Trust

The dining room smelled of medium grilled steak, Greek salad, and people. I recognized Harry Dresden's scent anywhere, both showered and not. Thankfully tonight the wizard smelled of the former. The smell of his dog—no, Maggie's dog was that of a freshly-bathed animal. Judging by the scent of soap and animal shampoo coming from down the hall, I figured Mouse had been cleaned here and probably finished drying a couple minutes ago.

They cut that close, I thought. But at least they bathed the animal for such an important meal.

Walking around the corner, I made one last reminder to myself.

Move slowly. Speak softly. Don't ask Maggie more than two questions if she's being silent, I thought. My inner demon let out a small growl.

Hush, I thought. If my intelligence is right, this house is filled with angelic beings I can't perceive. And last I checked, angels kill demons.

After that, my inner demon was silent, though none the happier. Good. It didn't have to be happy, just quiet so long as I was around the girl.

And then it arrived, the moment I slowly rounded the corner and laid eyes on Dresden and his daughter putting plates on the table. Well, he was putting plates down. Maggie was actually putting cloth napkins and silverware next to them.

She looked up at me and stifled a gasp.

Shit. Should I have announced myself? I thought, trying not to look panicked. Wait, I was an apex predator. Why the fuck would I panic at the prospect of frightening a child? I'd terrified plenty of children when they got a good enough glimpse at me. Some of them were magically sensitive and saw a little more than most normal humans. There gasps all sounded similar to me.

Maggie flinched a little closer to her father, and Harry looked at her, then me.

"Sorry," I said, trying not to cough. Those words did not come out of my mouth often. "I should have called out when I entered the home. I assumed you heard me close the door."

Harry placed a hand on Maggie's shoulder and leaned down to whisper into her ear.

"You're safe. She isn't going to hurt you. But if at anytime you feel scared, you can head up to the room Miss Molly stays in when she visits," Harry said with a tone I'd never heard him use before.

My heart actually staggered. Harry was a father. It finally clicked with me. It was one thing to read a few paragraphs about Maggie in a printed intelligence memo. But to see the young pre-teen girl trying her best not to shiver in my presence was an entirely new experience. Her dark eyes and even darker hair closely resembled the Rodriguez woman, as did her slender nose and paler skin. But that chin? All Harry Dresden, his stubborn will and rambunctious habit of pissing off those with three times his strength.

I'd only seen Harry's former love once before, but looking at Maggie now, I remembered the Rodriguez woman's image perfectly.

Maggie's heart rate wasn't dropping, only increasing the more she looked at me. I knew she'd been captured and almost sacrificed by Red Court vampires, but I guess in her eyes a vampire was a vampire was a vampire. I couldn't blame her for the reaction.

From under the table, Mouse wandered over to Maggie and leaned against her with but a portion of his weight, getting dark hair all over her fuzzy white sweater. She put a hand on Mouse's head, and the dog looked right at me.

He didn't grow. Mouse didn't have to. A small shockwave of his spiritual power echoed through the room in my direction, and he didn't even flinch. I didn't either, but the message was loud and clear all the same: "You get one shot. Blow it, and you die."

With Mouse next to her and Harry behind her, Maggie found renewed courage to stay for at least the beginning of dinner. She looked at me with this determination and slowly nodded.

"My name is Lara, Maggie. Sorry to have frightened you. If it helps, I can sit on the opposite side of the table from you, even a few chairs down," I offered, softly.

Maggie didn't respond, just looked down at the brown carpet we all stood on.

Harry looked up at me and sort of shrugged. He wasn't going to force her to be here, and I wasn't going to force the issue. As far as I was concerned, he'd kept his word. I'd technically met Maggie. I could leave now if she preferred. Trust achieved, Harry's not hers. And yet— something in my chest yearned for her trust as well.

Harry's trust was a good start, but this child. . .I wanted her to look upon me without fear. And that quiet voice inside me spoke up, Then be patient with her. She might just surprise you.

I tried once more, frozen to the carpet I stood on.

"Maggie, if I make you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I can just leave this gift on the table and leave if you want. No pressure or guilt. Your father and I can have dinner another night. Maybe the Winter L— Miss Molly can hang out with you while we eat," I offered.

At the mention of the gift, Maggie's eyes searched my hands. All kids like presents, I guess. It was enough to quiet her terror momentarily.

When Maggies' glance settled on the small package wrapped in white string and brown paper in my hand opposite the wine bottle, her eyes widened just a little bit.

I slowly raised it and placed it on the table. Maggie stood about 10 feet from me.

"Would you like me to slide it to you?" I asked, quietly again. No tone was too soft for this delicate situation. Though I couldn't place a finger on why I cared so much.

Harry's daughter shook her head, and I saw her take a deep breath. Slowly, Maggie stepped forward with a strength I had no clue she possessed. Mouse and Harry stayed behind while the person they loved most in the world scooted over toward me, one inch at a time. I stood frozen.

And when I stood face to face with Maggie, I knew what'd been achieved in this moment. . .trust. Maggie trusted me not to kill her in this precise moment. Harry and Mouse trusted me not to even startle her. Then I found myself wanting more, like it was some magic candy the store might run out of if I didn't immediately take the entire box.

So I slowly lowered the package over to Maggie, and she took it. It wasn't heavy and was about twice the size of her hands.

I expected Maggie to turn and rush back to Harry's protection, but instead she slowly turned toward the table and placed the present on it, unwrapping it softly.

Mouse and Harry exchanged glances. Then Harry and I did the same thing. We were both shocked by Maggie's actions.

When she unwrapped the gift, I watched as Maggie's eyes found a small canvas covered in soft blue and white hues. It was an acrylic painting I'd finished late last night. The scene featured a blue jay hopping through a winter field of snow and twigs, hunting for seeds.

The girl's eyes grew yet again as she stared at the painting in silence for several seconds. Harry glanced at it and chuckled.

"You rob a famous museum and steal this for her?" He laughed.

I scoffed and said, "I'll have you know I painted this myself last night."

Maggie was still staring at the work in silence. I couldn't tell if that was good or bad. But I hoped for the former.

"I. . .didn't know you could paint," my fiancé remarked, actually stunned, though unfortunately not speechless. Speechless Harry was my preferred version of the Winter Knight.

Mouse looked at the painting, and I wondered what the temple dog thought. Was he still suspicious of me? He hadn't taken a step toward Maggie. I guess my trust was still intact.

"I actually learned painting from Carmel Fabritius," I said, smiling.

Harry looked lost.

"The famous Dutch artist?"

The wizard's expression showed no clear understanding of who I was talking about.

"Seriously, Harry? He painted the Goldfinch?"

The man due to marry me in less than 12 months shrugged helplessly.

"My God, man. Seriously, open a book once in a while that isn't a mass market paperback," I said, crossing my arms after slowly setting the wine on the table. "Maybe our next date needs to be the Art Institute if it's still standing. You could use more time in museums."

Harry raised his hands and said, "I'll have you know I've been to a museum before."

"Which?" I inquired, putting my hands slowly on my hips.

"The Field Museum of Natural History," Harry said, beaming.

I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

"Raising a dinosaur from the dead doesn't count, you uncultured wizard," I said, squinting and trying not to giggle.

Harry just shook his head and lightly patted Mouse on the head. A sense of calm had returned to the house.

"Well, you can keep the wine, my betrothed. I'll head back to the manor, and we can reschedule for another meal," I said, turning gradually to leave.

A soft grasp on my hand stopped me, and I turned, looking over my shoulder. My long black hair swayed with my swirling head, looking to see who my captor was.

Maggie had both her hands on my left fingers. I could hear her heart rate had returned to normal. When did that happen?

"You can sit next to me," she said, quietly.

Looking into Maggie's dark eyes, I whispered, "Are you sure?"

She nodded just once, as if to say, "Please don't make me ask again." And slowly, she led me over to a chair. Then she pushed a plate and napkin with silverware on it toward me. I cautiously sat down, and Maggie went over to grab the painting. She placed it on the other side of her and turned back to me.

"Thank you for the gift, Ms. Raith. It's pretty," she practically squeaked.

I just nodded once and said, "Of course, Maggie. You know, the blue jay actually reminds me of your father."

Harry brought over the wine bottle after fetching some glasses for us in the kitchen. Two things occurred to me, then. First, they'd left me alone with Maggie, even if only for a moment. Second, Harry's staff was nowhere to be seen. There it was again. Trust. I had it, and I was starting to suspect I would only grow to appreciate it more, the longer I managed not to fuck it up. But I did recognize here and now I'd pay any part of my fortune to keep form fucking it up.

Maggie brought me back to my thoughts by tapping me lightly on the shoulder.

"Yes?" I asked, as Harry poured me a drink.

"How does the blue jay remind you of Harry?" she asked, looking again at the painting.

I took a drink of wine, still moving as slow as I could. It was starting to drive me bonkers, but I really didn't want to scare Maggie. . .or Mouse. . .or Harry.

After taking a sip of my wine, I cleared my throat and explained, "Well, blue jays aren't the biggest birds. You can easily hold two of them in your hand. But they are loud, much like Harry."

That earned me a tiny giggle from Maggie as she looked at Harry, now serving the food.

"They also occasionally fight off much larger flyers like hawks and other birds of prey. Blue jays will just chase them off, with no real regard for size difference. And I think Harry might just have done that once or twice. You've probably seen him do it," I said, as Harry placed a steak and some salad on my plate.

Condensation immediately spread across the dish, and I could tell the meat was still hot. Perfection. The meat had been seasoned with thyme and rosemary and marinated in lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and oil. Harry put a couple spoonfuls of salad on my bowl, and I tapped his shirt sleeve lightly. He looked at me, a small bit of electricity passing between us.

"I'd like just a bit more salad, please," I said.

Harry shrugged and added three more spoonfuls.

"I respect a lady who knows how to eat," he said, sitting down and immediately devouring his steak. I also noticed he'd placed the smallest bit of salad on his own plate. Maggie and I got the rest. And Mouse? Well, of course, he got his own steak, which I could hear him chomping on under the table. I'd never witnessed a culture that loved their pets more than modern American society.

As we ate, Harry discussed Maggie's latest art projects in school, and she expressed an interest in painting more, which made me grin. It was a hopelessly foolish grin, the kind Harry dispenses 50 times a day. And as embarrassing as it was, I didn't care when Harry saw a piece of that grin before it covered it with a bite of salad. His own ignorant grin flashed, and he didn't look away until I'd looked back in his direction.

It just made me scoff and reach for my glass of wine. That made Harry chuckle.

I felt a slight tug on my sleeve and looked down at Maggie. Shit, the girl was stirring something in me I hadn't felt in decades. And when she tugged on my sleeve, I felt young Thomas pulling my garment. I saw him holding up his tattered copy of Frog and Toad Are Friends asking me to read it to him for the 50th time.

With zero control, a small tear slid out of my left eye, and I moved my arm quickly to wipe it before anyone noticed. But Maggie's hand held my wrist, preventing me with her grasp.

"You don't have to hide that from us," she said, quietly.

I cleared my throat and lowered my hand to the table with Maggie still holding it. There was no burn or sting present in her touch, which made sense because she was too young to be in love with any of her classmates. Still, it remained unexpected.

When I motioned toward my napkin, Maggie put it in my grasp and let me gently dab the tear off my cheek. For the life of me I couldn't remember if I'd used waterproof makeup tonight. Seeing Molly had left me a little more rattled than I thought.

"Sorry, dear. Got a little lost in a memory. You just reminded me of someone," I said, finishing my wine.

"Who?" Maggie asked, taking a bite of her salad.

I smiled and then thought of my brother lying somewhere on Harry's island, feeling God knows what.

"Your uncle Thomas used to tug on my sleeve like that when he was much younger," I said.

Maggie smiled and said, "I miss him. Dad still hasn't told me when he'll be back yet."

My heart felt a twinge of pain because I also had no clue when Thomas would be back. And I missed his stupid smile, the same one his younger brother wore.

Then, without warning, after Maggie finished her salad, she turned to me and asked, "Do you love my dad?"

If I'd had any wine left to drink, I might have choked on it. As I realized this, Harry choked on a Coke he'd pulled out of Sir Knight's fridge when he decided my wine wasn't to his liking. The wizard rattled violently for a moment, and I grinned, taking an opportunity.

"The mighty Winter Knight, prison warden who ensnared a titan, defeated by an ill-timed question and a fizzy drink. How humiliating," I said, grinning.

When Harry could breathe again, he said, "Har har. Very funny. But if I wanted to I could tell everyone in the monster community I've seen Lara Raith cry."

My cheeks flushed, and I frowned at the idiot. Too far.

"What, you can make fun of me when I'm choking, but I'm not allowed to tease you about a single tear?" Harry said, a little grumpy.

Mouse scoffed under the table, and Maggie leaned over to me and whispered, "He's clueless about women. Mom used to tell me the most embarrassing stories about him when they were dating."

I was prepared to educate the wizard on boundary lines and picking your moments, but Maggie's whispering had brought back my good mood again. I even giggled with her as Harry tried to pry what we were whispering about.

When dinner was over, I looked at Maggie and said, "I don't love Harry. But I don't hate him, either."

"If you don't love him, why are you marrying him?" Maggie asked, and I froze. How did I answer this question? She was obviously old enough and smart enough to deserve an actual answer, not one you'd give to simply shut a kid up.

So I thought for a moment and looked at the wizard, who merely shrugged. I'd receive no assistance from him, which is about what I expected.

Finally, I took a deep breath and said, "It's. . .complicated. But as best as I can understand it, Harry's boss, Queen… well, the queen, ordered us to get married. And when the Winter Queen gives an order, it's best to follow it, right Harry?"

The Winter Knight looked like he wanted to smart off, then for once in his life thought better on it, and just nodded.

"Are you going to live in the castle with us?" Maggie asked. "It's got plenty of room."

I smiled and shook my head.

"It will probably be a marriage in appearance only. We'll just have to go to some events together, maybe have pictures taken now and again, ceremonial responsibilities, you know?" I said.

I couldn't tell if Maggie seemed relieved or disappointed. Mouse certainly sounded relieved judging by the timing of his sigh.

Thinking for a moment, I reached into my purse and pulled out a silver ring, placing it on the table.

"I wasn't sure if I'd offer this to you, or not. I think I'll give it to your father, so he can run tests on it and judge it to be safe," I said, as Maggie's eyes once again grew. The ring was a simple silver band that'd been infused with a strand of my hair. And covering the left and right sides were a couple engraved feather designs. I'd paid good money to have it made fast with a trusted mage House Raith had done business with for years.

Maggie reached for the ring, but I slowly shook my head and slid it over to Harry.

"Once he's satisfied it's safe, the jewelry is yours," I said.

Harry took the ring and held it between two fingers, examining it. He didn't say anything.

"What does it do?" Maggie asked, hopeful.

Now Harry did speak and sighed, "You'll have to forgive her. The queen gave her a magic ring for Christmas once, and now she expects every piece of jewelry to do something magical. You should have seen how disappointed she was when she got her ears pierced, and the earrings didn't do anything special."

I smiled and looked back at Maggie. She was still waiting to see what the ring did, and with what I paid for it, the ring did something special.

"It's pretty basic, really. I know you have tons of protection under the watchful eyes of your guardian dog, your father, and the Winter Lady. But—I wanted to add my own protection to that list. If you put that ring on when you're in terrible danger or feel full of fear, I'll know where you are and come find you immediately," I said, unsure why I cared so much. As she stared more at the ring, I pictured Thomas after I'd bought a necklace for his eighth birthday.

He couldn't stop looking in the mirror and smiling. The kid started walking around with a larger ego after I gave him that gift because it made him feel cool. There were so many pains I wished I could have shielded him from growing up in House Raith.

I couldn't go back and undo his pain, but I could do my best going forward to make sure his niece didn't suffer any more than she already had.

"You trying to LoJack my kid?" Harry asked, chuckling. He put the ring in his pocket, determined to examine it later.

"It's only designed for me to know her location if she's in danger. Otherwise, I'll have no idea where she is," I said.

"Thank you. . .Lara," Maggie said, smiling. "It's beautiful, and I can't wait to wear it."

When I was walking toward the front door around half an hour later, after Maggie had spent several minutes discussing things she wanted to paint in class this week, Harry escorted me out and shut the door behind him.

"I'm surprised she's in class, given Chicago's current shape," I said.

Harry signed and said, "They actually started bussing kids outside of the city to surrounding communities and smooshed them in schools there. Maggie is actually going to classes in Orland Park."

I scoffed and said, "Well at least the public school system is somewhat functioning. Few things are since the War for Chicago ended."

Harry nodded, and I thanked him for introducing me to Maggie.

"She's something, isn't she? I have to admit, two things surprised me tonight," he said.

I had been walking back toward my Jaguar but turned to face my fiance now.

"What do you mean?" I asked, wishing I hadn't right after the words left my mouth.

Clouds blew above us, racing across the evening sky under a half moon, carried south by Chicago's eternal lake wind.

"First, you won Maggie over. I didn't know how she was going to react tonight, but her sitting beside you and talking about painting surprised the hell out of me. I mean, Hells bells, Lara. You had her terrified, and then. . .it was like you were her best friend," Harry said.

I was amazed by how quickly she shifted her position, and that quiet voice in my head said, See? She surprised you.

"Second, Maggie won you over. Queen Raith herself, and my daughter had you handing over gifts and offering your full protection. I'd never seen you behave like this before," he said.

Now I was blushing and looking at Sir Knight's impeccable lawn. What was it about aging men and their incessant need to take up landscape arts like it was a magical study unto itself?

"Be careful how far you push your mocking, wizard. My patience has limits," I half whispered.

Harry just smiled and said, "Not where my daughter is concerned it doesn't."

I shook my head, sighing, ready to get back home and bathe all this stifling human affection off of me.

"So. . . you told Maggie you don't love me. And you don't hate me. What does that leave?" Harry asked, out of the blue. And I was prepared with a simple retort now that his disarming child was no longer nearby.

"Simple, my betrothed. I trust you."

Now Harry was letting a little too much affection creep into his smile, and it made me uncomfortable all over again. But as quick as it appeared, that smile faded as his tone changed.

"Now that we trust each other, can I ask a favor?" he asked.

Here it comes, I thought, nodding.

"I want all the information you've collected on Drakul through the centuries," Harry said.

I raised an eyebrow, and Harry was gearing up for a whole spiel on why he needed it, and why I should trust him with such valuable research. But I cut him off.

"It's yours," I said.

And he nearly tripped. His brain seemed to break for a moment as I agreed to hand it over so easily.

"I'm following up on a hunch that–" he started, and I cut him off once more, saying, "I didn't ask."

Harry looked down at the lawn and then up at me with a face of confusion.

"Why?" he asked, raising his own eyebrow.

I turned and headed toward the Jaguar, knowing full well he was watching my ass with every step I took toward the car.

Getting in, I turned to face my fiance just before shutting the door and said, "Because I trust you."