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half-hour drive. What can you tell me about yourself?”
    “I am no longer in physical form.” Magnus chuckled.
    “Yeah, I know that. How did you come to be hanging out in my GPS?”
    Magnus sighed. “I am confined in amber with my magic and soul suspended for my crimes. When I was free, I had a skill with the histories, so when they were looking for someone to act in this capacity, my name arose. The seers were shocked, but the guild agreed to let me out... so to speak.”
    “What did you do?”
    He chuckled. It was a nice sound. “I committed the cardinal sin of deceiving the Mage Guild. I was not what they thought I was, and when I was discovered, the result was my incarceration.”
    “What did you hide?”
    “That is a conversation for another day. Now, why were you crying?”
    She thought back to what had started the conversation. “Oh, I was just thinking about how hard it is to be the spouse of the Cursed One. My mom has the patience of a saint.”
    “Didn’t she go on assignments with your father?”
    “She did, but once I was there, she didn’t.”
    “Your ancestresses always went to the curses with their children strapped to them. Their husbands kept track of the children while they worked, but the moment they were done, they were back with their families.”
    “Huh. That was a class that was missing while my father trained me.”
    Magnus paused. “Ah, I have just located his mother’s file. She died young for a Cursed One. She had a sister, though.”
    “Yes. She taught me blade work. My father was not encouraging me to follow the dictates of the curse.”
    Magnus snorted. “Foolish. You were doomed to it the moment you were born.”
    “Gee. Thanks.” She snorted.
    “It is the truth. I am surprised that there is a surviving DeMonstre who has not taken on the duty of the Cursed One.”
    “Great Aunt Sapphire is in a wheelchair. She was injured when I was seventeen. She tried to help with the duties, but she was a librarian by nature. A curse blew up in her face, and she has spent the remainder of her life chasing me and trying to get me to continue the family line.”
    “I have been updating myself on current social behaviours. Don’t you like men?”
    “I don’t want to be wanted for my bloodline, and I don’t want to use someone as a breeding stud just because it is time.”
    “A very grown-up answer.”
    She laughed. “I have entered my fourth decade. I am a grown up, despite appearances.”
    She pulled into the parking lot outside the estate shop. “Well, as entertaining as this has been, I have to go work. Please transfer yourself to my phone.”
    “Yes, Sophia.”
    She could hear the urge to continue in his voice and the frustration that she cut the conversation off.
    She unbuckled, grabbed her purse and left her car. It was time to look through the extensive inventory of Ambermarle Estate Brokers.
    Part of her was still girly enough to enjoy shopping.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    “Good day to you, Justin.” Sophy smiled at the younger member of the Ambermarle family.
    “Madam DeMonstre! I wasn’t expecting you.” He cleared his throat and looked nervous.
    She looked at his body language and flexed her hands. “What came in and where are you hiding it?”
    “Um, nothing... Dad, look who is here.”
    She turned to Ambermarle senior. “Ah, Guy. So happy to see you.”
    “Madam DeMonstre... what brings you here today?” Guy Ambermarle looked at her and ran a nervous hand over his thinning hair.
    Sophy wondered if the hairstyle was genetic. Junior and senior were wearing the same slicked-back style.
    “Oh, you know. Just looking for a comb for my hair, and it is time for your inventory check. You know the drill.” She quirked her lips.
    “Of course. Of course. This way to the quarantined arrivals.” He waved her into the depths of the shop stacked with ancient woods, books, statues and instruments.
    The estate brokers had been created to keep entire collections of