Chapter 4 #2
Going back to the herd is out of the question, but family loyalty is deeply ingrained with our kind. The summons of the lead mare is a powerful compulsion. Even now I feel our mother’s call magnetizing my bones, twitching at the latent threads of guilt in my heart.
I could kill my sister before she can do any damage around here. But that would undo so much of the progress I’ve made with my personal growth and restraint.
I could go to the town council and explain the situation.
I lease the land from Crescent Cove, so it’s possible they would help me.
But since Spyglass Stables technically lies outside the barrier, I’m not sure the council would interfere.
It’s more likely that they’d just tell me to leave and take the threat of trouble with me.
Maybe a local witch would agree to place a smaller barrier around my property to keep my sister out.
But wards like that are expensive, and I’m saving up to replace the roof on one of the barns.
Paying for the barrier will wipe out most of that money, unless there’s a witch willing to do the spell for free.
I don’t like asking for favors, especially from other supernaturals.
Depending on one’s gifts, it can be difficult to make a decent living as a supernatural, and I’m a firm believer in paying people for what they can do.
In this case, though, I might have to swallow my pride and beg for a favor, with the promise of paying it forward eventually.
Whatever I decide, it looks like I’ll need to attend the town council meeting tomorrow night—or tonight, I guess, because it’s nearly dawn.
When I reach the windbreak at Spyglass Stables, I switch back to human form, pull on my clothes, and walk down the path to the house. The back door is unlocked, like always. That might need to change with Val around.
The stairs creak as I head up to my room, and I wince, trying to soften my steps. Fortunately Ashala likes to sleep with a white noise machine, and Tess usually sleeps with an earbud in, listening to music, so they probably won’t hear me. They’ll be up soon anyway to start the chores.
I take a long, hot shower, then take my time putting product in my hair and smoothing tinted moisturizer onto my skin.
I wear eyeliner regularly, but I don’t usually bother with mascara since my lashes are naturally long, dark, and thick.
Beautiful eyes are one of the few perks of kelpie heritage.
Today I add lipstick as well, though I don’t bother to parse out why.
I have tenuous plans to go into town for a coffee.
With my sister around, all my negative emotions will be heightened, and I need to stay on top of that by giving myself plenty of effective catharsis.
Somehow I have to convince Grouchy Diner Man to make me a Wild Eye with a shot of Tristesse—if he’s even working after his terrible experience last night.
I also have to persuade him not to talk about his kelpie encounter until I get a chance to tell the council my side of the story.
And maybe I have a vague notion that lipstick might help with that.
But chores come first. I also need to check on the new horses and make sure they’re settling in all right. Atreides, the new gelding, was particularly nervous about his new surroundings.
He’s still anxious today. Won’t even come near me at first, just stays at the back of his stall.
I start singing to him, holding out a couple big chunks of parsnip on my palm. He loves Harry Styles songs, and a couple of sombr ones, too. What can I say—he’s got good taste.
I croon “back to friends” until Atreides ventures closer and lowers his lips to my palm. He collects the parsnips with nervous politeness, then retreats again, crunching noisily.
He’s much too thin, and his coat bears the marks of the brutality he suffered. It makes my heart ache to see it. But he’s nowhere near as skittish as he was when we first met. I’d like to think that I’m slowly restoring his faith in humanity, even though I’m not exactly human myself.
After doing most of the barn chores, I go back inside, clean up, and head to the kitchen for a glass of orange juice. Tess is waiting for the coffee to brew, and Ashala is making eggs.
“You’re up and about early,” Ashala comments. “How was your night?”
There’s a keenness to her glance as she says it. Though I’ve never told her what I am, I wonder if she might have guessed.
With Valeria lurking nearby, it’s probably time to reveal the truth. I can’t let Tess and Ashala stick around here when they’re ignorant of the danger.
“I actually had a pretty rough night,” I confess. “There’s something I need to tell both of you. First of all—I’m going to close the stable to clients for the weekend. Anything we’ve got on the books will have to be rescheduled.”
“But this weekend is the music festival!” Tess exclaims. “It’s one of our busiest times of the whole year!”
“We need the extra money, Marlowe,” Ashala puts in.
“I know, but it can’t be helped. There’s… an issue.”
“An issue.” Ashala’s eyes narrow.
“Yes. I want the two of you to move into Crescent Cove for the weekend as well. Or better yet, go to Boston. You can leave tomorrow night and get a hotel. I’ll pay for it. Or you can stay with family—”
“Marlowe.” Ashala moves the pan of eggs off the burner and plants her hand on her hip. “Just tell us what’s up.”
I take a deep breath, bracing myself for the long conversation we’re about to have. “My sister’s in town.”
Tess blinks at me, stirring creamer into her coffee cup. “And that’s bad?”
“Well, she’s a murderous, psychopathic supernatural who has promised to kill everyone I care about unless I return to the family, so… yeah. It’s pretty bad.”
Tess plops into a kitchen chair. “I had fifty bucks on her being a werewolf, remember,” she says to Ashala.
“And I said she’s a kelpie.” Ashala winks at me. “I guess we’re about to find out who’s right.” She sets two plates of eggs on the table. “Okay, Marlowe. Spill it.”