Mordecai caught it and skulked to the other side of the room.

The music filling the room scattered all thoughts of the kids’ bickering from my head. As Thane played, he swayed with a beauty I couldn’t put into words. It was like the tune had infused his whole body until he himself was alive with the sweet sound curling through the air. It whisked me away to sun-drenched hillsides of swaying grasses. The tune ebbed and flowed, filling me up and carrying me along, so in rapture that at first I didn’t notice Magnus entering through the rear, walking slowly, as though taking this time to analyze the people who looked so at peace in his temporary home. Even Zorn had relaxed, his shoulders loose and easy, his eyes fixed on Thane as he soaked in the melody.

Kieran rose elegantly, and though we’d never been on a dance floor, I knew in that moment that he’d be as good at that as he was at everything else. He nearly glowed with the music.

“Demigod Magnus, thank you for welcoming us into your home.” Kieran bowed low, lower than I would’ve expected, given his status boost.

But it struck me that he wasn’t here as a Demigod—he was here as my date. And he was acting accordingly.

The gorgeous music stopped, and it felt like a hole had been punched through the moment. I took a deep breath and let Kieran help me to standing, doing a quick check that everything was in place before facing my father.

“Magnus,” I said, grimacing when I realized I should’ve added his title. “Demigod Magnus.” I didn’t know if I should bow and I didn’t know how to properly curtsy—I’d failed that lesson and neglected to practice. I settled for nodding awkwardly.

“Alexis, welcome.” He put out a hand, and I shook it, very formal. “Thank you for joining me. If you agree, let’s head back to the dining area.”

I didn’t know what to expect, but the place we ended up in surprised me all the same.

The kitchen was similar to ours, with the stools around the island, a small table in the corner, and various items simmering on the updated stove. A fan ran with a low hum, sucking away the steam. Both the island and the small table held place settings.

Magnus stepped up to the island and undid the button on his navy-blue suit. He peeled off his jacket before draping it on the back of one of the bar chairs.

“Please.” He gestured at the other chairs. “Have a seat. I’m just finishing up. Here.” He wrapped a large hand around the delicate neck of a wine bottle and handed it off to a silent and watchful Mordecai. Mordecai took it with a start. “You’re sixteen, right?”

“Yes, sir,” Mordecai responded without a hitch.

I, on the other hand, definitely had shock written plainly on my face.

Magnus pulled open a drawer, took out a wine opener, and handed it off. “It’s time you learned a very important element of a dinner party. Or do you already know how to open a bottle of wine?”

Mordecai walked to the counter, a grin tugging at his lips. “I think I can figure it out.”

“Good lad.” Magnus lifted a white apron from the counter. “Daisy, correct?” He showered her with his singular focus. She met it unflinchingly, not nodding or responding to his question in any way.

My face heated. “Daisy, he’s speaking to you.”

“He also nearly got me and Mordecai killed,” she said. “I hold grudges.”

She needed to be coached in dealing with people like Magnus, or she wouldn’t be able to go to dinners and meetings like this, but this wasn’t the time to tell her. I needed that lesson myself, given how I’d reacted to Aaron that first night.

Magnus surveyed her for a moment. “You are exactly right,” he said finally, looping the apron around his neck. “I was ultimately in charge of the Possessor. He went off course and kidnapped you when he shouldn’t have, but the fault can only be traced back to me. I see I will have a long road to gain your trust.”

“You will never gain my trust.”

“Daisy,” I said through clenched teeth. “You are a guest.”

“I apologize. I was too blunt. Excuse me.” She lowered into a curtsy, and when she came up, it was with a stare that could slice a sheet of silk in two.

Magnus shook his head slowly. “It is too bad you aren’t magical. You have an inner fire that would serve you quite well in the field. It might need to serve you here—I heard about the note written in swine that you received. It seems a challenge has been laid on your doorstep, quite literally. But you saved yourself when Aaron’s woman tried to kill you, did you not?”

“I did, yes. You left me no choice.”

The corner of Magnus’s eyes creased, a smile lighting his eyes but not curving his lips. “Well. Miss Daisy. You will cause me no offense if you’d prefer to eat with the crew.”

“No, thank you, I will dine with my family. Thank you for your…hospitality.” She curtsied again, not so low this time.

Now the smile did reach Magnus’s lips. He laughed, a deep, hearty chuckle that filled the room. “You are one to watch, Miss Daisy, magic or no. Well. I have taken the liberty of making dinner for you all.” He tied his apron behind his back and nodded at Mordecai, who pulled glasses from the cabinets. “Alexis, I know that your mother never liked ceremony. She absolutely detested when I put on a big show for her. She’d unleash her magic and everything I’d planned would fall apart. Dinner would end up on the floor. Staff would be covered in spilled sauce or wine. A chandelier fell once, splintering the table. The more I tried to impress her, the more frequently I lost precious treasures hanging on my walls or lining my shelves. I finally took the hint and toned down my courtship.”