A startled grin spreads across Cass’s face. “Adams, actually. Jefferson was the third. And let me tell you, they were both?—”
Abruptly, Cass’s phone sounds off in JJ’s hand. JJ fumbles it with surprise, clicking the screen back on. “Sorry, sorry—let me just pass this back to you, and—” His brain short-circuits when he sees the caller ID. “Maggie Khan? Like,MagdalenaKhan?Battle of ThermopylaeMagdalena Khan?”
“Don’t be a wimp, Jackson.”
“You started World War I together!”
“Just—” Cass snaps his fingers impatiently. The phone flies out of JJ’s hand and into Cass’s, where he hastily swipes into the screen. “Maggie! Hello! You don’t call, you don’t write…”
A voice floats over the line, just loud enough for JJ to hear. “Well, you see, Chin, the form of communication we’re currently engaged in is referred to as a ‘phone call.’ So you’ll find that—while I might not write—I do, in fact, call.”
JJ stifles a snort of surprise. Cass rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling. “Touché. What’s up, Khan? Is the Chain still running you ragged?”
“As usual. Actually, that’s why I’m calling,” Maggie says. “We need to talk about December.”
JJ’s blood runs cold. Cass jerks to attention on the couch, his eyes snapping over to meet JJ’s.
How does Magdalena Khan know about Desi? How doesanyoneknow about Desi? They may have been seen together at Lakeside, but that doesn’t mean anyone should’ve been able to identify her!
Especially since Desi changed her appearance after she met JJ. He forces the thought from his mind, making a frantic “say something!” gesture at Cass.
“December?” Cass repeats faintly, tilting his phone in JJ’s direction so he can hear better. “Well, it wasn’t abadmonth, but it wasn’t the best, either. Nothing to write home about, really.”
“Ha-ha,” Maggie says, sounding thoroughly unamused. “I’m talking about the unregistered demon you’re harboring, Chin. Do I need to give you my speech about the purpose and merits of registration? I wrote it myself. It’s pretty good.”
“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” Cass hedges, “but it’s unnecessary. There aren’t any demons in need of registration in this house.”
“So you’re claiming that the unregistered demon toddler known as December isn’t currently living under your roof?”
And then, to JJ’sutterhorror, Desi answers. “Hi!” she calls, waving cheerfully at the phone like Maggie can see her. “I’m Desi!”
Too late, JJ claps a hand over Desi’s mouth. “Shh!” he whispers frantically. “Not now, Desi!”
Cass looks mortified. “Um, that wasn’t—that was just?—”
“Hi, Desi,” Maggie cuts in, raising her voice to be heard over Cass’s sputtering. “I’m Maggie.”
“Hi, Maggie!” Desi yells past JJ’s hand. Wearily, JJ releases his grip on her.
“So you prefer ‘Desi’ over ‘December’?”
“Yeah!” Desi wrinkles her nose. “‘December’ is solong.But ‘Desi’ is short and cute! I like it!”
“It is short and cute,” Maggie agrees solemnly. “Do you spell that with an ‘s’ or a ‘z’?”
“Um…” Desi blinks at Cass. “Cass?”
“An ‘s,’” Cass says, looking resigned. “D-E-S-I. Desi. Are you going to register her?”
“Yes.”
A tendril of fear curls down JJ’s spine. He knows that Cass has been trying to avoid registering Desi with the Chain, but he doesn’t know if there was another reason beyond keeping her identity a secret. “What does that mean?” he whispers at Cass, trying to keep his voice as low as possible. “Is it dangerous?”
“No,” Maggie answers, and JJ nearly jumps a foot in the air. Cass facepalms. “Registration simply creates a record of her existence with the Chain, along with any pertinent contact information. It’s neither a criminal record nor an offer of employment. And as Desi has been confirmed to have the developmental age of a child under the guardianship of Cassius Chin, her contact information will consist of his cell phone number and home address.” She pauses. “Regardless of whether Cassius Chin is actually living at the address in question or not.”
JJ’s respect for Magdalena Khan ticks up a few notches. “That is a very good speech,” he offers hesitantly.
“Thank you. I’ve practiced it quite a lot. Can I assume I’m speaking with Mr. Julian Jackson?”
