Rene nodded as he slid in behind the steering wheel. The conversation in the car on the way to the park consisted of Jim trying to persuade me to let it have a full breakfast and Tiffany telling Jim about her adventures in virginity. I bounced between gratitude that Jim was back where it belonged and worry about what on earth could be going on with the incubus attacks and how I was supposed to figure it all out, not to mention stop it.

By the time we arrived at the wildlife park, Jim had picked up enough from Tiffany to give me a hard time. "So! I go away on an overnighter, and you try to kill a couple of innocent Guardians."

"One innocent Guardian, and I didn't try to kill her." Succinctly, I outlined the facts as we walked to the entrance of the park. "You of all people should know that I didn't summon any of the incubi."

"Hmm," Jim said, but it gave me an odd look.

Tiffany practiced her smile on the few people milling around the entrance waiting for the gates to open. "I hope Gyorgy will be in a better mood this morning. I hope he will not frown at me and say unpleasant things again. It is not good for the purity of your soul to say unpleasant things. Not even the blood of an exquisite virgin such as myself can cleanse that."

"When did he have time to say anything unpleasant to you?" I asked, confused. "You were only with him for a few seconds before we ran off to rescue Jim."

"Wasn't soon enough," Jim muttered darkly.

"No, not then. Later." Tiffany pulled a small mirror from her purse and examined herself critically before smiling at her reflection. "Last night, when he came to the hotel to throw himself at my feet and beg me to let him make much love to me. Do you think I look more like a princess with my hair up or down?"

I only just stopped myself from goggling at her. "What? Last night? When did Gytirgy meet you last night? Where did he meet you?"

She looked as surprised as I felt. "It was at the hotel, after I returned from the Mage ceremony. He was in my room, waiting for me. He said many things about how incredible my smile was, and how it lit up his heart inside, and how he would devote himself to me and see to it that I had everything I desired if only I would give myself to him."

Well, this was all news to me! Rene and Jim, ahead of us as the gates were unlocked and opened, entered the park. I grabbed Tiffany's arm to hold her back a moment. "Tiffany, why didn't you tell me this morning that Gyorgy came to your room last night?"

"You didn't ask me who visited my room last night," she answered, giving my cheek a little pat. "You are making the Sad Eyes again. Do not be sad, Aisling. If you were to stand outside the hotel again, I am sure a man would throw himself on your belly and offer to make much loves to you again.I'

"Thanks for the pep talk. I wish I had known Gyorgy was at the hotel last night."

"Why?" Tiffany asked, escaping my hold and hurrying to catch up to Jim and Rene, blasting her happy smile to everyone within range.

"Because it's just another strange happening that doesn't seem to be connected to anything, and yet somehow I feel is," I said slowly, following her.

"Maybe it isn't connected," she answered, looking pleased with life. And why shouldn't she be? She was successful at her job, had men fawning at her feet, and had the whitest, brightest smile in human existence. "Maybe it just is."

Jim and Rene set off for the path that led to the area where I had found Gyorgy. Tiffany and I followed behind at a slightly slower pace, me so I could think and Tiffany so she could pause occasionally and do the smile-share thing. "A coincidence, you mean?" I shook my head. "No, the things that have happened are just too unlikely to be a coincidence."

"That is not what I meant. Perhaps the things that have happened are meant to make you think they are connected with each other, but in reality they aren't. Oh, look, baby ducks! I would so love to have a baby duck! Look, the one at the end is smiling at me!"

Tiffany hurried off to coo over a clutch of ducklings in the children's petting area while I stood thunderstruck as I considered what she had said.

"Aisling? Is something the matter?" Rene and Jim hoved into view as I thought fast and furious.

"Wrong? No. I don't think so. Maybe."

Jim rolled its eyes. "Well, I see you're in as fine a form as ever. Yes, no, maybe. Boy, this place gives me the hinkey. Any place that allows dogs in and keeps poisonous stuff at mouth level is too creepy for me. How far is it to this hermit dude?"

"You were supposed to be on leash." I glanced back. Jim had stopped at the head of the path, looking around nervously. My heart went out to the poor demon. I supposed if I'd almost died at a place, I'd feel a little weird about coming back to it, too. "Would you be happier if you and Rene waited here while I go find Gydrgy? There're benches over there, by the petting zoo."

Relief was clearly visible in the demon's eyes. "The car is better. The car is comfortable. The bench looks hard"

"Well, if you're sure—"

It was off before I could say anything else, racing back through the entrance toward Rene's cousin's taxi.

"Do you mind?" I asked Rene. "I don't think Jim needs supervising, but it would probably feel better to have you there."

"It is not a problem. We will wait for you at the car."

I gave him a little hug. "Thanks, Rene. You're a peach."

"Non, peaches give me the red splotches. I am an apple."

"A big shiny one. I'll be back as soon as I find my hermit. If I'm not back in twenty minutes or so, send Tiffany for me."

I needn't have bothered with the warning. I wasn't three hundred yards down the trail before a familiar man burst out of a stand of beech trees, heading straight for me.

"Guardian! Where is Tiffany? Where did you leave her? You didn't leave her at the entrance, where all the rangers are? They are iniquitous! She is too innocent, too pure for them!"

"Whoa, wait a sec!" I caught the edge of Gyorgy's shirt as he barreled around me. The path had curved enough that he couldn't see into the clearing at the main entrance, but he clearly was intent on not even stopping to pick up his amulet before he went hunting for Tiffany. That thought had me wrinkling my brow as his momentum caused me to spin around. "How did you know that Tiffany came with us?"