Jillian kept her hands behind her back, as if she had to remind herself not to reach out in greeting. Brendan felt himself warming to the princess, but given the way the dragon was eyeing him from across the square, he had no intention of trying to rescue her. Cordelia, for her part, was edging behind Brendan, like he would somehow shield her from social interaction.
“You’ve arrived in the middle of the town’s trick-or-treating, I’m afraid,” said Jillian. “People live so far apart around here, it’s safer for the kids to put all the treats in one place. Clarissa Berend is kind enough to make freezer meals for all the ‘newcomers’ as they arrive in town, so you don’t have to rely on kettle corn and candied apples for dinner. Unless you like that sort of thing. No judgments.”
Brendan glanced at Cordelia and realized she wouldn’t be speaking any time soon, as she seemed to have mentally curled into the fetal position. “Um, that’s much appreciated, thank you.”
“So, did you two have a chance to talk much on the drive?” Jillian asked. “I know the vague job descriptions can be maddening, but I hope they gave you enough detail that you were able to figure out you’d be working as a team.”
Brendan cleared his throat. “I wasn’t much company, I’m afraid. Jet lag’s a terrible thing and I could barely stay awake, much less make conversation.”
“Well, if you two don’t mind stopping by my office tomorrow morning when you’ve rested up,” Jillian said. “Normally, I’d let you settle in for a few days, but honestly, the situation needs to be addressed as—"
Suddenly, an enormous bearded man came back around the corner, yanking a pair of sweatpants into place. Brendan considered himself to be secure in his masculinity. He definitely wasn’t standing a little taller at the sight of the other man’s broad shoulders and blacksmith’s muscles.
But honestly, what sort of supernatural steroids did they put in the water around here?
The man’s thick black beard parted over a genial smile. “Sorry, didn’t want to shift in front of the kids. Dani says public nudity isn’t very statesman-like,” he said, jogging forward, his hand already outstretched toward Cordelia. For her part, Cordelia seemed transfixed, unable to move from the path of the friendly human freight train headed directly for her.
Jillian had only managed to gasp, “Zed, no!” when the mountain of a man took Cordelia’s hand and pumped it up and down with so much vigor, Brendan feared for her arm. Cordelia’s eyes went wide and she braced herself as if she was preparing to be punched, not at all the same expression she’d had when she’d touched Brendan.
Suddenly, Cordelia’s shoulders sagged and she burst out laughing. “Herr Scalesnstuff?”
Zed’s smoke-gray eyes went the size of saucers as he whispered, “How do you know about Herr Scalesnstuff?”
“And Dr. Squeakenstein!” she giggled, bending at the waist now. Brendan began to wonder if the travel fatigue had claimed Cordelia’s sanity. “I can see you, up to your chin in bubbles this morning, playing with rubber duckies. And the bubbles—”
“Le diable!” Zed whispered, jerking his hand away. “Jillian, is this the psychic lady you hired? I told you it’s not fair when you don’t warn us about another magique’s powers before introductions.”
Brendan struggled to follow what exactly was happening. Maybe the jet lag hit him harder than he thought?
“Well, you didn’t give me time, Zed, you just ran her over with the welcome wagon!” Jillian exclaimed.
And Cordelia was still laughing. Wonder Woman ran forward, her green eyes wide with alarm. She took Zed’s wrist, as if she was checking him over for wounds. “Is everything OK?”
“I’m so sorry,” Cordelia wheezed, wiping at the tears in her eyes. “It’s just, your mind. I’ve never seen anything so…”
“I am very worried about the words about to come out of her mouth,” Jillian murmured, shaking her head.
“Cute!” Cordelia exclaimed, making Jillian clap her hand over her mouth, smothering a cackle. “The bubbles smelled like strawberries!”
“Hey, now!” Zed grumbled, now visibly pouting. “I am very manly and terrifying. I just happen to enjoy a nice bubble bath.”
Wonder Woman tried to cover up the fact that she was laughing, but was shaking so hard that her dark curls positively bounced around her crown.
“What is happening?” Brendan huffed.
“You are the sweetest teddy bear of a man I have ever met,” Cordelia told him, positively beaming up at Zed. “Honestly, I’ve never seen pictures from a mind so genuinely kind. I mean, you love that woman. You love almost everybody here. It’s like being wrapped up in a big fluffy quilt made of hugs. It almost restores my faith in people.”
“Manly and terrifying,” Zed repeated, though given the soft expression in his eyes, Brendan suspected that Cordelia had just made herself some sort of muscle-bound guardian for life.
“Yes, honey, we all know you’re a great big brute,” Wonder Woman assured him, making him bend to kiss her neck. Wonder Woman blushed beautifully and gave him a smacking kiss. Brendan supposed he didn’t have to worry about this mayor’s intentions towards Cordelia after all.
“Our esteemed mayor, Zed Berend, ladies and gentlemen,” Jillian said, rolling her eyes. “Bael is going to be so mad that he missed this.”
“Nope!” A young woman in a mermaid costume held up her phone. She was so animated in her triumph, she nearly dislodged the fork stuck in her bright red wig. “I got the whole thing on video! I’ll email you the file tonight.”
“Rude!” Zed cried. “I’m telling your maman, Sonja!”
“Oh, I’ve already sent it to her!” the mermaid yelled back.
“I knew I could count on you!” Jillian cried.
“I’m sorry not to introduce myself properly,” said the mermaid. “But I swear I’ll do that tomorrow. Right now, I’ve got to get to the clinic. Will is dealing with several vomit-y kids. Next year, we need to put up a sign that says ‘one per child’ on the candied apple line.”
Jillian pursed her lips. “I will take that under advisement, Sonja.”
“Is that Sonja Fong?” Cordelia whispered. “Did I just meet Sonja Fong and not even realize it? In a mermaid costume? This is the weirdest day ever.”
Brendan marveled at the absolute madness around him. He’d signed on to a bloody asylum, operated by the lunatics. Cordelia, however, had bloomed in the last few moments. Her laughter seemed to have relaxed her whole body into a far less miserable posture, her pale cheeks flushed a healthy pink. He supposed it couldn’t be all bad, if it brought her out of the mental exile she’d imposed on herself.
Zed shook off the awkwardness and reached for Brendan’s hand. “Sorry about that.”
“I’ll decline the handshake, if it’s all the same,” Brendan said.
Zed eyed him suspiciously. “Are you a psychic, too?”
“I thought it was rude to ask something like that,” Wonder Woman reminded him gently. She waggled her hand at the pair of newcomers. “Hi, I’m Dani. This one’s mate. I swear, entrances aren’t usually so dramatic around here.”