Aidan ignored me and kept reading. “The Norse vard?ger precedes a living person and performs that person’s actions ahead of time. The Finns call theirs eti?nen, or ‘firstcomer.’ In ancient Egyptian mythology a kaka was a spirit double with the same memories and feelings as the person to whom the counterpart belongs. But in most traditions, the doppelg?nger is a version of the Ankou, or the personification of death.”
“You’re saying . . . Wait,” I said. “Are you saying that this is a sign that Sailor . . . that Sailor is going to die?”
“We all die, Lily,” Aidan said in a gentle voice.
“Yes, thank you. I realize that. But no time soon is what I was hoping. Is this doppelg?nger a harbinger of Sailor’s death?”
He shrugged. “I’m not even saying it is a doppelg?nger. Just that it’s a possibility. And if it is true, then it’s a sign.”
“A bad sign.”
He inclined his head.
“How do I stop it?”
“As always, that’s slightly more complex than simply identifying what you’re dealing with. With doppelg?ngers, in particular, if you attack them, it can be felt or shared with the original person.”
“I could hurt Sailor.”
“Possibly.”
I leaned back and let out a long sigh.
Aidan looked up from the page. “You okay?”
“It’s just . . . I have a wedding to plan. Also, I haven’t found my dress yet—in fact, I was supposed to preview an estate sale this afternoon, but instead I’m getting chased by doppelg?ngers and lugging my high-as-a-kite familiar around. Also, my fiancé is in lockup. I guess I’m feeling the pressure.”
“Not to mention the prophecy and the threat to San Francisco posed by Renee.”
I sneezed. “Yeah, that, too. Also, I think I’m getting a cold. I’ve never gotten one in my life.”
He gave me an odd look. “Are you feeling any other ill effects? Besides the sneezing?”
“Just tired. And I’m sort of stuffed up.”
“So your sense of smell has been affected?”
“A little.”
“That could be significant. You often sense things through scent, don’t you?”
I nodded. “So, back to the doppelg?nger. If he’s an omen of”—I cleared my throat—“of Sailor’s death, then does it make sense that if I find a way to kill him without hurting Sailor, then Sailor will be okay?”
“Possibly. But if he isn’t a doppelg?nger, then you’ll be the one sitting in jail facing murder charges.”
“Something in what you read rings a bell . . . ,” I said, reaching out and taking the book from Aidan. I skimmed over what he had read aloud. “Yes! Right here, it says the Egyptians call their version kaka. Tristan Dupree said kaka to me just last night.”
“You sure he wasn’t swearing at you?”
“At the time, I thought he was trying to say ‘cake.’ He ended up talking about cupcakes.”
“There’s a lot of that going around. Speaking of which, how did Oscar get ahold of Renee’s cupcakes?”
“She sent a box over.”
“Interesting.”
“Interesting how?”
“It sounds to me like an invitation. Which reminds me, I’m going to guess I’ve fallen off the guest list. I haven’t received a formal invitation to your nuptials. Unless . . .” His blue eyes flickered down to my bare hands. “Dare I hope you’ve come to your senses?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean, I was never out of my senses. I lent my ring to Patience to help her distinguish between the real and fake Sailors. But to get back to your question, would you come to our handfasting?”
“Of course I would come.”
“Despite the fact that you dislike the idea so intensely.”
He looked at me for a very long moment. “I’ve made no bones about the fact that I think your involvement with Sailor is a bad idea. A terrible idea, in fact. I think you will be diminished by the relationship. And I had hoped for something different for you. For us.”
“Us?”
He nodded but did not elaborate. “However, you’ve made your decision and I will abide by it. I don’t believe I have any other choice. You are an important person in my life, Lily, and I want to maintain our connection. As your friend, I would like to be there to support you when you marry. Also, I am so looking forward to meeting your grandmother and her coven.”
“Well, in that case, consider yourself officially invited. But fair warning—my mother’s on that bus, too.”
“Is she? Mother issues.” He shook his head. “They’re tough.”
“Somehow it’s hard to imagine you with a mother.” For that matter, it was hard to imagine Aidan as a child. He’d been a blue-eyed, golden-haired mischief-maker in an angel’s guise, no doubt. “What’s she like?”
“She passed a long time ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. My condolences.”
“Thank you. As I said, it was a long time ago.”
“Still . . .” I tried to think of something else to say. Our gaze held for a long moment, until Noctemus jumped into Aidan’s lap, demanding attention. He stroked her, his large hand looking tan against her pure white fur. “So,” I said, changing the subject, “what can you tell me about silverfish?”
“Nothing I can think of. Why?”
“I found some in the shoe box from Germany.”
“You opened it, alone?”
“Patience helped me.”
“What else did you find within it?”
“Not much, actually. But there was a lachrymatory; do you think that could be the bēag Tristan was after?”
“It’s possible. As a small treasure, that would make sense.”
“It has the salts of tears, but I have no idea who it belonged to. Also, there was a watch. Speaking of which, I noticed the doppelg?nger has a pocket watch. He stopped to check it, just before he stopped chasing us, and when he was leaving the hotel after killing Dupree.”
“A watch could be the bēag as well. Where is the box now?”
“In my apartment. It’s hidden, and protected.”
“I’d feel better if I could keep it here. It might not be safe at your place. You’ve been broken into before.”
“True. And Jamie—Renee’s errand boy who brought the cupcakes—he mentioned that Tristan had come to San Francisco to work with Renee. I’m not sure if I can trust what he says, but it was interesting.”
“It would make sense that Dupree was searching for the lachrymatory, to add to Renee’s collection.”
“It’s so bizarre. She keeps them right by her collection of silver spoons.”
“And that’s significant?”
I shook my head. “No. I just think it’s funny that she’s collecting the remnants of grief to increase her power, but keeps them in a little cupboard right alongside her collectible silver spoons. She’s such an unassuming adversary.”
“And yet not to be underestimated.”
“I know,” I said, feeling glum. My stomach growled.
Aidan looked amused. “Hungry?”
“I haven’t eaten in a while. It’s been an eventful day.”
“What you need,” Aidan said as he handed me my coat, “is a delicious cupcake.”
Chapter 19
We left Oscar snoozing in the corner of Aidan’s office under the watchful eye of Noctemus. My familiar was mumbling, “Fart goblin,” and chuckling to himself in his sleep.
As we drove across town, Aidan explained that ours was an exploratory mission.
“Most likely she’s just trying to mess with your head,” Aidan said. “Which, I might point out, she accomplished—admirably. Don’t be such an easy mark, Lily.”
“I’m working on it.”
“Also—and please note that I’m not telling you what to do—but did you honestly not anticipate that Oscar would go after the cupcakes in the Dumpster?”
“I underestimated him. I often do, I find.”
I noticed that Aidan’s glamour seemed to shimmer slightly, to be off in the glare of the late-afternoon sun. “Aidan, are you sure you’re all right going out this afternoon?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I, um . . . sometimes I see your glamour slip.”
He gave me a quick, sharp look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Renee once mentioned . . . She told me that you were looking for a fountain of youth. Was that true?”
He muttered something under his breath.
“Sorry?” I said.
“I said,” he replied, “that Renee has a big mouth.”
“Does that mean she was right? Is there such a thing as the fountain of youth?”
“Of course not,” he scoffed.
“Then . . . ?”