Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison

            “It’s a pixy and fairy come to my garden!” I said, seeing as both girls were in gossamer and lace. Ray sported a set of orange butterfly wings, and Lucy was in pink pixy wings. “Jenks,” I added as I sat on the top step. “Do you think they want to work for acorns?”

            “No!” Lucy shouted. “Trick or treat!” Her little face scrunched up as she tried to get her fingers into a glitter pouch. “Pixy dust!” she yelled, throwing the sparkling silver in the air.

            “Then treats it is, you little goblins,” I said, and Trent fumbled for his phone to snap a picture. “Take your candy. No tricks here, please.”

            Lucy flung herself at my knees, her eyes sparkling. “It’s me, Aunt Rachel.”

            “Lucy?” I put a hand to my chest. “That’s Lucy? And Ray?”

            Ray beamed, a foil-wrapped pumpkin tight in her grip.

            Clearly content, Trent sat down on the step beside me. “You are our only house tonight,” he said, then leaned over the bowl to give me a kiss.

            “Then you should take two treats,” I said, a hand lifting to touch his beard. I had yet to decide if I liked it or not. “Ray, Lucy, you are so . . .”

            “Pink,” Jenks said flatly, and Bis flipped his tail to shove Jenks into the air.

            “Formidable and dangerous,” I finished, and Ray gripped her plastic bow tighter. Lucy, though, began dancing about, throwing her glitter and smacking her wings into everything. Stumbling, she bumped into Ray, who promptly shoved her down. Lucy hit the porch boards, her eyes widening as she looked at Ray and began to cry. No, I wasn’t ready for this.

            “Ray,” Trent coaxed, staying where he was instead of running to stand Lucy up as I would have done. “Think about Lucy’s intention before you shove her down. It was an accident.”

            “Ray pushed me!” Lucy wailed, but Ray had already gone to give her sister a hug. Snuffling, Lucy gave her a hug back, and peace was restored.

            “I am so not ready for being a parent,” I whispered, and Trent tugged me closer.

            “No one is,” he said, but I seriously had my doubts.

            “I thought Ellasbeth would have them tonight,” I said, and Trent’s eye twitched.

            “I get Halloween. She gets the solstice.”

            “Maybe you should come in,” I said as I noticed Jenks’s dust shifting to a cold blue. “Doyle is at my curb.”

            “Still?” Trent let go and stood.

            “Yep. And another in the street behind the church.” I hesitated. “You hungry? All I’ve had tonight is chocolate.”

            “Well, shoot.” Hands gentle and firm, Trent began to corral the girls to the kitchen door. “I had been hoping to check on the progress at the apartment. At least I can update my phone.”

            In a quick patter of feet, the girls ran into the sanctuary, Bis and Jenks hot behind.

            I followed them as far as the kitchen, smirking as I drew him to a halt and ran a hand over his week-old beard. “Sneak into Carew Tower?” I said. “With nothing but a beard and mustache? Trent, they are serious about bringing you in.” My hand dropped. “I thought Quen would have settled this by now. You said two days, and that was a week ago.”

            Trent’s phone hummed, and he turned it facedown on the counter after a brief glance. “I don’t get it,” he said. “It’s as if my money is from a Monopoly game. Even the offshore funds are frozen. My laborers have gone on strike because I can’t pay them, food is rotting in the fields. Trains aren’t running for the same reason. Zero movement on the reno. The only thing that is still working is the Brimstone.”

            “Finnis?” I guessed as I leaned against the counter, then sighed. “Lee.”

            Trent nodded, brow furrowed. “Probably. I’m beginning to think I’m stuck in the ever-after until we find him.”

            Depressed, I peeled off the foil, thinking, Fun size? Who are they kidding? It wasn’t an ideal situation, and I pulled the candy bowl closer. “I don’t know if putting him away is going to help anymore. The entire situation has taken on a life of its own.”