Scathach hadn't celebrated a birthday since 1666, when Dee had tried to burn down London, so his surprise didn't faze her at all. She had been nearly livid when Scott and Alex had thrown her a party last year, and had tried to insist that no presents were necessary. No one had listened, of course; that was the week she'd nearly broke each brother's arm.

"You are very welcome." She paused, considering what to say next. "Go ahead. Open it." Very brusque and businesslike, even if she was trying to be casual. Her socializing skills were far from perfect, even after so many millennia of existence.