I could come back with something equally as snarky but I preferred to get to the point and not drag this out. We didn’t get along and prolonging our interaction was a bad idea. I had questions, and I was sure only she had the answer to them. Until I found out who that man had been or what he had been, I wasn’t going to relax. Not that I was ever completely relaxed.

“There is a protection spell around this house. One that keeps out only one person or caster. It’s… not typical. And it’s strong.” I stopped and waited for her to show some sign of acknowledgement. She wouldn’t just tell me, but I was hoping for a flicker in her expression, for some sign she knew what I was talking about. I saw nothing.

Not even an attempt to conceal something. She looked more confused than anything. Which was frustrating. I’d hoped, no, I’d expected her to know, possibly lie, but not this.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” she asked, sitting up slowly from her reclined position. She seemed more alert and agitated. Definitely not what I had expected. Crap. She was the one who was supposed to know who the man was and what that spell was around the house.

“The night of the wedding, there was a man out front, and he couldn’t get past a barrier he claimed was there to keep him out. I didn’t believe him but then I felt it.” I stopped again, not sure how much she needed to know. If she didn’t cast the spell, then someone did, and the hell she’d raise figuring it out could lead to a mess. I hadn’t anticipated this.

“There was a man outside during the wedding that was unable to cross a caster line, and you’re just now telling me about this?” Her voice was getting louder with each word out of her mouth. She would be yelling soon. Not abnormal for our conversations.

“I assumed you were the one to cast it. It’s powerful and it’s dark. I don’t know of anyone else in this house who could cast something like that. I wasn’t hiding it from you. I just thought you knew.” I was getting defensive even though I knew that was not the right way to handle the woman. She saw it as a weakness and would only get nastier the more defensive I got. I couldn’t explain myself and get anywhere with her.