Sliding glass doors in the master suite led to a private deck furnished with more comfortable furniture. The kitchen had a capacious pantry filled with canned, dried, and shelf-stable foods. There was a walk-in insulated ice box with a selection of fresh and raw meat, eggs, butter, and both vegan and omnivore prepared foods. Large fresh blocks of ice kept the box cold.

Testing the kitchen faucets, she discovered hot and cold running water. Ceiling fans spun lazily in the rooms, moving the warm air in a pleasant way.

Niall had fallen asleep again, and while he was still a small baby, she had been carrying him for most of the day. She tucked him into the crib in the nursery with a sense of relief.

Can I interrupt you for a moment? she asked Dragos telepathically.

Most people with telepathic ability had a range of about ten feet or so. Dragos’s range was closer to a hundred miles. He replied immediately, Of course.

This house is quite a surprise, she told him. And the books! You never said a word about any of this.

It’s a bit small, but I wanted it to be comfortable. Some people are fine with roughing it in tents for now, but no mate of mine who gave birth two months ago is going to live in a tent. And you’ve got enough on your plate just looking after our hellspawn.

She snorted out a laugh. Only Dragos could think an eighteen-hundred-square-foot house was small. I love everything about it, but I’m curious… The ice is being shipped down from the mountains, and solar panels on the water tank are heating the water, right?

Correct.

So, what’s powering the ceiling fans?

There are four small wind turbines on the roof. As wind turns the turbines, it propels the fans. There’s usually a good breeze coming off the water, so they should keep moving, but if there’s a significant lull in the wind they’ll slow down and stop. If the fans are too much, you can always slow them down or turn them off by using the switch panels located by the doors.

You are such a tech geek. She smiled as she said it. Then, because she couldn’t resist, she added, This place is outstanding, and the path leads right down to the beach. Are you sure we shouldn’t just live here?

His reaction was immediate and satisfying. I would go nuts if I lived in that house indefinitely. I need more space. I’ll have offices down here in the city, but I need one at home as well. And you need your own space too. And we need room to entertain, whenever we’re ready to do that, and we also need guest suites. And since we don’t have cars or a public transport system, we have to provide comfortable housing for house staff and security.