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Her feathers appeared unruffled. “If I were unconcerned with others, I wouldn’t make a very good member of the security department, would I?”

That was the most surprising thing about Penny—that she was a team player. Furies weren’t trained to be part of a group. There were no team-building exercises. No squad goals. Yet Penny was a natural at demonstrating care for others. I envied the effortlessness with which she moved through this world. I felt like my shortcomings were visible to everyone, that the struggle I endured to be “better” was on full display.

“Where did you learn to act like that?”

Penny toyed with the ends of her hair, thinking. “I don’t think anyone taught me, although Madge spent a lot of time reinforcing the need to retain my humanity. She felt it was important that I not lose myself to my power.”

My gaze dropped to her star pin. No glow, which meant Penny’s account was honest. Strange. That hadn’t been my experience. If anything, the Fates had encouraged the monster within me. My powers were the means to an end; no one cared a whit about the impact on me as a person.

“This was the mentor who went mad?” I asked.

Penny’s gaze dropped to her lap. “Yes. Ironic, I know. Madge was amazing—until she wasn’t. I wish I knew what sent her over the edge.”

I had a thousand possible guesses.

“Tell me one thing—and I want the truth this time—when I found you in my cottage, you weren’t there to feed Jinx and bring me a casserole, were you?”

Penny stared at me for a beat, as though deciding whether to come clean. “No,” she finally said.

“Then why?”

“You mentioned that you kept contraband in your cottage. I wanted to know where.”

That had been foolish of me to mention it to her. I’d been caught off guard in the moment.

“I told you it was on a need-to-know basis. What need do you have for weapons?”

She gnawed on her lower lip. “You’ve been gone a lot lately. I worried that if something happened that was beyond my capabilities… I wanted to know where I could find backup.”

“I keep it locked and warded, Penny. You wouldn’t be able to access it.”

She raised her face to meet my gaze. “I would if you told me how.”

“I think that would only endanger more people.”

“If we’re expected to work closely together, Maya, you’re going to have to learn to trust me.”

“Trust is built, Penny. I can’t just snap my fingers and trust you.”

“Justine trusted me enough to hire me, to fill your shoes. Why isn’t that enough for you?”

“Because I’m not the HOA President. My criteria is different.”

“Then how can I meet it? Tell me and I’ll⁠—”

“You’ll what? Aspire to tick all the boxes I present to you? You’re an achiever, Penny, I get it. I throw a hoop and you jump through it to please me.”

“I’m not a poodle,” Penny pouted.

My ire flared. “There are lessons you’ve yet to learn, Penny. One is that sometimes you’re going to be disappointed. Another is that not everybody is going to like you and that’s okay. You’re not going to like everybody either.”

“But I do like everyone. Why wouldn’t I?” Her face radiated sincerity.

“The better question is—why would you? People are flawed. People will disappoint you many times over. People will betray you.”

“Why dislike someone in anticipation of a thing that hasn’t happened? A thing that may never happen?”

I was beginning to think the Fates hadn’t ejected her for an injury at all. That maybe Penny Beaufort had killed them with kindness to the point where they couldn’t take her anymore. I couldn’t see a world in which Penny was able to do the job required of a fury.