I shook my head in disbelief for the second time. “Really? Arguing right now? Get the fucking slice of pie. Throw up. Whatever. Just get it now.”

“She does not handle pressure well,” Daisy murmured as they both turned for the counter.

“She’s never come back from the dead, that’s why,” he replied, much too loudly, because I could still hear him and now they were closer to the Lightning Rod than I was.

“I haven’t either,” Daisy replied.

“Yeah, but you were nearly there. You just managed to save yourself before you had to be saved. She’s the one that always saves the day, so she doesn’t ever have to sit and stew in danger.”

“Yeah. This is kinda good for her.”

I couldn’t do much more than stare at them with my mouth open. I honestly couldn’t. Was I dreaming?

Dylan turned from the sugar station before fixing his lid in place. A couple of slow strides and he was at my table. He lowered into Daisy’s chair.

“I can kill you where you sit,” he said softly, like a lover whispering into my ear. My stomach flipped and then cramped in fear.

“I will take your word on that. I don’t honestly know much about how your magic works. But I’m pretty sure I could kill you about as fast as you could kill me.” I rested my touch on his soul casing, light as a feather. His eyes tightened. “But let’s keep this between us. Don’t harm those kids. Please. I tried to make them go, but they are too damn stubborn. They are no threat to you. One isn’t even magical. They were with me before…any of this.”

He leaned forward, baring his teeth just a little. “And what is this?”

“Living in the magical world. I haven’t been involved with it for very long.”

A wry grin twisted his lips. “Maybe not, but you’ve made a loud entrance. I know who gave you that mark. It’s not hard to get around the Chesters’ block on magical news.”

I couldn’t help my brow furrowing. “They have a block on magical news here?” I whispered. “I didn’t even know that was possible. And yes, I did make a loud entrance. It couldn’t be helped. I wasn’t about to let a loved one face Valens alone.”

“How’d you find out about me? Don’t try to say you’re running away with your kids and happened to pick this town. I don’t like being called stupid.”

“Then we won’t get along.” Daisy stopped beside the stranger. “You’re in my seat.”

“Just get another chair,” Mordecai said, sitting with his pie.

“No. He’s in my seat. That’s rude.” She stared down at him. “Please move.”

“Daisy, have you lost your mind?” I motioned her away. “Just sit somewhere else. Quit antagonizing him.”

“Being afraid is a waste of one’s last minutes. I refuse to give in.” She set her hot chocolate down, crossed her arms, and lifted her chin.

I stared her down, promising pain, until she finally huffed and grabbed another chair. Wood groaned as she slid it across the floor.

“It’s that age,” the woman behind the counter said before chuckling softly.

“Well now. Isn’t this just a happy little family. Where’s the rest of it?” Dylan asked, his gaze rooted on me. He was asking about Kieran and his crew.

“Around. We weren’t given specific information,” I said. “Honestly, I’d decided to leave without letting you know I was here. We were supposed to run into you in the diner. As you can see, we aren’t in the diner. I was going to head out at first light.”

“That right?” He sipped his coffee, and I could tell he didn’t believe a word I said. “How did you find out about me?”

“I’m not allowed to say, but the person isn’t living. I can see and hear spirits, and—”

“I know what you can do,” he whispered, “but you’d do well to lower your voice. There is plenty of room in the mountains to speak plainly. Let’s head out that way.”

Daisy snorted. “About being called stupid…”

I glanced up as an older man with thinning gray hair and a stoop entered the café. He smiled when he saw Dylan, and his smile only grew when he noticed me.

“My goodness, young man, you sure do meet the pretty ones.” He gave me a nod in hello, and nodded at the kids in turn.

Dylan’s soul pulsed brightly, radiantly.

“You like it here,” I said, clasping my fingers. “It has changed you. You’re a better person when you’re here.”

His eyes smoldered blue fire. “I do like it here, yes. I will not jeopardize these people or this town.”

“I get it. I was told about someone with your”—I glanced up at the people talking at the counter—“affinity for hiking. I wasn’t told where you liked to hike, but when you know what to look for, it’s not hard to put things together. I mean…” I put my palm to my chest. “Not for people like me. For people who do this kind of thing for a living.”

“And your Demigod is hoping you’ll sweet-talk me into joining forces?”

“No. My Demigod is very uneasy about this situation, but this spirit told him that I should be the front man. Me and the kids. This news was broken to me on the plane ride here. Being that I’m a gullible jackass, I went for it. That is, until I talked to that woman at the counter.” I explained what she’d said and what I’d decided. “But now things are awkward. I’m not sure where we go from here.”

“Where do we go from here?” He sneered, and somehow that didn’t make him any less handsome. “We don’t go anywhere. You will go into the ground and take these teens with you. Otherwise their blood will be on your hands.”

Daisy giggled. “Way wrong answer, buck-o. Should’ve left us out of it—”

I held up my hand to Daisy, who thankfully listened for once and stopped talking.

“Right.” I leaned my elbows on the table, looking deep into his hateful gaze. “There are three things I will tell you, and your response will set things in motion. Here are the facts. The person that told me about you was the last…” I pointed at myself. “Terrible rock climber.” I lifted my eyebrows to make sure he understood that I was talking about my magic. “We still don’t know how he knew about you. He comes and goes as he pleases in my life. I have zero control over him, but I keep his home base safe. It is very well hidden, at his request, so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. But he can be called with other objects. If I cease to…sow my wild oats, and he is called by another, your secret is not safe. While I am sowing the oats—”

“Oh my God, stop with that. The people at the counter aren’t listening,” Daisy said, rubbing her temples.

I sighed. “While I’m alive, your secret is safe. Everyone who knows it has a blood oath to Kieran. He will ensure they cannot break their silence. I say walk, and the whole team walks. No questions. You will not be bothered again, and if you are, I will personally show up to help you. I swear that.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “And what do you think your word is worth to me?”