She had to remember that, she thought as she closed—the book. It was essential that she remember the truth.
* * *
IT was very satisfying, Dana discovered when she was hip-deep in work at Indulgence, to prime the dull wall with fresh white paint.
Our place, she thought.
As they painted, she briefedZoe and Malory on her visit to the Peak and what shed learned.
“So he can hurt us.” Frowning,Zoe added more paint to the automatic roller for Malory. “Or we can hurt ourselves. I guess thats what it really means.”
“If we drift too far beyond actual reality, yeah,” Dana agreed. “I think thats what it means.”
“But he cant hurt us unless we allow it,” Malory put in. “The trick is not to allow it, which is not as easy as it sounds.”
“You dont have to tell me.” The memory of her brush with Kane still made Dana shudder. “Its not just finding the last two keys, its protecting ourselves.”
“And the people around us,”Zoe reminded her. “He went after Flynn, too. If he tries anything with Simon— anything—Ill spend the rest of my life hunting him down.”
“Dont worry, Mom.” Dana reached over to squeezeZoes shoulder. “When your turn comes, well all look after Simon. We can always send Moe to protect him,” she added to lighten the mood. She sent a steely look at Malory. “A true friend wouldve called and warned me I was about to get a dog.”
“A true friend knew youd sleep better at night with a dog snoring beside the bed.”
“Beside, my ass. He snuck onto the bed when I was sleeping. Which means Id have slept through an earthquake last night, as hes not what we can call stealthy. And Moe-proofing the apartment is no snap, just let me add. Not to mention Im not allowed to have dogs in my building in the first place.”
“Its just for a few weeks and mostly at night,” Malory reminded her. “You did sleep better, too. I can tell by your mood.”
“Maybe I did. Anyway, I should fill you in on what Im doing about the key.”
* * *
WITH the first room primed, they moved to the next and the more tedious chore of cutting in around the trim.
“Jealousy, sorcery, getting inside Kanes skin.” Standing on the new stepladder, Malory took on the task of painting the ceiling. “Thats very smart.”
“I think so. The answers in a book. Its got to be. Yours dealt with painting, and one of the daughters, the one who looks like you, is an artist. Well, a musician, but thats an art.”
Zoeglanced over. “I sure as hell hope that means I dont have to take up fencing because my goddess carries a sword.”
“She also has that cute little puppy,” Malory put in.
“I cant get a dog right now. I know Simon would love one, but—oh, you were taking my mind off the sword.”
“There you go.”
Dana sat back on her heels, stretched her back. “Puppy, sword—metaphors for something. Well figure it out when the time comes. But if we follow this theme, Malorys key dealt with painting. Malorys dream was being an artist, but she didnt have the chops for it…”
She stopped, considered biting her tongue in half. “Sorry. That sounded harsh.”
“No, it didnt. It sounded true.” Malory stared up at the ceiling. She seemed to have the knack for this kind of painting. “I didnt have the talent to paint, so I directed my energies into a career where I could be part of the art world in other ways. It doesnt hurt my feelings, Dana.”
“Okay, but you get a free kick later if you want it. Kane used Malorys desire to paint to pull her in, to distract her from the search. But our heroine proved much too clever for him and turned the tables.”
Malory inclined her head regally. “I like that part.”
“Its one of my favorites,”Zoe agreed. “Do you want to write, Dana?”
“No.” She pursed her lips for a moment, thought about it. “No, I dont. But I have to be around books, have them around me. Im fascinated with the people who can and do write them.”