Dani hit the button to turn the camera around, panning slowly across the town square to show him Main Street, the shops, the fountain, the parish hall.

Grandad whistled. “Well, lookee there.”

Trudy exclaimed, “What a cute little town! No wonder you’re pushing tourism. People should be lining up in droves to visit.”

Bael shuddered, visibly.

“Is that a dragon on your city hall?” Grandad asked.

“Our town founders were really…whimsical.” Zed answered.

“Well, it’s nice that you keep up the traditions then. Dani-Girl, I’m glad you found a nice place to live for a while. And it seems like you’ve found some good friends, too. I’m really happy for you, that you’ve found home.”

Rather than protesting, Dani just smiled at her grandfather. “Yes, I did. Thank you, Grandad.”

Just then, a white unmarked van parked in front of the parish hall and entered into the camera’s frame. The panel door opened and Jillian shrieked like a banshee, making Grandad startle. Jillian took off running toward a tall, dark-haired woman climbing out of the van. The newcomer was wearing a sleek black suit and heels with red soles and yet, she was knocking over several League personnel to get to the anthropologist.

Dani turned the camera so it was focused on her face again.

“Is your friend all right?” Grandad asked.

Dani said, “I’m not entirely sure.”

“Sonja!” Jillian screeched, practically scooping the woman off her feet with a hug. Sonja squealed, wrapping her arms around Jillian’s neck and sobbing.

“I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that she only showed that much enthusiasm for my coming home when I brought her Siobhan’s cherry blondies,” Bael commented.

Zed shrugged. “It’s kinda hot.”

Grandad snorted on the other end of the line. “Son, if I’ve learned anything about female friendships, it’s that you better just sit back and try not to get in the way. Women can be downright terrifying when crossed.”

“Trust me when I say I’m familiar with the concept,” Bael said.

“Dani, you bring that boy up to the farm sometime, for me to meet him proper.”

Trudy was heard giggling hysterically in the background.

Dani chuckled. “I think I’ll do just that. Probably around Christmas. Talk to you soon, guys. I love you.”

Grandad nodded. “And you tell that nice dragon boy that sprinkling a little vetiver and poppyseed around the entrance to his horde will make it much harder for other people to find. Oldest and simplest magic there is.”

Dani’s jaw dropped low. “What?”

Bael looked vaguely offended, as if he couldn’t believe someone had seen through his cover. “But I didn’t . . . dragon.”