government is closest will be alerted so that he can be extracted. His cover will be well and truly blown. He will know that. He won’t want to rock the boat.”

“Except he’s a recluse on a mountain,” I said.

“So was I, and the nearby village knew about me, as I said before,” Jerry said, back to looking out the window. There was no telling what he thought of our dysfunctional family.

“Everyone knew about you—you didn’t fake your own death,” Bria said.

“This guy might be a different character, but he’s in the same play,” Jerry replied. “He has to get supplies from somewhere in order to live. I don’t know of any high-powered magical people who were brought up in the woods. When you’re not accustomed to living off the land, you don’t have the tools to make it work. He’s hiding in plain sight because he’s in a non-magical zone, but mark my words, someone’s noticed him.

“Another thing trained magical people can’t live without is their magic. On days of no activity, I still felt the need to flex my magical muscles. It was an itch that I needed to scratch. If this guy’s bag is lightning and thunder, then we’re looking for freak or particularly violent thunderstorms. The kind that freak Chesters out and make the papers. That, or you’re—we’re, I guess—looking for a place where the weather can cover up his rushes of magic. We have plenty of clues to go by.”

“When did Jerry turn into Sherlock Holmes?” Thane said with a grin.

“Jolly-oh, guvna,” Donovan retorted, his accent on the wrong continent.

Zorn shook his head and flipped another magazine page.

“If that Thundercunt is on a mountain,” Jerry said softly, as though to himself, “it doesn’t matter what he can do. I own him.”

All activity in the kitchen stopped. Donovan turned from the stove to look at Jerry, a smile blooming on his face. Thane’s eyes widened. Even Zorn looked up, respect in his eyes.

Jerry must’ve noticed even though he hadn’t turned away from the window. He shrugged. “I was made for battle. Stone does not conduct electricity. I’m safe from his magic.”

“Looks like we’re going to play a game of rock, paper, lightning, eh Jerry?” Boman asked, beaming.

“Who’s paper in that scenario, I wonder?” Bria scratched her chin.

“Alexis,” Jerry murmured.

Shivers coated my body. He wasn’t wrong. I could take the Lightning Rod out if he ventured close enough, but he wouldn’t face the same limitation. It was a good reminder that my magic did not trump all. I could be beaten like anyone—it just took the right magic.

This stranger would have that magic.

“What are you going to do, make a rock suit or something?” Daisy asked Jerry, breaking through the churning of my thoughts.

Donovan tsked as he turned off the burners. “You’re showing your ignorance, princess.”

Daisy scowled at him.

“She didn’t know the size of a giant, she doesn’t know anything about their magic—my, my, she is behind,” Boman teased.

“Boman, why don’t you get that duct tape out of your pocket and make a gag for yourself,” Daisy clapped back.

Donovan barked out a laugh. “Hey, Boman, why don’t you get some more fashionable pants out of your pants pocket?” he said, starting to pull things out of the oven to put on the table.

“Hey, Boman, why don’t you find a new personality in one of your pockets?” Jack said with a grin, still monitoring Donovan’s efforts.

I repeated it for him. The guys around the table started laughing, and Jerry turned away from the window again, his eyes darting around. Big, tough giant was just like everyone else—skittish at the thought of spirits walking among us. At least when those spirits weren’t Caily.

Jerry zeroed in on Daisy for a moment before turning away. “My skin can harden to stone, princess.” Donovan’s eyes widened and his smile stretched. Jerry just might have a dry sense of humor under his rough exterior. “Most weapons can’t penetrate it, and certain magics don’t work against it. My movement is severely cut down, though, so it’s best to use it within a battalion.”

Daisy narrowed her eyes, clearly at the name he’d called her, but nodded. I knew she’d file that away and probably think of ways to counteract it.

A light bulb went off as everyone took a seat. “That’s why he told—um… That’s why a flash of brilliance struck me, randomly, after Jerry agreed to come aboard,” I said. “Jerry has a natural defense against the Thunderstroke’s magic. He can greatly help us bag him. Why wouldn’t he just say that?”

“You lost the thread of keeping your mouth shut,” Zorn said.

“Now do you see why we said she doesn’t lie?” Bria asked Jerry, who still hadn’t gotten up to join us at the table. “She’s terrible at it. World’s worst. Don’t tell her a secret if you want her to keep it.”