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Chapter 18

Herald circled the house a third ti from a little jar It turned out to be a barbecue rub that dad had lying around Heraldthat would have gone nicely on a slab of ribs

Dad looked on in suspicion “Seems like a waste”

“Shush,” I said “And ere you going to barbecue around here, anyway? This place looks dead I don’t think you even have any neighbors”

“Oh, they’re around,” he said, looking at the other houses “They just keep to themselves is all”

Night had fallen, and it was a little strange how so few of the surrounding houses had any lights on at all I guess I could begin to understand why dad liked it It was a place for hi, but especially his thoughts and his past But it was tie that

“This is a te at Herald “He’s casting wards, but you’re going to have to move back to the city soon”

The corner of dad’s rown over thewith it “You miss me that much?”

I chucked hi so sappy But yes Besides, I’d feel safer with you nearby You don’t kno dangerous shit gets foron’t have to drive out to bumfuck nowhere just to check on you”

“I’ll be fine until then,” he said reassuringly Then he jabbed his thuh

I don’t know if all this is necessary Especially that Now that seems like a waste”

Herald was eht across the front door I had no idea what the hell he was doing, but I trusted him implicitly I’d always known he was a proficient sorcerer, and knowing that Carver held hiard deepened that trust even ht that barbecue rub was the best thing for drawing a ical perimeter, then as I to say otherwise?

Herald dropped the bottle It fell to the earth with a soft thud He stopped incanting, then snapped his fingers Dad gasped, stepped away frorabbed at my arm

“Holy shit,” he said, the brilliant purple of so many flames reflected in his eyes

“I know,” I said, turningup around his house “I know”