Only to run right into Thruor. “Hi.”

“Heading out?”

“I have an efreet who wants in my pants.”

She laughed. “Well, he probably won’t follow through.”

“What, because I’m…”

“You’re the wrong pantheon. Demons are all into that. Efreets still play by their boss’ rules. He might want a sneaky one night stand, but he’s not going to court you.”

“Hopefully he’ll listen when I tell him I don’t want one, then.” I flickered Thruor a grin. “Thanks. I already warned Kanesha not to accept any wishes.”

Thruor shuddered. “I knew somebody who wished to live for a very long time. The djinn turned them into a tree. A very long-lived tree.”

I tried not to laugh. I couldn’t quite succeed. “Sorry, but…”

“Those stories you hear about djinn and wishes? Tip of the iceberg. They enjoy the game. Of course, they do love it if somebody manages to word a wish they can’t wriggle out of.”

I thought about it. “Maybe she’s not the only person I should warn.” I myself had nothing to wish for. Well, no, I did, but I knew better than to think I could word a wish a djinn or efreet couldn’t wriggle out of. Kanesha would have more of a chance.

“Maybe. If he’s hanging around hunting for idiots, then he’ll probably find some. People who’d follow a leprechaun.”

I frowned. “I hear you can sometimes get the gold.”

“Or dead. Leprechauns are more dangerous than people think.”

I brushed back my hair. “I’m still going to make sure he knows I’m not interested.” I’d lost some interest in tracking him down if he wasn’t going to be that persistent. At the same time, I needed to be doing something.

“Good luck.”

I got a distinct feeling that her bike was nuzzling me as I walked past. I grinned and made scritching motions.

“She’ll be after peppermints next,” Thruor warned.

I grinned, feeling even better, and walked away.

She was probably looking for or meeting Mike, I thought. It was a little warmer than it had been, the air promising some degree and level of spring. Some warmth to melt the winter we had had, but not that much, not yet.

The ice box was still a little bit open, and I thought about where I would be if I was a being of fire in this.