One of the good things about being Assistant Inspectre-and I hope this job kills me soon, before I get another dumbass title-is that I'm my own boss. I set my own hours, my own free days, and sometimes, if I'm drunk enough, I can even convince myself that I'm rewarded for this.

Yeah, right. With smiles and good vibes. Truth is, since the Lilith War has ended, Hadleigh hasn't been the same. Oh, he's still as powerful as ever, despite his wounds, but the old, cold fire in him is gone. These days, when he's not teaching at the Deep School, he's at home, making up for lost time. He's become a fucking family man, and that's one of the few things I've never expected to say about him. I rarely see him, mostly when we pass each other as we travel realities. On the rare occasions he goes out into the field.

I guess I really am the assistant, if I do the most work and get the least billing. Still, the job has some perks. Like being able to pop in almost wherever and whenever I like, or need to be.

It also lets me give Dresden surprise visits and tweak his nose, which is always worth it.

I appear on the shore of his private island-but don't think it's anything glamorous. The shit heap is basically him, if he was a geological feature. So, foul weather, bad terrain, and random landscape shifts.

Stolen novel; please report.

I've never tested how far I can go into Demonreach. The place is sentient, and I think it hates me on principle. Pretty smart.

A deep sigh, from behind me. "Again? That's the third time this month...it better not be another pixie."

I turn to smile into Gandalf the Grouch's scowling mug. "I find your lack of faith disturbing...but wholly reasonable. Nah, Dres. This time, I'm here to stay."

I've never seen someone pale so fast. "Permanently?"

My smile widens. " 'Course not. Well, unless I die before this shit is over. I'm on leave, for lack of a better term."

Dresden raises an eyebrow, gesturing with his staff at the dark horizon. Very fucking subtle, right there. "I don't know if you've hit your head, again, but we're kinda in the middle of a war. And this wouldn't be a vacation spot even if we weren't."

"I know!" I say brightly. "I knew I'd find you here, Warden." I force myself to look more serious, but fail. "C'mon. I don't think I have a bad reputation around these parts, and we can't let that stand, now can we?"

Dresden sighs again.