“We don’t,” Rowena said.
“If something that we view as crucial arises,” Ghastek said, “we file a petition.”
The phone rang. Ghastek picked it up. “I said hold my calls.”
His eyes widened. Very carefully he set his mug down and held the phone out. “It’s for you.”
I took it.
“Blossom,” my father’s voice said in my ear. His magic washed over me, as if someone had split the atmosphere and the universe in all its glory rained down on me. The sheer monumental power of it took my breath away. He must’ve been working on something—probably on that damn tower—because the last time I spoke to him, he took the time to tone it down and the impact of his words wasn’t quite so cosmic.
I pressed the speaker button and put the phone down. I wanted both hands free in case something jumped out of it and tried to rip out my throat.
“My night is brighter,” my father said.
Rowena froze, completely still like a statue. Julie pulled a piece of chalk out of her pocket, drew a protective circle on the floor, and sat in it. At the other end of the room, Ghastek clenched his teeth, probably trying to mitigate the effect of Roland’s voice. Yeah, good luck with that.
“How have you been?” my father asked.
Say something diplomatic . . . something . . . “If you build a tower in Lawrenceville, I will smash it, set it on fire, and salt the ground it stood on.”
Ghastek put his hands over his eyes and pressed them into his face. I couldn’t tell if it was from frustration or terror.
“We should have this conversation in person. I know, why don’t we go out to dinner?”
What? “No.”
“When I first awakened, a few years before the Shift, I used to frequent this low-key chain of restaurants, with a wide variety on the menu. I can’t quite recall the name but it had a fruit and an insect.”
Ghastek mouthed something at me. I shook my head. I was distracted enough already trying to keep my magic shields up. Talking to him during tech was a lot easier. “I consider the tower to be a declaration of war. You are preventing me from expanding my domain. That specifically violates our agreement.”
Ghastek grabbed a piece of paper off his desk and drew furiously.
“I would love to see you.”
Ghastek held up his drawing. It was a butt with a bee flying over it. What?
“I haven’t spoken to you in over one hundred days.”
“That’s wasn’t an oversight on my part.”
I must’ve made a face, because Ghastek scribbled on the paper and held it up. He had drawn a leaf on the butt. Well, yes, that explains everything. Thank you, Mr. Helpful. I waved him off. Rowena got up, tiptoed over to Ghastek, and took the paper away from him.
“I’m free tomorrow at five,” he said. “Bring the family.”
Rowena held up the paper. On it in large letters was written APPLEBEE’S.
Oh. “I’m not having dinner with you at Applebee’s.”
“Tomorrow at five. Thank you for inviting me into your domain. I am so glad we could do this. It will give me a chance to stop by our local office as well. I look forward to catching up.”
The disconnect signal beeped at me.
God damn it.
I reached over and carefully pushed the off button.
Julie exhaled and stepped out of the circle.
“Did that help?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she said and looked at Ghastek. “I’m sorry I drew on your floor.”
He dismissed it with a wave of his hand. “It’s fine.”
Rowena raised her eyebrows at him. “Did you forget how to write?” she asked softly.
Ghastek just looked at her. I understood perfectly. Being in the presence of Roland’s magic demanded your attention. You concentrated on blocking it until it short-circuited your normal thoughts. It was like trying to carry on an intelligent debate while being sucked into a maelstrom. You had to tread water to stay afloat and it took every iota of concentration you had.
I had come here intending to declare a possible war and instead ended up planning a dinner date with my father at Applebee’s. There was only one Applebee’s that had survived the Shift in Atlanta. The chain had started in Decatur, Georgia, in the 1980s, and a single restaurant bearing the name still stood there, claiming to be the first and original Applebee’s.
I would have to go to dinner. Stopping by the local office was a threat. I wasn’t sure if Ghastek and Rowena knew it, but I understood his message crystal clear. It was up to me how this surprise inspection would go and how many heads would roll because of it.