Kanesha showed up while the two of us were flopped in the lounge, a plate of brownies fresh from the oven on the coffee table.

She took one without bothering to ask, or check whether they were cayenne or not, and munched on it as she sat down. She glanced at Loki, then at me.

“It’s he who shall not be named,” I quipped. “Don’t worry. He’s just here for the brownies.”

He snorted at her and claimed what was, I was sure, his third at least. “I helped make them,” he noted.

“That’s why they’re extra hot.” I looked at Kanesha. “He also said he might know of something more fun to hunt than vampires.”

She perked up visibly. “Werewolves?”

Loki tensed visibly, then he stood up and started to leave, the brownie still in one hand.

“I…”

“Psst. What happened to his kids?”

Kanesha’s mouth formed an o.

“People turning into wolves may be a sore point.” I sighed and settled back into the couch. “He’s probably leaving before he turns you into a toad.”

From outside the door, I heard, “Ribbit.” Which probably meant he wasn’t that mad.

“Now he won’t tell us what it was.”

“Oh, he probably wouldn’t have anyway. Just dropped hints and clues and watched us scramble. And claim it was to teach us to be better at stuff.”

“You’re right.” Kanesha sighed, then settled back into her chair. “I probably shouldn’t be looking for trouble anyway. I’ve just been itching for a big fight since what…”

“Since what happened to your dad. Even if he wasn’t much of a dad.” He was more of one than I had. Or was he?

“Yeah.”

“The vampires wasn’t a big fight.” I lowered my voice. “Seb couldn’t fight two vampires and had to come running for help.”

She giggled a bit. “He’ll get better.”

“I hope so. But I dealt with them. I didn’t invite you because there were only two of them.”

“And you needed the workout.”

I laughed, snagging another brownie. “I think I did.”

“I can’t decide whether to be jealous of you or not.”

“Don’t be. You don’t have fire giants trying to get in your pants.”